Winter Tire Downsizing

OEM tires are 265/45 R21, would 255/50 R20 be sufficient for winter or should I downsize the diameter of the wheel more?

 

you'll throw off your speedo if you adjust from the overall stock tire/wheel diameter but I don't think you'd have any issues other than that.

https://www.willtheyfit.com/

Enter the before / after there and it'll tell you all the details

 

Already looked at that previously and I was within 1-2% variation.

My current wheel size is from an upgraded trim option package. The downsize size I put for the 20s is what would come with the car otherwise if I didn't get the trim package.

I guess my question is you hear people saying you should downsize for winter to increase side wall and was wondering if going down to the 20s mentioned is sufficient or if I should reduce rim size more and make up for it with a larger sidewall tire.

 

I haven't heard anything about increasing side wall but I've read that you want to go narrower in winter. Wider tires are more likely to ride on top of snow than cut through it.

 

265 isn't that wide but the nice thing is that you get a little more forgiveness with potholes with the higher sidewall. I'm surprised though that dropping a wheel size and 1cm in width only changes your aspect rating by 5. You sure that's right?

 

the difference in prices between 21" and 20" tires is significant. i imagine that's why you want to switch to 20"

 

If you can clear the brakes I’d go 18”

 

Surprisingly, the winter tires didn't vary that much in price from 18-19-20-21. At least not as much as I was expecting.

Reason? to increase sidewall for comfort?

 

correct

 

more comfort and more cushion for all those shitty potholes that you cant see as easy in the winter like you can in the summer.

 

I'd go 19 or 18" for reasons 17 said

I went to 17" on my Volvo, stock 19's

 

The last few vehicles I've done a proper -1 fitment - down one inch in rim size, and narrower width while maintaining the (darn near) same circumference as not to throw off the speedometer too much. I managed to save a couple bucks in the process.

 

i plan on going from 20 to 21 for next summer and the tire prices are a huge jump. but also looking forward to running 18" this winter to see what the cushion is like

 

My car has 235/35/19 summers and I run a 225/45/17 winter. The rolling dia is within tolerance and like mentioned above the slightly less wide gets through snow better and the extra sidewall is good for hidden potholes. We downsize lots of cayennes and x5s to 18s for winter packages

 

you get any old folks in their cayennes that want to get rid of their big summer wheels, lmk looking for 21 or 22

 

Haven't yet but I'll keep you in mind if I come across anything.