"Minus-sizing" Winter Tires / Wheels

[Blue Angel]

I bought them from TireRack, Under the wheel packages, it gave me the option to select 15"...

What size tires are included with this package?

[wetpainted]

205-70/15

[bryanakron40]

Those look a little like the cobalt 15 inch rims. Not surprised that they clear the brakes.
Does anyone know how the stock firestone's are in the snow?

[bigemun]

I ordered the rims and wheel covers from Tire Rack today. They were able to answer every question I had and had great customer service. I will source my tires locally.Walmart has Good Year Viva 2's cheap in 205/70/15. Thanks for posting the pictures as they helped me decide to get these for my ECO. My car is the same blue granite color as yours and it looks great. They use TONS of salt here in Minnesota, so running my ECO rims was not an option!

[jadedgamerx]

Those look a little like the cobalt 15 inch rims. Not surprised that they clear the brakes.
Does anyone know how the stock firestone's are in the snow?

Having almost gone through the intersection of University and HW610 in Coon Rapids on VERY LIGHT packed snow with the ABS going the entire time, I can tell you the stock Firestone F700 tires are junk in the snow.

[sciphi]

Good to know the 15" wheels fit. I wish those had been available last year, as it would have saved me $$$.

[jadedgamerx]

I ordered the rims and wheel covers from Tire Rack today. They were able to answer every question I had and had great customer service. I will source my tires locally.Walmart has Good Year Viva 2's cheap in 205/70/15. Thanks for posting the pictures as they helped me decide to get these for my ECO. My car is the same blue granite color as yours and it looks great. They use TONS of salt here in Minnesota, so running my ECO rims was not an option!

I'm planning on ordering the 15" steelies from Tire Rack with General Altimax Arctic tires - I had them on my Audi and loved them. IMO, they look better without hub-caps anyway. Thanks for the info on fitment in this thread.

[XtremeRevolution]

Unless you get tons of snow many times a year imo I think your best bet is to get 1LT 16" wheels with the oem all seasons or even LS steelies. The narrower the tire the better for cutting through snow just make sure you get a taller sidewall so you don't throw off your speedometer too bad and rack up extra miles you aren't actually driving.

We don't get a whole lot of snow out here in the Chicago area, but all it takes is one or two snowfalls where the roads are dusted over, packed with snow, or full of slush, and your car easily loses control. The cheapest snow tire will vastly outperform the best all-season tire. When the wind starts blowing, you really start to appreciate the value of a good snow tire.

[bryanakron40]

Having almost gone through the intersection of University and HW610 in Coon Rapids on VERY LIGHT packed snow with the ABS going the entire time, I can tell you the stock Firestone F700 tires are junk in the snow.

Thanks for the info. Now to see if the wife and wallet will allow snows...lol.

[XtremeRevolution]

Thanks for the info. Now to see if the wife and wallet will allow snows...lol.

Depends on how you look at it. I see it not as a matter of whether or not I can afford to buy snow tires, but whether or not I can afford not to. Remember, you will get more safe life out of a set of all-season tires if you only use them 3 seasons out of the year.

With the 25-40mph wind gusts we sometimes get around here, can you afford not to have snow tires?