Joined
·
269 Posts
It is time for the winter run down.
You are basically split with the Focus tires into 00-04 and 05-current for wheel fitments. The earlier models have options down to 14". and the later goes down safely to the 15". This is for the standard models.
Some winter basics first. If you can go narrow do it. The weight of your vehicle dictates the size of the contact patch on your tire. If you have a wider tire, the patch is wider. If you have a narrower tire, the patch is longer but narrower. Think if how a tire expels water/slush etc. It has to push the volume out from the center of the tire. If the tire is wider it has more volume to push, and is less effective inducing hydroplaning of sorts earlier.
The other principle to think about is sidewall height. We are always looking to downsize the rim diameter to save costs, but also to isolate you from the road better which helps avoid tire damage with pot holes in the end of winter as the roads begin to thaw.
We come up with our data with TRUE ice testing, a local ice rink that we rent out and actualy test our tires on. Most of our test are on the web in our videos so check them out!
Now to the sizes!
For your 00-04 you have the opportunity to downsize to 14" and I do have steel wheels available for that. For the 05-10 downsizing to a 15 inch is best case. **The SVT's have a different set of rules, 16" minimum for them**
My Featured pick for the best grip for the worst situation in the 185/65R14 would be the Bridgestone Blizzak WS60. Best on ICE and hard packed snow. For the budget pick, the General Altimax Arctic would be a great choice.
For the 195/60R15 The Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 works great along with the Continental Extreme Winter Contact. The budge pick here is again the General Altimax Arctic.
For the 205/55R16 its the WS60 or the Conti Extreme Winter Contact. Here for the budget pick we move over to the Firestone Winterforce.
What is the difference between a stud less Ice and snow and a standard winter? Rubber compound. The Conti and the Blizzak have a special rubber that helps handle the problem of water. When your tire touches ice it melts a small amount of the ice and forms a water layer between your rubber and the ice. Now you have a new problem. The stud less ice and snow tires find a way to quickly soak up that water and allow the tire to contact the ice and get traction. Bridgestone calls it tubular multicell compound, which looks like Swiss cheese under a microscope. Click away and start your search now!
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
You are basically split with the Focus tires into 00-04 and 05-current for wheel fitments. The earlier models have options down to 14". and the later goes down safely to the 15". This is for the standard models.
Some winter basics first. If you can go narrow do it. The weight of your vehicle dictates the size of the contact patch on your tire. If you have a wider tire, the patch is wider. If you have a narrower tire, the patch is longer but narrower. Think if how a tire expels water/slush etc. It has to push the volume out from the center of the tire. If the tire is wider it has more volume to push, and is less effective inducing hydroplaning of sorts earlier.
The other principle to think about is sidewall height. We are always looking to downsize the rim diameter to save costs, but also to isolate you from the road better which helps avoid tire damage with pot holes in the end of winter as the roads begin to thaw.
We come up with our data with TRUE ice testing, a local ice rink that we rent out and actualy test our tires on. Most of our test are on the web in our videos so check them out!
Now to the sizes!
For your 00-04 you have the opportunity to downsize to 14" and I do have steel wheels available for that. For the 05-10 downsizing to a 15 inch is best case. **The SVT's have a different set of rules, 16" minimum for them**
My Featured pick for the best grip for the worst situation in the 185/65R14 would be the Bridgestone Blizzak WS60. Best on ICE and hard packed snow. For the budget pick, the General Altimax Arctic would be a great choice.
For the 195/60R15 The Bridgestone Blizzak WS70 works great along with the Continental Extreme Winter Contact. The budge pick here is again the General Altimax Arctic.
For the 205/55R16 its the WS60 or the Conti Extreme Winter Contact. Here for the budget pick we move over to the Firestone Winterforce.
What is the difference between a stud less Ice and snow and a standard winter? Rubber compound. The Conti and the Blizzak have a special rubber that helps handle the problem of water. When your tire touches ice it melts a small amount of the ice and forms a water layer between your rubber and the ice. Now you have a new problem. The stud less ice and snow tires find a way to quickly soak up that water and allow the tire to contact the ice and get traction. Bridgestone calls it tubular multicell compound, which looks like Swiss cheese under a microscope. Click away and start your search now!
