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[hl0m4n]

what is the best winter tire and size for oem zcp wheel and why is it better to go narrow than wider as i thought if you go wider there's more contact with the road.

[nullrouted]

Wider the tire, bigger the 'plow' effect of going through snow. Much easier to cut through with thinner tires. 19" Rims are also a horrible idea for snow, you probably want to consider a smaller set that will still fit around the brakes -- perhaps 17" with a good snow tire on there for maximum traction. As always, TireRack is your friend here, and they've got a lot of great info on sizing winter tires as well.

[hl0m4n]

^ i considered buying oem 18" for my winter tires but in ny the amount of snow storms we get don't justify me buying dedicated winter rims as well.

im not plan on driving with heavy snow falling but i think with winter tires on a 19" rim it should still get the job done right?

[nullrouted]

Originally Posted by hl0m4n

^ i considered buying oem 18" for my winter tires but in ny the amount of snow storms we get don't justify me buying dedicated winter rims as well.

im not plan on driving with heavy snow falling but i think with winter tires on a 19" rim it should still get the job done right?

Possibly, but any RWD with large rims will be pretty squirrely with any snow on the ground. I grew up on LI and used to drive a 350z with 18" rims and winter tires on it -- even with a pretty light dusting of snow on the LIE, the tail was out like crazy just going 40-50mph. Most likely you're just gonna want to keep the car out of the snow as much as possible, it's just not designed for it. Others may disagree with me here, but it's just my $0.02 from experience.

[slicer]

18's would be better than 19's in the winter. I always think its best to have a separate set of dedicated wheels and tires for the winter. When considering the cost, keep in mind that you will spend $250/year swapping tires on the same wheels. It is not good for a performance tire to be swapped on/off wheels repeatedly. That process will weaken the sidewall over time. Winter wheels will take more of a beating both from a finish standpoint and potholes. I would buy a set of used OEM 18's and install snows in OEM sizes (my preference because they have a taller sidewall) or possibly one size smaller (235/40/18 and 255/40/18). I would also consider a set of square 18 x 9.5 wheels with 255/40/18's (apex or OEM rear wheels). It makes the most sense to have a separate set when you factor in mounting and balancing costs and the fact that you can sell your winter wheels when you are done with them. You may even get your wheel investment back 100% if you buy them right. You should be able to get a set of OEM 18's for $700. You will need to store the tires no matter what and tires mounted on wheels take up the same space.

To further clarify the narrower is better concept... Wider tires will float on top of the slippery snow. A narrower tire will better penetrate the snow and get to the grip found in the asphalt below.

[Kung Fu English]

The winter tires are more than just for the actual snow. Your summer tires will have basically 0 grip under 40 degrees F. So even if you don't have snow storms you need winter or all season tires for the cold temps.

Get a dedicated set, put them on after Thanksgiving and take them off in March.