Winter Tire Size

[blue87turbo]

I know its early in the season to be asking this, but I want to get winter tires purchased before everyone else starts buying. I have purchased a set of the 18"s off a stock 15 GT. I am looking at the Michelin X-Ice3. What sizes should I be looking at? 225/50, 235/50, and 245/50 seem to come up a lot. The 225s also have 55 and 60 as an option. Any thoughts?

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[Lowrider]

Stick with 235s...for a moderate handling.The 225 might not have the recommended load index for the weight of the car and it will feel like you are sailing on a boat with 225s.

 

[Kbreese]

I know its early in the season to be asking this, but I want to get winter tires purchased before everyone else starts buying. I have purchased a set of the 18"s off a stock 15 GT. I am looking at the Michelin X-Ice3. What sizes should I be looking at? 225/50, 235/50, and 245/50 seem to come up a lot. The 225s also have 55 and 60 as an option. Any thoughts?

A lot of people preach the thinner the better when it comes to snow, which is true to a certain extent, but I don't think it makes a huge difference within a certain range. You are driving a mustang, and IMO anything smaller then a 235 starts to look silly.

I have two sets of wheels/tires for winter. One is 275/40/19 Conti DWS (All-season) and the other is 245/45/18 blizzaks.

Last year we had a bad winter here and NY and got by fine with the 275/40 all seasons.

If you have top-shelf dedicated snow tires, don't be afraid to go a bit wider so that the car doesn't look too silly

 

[GoBlues38]

I agree. skinny tires look silly.

My problem is, I will only get 2 or 3 "snow events" a year. But they can be anywhere between 2 and 12 inches. I still have not decided on all seasons, or dedicated snows for December - March.

Can't leave the summer tires on because the temps drop into the 10's very regularly.

 

[shockme66]

I'm doing the same thing; I currently have summer 20's on my car and bought a set of 18's with all seasons on them off of ebay. They are 18" foundry, 800 bucks with tires, wheels and TPMS; seemed like a good deal.


Anyway, just curious if there were any calibrations needed in the cars CPU? I know my VW had a setting for winter tires that I think affects the speed-o.


Thanks.

 

[Glenn G]

I'm doing the same thing; I currently have summer 20's on my car and bought a set of 18's with all seasons on them off of ebay. They are 18" foundry, 800 bucks with tires, wheels and TPMS; seemed like a good deal.


Anyway, just curious if there were any calibrations needed in the cars CPU? I know my VW had a setting for winter tires that I think affects the speed-o.


Thanks.

only if the tire height is significantly different IE going from a 235/55/R17 to a 255/45R18 on my base is so small a difference that it's not worth it to change the settings

 

[Glenn G]

formula for tire height in mm = (W*AR/50)+(Rim*25.4)
W=Width in MM
AR=Aspect Ratio
Rim-=Rim size
so basically the numbers on your sidewall

You multiply this by 3.14 and you have the outside circumference of the tire

Do this also for the new tire then divide by the old tire circumference.

in my example above a the stock 235/55/R17 Has a circumference of 2167.54mm
The New Wheels are 255/45/R18 so have a Circumference of 2156.24mm
Do the math and my Speedo is reading 99.48% so to put it in perspective, if my car could do 200mph, my speedo would read 199, so I'm not worried.

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