I purchased a used 2003 Echo last week. The all season tires are on 15 inch rims. I would like to buy snow tires for this car. The question is - snow tires on 15 in rims or snow tires on 14 in rims? I understand that 15 inch rims was an option selected on the original purchase. Without this option, the car would have had 14 inch rims.
I did alot of searching for a set of 15 inch tires and the best tire/deal I found was at Canadian Tire. I bought a set of Nordic winter tires in 185-60 r 15's. There are 3 different Nordic tires there but only one that is the right size.
Nordic Winter Trac
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My Cars, 2006 Corolla CE, 2003 Corolla LE
I had used Canadian Tire's 15" "Nordic IceTrack" on my Celica for 2 winters and they are the best snowie I have used (and not expesive) They are now on my 2006 Yaris. I had used 14" "Nordic WinterTrac" for the previous two years but changed when we got a Celica re size, difference. They cost a bit less than Icetrac and are almost as good. So my first choice would be Nordic Icetrac but if the sizing doesnt work go with the Wintertrac
my uncle has some used 13" snow tires to get rid of. he wants to give them to me (lucky me). i have 15" tires.
his idea is for me to buy 13" rims and install those on the echo to fit the snow tires. would they fit? it's an 03 echo.
~Amy
You would need a 13" tire/rim combo that has the same outer diameter (tire would need a taller sidewall) as the 15" tire/rim combo on your Echo, in order to maintain the stock outer diameter to keep your speedo accurate, etc...
The stock 15" rims on an Echo the tire size is P185/60R15
The stock 14" rims on an Echo the tire size is P175/65R14
For the 13" rim to work you need something like P165/75R13
Otherwise your speedometer and revs would be innacurate, meaning the speed you are travelling would not be reflected accurately in your speedometer...
thanks for the info echo_hrs. i didnt think about the speed difference before.
i think i might just get 2 new snow tires for the front tires from canadian tire. how much should it cost to have them installed and then have my all season ones put back on in the spring?
thanks for the info echo_hrs. i didnt think about the speed difference before.
i think i might just get 2 new snow tires for the front tires from canadian tire. how much should it cost to have them installed and then have my all season ones put back on in the spring?
~Amy
By putting only snows on the front you are creating an unsafe traction balance on your car, and making it prone to oversteer...Meaning the rear end will break traction and swing around...
The car will be more likely to spin out from the rear when braking on hills as well...
^^i've have had snows on the front of my civic for years w/o any problems....i find no real need to get all four....the rear sliding out has never been an issue...the snows on the fronts just help you get going and get some traction....
^^i've have had snows on the front of my civic for years w/o any problems....i find no real need to get all four....the rear sliding out has never been an issue...the snows on the fronts just help you get going and get some traction....
I have Wally World snows on my Echo 05 just the fronts..will possibly be getting rears too!!!
Today we got 6" of the white stuff and this car is supper light on the rearend!!! Plus I'm not a fan of antilocking brakes either! I like to be in full control of when and if the wheels are going to turn or not! Anyway, I looked at all the cheaper snows out there and have used the snows from Walmart for the last couple of years with much success! They are the most aggressive actual snow tires and also the cheapest! IMO they are well worth the money and will probably go out and get 2 more! I usually don't put 4 on but with this little wizzer of a car being so light , I think I will!
I've noticed this to be about the most tail happy of all the front wheelers I've ever owned. Rear snows are advisable if you are going to put them on at all...
is crappy tire the only place that sells the icetrak ones? i keep waiting for them to have them on sale, but they never do. with my luck i'll buy them at regular price and then they'll be a sale next week!
thanks for info about the rear traction echo_hrs, i didnt think about that.
the echo's usually come with 14" tires, so with mine being 15", did they have to do something with the speedometer or something to compensate for the bigger tires?? if not, the 35000 km on my echo is lower then the actual mileage!
also, does anyone else keep their winter tires year round? how long do they last like that?
is crappy tire the only place that sells the icetrak ones? i keep waiting for them to have them on sale, but they never do. with my luck i'll buy them at regular price and then they'll be a sale next week!
thanks for info about the rear traction echo_hrs, i didnt think about that.
the echo's usually come with 14" tires, so with mine being 15", did they have to do something with the speedometer or something to compensate for the bigger tires?? if not, the 35000 km on my echo is lower then the actual mileage!
also, does anyone else keep their winter tires year round? how long do they last like that?
~Amy
My experience with Canadian Tire (at least here in BC) is if something you have recently bought(in the last 30 days) goes on sale, just go in with your reciept and they will give you a refund of the difference. Because they are not designed to be used on hot, dry pavement like you get in the summer, keeping winter tires on years round will not only ware them out alot quicker than summer tires, due to the way they are made, ie: softer rubber, but your gas milage will be less than using summer tires which have less rolling resistance, even all seasons would be better than winters for summer driving. I usually switch from winter to summers in late March/early April, then back to winters late Oct/early Nov. As for 15" tires being bigger than 14" that isn't always the case, my 205/45/16 summers are 1/2 inch smaller diameter than the stock 185/60/15. For info on tire size affecting speedo try www.kabamus.com/garage/tires.html
Last edited by alohaYaris; 12-09-2005 at 05:37 PM.
the echo's usually come with 14" tires, so with mine being 15", did they have to do something with the speedometer or something to compensate for the bigger tires?? if not, the 35000 km on my echo is lower then the actual mileage!
also, does anyone else keep their winter tires year round? how long do they last like that?
The Echo comes standard with 14s or 15s, depending on the option package, so as long as your 15s are P185/60R15, then you are using Toyota's OEM sizing specs, so your speedo/odometer is fine...
The winter tires are composed of a much different rubber compound, they will wear out quickly in warmer weather, be noisy, and adversely affect your warm weather handling and grip, much like using a summer tire in colder weather...
You will get many winters out of them if you don't use them in warmer weather...
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Echo Snow Tires
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I usually switch from winter to summers in late March/early April, then back to winters late Oct/early Nov. As for 15" tires being bigger than 14" that isn't always the case, my 205/45/16 summers are 1/2 inch smaller diameter than the stock 185/60/15. For info on tire size affecting speedo try 
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