How well does your Focus drive in snow?

[Royal Tee]

Originally Posted by cacophonous

Your stock tires are 235/40R18 which have an outer diameter of 25.4"
You would want purchase 215/50R17 tires which have an outer diameter of 25.46"

The difference is .06" which would throw your speedometer off by 1/10th of a mile at 65 MPH

Personally I went with 15" Alloys and 195/65R15 Blizzaks which has the same approx outer diameter as my stock 17" Black & Machined rims 215/50R17 tires. My speedometer is off by 1-2 miles at 65 mph. I paid 50.00 for the used rims and 371.00 for the tires (out the door) at Costco.

The 15s are cheaper and work better in the snow since they are narrower. They also have as higher sidewall which is better for pot holes, etc.

Originally Posted by JMD787

I have the 18's as well. I went with a 15" wheel and snow tire. Keeps the cost down. The closest match to keep the speedometer accurate is 205/65/15. Tire Rack recommends a 195/65/15, but the speedo will be about 1.5% off. With the 205 it's only 0.3% off.

Great info fellas!
So aorn, If I want to get a set of winters and maintain accuracy for my 18" setup,
I have:
15" + 205/65/15 = 0.3%
16" + ?
17" + 215/50/17 = 0.06%

Now, other than having a TPMS installed is there anything else I really need to know before purchasing?
I honestly am putting aesthetics on the backburner for winter tires.

again, Thx!

[josephd]

When I bought my Focus, I figured since it was the Escort replacement, it would be great in the snow. I was mistaken, mistaken to the point of having to buy 4 snows for it. My 84 Escort was a tank in the snow. My Focus on the other hand is horrible.

[NorthernFocalPoint]

No, no your mistake was thinking that you don't need winter tires for driving properly in the snow!

I know what you mean though, the latest Focus is a bit longer and the back swings out a bit more than the previous gens. I had a great time driving in though this morning on the highway doing 90-100km/h changing lanes through the snow while an SUV trying to do the same thing once he saw me do it just ended up swerving back and forth and he ended up just staying in the lane he was stuck in.

Originally Posted by josephd

When I bought my Focus, I figured since it was the Escort replacement, it would be great in the snow. I was mistaken, mistaken to the point of having to buy 4 snows for it. My 84 Escort was a tank in the snow. My Focus on the other hand is horrible.

[cacophonous]

Originally Posted by Royal Tee

Great info fellas!
So aorn, If I want to get a set of winters and maintain accuracy for my 18" setup,
I have:
15" + 205/65/15 = 0.3%
16" + ?
17" + 215/50/17 = 0.06%

Now, other than having a TPMS installed is there anything else I really need to know before purchasing?
I honestly am putting aesthetics on the backburner for winter tires.

again, Thx!

16" = 215/55R16

If you are putting aesthetics on the backburner you could purchase new 15 or 16" steelies for about 50.00 each at Discount Tire or Tire Rack.

Also if you are purchasing used rims you will want to make sure the bolt pattern is: 5-108mm

Here is a list of vehicles that have rims with that bolt pattern. The offset may be slight different but should work fine:

Ford
Taurus/Sable 91-07
Thunderbird 89-04
Windstar 95-04

Jaguar
S-Type 99-03
X-Type 01-03

Lincoln
Continental 88-94, 95-03
LS6 00-03
Mark VII 93-00

Mercury
Cougar 89-98
Sable 86-05

Volvo
240 76-93
740 83-98
850 94-00
940 91-98
960 94-00
C70 98-00
60 Series 00-03
70 Series 98-03
90 Series 98-00
XC90 03

[NorthernFocalPoint]

5x108mm (5x4.25") - that's your bolt pattern.

Search the forum for the thread that has all the wheels that fit from other Fords/Volvos/Jags - some great options for getting a set of used winter rims ($50/ for 4 Windstar alloys for myself vs. $50/steel wheel).

Originally Posted by Royal Tee

Great info fellas!
So aorn, If I want to get a set of winters and maintain accuracy for my 18" setup,
I have:
15" + 205/65/15 = 0.3%
16" + ?
17" + 215/50/17 = 0.06%

Now, other than having a TPMS installed is there anything else I really need to know before purchasing?
I honestly am putting aesthetics on the backburner for winter tires.

again, Thx!

[PratoN]

Originally Posted by NorthernFocalPoint

($50/ for 4 Windstar alloys for myself vs. $50/steel wheel).

I made the amateur move...

[josephd]

Originally Posted by NorthernFocalPoint

5x108mm (5x4.25") - that's your bolt pattern.

Search the forum for the thread that has all the wheels that fit from other Fords/Volvos/Jags - some great options for getting a set of used winter rims ($50/ for 4 Windstar alloys for myself vs. $50/steel wheel).

I eventually want to get a set of used alloys for my street tires. That way I can keep the winter snows on the steel wheels.

[josephd]

Originally Posted by NorthernFocalPoint

No, no your mistake was thinking that you don't need winter tires for driving properly in the snow!

I know what you mean though, the latest Focus is a bit longer and the back swings out a bit more than the previous gens. I had a great time driving in though this morning on the highway doing 90-100km/h changing lanes through the snow while an SUV trying to do the same thing once he saw me do it just ended up swerving back and forth and he ended up just staying in the lane he was stuck in.

Not to mention she is much more powerful and lighter than my Escort was.
I am happy with the set of Cooper artic claw snows I bought, great traction. :)

[cobie56]

Originally Posted by josephd

When I bought my Focus, I figured since it was the Escort replacement, it would be great in the snow. I was mistaken, mistaken to the point of having to buy 4 snows for it. My 84 Escort was a tank in the snow. My Focus on the other hand is horrible.

i had a 91 tracer and a 95 escort, both standards and never used snows on them... they were little sherman tanks in the snow.... foot and a half of fresh snow? no problem....left everyone else on the side of the road...
my '01 focus was ok w/ all seasons but as it was an automatic the snows made a world of difference....
the '12 still has all seasons 17" on it as i've not gotten round to getting snows for it (yesterday we had our first sno tht stuck) so we'll see.

[josephd]

Originally Posted by cobie56

i had a 91 tracer and a 95 escort, both standards and never used snows on them... they were little sherman tanks in the snow.... foot and a half of fresh snow? no problem....left everyone else on the side of the road...
my '01 focus was ok w/ all seasons but as it was an automatic the snows made a world of difference....
the '12 still has all seasons 17" on it as i've not gotten round to getting snows for it (yesterday we had our first sno tht stuck) so we'll see.

Good luck, my Escort was a 4 speed, and I ran Michelin all seasons on it. Like you said, that car never got stuck in the snow. Although I could run faster than that car could go. :-D