17" winter tires or 16"with winter rims?

[watsigdunk]

Does everybody change their alloy rims in winter time? use a winter rims?

Does winter really damage the alloy?

Does 16" winter tires with winter rims is cheaper than 17" winter tires only?

[mistamatrix]

My 03 XRS came stock w/ 17's and Firestone Firehawk summer tires (as all Canadian 03 XRS did). I didn't wanna sport the winter beater look w/ steelies so I managed to find a used set of 16" OEM alloys cuz I wanted to look P.I.M.P. for the winter and then I slapped on 16" winter tires on those.

In the long run, salt would probably destroy the alloy rims but if you rinse and wash the wheels throughout the winter enough times, you'll maintain it better.

You're better off getting a set of 16" tires/steelies than get a set of 17" tires and put them on the stock 17" rims. It's not a good idea to keep on removing and installing 2 sets of tires on one set of rims.

[Pioneer]

I just put 195/65/R15 's and steel Toyota rims on my 05 XR.

[mistamatrix]

^ ...which is even cheaper than getting 16's!

[Pioneer]

It was cheaper going to the 15". I bought the new X-Ice and saved about $45 per tire than if I had stayed with the 205/55/16.

F.Y.I. Mississauga Toyota will store your off season tires for $50 if you don't want to store them, or don't have the room. Others may do the same.

[mikes_matrix]

The 15" tire will cost you in Canadian dollars$50 to 120... The 17" snows will cost yu about $200 each.... For that kind of cash You can get steel wheels + tires .. or Take off alloys from a Corolla Sport or Celica GT + tires ... or some Cheap Alloys + tires.... The biggest benifit from the 15" tires is Snow Handling quality The more narrow the tire the better it is in the snow ... The wider it is the better the chance it will work like a snow shoe and try to stay on top of the snow.. The tire size I would recomend is the 185-65-15 or 195-65-15 the 185 will carry 1350 lbs and the Matrix is only 4000 lbs so they only have to carry 1000 each....the other benifit is the taller sidewall opposite to the low profile 50s have great turn in qualities but the 65s will tend to flex first before the start to slide giving better traction .... I am a tech at a G.T.A. dealer I just installed 195 on celica GT wheels for my XRS the 185s are already hard to find at this time of the year.....................I HOPE THIS IS HELPFULL

[Xdog]

Hey, I've got a buddy (quite a distance away), sez he has 16" wheels he took of his Subaru. 5 hole, 225/50 R16. He doesn't know the measurement (e.g 5X100), or if they're offset.

Any thoughts on whether these would work?

[mistamatrix]

The offset for the Suburus are higher. Will they fit? Yes. But when you mount them the wheel will appear sucked into the wheel well and bringing it closer to the strut.

I'd pass.

[Xdog]

Tire size is cool though, eh?

Mount 'em on some steelies?