So I'm looking at a G8 GT, and I'm going to have to get snow tires for this thing or I'm not going anywhere next winter. A couple questions around that:

Anyone know if 225/55R17s will fit over the breaks? Can I get 17"s on this thing?

I'm annoyed with the lack of real spare, or even compact spare, as an option. Anyone see a problem with using one of the snow tires as a full size spare in the spring-fall, and one of the summer tires in the winter? I guess I'll need a small jack too.

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Try this 1st. No one knows yet what wheels and tires will fit the G8. Someone has to go out on a limb and try them. Hopefully you'll know by next winter. I don't see that as being much of a stretch.

Why do want a different size? 245/45-18's in a V rating true winter tire come from about 5 different manufacturers already (according to tirerack.com) and before "summer" gets here they will have wheels to match. The tires are not cheap, averaging over $200 each. But your chosen size (because you already have them????) only comes in one brand with a V speed rating. Sure you are probably not going to maintain speeds over 130 mph in winter, but the tires won't match what you have on the front (yes, old school - with RWD you only need 2 winter tires along with a/s on oems on front). Yes, the one available V-rated winter tread (Michelin) is $50/tire less expensive. Both tire sizes are very close in overall diameter and so choosing the narrower 17 may offer a little better operation in snow but will be compromised on dry pavement.

If you are getting teh summer only 19's no winter treads are yet offered in taht size (although all-seasons are) but to maintain exact same tire diameter you could choose a 225/50-18, but you will need a one-inch narrower rim than standard oem 18 (and still be giving up some dry pavement capability by going to narrower tire)

I'm hoping to save some $$ and get better snow performance with a narrower tire. I was planning to put em on all 4 wheels. I'll have to think about the 2 wheel thing, I've never put snow tires on a RWD car before.

Guess those aussies don't have much advice on snow tires...

Current wisdom does say put snows on all four corners in a fwd car, but in a rwd you might end up compromising steering with true snows up front. I have not seen enough expert opinion yet on going all 4 snow on rwd. We never used to, is the quick answer. Back in te hday, we stuck 2 snows on the back, and left the front A/S in place (or rotated from the back). I forget when A/S first came about And all-seasons all around on rwd seem to do fairly well in areas of around 100" snowfall per year compared to fwd with A/S.

I seem to recall this discussion two years ago regarding the Solstice/Sky and what was appropriate. There may even be some tests showing differences in steering traction on non-driven front axles.

I would have to disagree a bit with comments above regarding 2 or 4 snow tires on a G8. Yes, back when everything was RWD, people usually only put snow tires on the back, and they often still do with trucks. These people were only concerned about traction in snow though and weren't even considering another very important part of winter driving, steering. I got away with running Blizzaks only on the front of my GTP this winter, because it is FWD and those wheels handled traction and steering. They were great, and I wish I had bought them years ago. When I get my G8, I definitely plan to put snow tires all around. If you only put them on the back, you may get going, but how will you steer to possibly avoid banging up your G8? I would strongly suggest that based on what modern snow tires are capable of (they are leaps and bounds better than the old snow tires), G8 owners should use 4 of them in winter. I bet you won't regret it.

I would have to disagree a bit with comments above regarding 2 or 4 snow tires on a G8. Yes, back when everything was RWD, people usually only put snow tires on the back, and they often still do with trucks. These people were only concerned about traction in snow though and weren't even considering another very important part of winter driving, steering. I got away with running Blizzaks only on the front of my GTP this winter, because it is FWD and those wheels handled traction and steering. They were great, and I wish I had bought them years ago. When I get my G8, I definitely plan to put snow tires all around. If you only put them on the back, you may get going, but how will you steer to possibly avoid banging up your G8? I would strongly suggest that based on what modern snow tires are capable of (they are leaps and bounds better than the old snow tires), G8 owners should use 4 of them in winter. I bet you won't regret it.Agreed, all information out there says 4 snows on rwd, just look at all the mags (car and driver to consumer reports) and all the tire sites (tire rack included) they all say 4.

I couldn't imagine driving in snow with summers on the front, they get hard and can't handle snow, I have used summers on a rwd in snow, and going straight was not the issue, it was turning, it just pushed straight.

Other issue with summers is that they get very hard in the winter, and at 25 degrees or so, they have very little compliance and traction, so it is like driving on slick roads, even traction control has a hard time with moderate acceleration from a 6 cyl, I had to take turns at 1/2 recommended speeds, or loose it at those low temps.

Don't get cheap on snows on this car, there is too much torque and momentum (4,000lbs worth) and you will wind up in a ditch for the cost of 2 snows.

Yeah, unfortunatlly the thought of dropping another another $1500 on tires, rims, and sensors is making a CTS AWD look more tempting. If only that CTS had a small block.

I'm looking at 215s for winter; depending upon what tires I actually get on the car. The thinner, the better. I see plenty of room for 17" wheels. They only need 1/2" extra per side.

The only thing I can say about running 17" snow tires & wheels is to make sure the wheels fit just right. I'm sure there are some wheels that will fit, but don't assume that all 17" wheels will. If that helps you better afford a full set of 4 snow tires, then I would endorse it. But, 4 tires or leave it in the garage. In regards to needing all new wheels,tires, & new sensors, you should be able to get away without the sensors. Why, you ask? The TPMS system won't shut the car off, just turn on the dashboard light. Plus, most of GM's sensors are only capable of storing 4 radio codes (some Toyotas store an extra code for the spare). This means that if you have sensors in the snow tires, you will have to synchronize the system for those sensors when installing your snow setup.

Also, if you are looking for a 17" setup, my advice would be for P225/55/17.

I'm hoping to save some $$ and get better snow performance with a narrower tire. I was planning to put em on all 4 wheels. I'll have to think about the 2 wheel thing, I've never put snow tires on a RWD car before.

Guess those aussies don't have much advice on snow tires...

I plan on doing the same thing but was hoping to find some BMW take offs or someone getting rid of there base level G8 wheels so I can shoe horn some Blizaks on it and get around too.

I also see Continental makes an all season 19" tire in the dimensions we need...

Is syncing the sensors a long or difficult process? I would think it would be fairly easy. Anyone know how annoying the warning is if I don't have the sensors? I know on my vette it means I have to push reset every time I start the car with low tire pressure, and it's pretty annoying.

I'm going with snowies on all 4. Probably 18" wheels, so far its going to have to be the Drift Rs, $900 for the wheels. If you live in a climate where you need snow tires, 4 is the only way to go. Not only can you rotate for the next year, but summer tires on snow will just slide across the snow- not something I want to do in the winter with 8 inches on the ground.

I'm hoping before winter there is something cheaper for wheels, I'm hoping Tire rack will have something in line before then.

Is syncing the sensors a long or difficult process? I would think it would be fairly easy. Anyone know how annoying the warning is if I don't have the sensors? I know on my vette it means I have to push reset every time I start the car with low tire pressure, and it's pretty annoying.

Most of GM's vehicles require a 5-minute reset procedure. It should be done whenever your tires get rotated. The reason is that the sensors tell which corner of the car that is experiencing the low pressure problem. Other cars (Nissan, Toyota, Ford, Chrysler, etc.) only list a tire being low. It's your responsibility to figure out which one it is. GM's W-body cars had a system like that which didn't require wheel sensors or any new equipment.

New GM vehicles' reset procedures use horn honking to confirm the reset was done correctly. Not exactly something you want to be doing after sundown.

If you have the 18" all seasons, those should be sufficient in the winter. I've survived the past three winters in an STS RWD with the normal all-seasons.

The 17" wheels will be a tight fit over the caliper and rotor. Depending on how the barrel of the wheel is machined, a 17" may or may not work. You might be forced to do 18".

As far as 2 snow tires versus 4 snow tires, we have always recommended 4. You still need to steer, but most importantly, once you get going you need to be able to get stopped. Check out the brief paragraph that we put on the website in the winter months.

TRUE OR FALSE: I do not need to change to a winter tire if i have all-season tires. ANSWER: FALSE:

Winter tires are recommended for areas where the temperature is around 45 degrees and below the majority winter. The difference between a winter tire and an all-season tire is the tread design and compound. When the air gets colder, the rubber on an all-season tire hardens and the tire loses flexibility and grip. This is a similar concept to oil viscosity. A winter tire will stay softer, maintaining its grip level in the colder temperatures. An all-season tire is also not as good at "cleaning" itself of packed in snow as it rolls. This makes the tire become one big "iceball", effectively having no tread pattern to work with. Would you go out in the snow with bald tires? A snow tire has a much more aggressive tread design that will enable the tire to get rid of packed in snow as it rolls. This allows the tire to always have frsh clean tread to grip the ice and snow as your car drives.

TRUE OR FALSE: It is okay to put on only two winter tires instead of four if they are installed on the drive wheels. ANSWER: FALSE

Winter tires should be mounted on all four corners of your vehicle. A good analogy is a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. If your car is front wheel drive, when you go to turn or stop the back of the car will skid. if your car is rear wheel drive and you only have winter tires on the back the fornt will not turn or the front brakes will lock up easy. Remember, once you get going you also need to be able to get stopped.