I am newly separated and my ex husband used to take care of the car stuff so it’s time for me to learn .I bought a new Corolla and am looking at winter tires . Just curious , why different tire sizes for the different models ? Base, SE and XSE are all different sizes
Tire Sizes
1 - 20 of 34 Posts
Joined
·
847 Posts
Each of the models come with different size wheels. The SE and XSE come with 18s, the LE and XLE with 16s, and the base L with 15s
Joined
·
7,664 Posts
Upgrade models have larger aluminum alloy wheels, with tires to match... Which one do you have, and would you like winter tires mounted on separate wheels?
Even though all the Corolla trim levels have approximately the same total tire diameter, the ones with larger wheel sizes will have a lower profile (aspect ratio) tires that are also slightly wider. The larger wheels with lower profile tires have better handling characteristics, and also different aesthetics (guys tend to like larger wheels), but they also have a slightly harsher ride and not as good in rain or snow.
I would go to Costco (if you are a member) or Discount Tire for winter tires. They will help you choose the right ones. Both of these companies offer free exchanges, so they are going to try and put you into a tire that you will be happy with. They both have excellent service, but best to go when they are not the busiest if possible. They both are national chains and have very good service. If the recommended ones are too expensive for you, ask them for other options. You can also look at the Discount Tire website for the choices available for your specific vehicle.
You need to decide if you want the winter tires mounted on your existing wheels, or whether you will buy new dedicated wheels for your winter tires. Not sure if Costco sells rims. Also, you may have to figure out how to store your regular tires while using the winter tires (and the reverse in the summer).
Thank you! I was actually planning on going to Costco
Was just curious as I have always assumed that cars came with different upgrades/ trims but essentially were the same car as far as the wheels and body but just had different features
I got the SE upgrade , not so much for the wheels but just
I have the SE upgrade with alloy wheels . I plan to get tires and mount them on winter rims , which I believe is recomended ?( to have winter tires on regular steel plain rims ) !
As I mentioned above, even with 3 different wheel diameters on the Corolla trim levels, the total diameter of the wheels plus the tires is the same for each. This is required so the transmission, speedometer, and suspension system work properly without being customized for each trim level. The difference is that the large the diameter of the wheel, the less rubber there is between the edge of wheel to the road (because the total diameter has to be approximately the same.
The larger wheels (found on sportier trim levels) with lower profile tires have better handling characteristics and also different aesthetics, but they also have a slightly harsher ride and not as good in rain or snow. I am not sure if that is called "just marketing" or whatever. The differences are real, and each offers various trade-offs and compromises.
Winter rims are often recommended because they are usually smaller diameter, with higher aspect ratio tires, and slightly narrower tread width, which is better in the snow.
For winter tires I would recommend not getting low aspect ratio (low profile) ones. Narrower tires do better in winter conditions.
I just bought Michelin Xice-3 for the first time - had always ran Blizzaks previously, and I regret getting the Michelins because they’re so poor in slush and snow.
The Blizzaks perform much better in these conditions, but were also noisier.
The Michelin’s however are very quiet, even way quieter than the factory all seasons that came with my car. Cabin noise level has been very significantly reduced (thanks Toyota for the terrible noisy stock tires).
The Michelin’s are also very good in dry or wet conditions.
They do drive like an all season tire with very little of the steering vagueness I’ve experienced with some other winter tires.
Joined
·
502 Posts
So what is the make and model of your stock 18” /17” tires?
Thanks for the tip , I will take noisier tires if they perform better in the snow and ice .
Canadian SE trim get only 16” wheels.
My car came with Firestone FT140 tires. They are so loud conversations with rear seat passengers is quite strained. Tried complaining to dealership sales manager but to no avail.
Was also going to complain to Toyota Canada but decided it would be futile.
The demonstrator car did not produce such loud wheel noise, but then maybe it was equipped with different tires.
According to the Toyota Canada website, for the 2020 Corolla, You are correct that the standard wheels on the SE trim are 16".
But it looks like one can get the 18" alloy wheels on the SE with the "SE Upgrade," or the 18" are standard on the XSE. The tire size is P225/40R18, so anyone who gets those 40 aspect ratio tires will probably need back surgery.
If your tires are very noisy, that may be because of the tires Toyota chose, or could be due to air pressure in the tire is too high. Make sure the cold tire pressure (after not driving for several hours) is the same as on the sticker in drivers door jamb. The air pressure in the tire increases when the tires get warm due to constant flexing of the tread when driving. Could also be that the demo you drove was under-inflated a bit for a smoother ride. And like you said, could be just be different tires such as those on the XLE trim level.
Joined
·
502 Posts
If you tested drive the same trim SE, it will be the same tires as yours. 16” tires should be quieter than 18” tires. You may need to check air pressure to see if they are between 30- 33 psi
A lot of time tires are > 40 psi from the factory and the ride will be harsher than normal.
Unfortunately there were no SE cars to test when I was shopping (very early on) so my test drives were on LE and hybrid versions. I was assured that ride quality would be the same - I was misinformed.
It didn’t occur to me to scrutinize the tires installed on a new car before purchase. Turns out that Toyota Canada may equip Corollas with tires from several manufacturers.
I am meticulous in maintaining tire pressure. I own bourdon type pressure gauge and only check and adjust pressure when tires are cold.
Incredibly, after my winter tires (same aspect ratio) were installed, and during my ride home, it was immediately apparent that the tire/road noise had been easily reduced by half along with a significant improvement in ride quality.
I’m not looking forward to reinstalling the stock all seasons (Firestone FT140) in the spring. Replacing them with good tires would be too expensive. No recourse but to put up with them until they wear out.
Joined
·
502 Posts
I just get used to the stock all season touring tires 18” Yokohama Avid GT after a couple thousand miles. Originally I can’t tolerate the tires noise and lousy traction on the wet. Now I’m adjusting my driving style to suit this tires. I hate to dump the tires as it still have plenty of tread after 13,000 miles.
My wife and I are still together after 30 year and we have driven 2.4 million miles on 12 Toyota's Roughly 80-85K a year.
We live in Michigan and have never bought a winter tires because of the fact that for all of our driving,the winter tire has a softer rubber that wears fast. Plus I didn't want the hassle of changing them out again in the spring . Our best of the best has been on Mitchelin MDX L/S tires. We currently have them on our 2016 Highlander and my daughters 2011 Rav 4. If you keep them rotated every 5000 miles you will get close to 70-80K . (NOTE) They are not cheap but you get what you pay for. Costco currently has them on sale for -$70.00 Installation & Material. Someone should be able to help you out with the size for your Corolla, (GOOD LUCK)
It doesn’t seem as if MDX L/S is a Michelin tire.
1 - 20 of 34 Posts
