[GTIspirit]

I see that the stock 15" snow tire size at Tire Rack is listed as 195/60/15, the OEM 15" size, but my ZX3 has 16" wheels and a 195/65/15 would be a better match for rolling diameter. I'd prefer the taller sidewall for snow tires, any reason why not?

And where might I find a 15" steel wheel for these snow tires? I want something cheaper than $89 alloys. I don't understand why Ford would have a 14" steel wheel that clears the brake rotors, but Tire Rack doesn't have any 15" steel rims that do

 

[knoxfoci]

http://www.focaljet.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB4&Number=720123&page=4&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

 

[GTIspirit]

Great, that answers the question about the availability of the 15" steel rims.

Now for thoughts on the size difference? 195/65/15 is closer to my stock rolling diameter with 834 rev/mi compared to 838 rev/mi for the 205/55/16. The 195/60/15 is 861 rev/mi, which would throw off my speedo and odo.

 

[Qdoba Addict]

Stock size for the 16s is 205/50/16. How did you get 205/55/16s on yours?

Since skinnier is better for snow tires you might want to consider 185/65/15.

 

[P-51]

I'd go 185/65/15 and forget about your speedo.

 

[Just4Looks]

I also fit 205/55/16 and 205/65/15 on my car. Never had issues with rubbing. I recommend if you can find them the Sumitomo SRIXON4 tires, I have been using them for about a year and a half and love them, they do have some sidewall give so handling is not as good as say a 50/45 series sidewall, but they do the job wonderfully. I rarely break them loose and have only had them howl once. Also if you have the cash go for Perrelli All Season p'6s they rock as well.

 

[GTIspirit]

Re: 195/60/15 or 195/65/15 (doh) snows?

Stock size for the 16s is 205/50/16. How did you get 205/55/16s on yours?

Since skinnier is better for snow tires you might want to consider 185/65/15.

Dohh, mea culpa, don't I feel silly. I've got the stock 16" wheels and tires and for some reason thought they were 205/55/16. Now that I stand corrected I see that 195/60/15 matches the stock 16" rolling diameter. (Moderator, you could delete this thread since it's pointless now.)

Thanks for the input, but it doesn't snow enough around Detroit for 185 tires, and 185/65/14, even though it's the OEM size, is not the same rolling diameter, you'd need 185/70/14 to match the 195/60/15 and 205/50/16 sizes. Except for when you're driving before the plows get out, which isn't that often, we don't get much snow, but the roads do have a fair bit of slush and a little ice, so I'm looking for something suitable.