tirerack.com suggests 235/55-17 winter tires for same height, narrower bite. Meanwhile dicounttiredirect highlights 225/55-17 as an alternative to 18's. Anyone thinking of following these suggestions?

(our only current wheel/tire sponsor - Group A does not identify any preference other than oem size)

Nope. I'll be putting 245/40/19 snows on the stock sport package wheels. The tires are expensive but I'd still wind up spending more trying to sell the stockers and buy a set of 18's or 17's and snows.

I plan on going stock 19" size for winter.

I was going to go stock as well. I thought of going under one size, but didn't think it would benefit enough.

I'm glad I'm in So Calf.!

I'm staying with stock 19s for winter, but can't decide on snow tires or A.S. We get a lot sub-freezing temperatures, but not a lot of precipitation. My understanding is that summer tires should not be used around or at below freezing temperatures for what ever reason even in dry conditions.

Doesn't the non sport package g8 come with 18s? I wouldn't want larger than 18" snow tires.

I plan on not getting the sport package and getting aftermarket rims.

My understanding is that summer tires should not be used around or at below freezing temperatures for what ever reason even in dry conditions.

They turn to hard plastic almost and have ZERO traction. The soft compound gets real hard when it's near freezing.

They turn to hard plastic almost and have ZERO traction. The soft compound gets real hard when it's near freezing.
I have to disagree with you, but I must. I've had the Bridestone Potenza summer tires for our two worst winters (cold AND snowy); on the FWD Grand Prix GXP no less! Yes, they're not the best, but you can get around if you are familiar with snow. If I was going to buy just a winter set, I'd get the 17s; the thinner and taller, the better! I'm NOT getting a dedicated set, but using some used Continentals for the back only.

Are you guys getting a set of 4 winter tires or are you going to just run two on the rear? Is there any problem with runing only two winter tires on the rear?

Are you guys getting a set of 4 winter tires or are you going to just run two on the rear? Is there any problem with runing only two winter tires on the rear?

Everything I've ever read says you should run 4 identical winters. Not the case with all seasons or summers, but for some reason it is with winters.

Read about it on www.tirerack.com

If you don't want to stop or steer, get 2. If you want FULL control of your car, get 4. Don't be cheap. It's your car and your life. Is it worth getting in a wreck and getting injured over a couple hundred dollars?

I'm going with a 17'' tire package from Tirerack, one question tho........I suppose do I need the pressure sensors in the tires? And will the monitor system go nuts if not present?

I have to disagree with you, but I must. I've had the Bridestone Potenza summer tires for our two worst winters (cold AND snowy); on the FWD Grand Prix GXP no less! Yes, they're not the best, but you can get around if you are familiar with snow. If I was going to buy just a winter set, I'd get the 17s; the thinner and taller, the better! I'm NOT getting a dedicated set, but using some used Continentals for the back only.

And I have to disagree with you.
Summer tires are designed to become tacky at high temperatures.
On cool autumn days, a Summer tires will take some time to get to operating temperatures.
Winter tires are designed to remain pliable, and therefore provide grip at colder temperature, which conversely leads to their rapid break down as air temperature and corresponding pavement temperatures increase.

Just because you go through winter on Summers, is not cause for advocating for their use during sub-freezing temperatures and snow. Further more, you are comparing FWD and RWD. Driving dynamics of both are drastically different. My FWD VWs could only move through snow on Summers with moment - but stopping was nerve-wracking. If doesn't matter how well versed you are in snow driving - I almost made friends with a guardrail, while traveling at 15mph. They car just began to slide. There was nothing I could do but hope I did not hit the guardrail.

I am moderately comfortable with All-Seasons in snow provided I have AWD or 4WD. But for FWD, and especially RWD, it is Bridgestone Blizzaks all the way. I want my rear-end to only move when I tell it to.

Everything I've ever read says you should run 4 identical winters. Not the case with all seasons or summers, but for some reason it is with winters.

Read about it on www.tirerack.com

All 4 snows is a must with fwd for best snow performance. Back in the day when we walked 5 miles uphill both to AND from school, long before A/S tires were invented, and even only VW's and 3 cylinder Saabs had radials we only put snows on rear. Even my last rwd large cars '79 and '84 with A/S oems got snows on rear only - But we also could grab a set of cheap steel wheels for $10 each. I really wouldn't mind going with a cheap set of steels and flimsy plastic covers for winter and save that money for a spring tune. But nobody on the planet it seems makes any.

I'm going with a 17'' tire package from Tirerack, one question tho........I suppose do I need the pressure sensors in the tires? And will the monitor system go nuts if not present?

You don't need them. It's the price of 2 tires! ($288)They are there only because Washington decided the American public is too stupid to ever check their own tire pressure. You will have an eternally (at least through winter) dashlight on but it is a monitor only and does not change any operating characteristics of vehicle. I'm sure a simple "blown" fuse would turn off the light.

We have a 2006 Jeep Liberty CRD with 225/75-16 all-seasons. I have live in a Utah area that has real winter, but not as bad as some. The Jeep has traction control but is fairly front end heavy. It gets around in the snow fine with the all-seasons and has never been in 4-wheel drive except off road. Based on my experiance with the Jeep and other rear wheel drive cars in the 60s, 70s ( I'm 60 and owned all rear wheel drive before FWD because sort of a standard) and depending on ones situation, to me, full winter tires seems a bit of an over reaction, but I am sure they would do better in the snow but have poor tread wear.

If you've never driven with modern snow tires, don't bother commenting. You may think you're driving just fine with all seasons, but try a set of snows and you'll be amazed at the difference. I used to run a set of winter wheels with just all seasons. They were marginal at best. I decided to try a set of snow tires since I had winter rims. I LOVED them and will never drive in the winter without them again.

40 seasons of commuting in winter condition and 15 of those years commuting over a 8000ft mountain pass, in FWD and RWD cars with different tires including radial winter tires should be sufficient experience/knowledge to warrant making a comment. If a person really understands winter driving, they would understand that all tires in the winter are marginal, including winter snow tires. I guess a person has to buy what every is required to feel comforable with their winter driving.

I can drive anything in any conditions, I just prefer the best possible traction and control, which dedicated snows give you. It's my wife's car and I want her to be safe and in control. I prefer tail out, crossed up fun in the snow myself! That's why I only drive RWD vehicles.

These are two available tires on tirerack:

245/45R18 Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 ($202 each)

245/40R19 Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 ($248 each).

Would the 18 inchers really give me better performance in snowy conditions? Can anyone with experience help me out here?

to me, full winter tires seems a bit of an over reaction, but I am sure they would do better in the snow but have poor tread wear.On FWD it is not as most FWD vehicles are nose heavy and weight shift forward can cause the back end to break loose. We don't put snows on the back of a FWD for go traction but for stopping and resistance to sliding while steering. Personal experience living with 100" annual snowfall punctuated with ice and sleet tells me it works.

If you've never driven with modern snow tires, don't bother commenting. You may think you're driving just fine with all seasons, but try a set of snows and you'll be amazed at the difference. I used to run a set of winter wheels with just all seasons. They were marginal at best. I decided to try a set of snow tires since I had winter rims. I LOVED them and will never drive in the winter without them again.I think you misread him.

40 seasons of commuting in winter condition and 15 of those years commuting over a 8000ft mountain pass, in FWD and RWD cars with different tires including radial winter tires should be sufficient experience/knowledge to warrant making a comment. If a person really understands winter driving, they would understand that all tires in the winter are marginal, including winter snow tires. I guess a person has to buy what every is required to feel comforable with their winter driving.Good point, the need to expell snow from eth tread results in far less rubber on the ground in dry winter conditions than summers or a/s woould provide - yet both of those rae less effective in deep snow or even on ice.

I can drive anything in any conditions, I just prefer the best possible traction and control, which dedicated snows give you. It's my wife's car and I want her to be safe and in control. I prefer tail out, crossed up fun in the snow myself! That's why I only drive RWD vehicles.
Famous last words. :wink2:

HAHA "Famous last words." Sooooo true.

These are two available tires on tirerack:

245/45R18 Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 ($202 each)

245/40R19 Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 ($248 each).

Would the 18 inchers really give me better performance in snowy conditions? Can anyone with experience help me out here?

Let's look at the specs aside from price, we've already detremined in yoru case that's not a factor.

245/45-18 tread width 8.6"
245/40-19 tread width 8.8"

advantage slightly in favor of 18"s, total width narrower of .8 inches (4x.2); the contact patch does change and some have argued that the actual rubber in contact with the ground never changes until vehicle weight changes - I have an issue with that as a blanket statement. The height difference, 19 is .1" taller, but saves on 3 revs/mile 777 compared to 780 - virtually identical in rotational life expectancy. This one could boil down to what you are goinbg to do for wheels. I know your weather, and it is balmy compared to mine even though we're close to the same body of water.

The other thing is you are comparing naval oranges and valencias here, the $202 tire is only H speed rated while the 19" is V, like your oem. Same 18 in V is $225.

What would make a real difference is not a choice beyween either of those - but going with 225/50-R18, which is a narrow 7.7" at same 26.9 diameter only H speed but how often will you exceed 130 in winter, price $182. Tirerack suggests a 235/50-18 with a 8.0" tread width at $199, but they are almost a half inch taller tire, not a big problem except your indicated speed will be off by about 1.5 mph, so when you think you are safely at 55 you are really cruising down the road as bait at 56.44, and I know, from experience again, those m/c cops on I71 are a pain in the summer, think when they are freezing their balls off in winter.

chiefpontiac,

Thanks for the information. You obviously know your stuff. Thank God for this board!
So the advantage of going with the 18 inchers I referenced (over those 19 inchers) is so slight it may not really matter (and there is very little difference in price).

But what about those massive potholes we have to deal with? Would the 18 inchers offer an advantage there?

Famous last words.

I live in West Michigan. We've had everything from ice storms, to blizzards, to freezing rain on top of snow and ice. I've driven in it all safely. Snow tires make a world of difference if you get there a nervous wreck or relatively calm.