Hey guys,

Looking to buy some winter tires/rims from tirerack for the upcoming snow. I really hate to ask this cause I know that the bombs are going to fall, but I cannot find the answer that I am looking for in my searches so far.

I currently have 18" stock rims and I wanted to know if I could get away with the 17" recommended package from tirerack. Will these rims fit my hubs? Am I right in assuming that my speedo will be off as well? If I choose not to get the TPMS from them, will my light just stay on till I put the stock tires back on?

Sorry about having to ask these questions. I know that there are like a million winter tire threads, but I just wasnt getting lucky in my searches so far. Thanks again for your information guys!

 

Ya, 17" will fit unless you have bigger brakes than stock. AT base models can take 16's. The speedo won't be off, because you'll get higher profile tires to make up for the rim size difference. Ya, the TPMS light will just stay on until a few miles after you put your regular wheels back on.

 

There's a DIY that says which wire to cut to keep the TPMS light off. You could put in a small connector, and unplug/plug it for winter/summer.

Or you could just spring for the TPMS sensors for your winter wheels.

Ken

 

anybody know of or have a list of other OEM wheels that will clear the brakes of a MT car? If I can find some snows on some toyota or subaru wheels on craigslist, that would be perfect.

 

So will the recommended tires from tirerack be the higher profile tires that you refer to? I guess what I am asking is... On an Rx8 with 17 inch rims, do the tires make up for the difference in the size of the rims? i.e. is the overall diameter of the wheels (tires and rims) the same between the 17 and 18 inch rims? I know that these are stupid questions, but I have not had to deal with these issues yet. thanks for your patience guys.

 

Anybody else that has tried that 'DIY' has failed, so it shouldn't be referred to. There are only two ways to ovoid the TPMS light, cover it with tape or place TPMS sensors in the the rims.

 

That is correct Shinka. I bought my winter wheels from Tire Rack (Kazera 17 inch rims) and the tire size for the rims is 215/55R17. The additional sidewall height made up the difference from the stock 225/45R18. The total rolling cirumference is almost identical so there is no variance in the speedometer.

 

Agree with Expo, a little electrical tape works wonders. Next set of snows, I'll pick up TPMS sensors.

 

Tirerack has a list of aftermarket wheels that will fit, and they are happy to walk you through the whole thing then just tell them that you would like to think about it and search craig's list.

I have fox sport 2 17s on my car, and they fit fine although it is TIGHT. 17 inch wheels barely make it over the stock 18 inch wheel brake calipers.

As for the speed being off, that can be easily adusted by changing the profile of the tire, as others have said. I haven't noticed any appreciable change in speedometer accuracy as measured against those automatic radar controlled speed signs that the cops put up around here.

The tirerack has a great deal of experience at this point putting 17s over the stock calipers so go ask them, and they should be able to help you.

 

Yeah, I have electrical tape over several lights on the dash, and I keep covering more because they are so bright at night that they give me headaches while I drive.

 

I found the blinking TPMS light easy to ignore for the season with the winter wheels and tires on.