It's time to order snow tires for my Buick. (2014 Verano). The stock size is 235/45-18. Tire Rack also lists a 16" and 17" choice. Am I correct in thinking I would do better with less wheel and more sidewall for the pothole infested NYC roads I will be driving on? I've only had 60 series 15"s before and never gotten a flat and I would like to continue that streak. There are few things I'd enjoy less than changing a tire in the Bronx at 4:30am.
As tall and skinny as will fit. I dropped 2" in rim diameter, 30mm in width, and went from a 45 to a 65 aspect ratio on my 525i and survived the Taconic for the last 8 years without an issue, even the canyons that opened up a couple years back south of Millwood.
Smaller wheels allow you to go with a narrower/taller sidewall tire. Generally speaking, narrower is better, makes a longer contact patch.
This is true for summer tires too, although for different reasons.
If you can get 16s over the brakes, I'll place another vote for more sidewall.
One more vote for the smallest diameter that will clear the brakes. I went narrower with the G8. Same width with more sidewall on the missus's Flex. It's apples to pomegranates, but I don't think going super narrow will make a big difference.
Whatever you do, if this is a daily driver get a performance winter, not a basic snow/ice tire. e.g. LM-series Blizzak (not WS-series) or Dunlop Wintersport series. They drive like regular tires in the dry but also do well in the snow. I run 235/45/17s Wintersport 4D's on my WRX and they're great. I drive seriously bad roads every day in downtown DC and have never had a flat or sidewall bubble or anything, and I am not nice to my tires and car. I've always found them to have plenty of sidewall (same ratio as your stock size).
Yeah, going too narrow can cause the tire to get too hot at highway speeds and wear prematurely. It will also hurt wet and dry braking. I would stay with the OE or near-OE width on a car like that.
I too am looking at Snows for my Disco.. OE size is 255/55/18. Tirerack only has a few snows in that size.. what do people think of the Michelin Latitude Alpin? I know this is a Tyre recommended for Porsche SUVs and was supposedly designed for Europe where the highways are kept clear, but snow often covers the secondary and tertiary roads for some time after a storm.
Skinny and more sidewall is good, keeping them aired to 40+ psi helps too.
I've mostly run tires that were one size narrower on OE wheels, except the F250 which got the stock size E range 265/75-16's.
In NYC, I'm thinking 16" steelies with whatever size tire is suggested would be my choice.
More sidewall = better snow traction and pot hole resistance Skinnier = better snow traction and much better slush capability (look at WRC snows, they are 175 or narrower)
The bonus benefit of smaller skiny tires is that they cost much less.
Go with the least diameter that will still clear the brakes.
The newest C&D has a winter tire test, if you can find that on a newsstand.
Are you getting new wheels as well, or just swapping tires on the stock rims? If it's just a tire change, you've no choice but to stay with the 18" that fit your rims. Going skinnier is fine (within moderation), but it's not going to create amazing results. That will come more from the tire than the size of the tire.
I would get a separate set of wheels. I am currently running 17", but would go down to 16" for the winter set.
The highest sidewall & skinniest tire for snow.
the buick should have a plethora of rims that can fit it. You do not need to get stuck with steelies for winter. Just find a nice set of cast off alloys that fit in the size you want, and look for them on ebay or in the local JYs. Bound to be somebody with a set you can get for cheap.. then you can have traction in the winter and still have your nice buick look good enough for a night on Broadway
They are going to go on dedicated wheels. I'm leaning towards the 16s with a set of Firestone Winterforces. I have to drive on unplowed roads overnight and they churned through deep snow very well on the Malibu.
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