Nice rims Vince... looks like we have the same brand (Phat Cat Racing). Are yours 18"s?

 

we knew that already, but most ppl go for blizzaks because it gives us the extra edge when the roads are free of snow.

 

yea mine are 18s.










but i dont think they they are made by phat cats.

 

So, here is question that might be odd:
Why not just wrap staggered 19" Blizzak's on the OE rims (for the sport models)? Is there a significant gain in doing 18" rims?
Is the main/only reason to preserve the OE rims over winter? I'm thinking about just doing the tires and being obsessive compulsive about washing off salt/gravel from rims every night when I get into my garage.

 

Several reasons why going with a dedicated set of 18" rims & winters is better:
- 19" winter tires are expensive
- less choice of winter tires in the exact OEM 19" size
- mounting and unmounting tires during spring & fall will weaken the sidewalls of the tires
- mounting and unmounting tires during spring & fall increases chance that the rim shop will scratch your rims. 19" tires aren't easy to mount.
- decreases corrosion on the stock 19" rims due to winter salt
- in winter it's better to downsize your tread width so that it's narrower and can cut through the snow better. not sure if you can downsize the rear 19" oem rims as OEM tire width is 245 in the back. with my 18"s i'm running 225's all around
- now with the same rim size & tire size, i can rotate my tires front-back on each side....can't do that with OEM 19"s are they are staggered and wont' fit

 

OK, I see your point on having narrower tires to carve through snow better. Do 19's really get that damaged from mounting/unmounting?

 

ok, here is a follow-up question. Assuming I want to stick to the OE rims, can I install 225/40R19's all round?
I'm assuming the actual OE rims are the same size all round, correct? Oh, and I said 40R19's vs 45R19's, because I could not find a single place that still stocks 225/45R19 Blizzak's. 245/40R19's are easy, the fronts, I can't find.
Update: Or alternatively, any reason 245/40R19's wouldn't work front and back (tirerack has 'em on clearance...)

 

Staggered rims, that's why.

 

I went with Toyo Grabit KR's for both my 08 G37s and my wife's 07 G35x.....wicked tires. I guess I am not alone with BSA rims either, but man do they look sharp!!

 

ok, so am I going to crash and burn if I put 225/40R19 up front and stock size on the back? In essence, the front tire would be 3.3% smaller then the rears..

I am really trying to figure out how I can use the OE 19" rims with snow tires and I am having difficulty locating 225/45R19 snow tires...

 

ha thoses are the same rims as mine lolz

 

blizzack makes a stagered set up that are the same as stock size on the car.

 

They do (225/45R19). I just can't find them. Most sites seem to be low/sold out on them

 

ya quebec screwed everyone when they passed the winter tire low now all of NA is low on stock.

 

blame canada, blaaaame canada