Snow Tires!!!!!!!

[Liltoaster]

Currently I have a set of 205/50/15's on my Echo H/B that has TRD Lowering springs installed. I can't seem to find any 205's in a snow and was wondering if a 185/60/15 would fit on the car? It is a factory tire size!

Idea's???

[thebarber]

a bit taller than your oem running stock, but should be fine

[MUSKOKA800]

185/60/15 is the stock size for my Yaris sedan.
Last fall I picked up some winter tires on steelies which were 175/65/14 (stock Echo sizing).
The Echo's 14" set-up stands a full inch shorter than my 15's. I made it through last winter (we had lot's of snow) but dragged bottom often. I'm looking for 185/75/14's to put on these wheels for the coming winter.
If your Echo originally rolled on 14 inch stockers then 185/60/15 should work but are taller, which might be beneficial in the deep stuff but kill the off-the-line performance.

[Liltoaster]

Yea that is what I was thinking! Since its a factory size tires the 185/60/15 I might be ok! It will handle like crap I bet :(

[Liltoaster]

185/60/15 is the stock size for my Yaris sedan.
Last fall I picked up some winter tires on steelies which were 175/65/14 (stock Echo sizing).
The Echo's 14" set-up stands a full inch shorter than my 15's. I made it through last winter (we had lot's of snow) but dragged bottom often. I'm looking for 185/75/14's to put on these wheels for the coming winter.
If your Echo originally rolled on 14 inch stockers then 185/60/15 should work but are taller, which might be beneficial in the deep stuff but kill the off-the-line performance.

Well my Echo came with 205/50/15's from the Dealer! I have about 3/4 of a inch of clearance between the fender / tire gap!!

Any other size sugestions? If the 185/60/15 is taller should I go to a 55 series?

[thebarber]

195-50-15

[Liltoaster]

195-50-15

Can't find any yet locally. Might have to ship some in :(

[TLyttle]

Seems you guys are going against what works. Narrow section, high profile for snow: 165 or less, 70 or more. Make that tire cut into the snow rather than plow it! My neighbour's Model T with no snow tread goes ANYWHERE in the snow; tire section is really narrow, diameter really large, leaves 4x4s far behind...

[Liltoaster]

I wish I could run those sizes.... I only have 15" wheels to run in the snow! I thought about running a 175/65/15 but not 100% sure if it will fit with no rubbing / turning issues.

[WolfWings]

Just pony up the extra $160 or so for a set of cheap-ass 14" steel rims if you're buying seperate winter tires, then buy really GOOD winter tires and only use them once the average daily high temperature drops to 60 or less. Block off your upper grill on your Yaris when you put the tires on too.

Sure, it'll cost about $570 for the whole package, but remember that set of tires should last 3 seasons or so, and it'll only be $400 or so after that since you'll have a set of dedicated rims for your winter tires.

I'm doing that with Bridgestone Blizzak WS60's, the Michelin X-Ice series is better for dry traction, but nothing comes close to the WS60's for actual on-the-ice and deep-snow traction on passenger cars like our Yaris. =^.^=

[Liltoaster]

Yea that would be the best option to drop down to a 14" wheel setup! I am going to steal the fit wheels and do a test fit! The downsides to being lowered :(

[ROCKLAND TOYOTA]

Just pony up the extra $160 or so for a set of cheap-ass 14" steel rims if you're buying seperate winter tires, then buy really GOOD winter tires and only use them once the average daily high temperature drops to 60 or less. Block off your upper grill on your Yaris when you put the tires on too.

Sure, it'll cost about $570 for the whole package, but remember that set of tires should last 3 seasons or so, and it'll only be $400 or so after that since you'll have a set of dedicated rims for your winter tires.

I'm doing that with BFGoodrich Blizzak WS60's, the Michelin X-Ice series is better for dry traction, but nothing comes close to the WS60's for actual on-the-ice and deep-snow traction on passenger cars like our Yaris. =^.^=

bridgestone makes the blizzak and continental's TS790 got my nod for this season.

[WolfWings]

bridgestone makes the blizzak and continental's TS790 got my nod for this season.

Corrected my post, was written from my cell-phone while at work initially so I couldn't cross-verify. Only remembered that it was made by one of the major tire-fabs that start with a B, guessed wrong on my 50/50 chance! :drinking:

[thebarber]

ill have some 14's im digging out of storage at the end of the month...

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b339/dabarber/for%20sale/MR2rims003.jpg

[TLyttle]

Hm. There's another hint: steel wheels don't go nuts in the salt. I have a set of cast Jag wheels, they didn't see much salt, but they corroded far more than the steelies after many winters.

[Liltoaster]

ill have some 14's im digging out of storage at the end of the month...

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b339/dabarber/for%20sale/MR2rims003.jpg

Very Nice :)

Yea i'd be all over those but you are in Ontario :(

Oh well going to sell my Rota's and get me some 14's im thinking :) Once I do the test fit with the Honda Fit wheels LOL

[DevilGirl]

Just pony up the extra $160 or so for a set of cheap-ass 14" steel rims if you're buying seperate winter tires, then buy really GOOD winter tires and only use them once the average daily high temperature drops to 60 or less. Block off your upper grill on your Yaris when you put the tires on too.

Sure, it'll cost about $570 for the whole package, but remember that set of tires should last 3 seasons or so, and it'll only be $400 or so after that since you'll have a set of dedicated rims for your winter tires.

I'm doing that with Bridgestone Blizzak WS60's, the Michelin X-Ice series is better for dry traction, but nothing comes close to the WS60's for actual on-the-ice and deep-snow traction on passenger cars like our Yaris. =^.^=

The "cheap-a@@ 14" steel rims" will not work with the toyota TPMS sensors (or at least that's what I've been told from both Tirerack.com and DiscountTireDirect.com. I had thought about just getting a set of steel wheels from them. But, sadly, since I drive mostly highway for roughly 100/day commuting, and my boyfriend doesn't want me to be without it, particularly in winter, I still don't have a cheaper option other than using my stock 15" steelies for the winter tires, and wait until next spring to get the nicer rims for the rest of the year. :frown:

[thebarber]

whats the difference between 14 and 15" rims for the tpms? i wager nothing.

or just drive for 4-6months w/a light on your dash

[awdblazer]

http://www.nokiantires.com/tyre?id=11890&group=1.01.01&name=Nokian+Hakkapeliitta+5
this is what you want and in the 185/60/15

[DevilGirl]

whats the difference between 14 and 15" rims for the tpms? i wager nothing.

or just drive for 4-6months w/a light on your dash

I'm not sure if my post was misunderstood. I'm trying to find steelies to use for the winter without having to rip the sensors out of my current wheels Trying to have 1 complete (wheels, tires, and sensors included) set for the winter, and 1 complete set (wheels, tires, with sensors) for other 3 seasons. So that way all I'd have to do is just swap the set out when winter comes. And since my current tires only have 4500 miles on them (still new)........

The other point was to have a fully functioning sensor system during the entire year.

[ROCKLAND TOYOTA]

Very Nice :)

Yea i'd be all over those but you are in Ontario :(

Oh well going to sell my Rota's and get me some 14's im thinking :) Once I do the test fit with the Honda Fit wheels LOL

fit wheels will work. a guy by me has them on his black liftback....

[WolfWings]

I'm not sure if my post was misunderstood. I'm trying to find steelies to use for the winter without having to rip the sensors out of my current wheels Trying to have 1 complete (wheels, tires, and sensors included) set for the winter, and 1 complete set (wheels, tires, with sensors) for other 3 seasons. So that way all I'd have to do is just swap the set out when winter comes. And since my current tires only have 4500 miles on them (still new)........

The other point was to have a fully functioning sensor system during the entire year.

You'll still have to reprogram the car whenever you switch wheels.

To be honest, with how few months you'll have the winter wheels on each year, you'd be better off just saving the cost of the sensors and grabbing plain steel rims for winter. Check the pressure before you put them on, and once a month until you take them off, screw the TPMS. It's not like your car will explode from your TPMS light being on or anything. =^.^=

[regal]

I am using a set of 14" Honda Civic rims with Michellin 175/70/14 radian X snow tires. The tires were dirt cheap from tireeasy. All together I have less than $300 in the setup.

Do the TPMS mod to disable those silly squackers, makes life much easier.