[alkaseltzer01]

Hi all,

I know that 15" tires are the standard for my 03 corolla. A friend has a set of snow tires in great condition that I can have for free. Problem, they are 14" tires. Now, would it be OK if I install them on my car if I go out and buy 14" rims too.

Thanks for any advice given.

 

[Corolla101]

yes if it fits it'll work

 

[03mooncorolla]

Don't do it

Your corolla has 15" Rims as you know.
Now wouldn't it be real bad for you to buy 14"wheels for your corolla beacuse you could get 14" snow tires for free and find out that they rub on the brake caliper or worse yet affect the handling of the car so bad that you can't use them at all.:thumbdown

Save your money, go out and buy good all season tires or buy 15" rims with dedicated snow tires avoid the hassle.

Keep checking the for sale forum here you might find somone close to you selling snow tires in the correct size for your car.

 

[REN69]

How would it affect the way it "handles" ??? I'd like you to explain that, most cars handle better in the winter with smaller tires.

I'm not sure if this is true, but from what I've heard 14s won't fit on the newer 03-up Corollas, that's why they come with 15s stock. Don't quote me on this though.. I don't own one so I wouldn't be able to verify it.

 

[03mooncorolla]

How would it affect the way it "handles" ??? I'd like you to explain that, most cars handle better in the winter with smaller tires.

I'm not sure if this is true, but from what I've heard 14s won't fit on the newer 03-up Corollas, that's why they come with 15s stock. Don't quote me on this though.. I don't own one so I wouldn't be able to verify it.

I'll explain then

Agreed a smaller tire "WIDTH" will handle better in the snow because it has less area to clear.
But to change a stock 15" rim to a 14" rim when all the alignment and vehicle design has been set for that stock 15" rim, it would have to affect the handling of the vehicle.

You can always with proper tire and rim sizing increase the size of the rim, but you don't hear of too many people going down rim sizes. unless the vehicle they have as an option came with larger than stock rims (Corolla XRS comes with 16's) if you were to drive one in the winter you could go down to the stock Corolla size 15".

 

[Guido]

First off, try buying 14" rims for your car... I doubt you'll find any and your problem will be solved.
Then with the money you would have spent on rims, get good snow tires and mount them on your existing rims. Then you have all winter to find a set of rims for your all-season tires.

If your friend doesn't want those tires at all, take them, sell them, and put that money towards tires for your car.