I know I am new to the site...but I have quite a few questions about the new ride that I KNOW you folks can answer for me.

I have 17" rims, and I need to go to winter tires (we have A LOT of snow up here in winter). I want to go to steel rims and rubber for the winter...but I cant find anything for 17'* that are less than $300 a crack! My local rubber shop was suggesting 15" steel with a larger profile tire.

Here is my question...as long as the rolling diameter is the same...is it OK to drop down two rim sizes? The price for the 15" combo is less than 1/2 of the 16" combo.

Also, I see the police (dont ask why) drive Imapla'* with steel wheels and winter rubber...is it the same bolt pattern? Does anyone know what size they are running...and where to get those? They must be performance winter rubber.

HELP!

I've ran my car the last 2 winters with the chrome wheels and not a blemish on them come spring. Zoop seal treatment now will protect them, and regular wash once a week. With over 160,000 km'* in 3 years I drive lots on salt roads, just wash and dont get lazy and skip a week.

ps. Great nic!!

There'* a link in TechInfo, and I have one I found

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

That will actually tell you wajt size will fit what wheels. Mine actually tells you how far off the Speedometer will be.

Where do you get that stuff? I just checked Canadian Tire...just to see if they had such a thing - no luck. Sounds like great stuff that I can use on the other cars that I will not be changing to winter rims/tires.

And the nic...I was thinking about yours...did not know it was taken!!

Thanks for the link. That is a great way to see what will work out. I am concerned about the computer telling me somehting is wrong with the car if I use smaller rubber for the winter. I know the ABS, TC and inflation monitor uses rolling diameter to calculate what to do.

Has anyone out there used a smaller rim for winter rubber?

cops run steeles and ZRs -reason they dont run alumium wheels (even on there ghosts) is because if youve ever hit a curb at high speeds, or spun into a curb, you know that alumium will just bust... but steal will dent/bend and still be drivable...

On the subject on different sizes- A friend just bought a set of 92 SSEi wheels with
245/50r-16 tires for a 95 Bonne SE. Currently he has 225/60-16 tires (stock) My
question is- How much of a difference is there in the 2 sizes (total diameter)and how will it affect the computer for ABS, speedo etc? Also- what size tire in the 50 series
is needed to equal the 225/60-16 stock tire diameter? Thanks

That is sort of what I am trying to find out. We need some experts on to ell us what should be done.

http://pw1.netcom.com/~sgalaba/tiresize.htm

Copy this to your address window and give it a try. Pretty good tire size calculator.

Tumbelweed

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