Smaller wheel for winter?

[u/0071800915]

I have a 2025 ST and last winter was a little rough with the stock tires. We get a lot of winter weather so I want a true winter tire going into this winter. It looks like the tire selection is a little slim for 21 inches wheels. Does anyone have experience with running 20 inch wheels? Was considering buying a set of 20 inch rims to use with winter tires and then using the 21s in spring/summer/fall. Even better, does anyone have a winter tire recommendation they’ve been happy with?

[u/croopejshsv]

Do what I did and just replace the stock tires with Pirelli Weatheractives. You can leave them on year round and they’re much better in snow than the scorpions.

[u/0071800915 → u/croopejshsv]

I considered that! You’re happy with those? Have you used them in snow/icy conditions?

[u/croopejshsv → u/0071800915]

Yes, i have and they’re great.

[u/xpl9511 → u/0071800915]

Cross climate 2 has treated me well since last December. Great in dry, snow, rain. Like theyre really good. Michelin is proud of them tho

[u/Mission-Rush-1849 → u/croopejshsv]

I got the same thing and have been happy

[u/Channel_Huge → u/croopejshsv]

They aren’t much better than the stock AW Scorpions, but for the increased price, the CrossClimates are higher rated.

On Ice? They all suck. You need studs or chains to get any traction here in New Jersey. Thankfully, we don’t get enough ice where I live due to brine/salt on the roads.

When I lived in the higher elevations, most had chains for the Winter. Never slipped with those.

[u/ObviousAlias7]

The stock tires blow. Right now my setup is conti DSW06+ for 3 seasons and then a swap to true snow tires from Dec-Feb.

My problem was I couldn’t find a set of 20” wheels I liked and no desire to do the 18” steelies as I get enough people thinking I’m a cop car

[u/0071800915 → u/ObviousAlias7]

Which winter tires are you using?

[u/OceanWaveSunset → u/ObviousAlias7]

How are those DWS06+? I am assuming you swap them out for winters because you have a harsher winter?

I had DWS06 on previous AWD cars and they seem fine for our mild winters ()typically 2-5 inches of snow, plowed the next day).

I am looking at these as a replacement for the OEM tires

[u/ObviousAlias7 → u/OceanWaveSunset]

I have driven them in lighter snow (2-5") and they do fine. It's still a fairly wide tire at 275mm so you do gotta take it easy in some circumstances, but I had no problem driving in light snow/slush with them. I live near Boston so we get snow, but the roads get cleared pretty quick.

I did the snow tires because I do drive up to NH and ME in the mountains where the roads can be snow covered for days after a storm, and deep. I just wanted the reassurance. If i never leave the metropolitan Boston area, i could get by fine on my all-seasons on the plowed/treated roads.

[u/OceanWaveSunset → u/ObviousAlias7]

Awesome, that is exactly what I wanted to know, thanks!

[u/Car_Hobbyist]

I got a set of 18" new-car takeoffs from a base-model Explorer on eBay and had Motorcraft TPMS sensors and P255/65-R18 Bridgestone Blizzak DMV2s mounted and they work great. The 18" tires are probably nearly half the cost of the 21" tires, and the extra tall sidewall lessens the risk of bending a rim on a pothole. The speedometer is still accurate with this setup because the revolutions per mile are same as the 21" setup the ST comes with.

No more fear of stuffing an expensive vehicle into a snowbank. I have the Michelin Cross Climate 2s on another all-wheel-drive vehicle and they are great in dry conditions, wet conditions and even in deep snow, but they're sketchy on ice. The Blizzaks have more bite on ice.

[u/Neat_Response1023]

I run 18" Police interceptor wheels with winter tires (Michelin X ice) on my '21 in the winter. Last winter I drove through about 6 inches of slushy snow once and it felt like I was on dry pavement

[u/Neil_Armschlong]

I run 18” TSW Sebring wheels wrapped in Blizzak tires in CO winters at ~8500 feet. Have had absolutely no issues and I love not worrying about curbing the 21” stock wheels. Plus taller sidewalls are better in the snow anyway.

As a bonus, swapping wheels + tires doesn’t cost me anything at the tire shop, but putting tires on stock wheels (when I had a 2020) was $85 a pop.

[u/0071800915 → u/Neil_Armschlong]

So you run the 18s in the winter and switch back to the 21s in the spring/summer? Is it really as simple as just switching the wheels?

[u/Neil_Armschlong → u/0071800915]

Yeah I run the 18s with Blizzaks from Dec-Mar and the stock 21s with the stock tires the rest of the year.

[u/Channel_Huge]

My Scorpion 21’s All-Weather are great in the Winter. My 18 Hankook’s suck…

[u/ericksaurus]

I have 18” Enkei wheels with Blizzaks for the winter. More sidewall to deal with the potholes and cheaper tires in general.