GS - 2nd Gen (1998-2005) Discussion about the second generation GS300, GS400 and GS430 (1998 - 2005)

205/50/17 ok for winters?

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Old 06-10-09 | 11:46 AM
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Default 205/50/17 ok for winters?

vs the stock 235/45's? The overall diameter is similar but they are just a fair bit skinnier. Wondering about stability of the car. I would be getting these tires for free and their new is why I ask.

Thanks in advance
Old 06-10-09 | 11:54 AM
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i would stick with the same size tires.. that just me tho
Old 06-10-09 | 12:06 PM
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Do you have 7.5 or 8" wide rim? Ask a qualified tire technician whether this size tire is going to mount onto the rim securily. If its not to stretched, you should be ok. Generally with winter tires, the narrower they are, and the taller the sidewall, the better.
Old 06-10-09 | 12:14 PM
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Roughly 1.20 inch narrower and 1 inch shorter*. They will work but will most likely look funny. I am not sure if they will negatively affect your ABS and Traction Control but I doubt its a large enough difference to do so.

*Only .2 In shorter - Thanks DarKnight for the correction - I must have mistyped something when i was calculating this.

Last edited by Debonair; 06-12-09 at 08:44 AM. Reason: Corrected measurment courtesy of DarKnight - Thanks!
Old 06-10-09 | 03:12 PM
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Get the stock 16's with factory tires for winter, 17's in winter time is like riding on a sled.
I learned it the hard way.
Old 06-11-09 | 06:43 AM
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i roll 215/60 16 winterforce tires during the winter. it looks like i go mud bogging. but boy do these tires ride comfy! i can swing the wheel back and forth between 10 and 2 o'clock positions and the car will still go straight lol. its a combo of the chunky tread blocks squirming and the soft sidewalls. in hard turns, they squeal and howl like nothing else ive heard before. i've never spun [unless i wanted to] or gotten stuck when the roads are snow covered.

going back to your topic, i think you would be fine. with that size. she would probably be more stable than mine due to the smaller [and probably stiffer] sidewall. and i wouldnt call mine unstable. plus since youre getting a good deal on it, i say grab them.
Old 06-11-09 | 11:43 AM
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Thanks for the advice everyone. They are $1200 that I can get for free so I hope they will work. If not i'll go with a 16" set up.
Old 06-11-09 | 05:48 PM
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those won't fit on oem 17's. do ya research man
Old 06-11-09 | 08:09 PM
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Usually narrower tires are better in the snow, but as others have said I don't think the tire would fit on the rim.
Old 06-12-09 | 01:46 AM
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Originally Posted by Chumacher
those won't fit on oem 17's. do ya research man
What do you think i'm doing?
Old 06-12-09 | 07:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Chumacher
those won't fit on oem 17's. do ya research man
Please explain.
Old 06-12-09 | 08:15 AM
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Originally Posted by Debonair
Roughly 1.20 inch narrower and 1 inch shorter.
They will be about 1.17" narrower but only about 3.25mm shorter. Your speedo might be off but the biggest concern would be fitting them on your rims.

Last edited by DarKnight; 06-12-09 at 08:45 AM.
Old 06-12-09 | 08:42 AM
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i know for a fact that 215/50/17 works haha i had them on my OEM 17s but now back to stock 235/45
Old 06-12-09 | 08:45 AM
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Originally Posted by DarKnight
They will be about 1.17" narrower but only about 3.25mm shorter. Your speedo will definitely be off but the biggest concern would be fitting them on your rims.
Thanks! I must have mistyped something when I calculated it.
Old 06-12-09 | 09:34 AM
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i have some 225/45s on my OEMs.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=4003674&page=3

the size you're looking at should fit. speedo/odo readings will be off, but the tire will mount.

pic for reference. a 205/40 on a 17x8.


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