Compatible tire/rim sizes on 2003 ZTS

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Timothy - 21 Dec 2005 18:03 GMT

I'm wanting to get some dedicated winter tires & rims for the vehicle. The
originals are 205/50 - 16" and I was considering a narrower tire and rim
(logically the narrower tire should find it easier to get through the snow -
but please correct me if I'm wrong).

Using the website provided in an earlier post
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/surveydisplay.jsp?type=HPAS by
Roarmeister it's indicating that I could go as small as 185/65-14" but
surely I'm going to have issues with such a small rim - or am I ?

Basically, will the vehicle take a 14" rim or am I forced to use a 15" or
16"?

Thanks for any help.

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Dave Gower - 21 Dec 2005 22:30 GMT

> Basically, will the vehicle take a 14" rim or am I forced to use a 15" or
> 16"?

It will take a 14 inch rim but you need 185/70 tires to get the correct
diameter. Since you're used to ZTS-grade handling, you might prefer 195/60
15s. A friend of mine just put them on his 2005 SES (similar to yours) and
he loves them.

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GeoffP - 22 Dec 2005 02:17 GMT

>> Basically, will the vehicle take a 14" rim or am I forced to use a 15" or
>> 16"?
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> 15s. A friend of mine just put them on his 2005 SES (similar to yours) and
> he loves them.

I recently put 14" rims with 185/70's on my Daughters car '03 ZTW, after
some very good advice from the people on this news group. (Thanks Guys.) She
is thrilled with the performance on snow and ice. I checked the speedo with
my GPS and it reads 2 kl's slow at 100 kl's. I believe most modern speedo's
read a little slow anyway,
Geoff.

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Timothy - 22 Dec 2005 15:53 GMT

Thanks for the confirmation, it's much appreciated.

I'm not too concerned about trying to replicate the summer handling that the
OE Firestone provide (they've got 69k km on them) which are fine on dry/wet
roads but suck when it comes to the slightest bit of snow/ice. I'm just
wanting to put something on the vehicle (without breaking the bank - hence
the 14" option) that will allow me to pull away from the lights without the
traction control light burning a permanent image into my retina.

> >> Basically, will the vehicle take a 14" rim or am I forced to use a 15" or
> >> 16"?
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> read a little slow anyway,
> Geoff.

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GeoffP - 23 Dec 2005 00:34 GMT

> Thanks for the confirmation, it's much appreciated.
>
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
>> read a little slow anyway,
>> Geoff.

Sorry Timothy, I just re-read my post and the tires where 195/70's. As long
as the load rating is ok, 185's would just give you a slightly lower ratio.
Maybe 2 kilometres slower at 100. and also better traction in deep snow.
Geoff.

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