It's a pretty common thing from what I've gathered to mount 195-width tires. Both of mine have them.

 

What is it on? My Camry has 205/70-15s on it....taller and thinner works better in snow and rain and mud....atleast it does on off-road vehicles.

 

Oh, I missed you're on 15" wheels. I'm on low-end model 14" steelies, running something like a 195/65/14 or some such. They work very well. I'm sure if you got yours sized to come out more or less the same you would like them.

I run all-weather tires and they do just fine in ~18" of snow in the 'Trac and 6" or so in the '91 2wd.

 

It is on a '90 Camry. I was thinking 195/65-15 on an alloy wheel. They would be about 3/8" larger (radius) all the way around. I don't think I will run into clearance issues, the car is lowered about 2".

WOW you run a 205/70-15! That adds about an 1" larger (radius) all the way around. I don't think that would work with my lowerd ride height. Now you say taller and skinny for winter, I agree. But it the stock width was 185 and you are at 205, that is wider even though the tire is taller. These work well for you in the snow?

 

I run 205/45-17's in the winter... how about that? :lol:

Gotta be careful when I head to the mountains. With an Alltrac and the limited slip rear, it makes for some fun times (a little tail happy under power...). Made a 300 mile trip mostly in snow just fine when lots of other people were sliding off the road (most Californians can't drive in the snow).

A little extra rolling diameter will be fine, just don't go crazy with it. The 195 width should be not problem. Also not that the listed width is 'section' width, which doesn't correspond directly to tread width. I bet the Blizzaks have narrower tread being a winter tire that you might otherwise expect.

I'm looking forward to one day having snow tires... though I would only used them 5-10 weekends a year.

-Charlie

 

Well I use the snow tires a few months out of the year. The city does a good job here plowing most of the streets, which is nice for driving a lowered car in the winter.

I will say once you purchase and experience snow tires you will never what to go back to an all-seasonal. We all know how the "rules" work, there is not one size fits all, muti-tool, etc.

I thought the Winter Force were good when I got them, they are great, and might be better studded if you can do that in your state. But by the time you buy the cheap tire and pay for studding you could just invest in a studdless tire for the same price with better performance.

I have the Blizzak WS-70 on my wife's '99 camry, they are the best tire I've ever had in the winter. This car is lowered too (on Intrax) and has 195/65-15 on it. First time I put the tires on I took it for a "test" drive down on of the streets they did not plow with a lot of ice, packed snow, and some loose stuff. I drove carefully doing a few different "idiot" manuvers and the tires did not break free. I did notice the car seemed to stop faster if I did not mash the brakes so hard the ABS kicked in. More of a squeeze action on the brakes seemed to work better.

This is the way I see it, say you spend $800.00 on a set of snow tires and alloys. According to most of the reviews you can stop at least 1 car length sooner. So if winter tires keep you out of just one close call of a fender bender sliding into someone, then they just paid for their self.

 

I run 205/45-17's in the winter... how about that? :lol:

I can't believe you run a tire with such a small side wall PLUS coilovers with a higher spring rate AND drive in the snow. That has to be a little rough when you hit the busted up parts of snow, acting like snow pot holes. Good thing you have quality rims, otherwise they may suffer bending.

That was the one thing I was wondering, my car will have the BC coilovers on it. In summer I plan to run a 16" or 17" rim. But in winter I thought of going with a 15" for a little more cushion from the rough spot in the snow. But I don't know how the side walls of the softer tires will like the high spring rate of the suspenion.

 

I give up a pretty significant amount of winter performance to run those tires (Nitto Neo-Gens). I make it back up with driving technique (slower than most) and an upgraded AWD system.

The areas where I drive in the winter generally don't keep packed snow/ice on the road (its wetter/warmer in the California mountains than back east - it builds up fast but melts fast) and I haven't had to deal with more than 4-6" on the road at any time (even during the 4'+ storms of the Sierras). Regular potholes are still and issue.

So yeah, skill, planning and a set of chains just in case. I don't live where it snows on purpose. :lol:

If I lived in a place where snow/ice stayed on the roads I would be all over those winter tires.

As for the taller sidewalls with coilovers... I had the stock 185/70-14's for a while with the Tein's - the ride is less controlled than with the 17's, but it still feels better than stock. You can feel extra spring from the sidewalls, but it doesn't feel unsafe or out of control.

-Charlie

 

Anybody have any comments on Steel vs. Alloy rims for the winter?

 

Unless you have a set of alloys you don't care about, I'd go with the steelies for winter.

 

steelies are cheaper than alloys, take curbs better, and also there is no paint or clearcoat the get effed up by road salt. plus i think there is a certain beauty to steelies on our cars, especially in the winter :thumbsup:

 

If I go with the steelies I would really like to get a set of the Camry factory 15", "15 slot", I like the look of those.

Any have a set for sale?

Then put chrome trim ring on them. I thought about even getting them powder coated black (down the road some day).

 

Hot Wheels

Just felt like posting these...thought about buying the "flower" steelies but am gonna have my brother's buddy redo my current ugly and bent flowers. Maybe you can get those 15-slot wheels here.