Topic: Reduce tire size from 16 inch to 15 for winters?

[lamey]

I was speaking to a tire dealer in my area, and he suggested looking at reducing the winter tires from 16 inch to 15 inch for my Subaru Legacy GT Wagon. I am now running on Bridgestone RE92s - 205/55/R16
Other than being cheaper, he said that the thinner tires would also be safer.

This is my first time getting winters, so I've never heard about this.
Is this Ok to do? What do you guys suggest?

As well, my current all-seasons are rated H (suggested by manufacturer). Should my winters also be H rated, or can I go lower to Qs (I am looking at Michelin X-Ices)

Thanks!!

[davidm]

Will 15s fit around the brakes?

I run 16" summers on the bimmer with 15" winters (on OEM wheels).  Also do a -1 for the Audi, 17" in summer and 16" in the winter.  -1 is pretty common, only question is fitment.

[aalex]

I also have the same question. I am currently driving the Mazda-3 GT and its OEM is 16" but it has a larger brake caliper than the GS model. I wonder if I can use the 15" steel for snow tires? Please comment.

[morty]

What year is the Legacy? In most cases you are limited to 16" due to the brakes and clearance.

Cant go smaller than 16" on the Mazda 3 GT.

[lamey]

I have a 2001 Legacy GT Wagon.

Thanks.

[Drivesideways]

I believe the logic behind using a narrower width tire as a winter tire is to provide less width to push through snow and increase pressure on the ground through a smaller contact patch.  I'm assuming, although you didn't mention it, the dealer is suggesting going down to a width of 195 from your OEM 205 width tire.

In order to keep the overall diameter of the tire as close as possible to the original, that would translate to a tire size of 195/65-15.  That's only about a tenth of an inch larger than stock. 

A 195/55-16 tire would be almost half an inch smaller in overall diameter. A 195/60-16 tire would be a third of an inch larger in overall diameter.  Large changes in diameter will affect not only your spedometer and odometer, but your ABS sensors as well.

[makuribu]

Is there an easy way to find out if you can go down a wheel size on a particular car?
I have a 2006 Impreza 2.5i Wagon. It came with 16" rims. I've seen 15" rims listed as an option, which would make for cheaper snows, but I want to know they'll fit before I buy them.

[johngenx]

We had a 2001 Legacy Outback Wagon, and 15" wheels would NOT fit.  We had to go with 225/60-16 snow tires.  Not sure if the brakes are smaller on the Legacy GT, but I doubt it.

[kavatski]

The 2002-2004 base Impreza came stock with 15" wheels and to my knowledge the brake size was not increased for 2005 or 2006. The Tire Rack's web site lists 15" winter wheel & tire packages for your car, so I think it's a safe bet you could go with 15".

[morty]

A 2001 Legacy GT Wagon will only fit 16" wheels. Brakes are too big for 15". The Impreza is a different car so what fits on the Impreza doent necessarily fit on other models.

As for the H or Q/T, it is really dependant on what and where you drive. H will give you better stability and life. Q/T will give you better deep snow and ice. If you are Urban go with the H and if you are Rural go with the Q/T options.

[lamey]

I am leaning towards the Blizzak LM-25, 16 inch, rated H.
I do about 80% driving in the city, with the odd trip to Collingwood for snowboarding.

Thanks for all your help!!!!