[silver02svtf]

Well winter is coming up [] and I've been shopping around for winter tires. I've decided to use the factory 17" since they are painted and clearcoated and should stand up to a Canadian winter. I'm thinking about getting a set of Dunlop Graspic Winter tires that are Q rated (160km/h) in size 225/45r17. I was just wondering if I'll have any clearance problems with these tires since they are 1 size larger than factory (215/45r17's aren't available for this tire).

 

[imajsdaddy]

There are 214/45r17's available... I can get the name if you want but they were $975 installed on the factory rim... Don't know how much the ones your getting cost...

I live in Alaska and bought 16" foci wheels, with studded tires on them... Paid $725 for the package! That way I don't have to jack up the SVT rims!

 

[silver02svtf]

$975 [eek] that's kinda pricey. I got a quote for $557 installed with taxes (and that's in Canadian dollars!) at the local walmart.

 

[EuroZX3Focus]

ouch, lol I just paid $288 for my winter Hankook 404s on my stock 15" focus wheel so I dont ruin my Kona wheels, $500+ seems kinda pricey, maybe its just because of the size? Best thing to do is find a trashed LX focus or someones old set of LX wheels (the 14" ones with the hubcaps) and throw some snow tires on those and use them instead of your alloys which use a bigger size etc. It would make it much cheaper and then you dont ruin a set of decent wheels

 

[MyNavyZX3]

I just threw on my steelies with some bridgestone blizzaks (185/70/R14). it's really the only way to go for several reasons. You have to pay something like $50 to get the snow tires mounted to your rims, then another 50 to get the summer tires remounted. So in two seasons the steelies are paid for. Also, 225/45/17 is going to be an expensive snow tire compared to a little 14incher. In snow or slush (which is what you'll see lots in hamilton) I have my doubts that a 225 snow tire is going to cut through the slush - I'd guess you'd just sorta aquaplane rather than cut through it. When you think about it - our explorer weighs about twice as much (I'm guessing here) and is running on P235's. Last thing you might want to consider is the fact that mounting and remounting tires on is both hard on the wheel and hard on the tires - can screw up the bead, thereby wrecking the seal the tire makes around the wheel. I also wouldn't be all that worried about salt wrecking the wheels but sliding into a curb will give the SVT wheels a nice curb rash.

 

[Infra3sv]

Curbs suck. I am also thinking about getting winter tires. What is a good package to get?

 

[bfocused]

silver02svtf
I just ordered 4 of these same tires from TireRack.com. The Graspic DS-1 215/45/QR17 for $97.00 each. With shipping the total was just under $419.00. I am going to run these on my stock rims. Go take a look at tirerack.com
bfocused

 

[Infra3sv]

Will different tires on the stock rims make that much of a difference?

 

[bfocused]

Infra3sv
If you are asking me, the answer is a big yes.
The stock tires are a preformance tire, with little tread in the design. Winter tires have a much more aggresive tread design, to dig into and bite the snow, slush or ice giving you more traction.
Go to tirerack.com and look at the images of winter tires, and then take a look at the tires on your SVTF. I am sure the difference will be very evident.

 

[silver02svtf]

Yes bfocused is right. The svt continental sport contacts are actually not designed to be driven in the snow, there is no m&s designation on the sidewall. They are not all season tires but performance tires and actually would be quite dangerous for driving in winter. As far as what was mentioned by EuroZX3Focus and MyNavyZX3 with putting smaller steel rims on with winter tires it can't be done on the svtf. I went to the local svt dealer and they told me there are no steel rims on the market (in any diameter even 17") that would clear the larger brakes that come with the svtf. The tires that I mentioned earlier are designed for driving in the snow. What I think I'll do is mount the snow tires on the stock 17"ers and splurge on a set of OZ superleggera's in the spring and put the factory rubber on them.[idea]

 

[bfocused]

If you look in the SVTF supplement to the Focus owners manual, you will see a listing for a 16 inch wheel. They recommend this wheel for winter driving. I called SVT to verify this, and yes there is a 16 inch wheel that will fit the SVTF.

I priced this wheel at my Ford dealer, and they wanted about $108.00 each. So adding the price of 4 of those to the cost of winter tires made the total cost way more than I wanted to spend. So, my cheapest option was to find 17 inch winter tires, and mount the on the stock wheels. My Dunlops should be here on monday or tuesday. A good friend of mine works at the dealer, and will mount them for me for a song and a dance after hours. The dealer has what they call shop day, and allow employees to work on their cars after hours using the lifts and tools.

Snow is not that far off, and if this winter is like last winter we can expect a ton of the chit.
bfocused(soon to be in winter shoes)

 

[imajsdaddy]

See here is why I hate the forum allowing people to post in the SVT room!

All the other Foci will take smaller than 16" wheels but for those for you who don't own the SVT focus.... The smallest rim that will fit is a 16" rim! This is due to larger front brakes than the regular foci!

Your telling people false information! Please only post if you have a clue about the topic your posting about!

The SVT focus must have a 16" or larger rim! That is why the cost for the studded/ winter tires is more tahn those of you with 14" and 15" rims! Go gett yourself the $100 specials... For the SVT owners plan on paying for the tires! just as if you were going to buy normal tires! It's gonna cost for better tires!

The canadian who got a quote for $557 or what ever it was... Lucky you! I live in Alaska and there is one tire store who could even get the 17" studded tires for me... They would have to be imported from sweeden or some place liek that...


PLEASE KNOW WHAT THE H3LL YOUR POSTING ABOUT BEFORE YOU GET EVEYONE ALL FUQD UP AND WASTING MONEY ON PARTS THAT WON'T WORK ON OUT SVTF~!!!!

 

[imajsdaddy]

YES

Will different tires on the stock rims make that much of a difference?

Look at teh SVT supplament in the owners manual... It clearly states teh size of tires approved for the SVT focus! Change the size and then have mechanical problems with anything, drive train, shocks, etc... You'll pay out of your own pocket!

 

[bfocused]

imajsdaddy
Who are you ranting and raving at? I did not give any mis-information. I am simply putting winter tires on my stock rims. The winter tires are the same size as the stock tires. 215/45/17 summer tires for 215/45/17 winter tires. I mentioned the supplemnet to the owners manual only to show that yes, a SVTF will take a 16 inch wheel.
bfocused (now confused)

 

[silver02svtf]

bfocused, wouldn't changing the tires twice a year be tough on the finish on the rims and also wear down the seal on the tires? Would luv to save the $ and not buy another set of rims but if changing over and over again could cause some damage it might be worth it in the long run.
imajsdaddy the tires I mentioned actually aren't studded (studded tires aren't allowed on public roads in Ontario) but are premium ice-n-snow tires and should perform quite well. Here in Southern Ontario our roads are usually well plowed but we do get a lot of heavy downfalls and snow tires are a must in my opinion. I'm not quite sure how much worse your road conditions are in Alaska but I'm wondering if you could get by with buying a premium ice-n-snow tire without studs and save yourself some $.

 

[MyNavyZX3]

imajsdaddy - Sorry for not knowing the intricacies of the svtf but honestly, relax. My main point is that seasonal mounting/remounting will ruin both the tire and the wheel and that running a 225 snow tire on a small car like the focus is practically useless around here.

 

[bfocused]

Well, I hope I don't have any problems with the mounting/re-mounting of these tires. As far as the tires, well, I can only go by my own experience. I have played this winter tire/summer tire game before. The last time was with my 89 Ford Ranger. I got 3 full seasons of use from the winter tires doing this, and never noticed any tire bead damage. Oh, I am sure it can happen.

And with the wheels, well, I guess only time will tell. The Ranger didn't have the type of wheels that any one would ever give a second glance to. They were, well, truck wheels lol.

I am having the winter tires drop shipped to the dealer (my last place of employment before I retired), and spoke with the service manager (whom I have known both personally and professionaly for 20 yrs) about mounting the tires. He then, showed me his new fangled state of the art tire machine. It seems they have been getting customer complaints about nicked and gouged wheels. So he bought a new machine. And he assured me even a class "C" tech could change out a wheel and never damage it.
So, I guess only time will tell.

With the new winter tires and traction control, I should be fine this winter. My concern now is figuring out a way to use my block heater. I live in a townhouse, and I have an end unit. This make me the furthest unit from the parking lot. I can't see running a lead cord 150 feet down the side walk. First time I've ever had a block heater and want to use it. Will be nice to have heat in the car right away.
bfocused

 

[MyNavyZX3]

Cool, well good luck with the tires. I just made the point about the bead cause that's what happened to our explorer when we bought a new set of tires. Bead must have been ruined putting the tire on the wheel and about 1000 km into our trip out east a chunk of the bead must have broken off right before we got on a ferry. Got PA'd while on the boat to attend to my vehicle. Pretty strange - tire was completely flat. Threw on the spare and brought it to a dealer who said it was ruined putting it on. Gave us back the tire and the chunk - went to costco and they credited us for the tire we bought. Might not happen very often but it would be annoying nonetheless.

Not sure what to do about the block heater - I've got one too but have never used it (bought the car used, haven't had a winter with it yet). The battery seems pretty small so I wonder how well it will start when it gets really cold out. The other day when it was just below freezing, it seemed sluggish to turn over but time will tell I guess.

 

[bfocused]

We've been pretty luck with winter starting over the years. Last winter it was 22 below zero, and both cars started. But, I am very anal when it comes to taking care of my vehicles, and they are always serviced by the dealer. The dealer may charge a bit more than an independant shop, but the little extra I spend always pays off in the long run.

Wierd about your tire on the explorer, good thing it didn't happen while driving. Be safe
bfocused

 

[MyNavyZX3]

I totally agree with you about going to the dealer - I go there for everything except tires. I see people taking their cars to canadian tire, etc (not sure what the american euivalent is) and it's just scary.
Thanks for the info on cold weather starting! My all time low temp start was with the explorer ('97 V8) in Jay Peak, Vermont....-40 one morning w/o plugging it in. Skiing that day wasn't much fun to say the least. It was really weird driving over too...steering was so stiff, brake peddle felt horrible, truck just wasn't happy. Fuel economy almost twice as bad as normal - it's all wheel drive so with everything so cold I'm guessing the viscosity of all the fluids got the better of my gas mileage (averaged 19 L/100km @ 110 km/h on the highway).
Anyhow, enjoy the svtf - test drove one last month, loved it. So much more kick than the zx3 and the ride isn't compromised at all, it's amazing. A dealer had a new '02 on the lot and was only asking 22 k for it, but we just finished kitchen renos so it was totally out of the question. Well, take care!