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Winter Wheels for BMW: Sport Edition A7 and Sport Edition A8

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Whether you're minus sizing to a smaller diameter wheel for your BMW Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package or just trying to save your expensive BMW wheels from the potholes and salt of winter driving, Sport Edition produces some great winter wheel options.  

The Sport Edition A7 is one of the most popular winter wheels for BMWs. It's one of the few aftermarket wheels that fits over the large brakes of the newer BMW 335i vehicles in 17 inch options while accepting BMW center caps. The wheel is offered in both a black painted and silver painted option. 

New this year from Sport Edition is the A8. The A8 brings an updated design based on the look of the Sport Edition A7. The A8 maintains the same dimensions, sizes, widths and offsets as the A7, while will still accepting BMW center caps.

 Sport Edition A7 Silver
Sport Edition A7 Silver
Painted
 Sport Edition A8 Silver
Sport Edition A8 Bright Silver
Painted
 Sport Edition A8 Titanium Gunmetal
Sport Edition A8 Titanium
Gunmetal


The new Sport Edition A8 is offered with a titanium gunmetal finish and makes a great edition to the silver and black finish wheels currently available. Both the A7 and A8 have a durable, painted with clearcoat finish that is good for winter driving. 

Do you still need to decide which winter tires are best for your BMW? First, you'll want to decide between a Performance Winter / Snow tire and the more aggressive Studless Ice & Snow option. For assistance on choosing a tire from the right performance category, read "Choosing Between Performance Winter / Snow Tires and Studless Ice & Snow Tires."


Are Sport Edition Wheels Good?

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Yes! They may not equal the high style and lightweight of the more expensive wheel lines like BBS, O.Z. Racing and Enkei Racing Series, but for many drivers, the Sport Edition wheels are a great lower cost option. Sport Edition offers aluminum alloy wheels that have durable painted with clearcoat finishes offered in a variety of colors and styles.  

One popular use for a Sport Edition wheel is to make it a part of your Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package. Why submit an expensive Original Equipment wheel or high-end aftermarket wheel to the harsh conditions of winter driving and salt-covered roads when you can use a quality wheel at a good price? The stylish Sport Edition A7 and A8, available in black painted and silver painted finishes, have been very popular with BMW drivers for years. The same applies to Porsche drivers using the Sport Edition Cup 4 for their winter set-ups. Both of these styles accept the vehicle's Original Equipment center caps for a clean appearance.  

 A7 Black Painted
Sport Edition A7  A8 Titanium Gunmetal
Sport Edition A8  Cup 4 Silver Painted
Sport Edition Cup 4


We also offer basic steel wheels as well for many vehicles. Are you unsure of which is best for your car? Take a look at "Steel Rims vs. Alloy Wheels for Winter Use" to see the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Pirelli Winter Sottozero Serie II Run Flat

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Ottawa. Montreal. Snow and Ice Belt. 2014 335I xDrive. It's not just a question as to how the tires perform, but how they perform on the behicle they are designed for. On an F30 M Sport Performance Edition, the Pirellis provide an unbeatable level of winter driving performance. Within the first 1000 kms, one 40 km stretch of black ice forced me below 100 km/hr, and the Pirellis kept the car within controllable oscillations. I could not tell I was on black ice, until the first accidents notified me. But they gave me feedback i now know, slight oscillations as if wind gusting.

Then that deer popped, I was doing 80 km / hr, just about leaving that black ice rainy Nov 2014 day; nigghtime. Deer was just slowly walking. I swirled left. Then straightenened the car. Full control.

I realize they are not as good as Micheling or Hakapeliitas on pure compact snow and ice, but I did not buy them for pure snow or ice driving. I got them for handling characteristics in alla round winter conditions (or the snow score would be 5/5/3/3/5/4/5). I got them to survive the mix of ice and dry, ice and slush, snow and slush, or 85% of the conditions I face in winter driving, at Highway Speed. The vehicle does another 15% coverage.

These tires may not be for an front wheel drive vehicle. The assymetric pattern is also more unstable in turns- but that why it is made for a car that turns and leans aggressivley into every corner, even if trying it or not. A sportsy SUV or a sports car. Simliarly, no doubt that Michelins will do better on pure snow, but let me down in handling in wet slush, etc.

Treadwear- got 3000 kms and it seems standard for maybe 3 to 5 winters? Apparently, no matter the tire brand, the very rubber is meant only for 3 to 5 seasons top, as changes int emperature gradually nullify advantages, even if treadwear lasts. So 30-50000 city winter kms and 80,000 highway maybe?

Fuel Efficiency and Your Vehicle

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As part of the TireWise program, the Department of Transportation will finalize a rule to establish a tire fuel efficiency information program so drivers can identify the most energy-efficient tires. To help you better understand fuel efficiency and how a low rolling resistance tire can help, take a look at "Low Rolling Resistance Tires."

A key way to increase your vehicle's efficiency is to change what hits the road - your tires. As the tire market begins to offer more low rolling resistance options, the decision on what to use becomes more focused. In many sizes, Michelin even offers a winter tire with low rolling resistance capabilities with their the X-Ice Xi3.

When it comes to all-season tires, a few of the best tires with low rolling resistance are:

Using an aftermarket wheel that weighs less than your factory wheel is another easy way to increase vehicle efficiency. The best way to find a lightweight wheel is to search by your vehicle's year, make and model, then sort by weight. This will show the lightest wheels first. A few of the popular lighter weighted wheels include:

It is critical to understand that other factors like vehicle maintenance and driving habits are also items to consider when trying to increase efficiency. Tread depth of new tires also plays a roll in fuel economy.

Learn more about the new TireWise campaign and see what changes you can expect in the coming years.

Be Safe in Your Sonata: Winter / Snow Tire Options for Your Sixth-Generation 2011-2014 Hyundai ...

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For the longest time, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord dominated the mid-size sedan game. Then Hyundai crashed the party with the Sonata!

The sixth-generation 2011-2014 Hyundai Sonata has been particularly competitive but it still needs dedicated winter tires for the safest winter handling. When it comes to balancing snow and dry road handling, each one of us has to decide which performance traits we want to emphasize. Most Sonata drivers are likely served by the superior ice and packed snow traction that a Studless Ice & Snow tire offers.

Winter / Snow Tire Size

Always check your tire sidewalls to verify your current size. The GLS and Hybrid versions normally come equipped with 205/65R16 (215/55R17 is an optional Hybrid size) tires, while the Sonata Limited runs either 215/55R17 (2.4L engine) or 225/45R18 (2.0T). The Sonata SE runs on 225/45R18 in both engine models.

table.tableizer-table { border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; } .tableizer-table td { padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc; } .tableizer-table th { background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold; } Year Model Tire Sizes Rim Sizes Tread Width O.E. Hankook Overall Diameter 2011-2014 Sonata GLS (2.4L) P205/65-16 94H 16x6.5 6.1" 26.5" 2011-2014 Sonata Hybrid With 16's as O.E. P205/65-16 94H 16x6.5 6.1" 26.5" 2011-2014 Sonata Hybrid With 17's as O.E. P215/55-17 93V 17x6.5 7.1" 26.2" 2011-2014 Sonata Limited 2.0T 225/45-18/XL 95V 18x7.5 7.3" 25.9" 2011-2014 Sonata Limited 2.4L P215/55-17 93V 17x6.5 7.1" 26.2" 2011-2014 Sonata SE 2.0T 225/45-18/XL 95V 18x7.5 7.3" 25.9" 2011-2014 Sonata SE 2.4L 225/45-18/XL 95V 18x7.5 7.3" 25.9"
  • Step 1: Consider your most common winter driving situations. How often do you see deep snow? Packed snow? Glare ice? Cold dry roads?
  • Step 2: Pick a tire size of appropriate width for the conditions you experience on your drive. For example, if you have a 30-minute commute through farm roads alternatively covered with deep snow or ice, 205/65R16 is narrow enough to cut through deeper snow but wide enough to handle icy roads. If you have a long commute on major highways, 215/55R17 provides better dry road handling without being horribly problematic in deeper snow.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata uses valve-stem mounted TPMS sensors that must be initialized by the dealer or a major shop to function. We can install sensors when purchased as part of a Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package.

Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package

The Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 is great for handling snowy and icy roads. It also does well for dry road handling. The tire is a great option for Sonata drivers, and when paired with a steel wheel creates a great tire and wheel combo to handle winter's toughest conditions. If you're looking for a 17" tire and wheel, look at the 215/55R17 Blizzak WS80 with the Sport Edition A8 wheel.

205/65-16 Bridgestone Blizzak WS-80 $108*
205/65R16 Bridgestone Blizzak WS8016x6.5 Black Steel Wheel
16x6.5 Black Steel Wheel


Create your Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package today and handle all Mother Nature has to throw your way!

Sport Edition Daisy: Flower Petal Wheels for the New VW Beetle

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Designed under our house brand Sport Edition, the Daisy wheel is one of our longest running wheel designs. For years, it has provided a unique look for the owners of the new VW Beetle.

Manufactured in a 16" diameter, the Sport Edition Daisy is a perfect fit for new Beetles produced from 1998 until 2010 and is designed to re-use the factory tire size of 205/55R16. This allows the purchaser to re-use their existing tires if they are in good shape, or choose among the several tire options in this very popular size.

Should you wish to modify the wheels further, the included center caps are easily removable and very commonly painted to match their owner's vehicle.

 

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Michelin X-Ice Xi3

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Simply outstanding. Put these winter tires on about a month ago and already in the Chicago area we've gotten 7 inches of snow..which I looked forward to in that I wanted to see if these tires were what I expected. They are quiet on dry roads, very pleasant in cold temperatures (10-20 degrees) responsive and so on. In the snow they are very good and you will feel secure, perhaps, overly secure such that you may do some things without regard to snowy conditions and risk an accident. They give that much confidence during the short period of time I've had them on the BMW 535i X drive. Buy them. They are very good. I also bought a set of wheels through Tire Rack, BMW center caps, (I think Sport Edition 7) and the tires and wheels look very nice on the vehicle. I highly recommend this tire and of course doing business with Tire Rack as you get very good pricing, nice selection and the people know their stuff.

Fun in the Snow: Winter / Snow Tire Options for Your 2015+ Subaru WRX

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Speed or practicality? With the Subaru WRX you don't have to choose just one, you get both. However, if you live in the snowbelt, you'll need a set of dedicated winter tires to get your WRX ready to handle winter's toughest conditions.

Winter / Snow Tire Category

As covered in "Which Winter Performance Category is Right for You?", tire engineers are challenged with the diametrically opposed tasks of creating a tire with great snow grip and dry road handling. There is no "super tire" that does it all, so you need to decide whether you value the optimal ice and packed snow grip of the Studless & Ice Snow category or the better dry road handling found in the Performance Winter / Snow group. 

Winter Wheels

Once you make your snow tire choice, our website brings up a list of winter wheels to allow you to create a Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package. These wheels have finishes that are more resilient to road salt compared to our full wheel list. Your Original Equipment WRX wheel is 8" wide with a 55 mm offset. Ideally you should find a wheel with a similar offset to maintain steering feel and driving dynamics. 

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

The WRX uses valve stem mounted TPMS sensors that need be initialized as you install your winter tires or swap out between sets. Either your dealer or installer can initialize the sensors. You can also do it yourself with the ATEQ Quickset initialization tool.

Studless Ice & Snow Package

If you're going with Studless Ice & Snow tires for better ice and packed snow grip, you might as well go all out and get the option with the best overall grip, the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80. In addtion to maintaining its edge on ice and packed snow, Bridgestone made great strides in dry handling so that dry road compromise is much less compared to the previous-generation Blizzak WS70.

235/45-17 Studless Ice & Snow Bridgestone Blizzak WS-80 $173.28*
Bridgestone Blizzak WS8017x7.5 ET53 Silver Sport Edition CS3 $108*
Sport Edition CS3

 

Performance Winter / Snow Package

For a Performance Winter / Snow package, look at the Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 as it tested well on ice for its category and the tire's dry road handling prowess will help the WRX maintain its sporting nature.

235/45-17 Performance Winter Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 $178.00*
Pirelli Winter Sottozero 317x7.5 ET53 Silver Sport Edition CS3 $108*
Sport Edition CS3


Create a Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package and tackle everything winter throws your way. 


Winter Wheel Decision Guide

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So you have already made the fantastic decision to run a set of dedicated winter wheels and tires. The question remains however, how do I select a wheel that will perform well during the winter months?   

When it comes to winter wheels, you want to avoid chrome, polished and some machined accent wheels as they tend to be susceptible to damage from the weather as well as snow and ice melt chemicals. The image below is a clear illustration of why the above finishes are to be avoided. The owner of this wheel found out the hard way how harsh winter weather can be when using a non-winter wheels.

       

We find that the most robust wheels come with painted finishes. In addition to a painted finished, it is advisable to select a wheel with a more open design, such as a classic five-spoke like the Sport Edition F11 or MSW Type 14. The open designs allow for easier cleaning and clearing of snow and ice buildup, which can cause annoying vibration. Shop by vehicle to see what winter wheels are a fit for your application.

Winter / Snow Tires for Your 2016 Honda HR-V AWD

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Do you love your new 2016 Honda HR-V but worried how it will do in the snow? Even a Honda can still use a little help dealing with Mother Nature. 

Use our winter tire overview to decide whether you need a Studless Ice & Snow or Performance Winter / Snow tire. Given the HR-V's emphasis on ride compliance over razor-sharp handling, most HR-V drivers will be happier with a Studless Ice & Snow tire to handle tough winter conditions.

Winter Tire Size

Winter conditions will vary from deep snow, glare ice and cold asphalt, so your winter tire size needs to be effective against your most common winter foes. The 2016 Honda HR-V EX AWD CVT weighs 3,094 pounds and would benefit from a narrower size because of its light weight. A narrower size increases the pressure per square inch of contact patch. There isn't an ideal alternative 17" size with an overall diameter comparable to stock, so downsize to 205/65R16 (26.5" overall diameter). Compared to your factory 215/55R17, 205/65R16 is about a 1/2" narrower and 2/10" larger in diameter so they're narrow enough for deeper snow but wide enough to handle ice and packed snow.

Winter Wheel

Our winter wheel list has been filtered to only show more resilient finishes so offset is the major functional variable. Filter by offset to stay close to your Original Equipment 55 mm offset. This will retain O.E. suspension geometry, handling, steering feel and track.

Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package

The Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 is a great choice for its amazing ice and packed snow grip. It really impresses with its dry and wet road handling, especially compared to its predecessors. As for wheels, the 16x6.5 ET 50 black steel wheel is a good choice.
 

205/65-16 Studless Ice&Snow Bridgestone Blizzak WS-80 $106.20**
Bridgestone Blizzak WS8016x6.5 ET 50 Black Steel Wheel $62**
Steel Wheel


If you're looking for more styling than the steel wheels offer, package your 205/65R16 Bridgestone Blizzak WS80 with the 16x7 ET 53 Sport Edition Silver CS3

205/65-16 Studless Ice&Snow Bridgestone Blizzak WS-80 $106.20**
Bridgestone Blizzak WS8016x7 ET53 Silver Sport Edition CS3 $100**
Sport Edition CS3


When it comes to driving your HR-V this winter, tackle everything Mother Nature throws your way with a new Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package.

Winter / Snow Tires for Your 2005-2013 Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE

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A few months ago I got to spend a few days behind the wheel of my neighbor's 2008 Land Rover Range Rover Sport HSE. I'm used to smaller cars like my BRZ, so I wasn't expecting much out of the big SUV. However, I was really impressed with how the Range Rover Sport handled.

Are you a Snowbelt driver that's happy with his or her Range Rover Sport but concerned how it will fare in snow? The Range Rover Sport's heavy weight, sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, traction control and ground clearance make it capable in the snow, but dedicated winter / snow tires will make you unstoppable.

Winter /Snow Tire Category

If you haven't already done so, take a look at our winter / snow tire overview. Unless you're a very spirited driver, the optimal ice and packed snow grip of the Studless Ice & Snow category will serve you best. As for tire sizing, you'll need a tire narrow enough to slice through deeper snow yet wide enough for ice, packed snow and dry roads. Given the Ranger Rover Sport's 5,540 lbs. curb weight, though, using the Original Equipment sizes of 255/50R19 and 275/40R20 will be effective. 

Winter Wheel

Land Rover equipped the 2006-2013 Ranger Sport with both 19" and 20" wheels from the factory. There may be slight variances in offset among the different styles, but the standard 19" O.E. wheels are 9" wide with a 57 mm offset and the standard 20" O.E. wheels are 9.5" wide with a 53 mm offset. Ideally, you should stay close to the factory offset to keep track and overall handling comparable to stock. 

Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package

Taking the above factors into consideration as well the availability of 19" and 20" winter wheels, the best way to go is the 255/50R19 Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 on either bright silver or titanium gunmetal 19x8.5 ET 50 Sport Edition WX5.

255/50-19 Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 $173.30*
255/50R19 Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V219x8.5 ET50 Bright Silver Sport Edition WX5 $209*
Bright Silver Sport Edition
WX5
19x8.5 ET50 Titanium Gunmetal Sport Edition WX5 $209*
Titanium Gunmetal Sport Edition WX5


Create your Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package today!

Flower Wheels for Your Volkswagen Beetle

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By a show of hands, okay, maybe comments, who hasn't seen the Daisy wheel? It's a pretty good bet that most of us have seen this particular aftermarket wheel at one time or another, and with very good reason.

Designed to fit the 1998-2010 "new" Volkswagen Beetle (among some other VW models), the Sport Edition Daisy has easily become one of our most popular wheel offerings to date. The appeal of the Daisy wheel is simply undeniable. Some things in life just seem to go with one another. Exactly like peanut butter and jelly, hot wings and football, summer days and convertibles, the Daisy wheel and the Beetle were made for each other.  

Available only in 16" diameter, the Daisy has a center cap that can be colored to match your vehicle and give it its own unique personality. More than just about any other wheel, we have found that the Daisy makes an extremely memorable holiday or birthday gift. Shop by vehicle and to purchase the Daisy wheel for your Beetle, or add a set of tires to freshen the look and ride of your Bug!

Outfitting the New Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Black Bear Edition

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The new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Black Bear Edition is the newest special edition Jeep named after the legendary Black Bear Pass in Telluride, Colorado that was cut into the Rocky Mountains back in the late 1800s. It's also one of the more dangerous roads to traverse in the country today. 

The Black Bear Wrangler sets itself apart from the Sport model with factory installed rock rails on the sides, a limited slip differential and some cosmetic upgrades. The vehicle also comes from the factory with 245/75R17 Goodyear Wrangler SilentArmor tires that are just asking to be mounted on some sportier looking wheels! A perfect fit would be the new KMC XD Series XD300 Pulley in 17x8 with a zero millimeter offset and 4.5 inches of backspacing. 

As you can see, these wheels fit the stock tires perfectly and push them out to the edge of the fenders where they belong, rather than being tucked way up under the fenders. These wheels also work on Jeep JK Wranglers that come stock with the larger 255/75R17 size from the factory. Check out the selection of wheels for your Jeep today!

Tire Rack Consumer Review of the Pirelli Scorpion Winter

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I bought these tires last year from Tire Rack mounted on Sport Edition ST6 bright silver wheels. These wheel look very similar to the stock wheels, but have a bright finish to them that I find very attractive with the Floret Silver paint on my car. You can find Audi center caps on the Internet that will fit, too.

I've never been a big fan of Michelin tires, but the stock Michelin Latitude Tour HP tires seem pretty good in all weather conditions, except for tire noise.

When I first put the Scorpions on the car, I was concerned that they seemed very noisy compared to the Michelin's, but after a break-in period of roughly 500 miles, they quieted down to the point that they are now quieter than the Michelin's. And speaking of break-in, these took at least 500 miles to be fully broken in. Before that mileage, these tires were iffy in wet weather if you pushed them hard around a corner. After that mileage and now up to the 2000 miles I have on them, these are really superior to the stock Michelin's and if it wasn't going to wear them out, I'd just leave them on all year!!

I've only had these in deep snow once or twice and I'd say they do very well. On ice, they're about the best you're going to get. I've had Bridgestone Blizzak Winter tires on my other Audi (2005 allroad; 4.2), and those ---- by comparison. Sure, these are a bit expensive, but you get what you pay for!! I won't be returning to the Blizzak's under any condition! I had the Scorpion M&S tires on that car as well as these Winter tires and I'd take the Scorpions any time over the Bridgestone's. The Winter tires are by far the best IMHO. (Look for rebates!)

I drive Highway 26 over Mount Hood (Oregon) about once or twice a month during all weather conditions. These tires NEVER let me down and always held traction. You have to be going stupid fast to get these tires to not stick.

If you're looking for a really great Winter tire, I would highly recommend the Scorpions. You can't go wrong!

Worried About How Your New 2016 - 2017 Chevy Camaro Will Do in the Snow? Relax, We Got Your Back!

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Having a fun sporty car used to mean that you also needed a second car to handle the winter months. This is no longer the case as modern traction control systems and ever improving winter tires mean the fun doesn't have to stop when the snow falls. For example, you have a 2016 Camaro and we have several tire and wheel options to get you through the challenging driving months of winter.

WINTER / SNOW TIRE CATEGORY

As covered in our 2017 winter / snow tire overview, winter tires have to be engineered to balance ice and snow grip with competent dry road handling. Should you opt for the better ice and snow grip of a Studless Ice and Snow tire or the better dry handling of a Performance Winter / Snow tire? It depends. If you're an LT driver deep in the snowbelt who frequently travels on persistently icy roads,  Studless Ice and Snow tires are probably your better choice. If you drive an SS along the fringes of the snowbelt and enjoy spirited drives on nicer winter days, Performance Winter / Snow tires would normally be a better fit. 

WINTER / SNOW TIRE SIZE

Check your tire sidewalls to verify your current tire size(s). Here's a quick summary of trim levels and respective sizes:

table.tableizer-table { font-size: 12px; border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; } .tableizer-table td { padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #CCC; } .tableizer-table th { background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold; } Year Model Trim Brakes Standard Wheel Standard Tire 2016 Camaro LT Coupe 1LT Standard Brakes 18x8.5 ET 32 245/50R18 High Performance All-Season Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season 2016 Camaro LT Coupe 1LT Standard Brakes, Run-flats 20x8.5 ET 25 245/40R20 Ultra High Performance All-Season Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetrical All-Season Runflat 2016 Camaro LT Coupe 2LT Standard Brakes 20x8.5 ET 25 245/40R20 Ultra High Performance All-Season Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetrical All-Season Runflat 2016 Camaro LT Coupe 2LT Standard Brakes Run-flats 18x8.5 ET 32 245/50R18 High Performance All-Season Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season 2016 Camaro LT Coupe 2LT Brembo Brakes (4-Piston front) 18x8.5 ET 32 245/50R18 High Performance All-Season Goodyear Eagle Sport All-Season 2016 Camaro LT Coupe 2LT Brembo Brakes (4-Piston front) Run-flats 20x8.5 ET 25 245/40R20 Ultra High Performance All-Season Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetrical All-Season Runflat 2016 Camaro SS Coupe 1SS Brembo Brakes(4-Piston front & rear) 20x8.5 ET 25 20x9.5 ET 39 245/40R20 Front & 275/35-20 Rear Max Performance Summer Eagle F1 Asymmetrical 3 Runflats 2016 Camaro SS Coupe 1SS W/ZL1 Brembo Brake Kit (Performance Brake Upgrade Kit - Brembo 6-Piston Front)  20x8.5 ET 25 20x9.5 ET 39 245/40R20 Front & 275/35-20 Rear Max Performance Summer Eagle F1 Asymmetrical 3 Runflats 2016 Camaro SS Coupe 2SS Brembo Brakes (4-Piston front & rear) 20x8.5 ET 25 20x9.5 ET 39 245/40R20 Front & 275/35-20 Rear Max Performance Summer Eagle F1 Asymmetrical 3 Runflats 2016 Camaro SS Coupe 2SS W/ZL1 Brembo Brake Kit (Performance Brake Upgrade Kit - Brembo® 6-Piston Front)  20x8.5 ET 25 20x9.5 ET 39 245/40R20 Front & 275/35-20 Rear Max Performance Summer Eagle F1 Asymmetrical 3 Runflats

 

The proper winter tire size will be narrow enough to cut through deeper snow while being wide enough for packed snow and ice. See more on how narrow to go with your selection here.

STUDLESS ICE & SNOW WINTER TIRE PACKAGE

Let's consider the hypothetical case of Bernie from Buffalo whose sole vehicle is his 2016 Blue Velvet Metallic Camaro LT V6 with Standard Brakes. Bernie lives out in the country and frequently sees a mixture of deep snow blizzards and persistently icy roads. During nice winter weather days he likes to take it easy.

I would recommend that Bernie go with 235/50R18 Studless Ice and Snow tires on basic 18" wheels. 235/50R18s are about 1/2" narrower than the 245/50R18 Original Equipment size, so they're narrow enough to cut through deeper snow yet wide enough to be competent on packed snow and ice. Given the V6 Camaro's relatively high 3,339 pound curb weight, I don't see a strong need to downsize to 17" wheels and narrower 225/60R17 tires. I feel that would place too much emphasis on deep snow capability at the expense of ice, packed snow, dry road performance and aesthetics.  

For Studless Ice & Snow tire choices, the shortlist includes the Bridgestone Blizzak WS80, the Continental WinterContact SI and the Michelin X-ICE Xi3. All three provide good ice and packed snow traction along with overall capability. I like the WinterContact SI for sportier cars like the Camaro because it handles the best among the three. Putting it altogether I would recommend that Bernie go with 235/50R18 Continental WinterContact SIs on 18x8 ET 32 Sport Edition P2 wheels.  

Bright Silver 18x8 ET 32 Sport Edition P2 $128
Bright Silver 18x8 ET 32 Sport Edition P2Anthracite  18x8 ET 32 Sport Edition P2 $128
Anthracite 18x8 ET 32 Sport Edition P2235/50-18 Studless Ice and Snow Continental Wintercontact SI $151.45
235/50R18 Studless Ice and Snow Continental Wintercontact SI 

PERFORMANCE WINTER TIRE PACKAGE

With Bernie from Buffalo taken care of, let's move south to advise Louisa from Louisville. Louisa loves how her 2016 Red Hot Camaro SS hugs the curves as she's charging through open country roads. We wouldn't be surprised to find her revving that LT1 V8 as she impatiently waits for the light to turn green. For her better winter weather, more powerful chassis and enthusiast inclinations, I would recommend staying with a Performance Winter / Snow tire in O.E. widths. I like Pirelli Winter Sotto Series 3 because in performed well in wet and ice testing for its category. Taking all these factors into consideration, I would tell Louisa to go with the Pirelli Winter Sotto Series 3 in the 245/45R19 front and 275/40R19 rear tandem. For wheels, I like the O.Z. Racing Cortina in the 19x9 ET 26 front and 19x10 ET 40.

19x9 & 19x10 Black OZ Cortina
19x9 & 19x10 Black O.Z. Racing Cortina19x9 & 19x10 Machined With Anthracite Accent OZ Cortina
19x9 & 19x10 Machined with Anthracite O.Z. Racing Cortina245/45-19 Front & 275/40-19 Rear Performance Winter Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3
245/45R19 Front & 275/40R19 Rear Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3


Are you more like Bernie or Louisa? Your ideal winter package might be very similar to the above suggestions or it might incorporate some of both. Consider how bad your local weather is, what performance comprises you're willing to make and how much snow proficiency you need.


Extra Winter Grip for Tesla Model X - What Winter/Snow Tires Should You Get For Your Tesla Model X?

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Embraced the future and gotten yourself a Tesla Model X?  Unfortunately if you live in the Snowbelt that future may involve lots of snow. No worries we've got the dedicated Winter/Snow tires to keep you going.  Let's find the right set for exactly how and where you drive. 

Winter/Snow Tire Size:

Your Model X comes with either 20" or 22" wheels as Original Equipment. We need to find Winter/Snow tires narrow enough for deeper snow yet wide enough to be effective on ice, packed snow and dry roads. 

Ideally we would want to stay close to the overall diameter and weight of the Original Equipment Wheel(s) and Tire(s) to minimize impact on driving range.  Given differences such as tire rolling resistance there is going to be some change in range. There are simply too many variables involved to quantify this change. So what can we consider with respect to range? We  can take  parameters such as tread width, overall diameter and weight into account to minimize effect on range. It's helpful to have some baseline data so here's a summary of our starting point(s)

table.tableizer-table { font-size: 12px; border: 1px solid #CCC; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; } .tableizer-table td { padding: 4px; margin: 3px; border: 1px solid #CCC; } .tableizer-table th { background-color: #104E8B; color: #FFF; font-weight: bold; } Tire and Wheel Combination Front Tire Size Front Rim Size Front Tire Tread Width Front Tire Overall Diameter Anecdotal Wheel Wt. Front Approx. Comb. Wt. Front Rear Tire Size Rear Rim Size Rear Tire Tread Width Rear TireOverall Diameter Anecdotal Wheel Wt. Rear Approx. Comb. Wt. Rear Michelin 20" 255/45-20 20x9 ET35 8.7" 29.1" 32 63 275/45-20 20x9.5 ET35 9.6" 29.8" 33 68 Continental 20" 265/45-20 20x9 ET35 8.5" 29.4" 32 62 275/45-20 20x9.5 ET35 8.9" 29.7" 33 63 Pirelli 22" 265/35-22 22x9 ET35 9.5" 29.3" 38 72 285/35-22 22x10 ET40 10.5" 29.9" 40 78 Goodyear 22" 265/35-22 22x9 ET35 9.8" 29.3" 38 71 285/35-22 22x10 ET40 10.5" 29.9" 40 76 Tesla Pirelli 19" Winter Package (Same Size Front & Back) 265/50-19 19x8.5 ET35 9.2" 29.7" 30 65 265/50-20 19x8.5 E35 9.2" 29.7" 30 65

In a perfect Teslan wheel and tire world we want to avoid the inefficiencies of a wider tread width and greater rotational weight while maintaining an comparable overall diameter.

Studless Ice and Snow Wheel & Tire Package:

Have you read our Snow Tire Overview and concluded you need the superior ice grip and packed snow traction of Studless Ice and Snow tires?  The specific combination I would go with is the 255/50-19 Light Truck/SUV Studless Ice & Snow Michelin Latitude X-ICE XI2's on  19x8.5 ET 28 Bright Silver Sport Edition WX9's. I like the Latitude X-ICE XI2's combination of ice & packed snow grip, dry road handling and decent wear for their category.  The 19x8.5 ET 28 Bright Silver Sport Edition WX9's are mechanically comparable to Original Equipment wheels. Approximate wheel and tire assembly weight is 60 pounds, tire tread width 8.6" minimizing change in known range influencers.  With Free Mounting and Balancing your total with Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensors is only $1891.04*     

255/50-19 Light Truck/SUV Studless Ice & Snow Michelin Latitude X-ICE XI2 $224.76*
255/50-19 Light Truck/SUV Studless Ice & Snow Michelin Latitude X-ICE XI2 $224.76*19x8.5 ET 28 Bright Silver Sport Edition WX9 $181*
19x8.5 ET 28 Bright Silver Sport Edition WX9 $181*

 

20" Performance Winter/Snow Tires Wheel & Tire Package:

Do you live on the fringes of Snowbelt and/or are your more of  a spirited driver? Then go with Light Truck/SUV Performance Winter/Snow Michelin Latitude Alpin LA2's in the standard 265/45-20 Front & 275/45-20 tandem. The Alpin LA2's  have impressed with great overall capability including very good cold wet grip. As for a wheel choice consider the  20x8.5 ET 35 Bronze KMC 696 Pivot front wheels and 20x9.5 ET 38 Bronze KMC 696 rear wheels.  Approximate wheel and tire assembly weights are 64 pounds for the Front and 66 pounds for the Rear. With Free Mounting and Balancing your total with TPMS sensors is $2185.02.*

Light Truck/SUV Performance Winter/Snow Michelin Latitude Alpin LA2's in the standard 265/45-20 Front & 275/45-20 $1119.02*
Light Truck/SUV Performance Winter/Snow Michelin Latitude Alpin LA2's in the standard 265/45-20 Front & 275/45-20 $1119.02*20x8.5 ET 35 Bronze KMC 696 Pivot front wheels and 20x9.5 ET 38 Bronze KMC 696 rear wheels $806*
20x8.5 ET 35 Bronze KMC 696 Pivot front wheels and 20x9.5 ET 38 Bronze KMC 696 rear wheels $806*

 

Your future is here, don't let a little snow get in your way. 

*Prices subject to change, excludes shipping

Are Sport Edition Wheels Good?

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Yes! They may not equal the high style and lightweight of the more expensive wheel lines like BBS, O.Z. Racing and Enkei Racing Series, but for many drivers, the Sport Edition wheels are a great lower cost option. Sport Edition offers aluminum alloy wheels that have durable painted with clearcoat finishes offered in a variety of colors and styles.  

One popular use for a Sport Edition wheel is to make it a part of your Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package. Why submit an expensive Original Equipment wheel or high-end aftermarket wheel to the harsh conditions of winter driving and salt-covered roads when you can use a quality wheel at a good price? The stylish Sport Edition A7 and A8, available in black painted and silver painted finishes, have been very popular with BMW drivers for years. The same applies to Porsche drivers using the Sport Edition Cup 4 for their winter set-ups. Both of these styles accept the vehicle's Original Equipment center caps for a clean appearance.  

 A7 Black Painted
Sport Edition A7  A8 Titanium Gunmetal
Sport Edition A8  Cup 4 Silver Painted
Sport Edition Cup 4


We also offer basic steel wheels as well for many vehicles. Are you unsure of which is best for your car? Take a look at "Steel Rims vs. Alloy Wheels for Winter Use" to see the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

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