Winter tires for the van (Poll)

[J Wikoff]

I'm thinking about getting winter tires for the wife's van. I've read the stock Michelins are really bad in snow. I can't bring myself to get steelies, so looking at wheels on Tirerack, I don't see any stock size 17s that I like, but I do like one of the 18" choices. It comes in two colors, bright silver and gunmetal or something or other. Which is better. Keep in mind it has the black headlights on it. The darker wheels seem like they'd go better with them, but there's a lot of bright flourishes like the belt line and door handles that would look better with a bright silver painted wheel.

[1oldman]

Just me, I like bright silver painted wheel. You need to put on what suits your fancy as you're the one going to look at it every day. - BC

[PRD2BDF]

Why not put the snows on the current wheels and pick up a nice set for summer?

[J Wikoff]

That would require buying two sets of tires instead of one, and the cost of swapping tires.

[J Wikoff]

Poll added.

[00Beast]

Bright silver....

What's the stock size? 18"? I agree with Cody, honestly, but you know what you want. I'd rather go to discount and get Nokian Hakkapelittas on the stock wheels, then upgrade later. Does the van have TPMS too? Gotta remember to add those sensors to your cost...

[PRD2BDF]

That would require buying two sets of tires instead of one, and the cost of swapping tires.

You did it for the G8. Why not the van? Plus I'm sure the 18" would look better as summer wheels than the stockers.

[PRD2BDF]

If you don't like the look of steelies. You could have a bit of fun with them, get the steelies and put moon discs on them. Aerodynamic, baby!

[J Wikoff]

Putting winter tires on the stock wheels also leaves us with a set of tires with just several thousand miles on them. Maybe if we do get winter 18s, we can finagle swapping to the stock 17s for winter if both sets of tires are near the end of usability at the same time. Probably though, at that point we'd get good all seasons for year-round unless Nikki gets attached to the wheels.

They do have TPMS. Already figured that into it.

The wife won't "do" quirky. Not her style.

The G8 runs summer tires on the stock 19" wheels. I've had 17s for winter duty since I bought it. The tires were near their end, so I just got a new set of 18s for winter.

[PRD2BDF]

You could sell them on cl to recoup some money for the new wheels. Have you checked ebay or cl for cheap wheels?

[PRD2BDF]

http://m.ebay.com/itm/291301855548?nav=SEARCH. Found one

[burger]

You could just use stock rims for summer and winter, and switch the tires every spring and fall

[J Wikoff]

I guess the total cost (hassle+$cost) works out better for me if I buy a second complete set instead of going to get them swapped twice a year. I consider time spent on vehicles as well spent.

I appreciate the suggestions though.

Those wrangler rims look good, price wise. I need to find some pics of them on a T&C for spousal approval. She has ok'd the wheels I posted though.

I did sell my outgoing G8 winter set on Craigslist. Got some decent cash in my pocket. I'll look for sets of stock tires for sale and see how that tips the scales.

[repinS]

Gunmetal. Because racecar.

[BonneMe]

Silver always works on a black vehicle, gunmetal could look too close to black (but not black) and could just look off.

"PRD2BDF"]If you don't like the look of steelies. You could have a bit of fun with them, get the steelies and put moon discs on them. Aerodynamic, baby![/quote]

It's not a clapped out VW.

Gunmetal. Because racecar.