pymlang

Wondering what the narrowest winter tire is that I can put on my '98 GS400. I might be able to get a hold of some 17" IS rims (not sure of the width), and I was wondering if 205/50R17 Blizzaks would fit.

I don't really care what it looks like - I can always add spacers, I suppose. It's just that I always thought that the narrower the better, when it comes to winter tires for biting into the deep snow.

Any other recommendations for 17" winter tires for my GS? I believe from scanning the forums that the 17" IS rims WILL fit my GS400?

Thanks in advance.

shvc1991

If the bolt pattern is the same, the IS wheels will fit. May not be flush with the fenders or anything, but it's only temporary right'?

Kansas

I know Ontario gets more snow than we do here in Kansas but I've driven my 2000 LS400 through four winters and some 10"-15" snowfalls with 225/60-16 Blizzak WS-50 tires - especially during frequent winter trips to northern Iowa visiting relatives. I've never gotten close to getting stuck and I've passed a lot of stuck 4WD/AWD vehicles spinning their all season tires on steep hills. Much of the credit can be given to VSC and TRAC -- makes driving in snow great fun.

My suggestion is to find some 16" wheels and use the 225/55-16 tire size that came standard on the 98 GS. If you can't find Lexus 16" wheels consider 16" wheels from something like a Toyota Avalon. The larger 225 section width will give you more stopping power on dry pavement that 205 section tires -- important since snow tires already have poorer stopping capability. Also, 16" wheels and tires will give you a bit more comfort when the tires are cold in subzero temperatures and over winter potholes.

All Blizzaks are not created equal. Avoid the "performance winter" Blizzak LM-25 tires and instead get the Blizzak WS-60 - the replacement for the WS-50. "Real" winter/snow tires like the WS-60 have a "mountain/snowflake" logo on the sidewalls.

For snow tires, the Blizzak WS-50/60 series tires are remarkably quiet but likely any tire with that mountain/snowflake logo would work well.

pymlang

I realize the 235's are the stock width, but aren't narrow tires better for digging down into the snow? At least that used to be the case.

How about 215/50R17's then? By my calculations, they should be slightly taller than the stock 235's. (25.46 inches for the 215's versus 25.33 inches for the 235's)
205's would be 25.07 inches tall.

I would think that narrow tires would offer more pounds-per-square-inch of pressure for the smaller contact patch with the road. (Plus a bag of sand in the trunk might help too!)

Thanks for your help.

pymlang

Thanks for your help, Kansas. I just noticed your reply when I posted my last msg to louiegs400.

I was originally considering 225/55R16's, but then I came across someone selling 17" IS rims for a decent price, so I thought I would check out this option.

I will look into the WS-60's, as I used to have the WS-50's on my previous car, and I just loved them.

I see what you mean re. the stopping power, but I would think that the wider tires would cause the car to float over the snow instead of digging down into the pavement, so I don't know which is worse - having a narrow footprint to dig down to make small contact with the pavement on snowy days, or having a wider footprint and possibly not make hardly any contact with the pavement. I really don't know. I'm just jealous of your winters versus ours! I'm sure you don't get anywhere near as much snow as we do! And then they dump so much salt on the roads.... sorry... just venting.

Thanks again for your help.

kit cat

iTrader: (6)

skinnier the better for snow tires. watch the WRC

Solo_D33A

I use 225/45/17 Blizzark WS-60.

They were on OEM GS rims, but 2 of them cracked, thus I now changed to a narrower rim, same size as the IS rims, 1 inch narrower than the OEM GS4 17"s.

newgsman

iTrader: (4)

I had 235/45/17 Blizzak LM25 at the start of last winter and they were absolutely horrible in snow or ice. Almost like driving on summer radials. I switched to 225/55/16 Goodyear GW3's and it was like night and day. The Goodyear is a much more aggressive deep snow tread. The best tires I have used however are the Michelin Pilot Alpin.

Narrower tires might help dig deeper in snow but the slightly wider tire is more advantagous on icy roads. I find the icy roads more treacherous to drive on than deep snow. I would probably stick with 16" rim because the 16" tire will usually be cheaper than the 17" tire. Just my thoughts...

Spyder78

iTrader: (7)

I am running 225/40 Bridgestone LM22 on my winter wheels which are 18" G35. I have had no problems getting stuck even in the deep snow in PA.