Winter tires / wheels for my C4S
11-10-2018, 06:48 AM
#1
Track Day
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Winter tires / wheels for my C4S
Hi guys,
I am a bit confused over my options here. Thing is, I have a 2002 C4S - and am considering buying winter tires for it. However, 18" tires and a new set of wheels costs a fortune here in DK and I am not keeping the car for the next winter. So: What are my options in terms of used wheels and other sizes than 225/40-18 + 265/35-18?
For instance, I have from my 2007 Cayman a set of 205/50-17 + 225/45-17. Is that a sort of blasphemy and/or dangerous to put on the C4S?
Or could I use another tire size on the rear wheels?
I am a bit confused over my options here. Thing is, I have a 2002 C4S - and am considering buying winter tires for it. However, 18" tires and a new set of wheels costs a fortune here in DK and I am not keeping the car for the next winter. So: What are my options in terms of used wheels and other sizes than 225/40-18 + 265/35-18?
For instance, I have from my 2007 Cayman a set of 205/50-17 + 225/45-17. Is that a sort of blasphemy and/or dangerous to put on the C4S?
Or could I use another tire size on the rear wheels?
Last edited by CJP; 11-10-2018 at 05:05 PM.
11-12-2018, 11:34 PM
#2
Pro
I am currently running Blizzaks on 19s and they work well. In the winter a thinner tire is better to reduce float but I couldnt see a 225 rear working on this car. I could be wrong, but it seems like too big of a difference.
Checking TireRack I am not even showing anything available for the stock sizes right now
Checking TireRack I am not even showing anything available for the stock sizes right now
11-13-2018, 01:16 PM
#3
Bridgestone Blizzaks seem to be the consensus choice. I think they are the LM-32 model. You could use 225/40-18 and 265/35-18 or 235/40-18 and 275/35-18. Ideally you would just mount these on the existing wheels that you have. The 265/36-18 are a bit narrow for the 11" wide rear wheel but I bet they would be close enough for one winter. This way you could avoid the cost of a second set of wheels.
11-13-2018, 02:07 PM
#4
Rennlist Member
You need to check with whatever size combination you choose that your rolling diameter is within 10% (iirc check owners manual) front to rear to avoid damage to the awd system. Unless you've deleted awd..
11-13-2018, 03:26 PM
#5
Three Wheelin'
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What are the conditions that you are facing prompting you to get winters? If you aren't facing ice or snow covered roads, but just cold/wet or cold/dry conditions, a good set of all seasons will likely outperform "snow tires".
http://www.skstuds.ca/2015/10/07/do-...old-dry-roads/
http://www.skstuds.ca/2015/10/07/do-...old-dry-roads/
11-14-2018, 08:17 PM
#6
Rennlist Member
^^ Agree. I’ve run DWS and AS3+ tires on my Porsches with decent success up to 6” of snow and RWD only. It’s not perfect by far in those conditions - you have to be a good driver - but where I live, they usually plow, and my all seasons do just as well in extreme cold as my dedicated winters. It’s amazing how far all seasons have come. I even think all seasons do better (more traction) than dedicated summers when temps are moderate (40-50F), such as my all season Michelin’s vs. summer only Pirelli’s.
11-14-2018, 10:00 PM
#7
Racer
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I’m finding a lack of snow tire availability period. I used my after market enkei’s which are 18’s rather than the oem 19’s hoping to save having to buy a set of 19’s. They fit but I’m up against this wall of availability. By the way they are forecasting 11” of snow tomorrow.
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11-14-2018, 10:35 PM
#8
Cruisin'
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I also was having trouble with availability. I purchased a set of narrow 18" "turbo twist" wheels and the rears were completely spent. 265-35-18 were on them before, and would have been ideal, but I couldn't find a winter tire in that size. I preferred to go narrow over wide so I ended up buying 255-35-18 Blizzak WS-80s. I wouldn't want to go any more narrow on a 10" wide rim but they are supposedly within acceptable limits. Interestingly, they are within 1% of the stock tire diameter so speedo should be right on. Just picked them up today, but I can report back if there are any issues. Still debating on how much it will be driven in salt but I'd like to take it on a few ski trips, and will keep them on in spring until the roads warm up enough for the Michelin Pilot Sports to be useful.
11-16-2018, 09:42 AM
#9
Racer
I have tried all the top Winter Sport Tires, most are good, but for me, I am tried of having other drivers get too close to hitting my babies, so I just used the money to buy a Winter Beater and let my sleeping beauties take the Winter Off -
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kgtace (12-15-2021)
11-16-2018, 03:11 PM
#11
The previous picture is from my trip up to Paradise on Mount Ranier a couple of years ago. I have Michelin AS3 All Seasons for winter tires. I understand that the newer AS3+ model is even better. The roads were plowed but snowy and there was even a four wheel drive vehicle with chains on all four tires. I did fine.