Planning ahead for winter wheels

[carsenault]

Sorry, still a Zoom Noob.

Im planning ahead for next winter, just wondering if a 15" steel wheel from Canadian Tire will fit my 3 GT or should I go with 16". The snow can get pretty deep pretty fast here in New Brunswick and Im wondering if Id be better off with smaller wheels and taller side wall?

[Noisy Crow]

Sorry, still a Zoom Noob.

Im planning ahead for next winter, just wondering if a 15" steel wheel from Canadian Tire will fit my 3 GT or should I go with 16". The snow can get pretty deep pretty fast here in New Brunswick and Im wondering if Id be better off with smaller wheels and taller side wall?

15's won't fit... too small to clear the brake calipers. So you are stuck with the 16's. Paired with right tires, the 16's should be able to get you through any snow that isn't deep enough to float your car on it's belly! :chuckle

You should also try to get hub-centric wheels, which the CT one are almost certainly not. You should be able to get a really decent price on winter rims, as everyone will be clearing out to make room for summer stock. Or you might be able to get a good used set..

[_3G]

I bought Michelin X-ice for the past winter (tons of snow here) and was very very impressed...it was almost like having 4WD.

[Hives]

^^^^ 16s for GT models

I have some no name/cheap ass winter tires on my car. Works okay.

[_3G]

also... this was the stock size tires on stock GT rims(don't like steelie look) handled the snow no prob...

[_3G]

^^^^ 16s for GT models

I have some no name/cheap ass winter tires on my car. Works okay.

Those Michelins' cost $900 installed. I had a little buyers remorse until the snow hit. The confidence those tires gave me was big time. Once I learned their limits I was tearing it up. Super predictable responsiveness.

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

You can only go down to 16" on the GT as the calipers won't fit on 15" rims. As mentioned already, really recommend you get a set of hubcentric steel rims and CT will most likely not carry them.

If you wait, our sponsors, particularly Simply Tire, has fantastic wheel and tire packages for winter. They are priced very good to begin with, but he also offers a TM3 discount based on how many member buy the packages. Go to his link on here and search for the pricing and tire details.

I put Hankook iPike409's on my wife's car MZ3 GT Hatch for this winter and both she and I were really impressed with the grip. They are a softer compound winter tire and they were so grippy that it was even hard to trigger the ABS in snow at speed or to have the car slide when taking corners. Very, very good winter tire for the price point. If you want the best winter tire money will get you, than Nokian Hakkepellita's are my vote, but I tell you, the Hankook iPike's weren't that far behind and they are about half the price.