Tire downsizing is an important winter driving preparation. Not only are snow tires expensive, especially larger diameter ones, they can also be less effective on snow and ice. Your downsized tires will be the right size to ensure both performance on snow and ice, and they will be more economical.
Contents
- 1 Should my winter tires be smaller?
- 2 How much smaller should winter tires be?
- 3 Can you go down a rim size for winter tires?
- 4 What size tire is best for snow?
- 5 How do you know if winter tires will fit?
- 6 How do I downsize my winter rims?
- 7 Are smaller tires better?
- 8 Is it better to buy winter tires with rims?
- 9 Is it bad to put smaller tires on your car?
- 10 What is the advantage of 18-inch wheels?
- 11 Are larger tires better in snow?
- 12 How do you get better traction in the snow?
- 13 Can you go down in rim size?
- 14 Can I use 16 tires instead of 17?
Should my winter tires be smaller?
As far as sizing goes, the simplest thing to do is stick with tires the same size as those that came on your vehicle. But for winter tires, Wiebe notes that “ narrower is generally better. Wide tires are great under optimum conditions if you’re driving the car hard.
How much smaller should winter tires be?
Most car experts agree that if you run your vehicle with 17-inch, 18-inch, or even larger-sized wheels during the spring, summer, and fall, you really should consider downsizing your winter set of wheels to 16-inch, maybe even 15-inch, if possible.
Can you go down a rim size for winter tires?
You can go plus-one, plus-two, sometimes plus-three, meaning 18-inch wheels beget 21-inch wheels. You can also go minus-one, minus-two, or minus-three with winter tires, so a 19-inch summer or all-season tire/wheel package becomes 18, 17 or 16 inches with winter tires.
What size tire is best for snow?
A narrower tire does a better job in snow. As a rule of thumb, for winter tires you can reduce the width 10mm, increase the aspect ratio 10 percentage points, and get a wheel one inch smaller — in this case 215/60R16.
How do you know if winter tires will fit?
Winter tire sizes should be based on one of the following:
- Your Vehicle’s Original Equipment Tire and Wheel Size.
- The Tire and Wheel Size From Your Vehicle’s Base Model.
- A Minus Size Tire and Wheel.
- Minus Sizing Example for Winter Tires.
How do I downsize my winter rims?
you can downsize wheel diameter by an inch or two. The benefit of this relates to better performance and a lower price. Typically, when you reduce the wheel diameter, you’ll end up with a narrower tire in the process. A narrower tire cuts through ice and snow better, resulting in improved winter…
Are smaller tires better?
RAY: Smaller wheel-tire combinations provide better mileage, better acceleration and a quieter, more comfortable ride. Usually as a wheel gets larger, the tire’s sidewall gets smaller, so the total diameter of the wheel-tire combination stays about the same.
Is it better to buy winter tires with rims?
Having a set of wheels (rims) to go with your winter tires is a good idea. It saves the wear and tear of seasonal tire mounting, and makes it easy and much less expensive to do the seasonal changeover. Alloy wheels are lighter for better fuel economy and handling and certainly look better.
Is it bad to put smaller tires on your car?
Smaller tires can cause inaccurate information from your speedometer and odometer, create transmission shifting issues, cause anti-lock brakes to malfunction, and may even trip your check engine light.
What is the advantage of 18-inch wheels?
Pros of 18-Inch Wheels and Tires Because 18-inch tires have a larger sidewall, they are typically more flexible than ones with a smaller sidewall. Your tires act as shock absorbers and can provide a greater cushion when going over bumps and potholes.
Are larger tires better in snow?
Generally, narrower tires are better in snow and on ice because they are more stable and get better linear traction by penetrating the snow. In deep snow, wider tires might be able to float over the top, but that’s a very specific situation.
How do you get better traction in the snow?
A few simple tricks could help improve your tires’ grip and ability to perform in rough winter weather.
- For rear-wheel vehicles, add weight to the rear.
- Drive in tracks cleared by other vehicles.
- Get a pair of tire socks.
- Buy a pair of easy-to-install snow chains.
- Get winter tires.
Can you go down in rim size?
When changing the car’s original wheels and tires, the general rule of thumb is that you can go up or down by one inch. For example, if your car is currently riding on 17-in wheels, you can reduce the size to 16 inches. Many times, a sport package option will increase both tire size and the suspension’s stiffness.
Can I use 16 tires instead of 17?
Yes you can fit 16 inch tyres instead of the 17 inch ones just make sure to increase the tyre profile in order to reach the OEM circumference of the wheel your car came with ( if it was fitted with 17 inches from the manufacturer) otherwise you may get speedometer error.
