adg44

So, my trusty 92 Corrado SLC which I bought as a winter car when I had my 07 RS 4, now turned into my restoration project, and as such I don't drive it in the rain anymore and especially not in the snow. This is mostly drivability related to the supercharger that I added, as the filter and MAF sit right at the bottom of the bumper, and will just pick up all the snow and slush in the winter. That is too bad too, as the car was virtually unstoppable with the Wintersport M3's that I had on the factory rims.

So, I need to get a winter setup for the Porsche. Granted it doesn't snow much here, but I will get a set of dedicated winter tires regardless. I am debating on replacing my dry-rotted Contisportcontact 2's with snow tires on the OE rims, and then getting a different set in the spring with new summer tires on them. Or, I'll keep the 18's as the summer tire setup and get a set of 17's with winter tires, which will be the more cost effective method.

Other than tirerack, where are places to look for winter wheel/tire packages for the Porsche? Perhaps some of our advertisers sell a setup? I'd even be open to a set of used winter wheels/tires.

Also, what size are you guys running for winter setups? I have the 18x8/18x10 sport wheels on my C2, so that fitment in a winter tire is going to be both expensive, and also not ideal.

Thanks,

- Anthony

Dennis C

I bought a set of replica Sport Technos that are made in Italy from Wheel Enhancement, Inc. They shipped them with tires mounted and ready to go. I ended up putting Blizzaks on them. Mine are 8x18 in the front an 8x10 in the back, which is slightly smaller than the OEM 8x11s currently on my C4S. A set of new replica Porsche wheels cost me just a little bit more than a single OEM wheel. I felt it was a good option for snow tires.

There are good deals to be had on Blizzaks right now because the LM-25 is being discontinued. Tirerack has good prices and has wheel/tire packages too - so you might consider them as well.

adg44

What size Blizzak's did you put on the rear? I don't see a 285/30/18 fitment in any snow tire.

Also, does anyone know the offset of the factory sport carrera wheels? I want to make sure the ones I buy for winter are at least the same, if not larger offset.

- Anthony

skiracer

I got a great deal on 'scratch and dent' 17" turbo twist wheels from Tire Rack and Dunlop snows. Very affordable and more than adequate - you will have better traction w/ a narrower and taller snow tire.

There have also been good used sets F/S here, so search around for a great deal (might also want to check local Craigslist to avoid shipping costs). Good luck!

chsu74

Winter tires are 265s. Narrow tires provide more traction in the winter. Weight/sq inch into a smaller contact patch.

Dennis C

Winter tires for the C4S are 265/35/18 also.

adg44

Ok, so then I assume my OEM wheels are actually 18x11, not 18x10 then. Is this correct?

adg44

Oh, and yes, I am aware a narrower tire is better for snow traction. However, it snows literally 2 or 3 times a year here, so I'm not that worried about snow traction compared to dry traction. Sure I could do a set of all-seasons, but these V rated snow tires are quite capable in the dry/wet.

- Anthony

remedy451

Newbie question regarding the winter tires - I currently have 225/40/18 front and 295/30/18 on the rear. With the recommended 18" winter tires (225/40/18 and 265/35/18) will they fit on the existing wheels or do I now have to get new wheels for the winter tires?

autobonrun

One comment about using the term "winter tire". There are actually two categories as far as I'm concerned

1) Full blown snow tires like the Blizzaks
2) Winter sport tires

I've used both. I've switched from full snow tires to the winter sports based on the amount of snow we get. Much of the winter season, it's cold here, but there's no snow on the roads. A few days each season there's actually snow on the roads. You give up a little snow traction with the Winter Sports but I find during the other 90% of the season, they have less squirm than the full snow tires. They still have very reasonable performance characteristics in snow conditions. When there is snow, they do a great job of traction; not up to full snows, but much better than all season tires. Also, there is not as large a difference in performance going from summer tires to Wintersport as there is from summer to full snow tires. However, if I lived where snow was on the road much of the season, I would go with the full snow tire setup. Whichever route you choose, definitely get a second set of rims. I can pop a set on and off in about 30 minutes. It sounds like you don't get much snow, so you may want to research the winter sport setup. Several manufacturers offer them. I have the Dunlop WinterSport M3 setup.

Just my opinion on the subject.

Dennis C

It sounds like you have a C4S then? Are the rear wheels 11x18? If so, you'll need to buy some 10x18 wheels to run the Porsche recommended 265 tires.

I think you can probably find another snow tire that will fit your 11x18 wheels, but you'll have to change the width and/or aspect ratio from the recommended sizes.

C4S and turbo models have factory 11x18 rear wheels that take 295s, while C2 and C4 models have factory 10x18 wheels that will take 265s.

Dennis C

11x18 for C4S and turbo, 10x18 for C2 and C4.

KrisKringle

Bridgestone now has a BLIZZAK LM 60 IN 275/35/18 that could fit your existing rear rims (bit of a stretch but still within safe limits).

jumper5836

On my C4S stock wheel I've run for the past 6 years 265/35/18 Pirelli Winter Sport 240.

The wheel does stick out so you have to watch the curbs. I also run them at 40 psi in the rear and not the recommended 44 psi. Since my first set of rears wore out in the center, lowering the pressure now has even tire wear across the whole width.


I just noticed that the new blizzaks LM-60's have a 275/35/18 these would fit better on the C4S 11' rear wheel.

jumper5836

I agree those fit perfectly on a 11" wheel. It still is not recommended by Porsche but this is a new size and first time I have seen it in a winter tire.

I run the 265 on the 11" wheel while Porsche recommends a 10.5" wheel. Though reading up at tire rack I found this. The .5" is not really that out of spec.

Additionally, some vehicle manufacturers and tire companies have permitted rim widths that are not within the tire's original approved rim width range. For example: BMW has combined 235/40R17 sized tires on 17x7.5" rims (which are 0.5" less than the narrowest 8.0" wide rim listed for the size) on certain M3 models; and Chevrolet has combined P255/50R16 sized tires on optional 16x9.5" rims (which are 0.5" wider than the 9.0" wide rim now listed for the size) on certain Corvette models. While these applications have received the approval of the vehicle and tire manufacturers, staying within the approved rim width range helps assure that the tire's internal stresses are within its design parameters.