Shopping for snow tires/wheels

"TheTurbochargedSquirrel" (thatsquirrel) 10/04/2019 at 22:15 • Filed to: None

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The Corolla is in need of some snow boots for the VT winters (and also because I’m not allowed to run Ice Time Trials on a ll s easons, never mind that all seasons would be horrible on the ice) so it’s shopping time! This is actually the first time I get to buy wheels, my Outback and Mini came both came with an extra set of wheels for snow tires and my 2006 Corolla got super cheapo snow tires installed on the factory steelies when I got was given it (pro tip: Chinese snow tires can be had for under $20 each when you are buying them in July).

Anyway, I’m excited because I finally get to buy wheels for my car. They are snow wheels so they don’t have to be nice and will be filthy all the time. I also have to like them because snow tire season in Vermont starts in late October and lasts until late April.

Option number 1 is a 16" Sparco Terra in Gray:

These are 2" smaller than what my XSE came with and are the same size found on the SE. A 16" wheel would get a 205/55 tire.

The Assetto Gara is available in a 17 and this darker gray which I think works well on the blue:

Stepping up to a 17 does mean moving to a 215/45 tire (I’m opting to go with a Tire Rack mounted wheel and tire package for convenience, which stops me from playing games with wheel and tire sizes). It’s also about $20 more per corner for a set of 17s than 16s.

So I’m torn. I like both styles of wheels for different reasons. The Terra has a meaty rally car look which is well suited to winter but I think the Assetto Gara fits the car better, so much so that I think I would want them as my summers instead of my winters.

So what do you think Oppo, meaty rally mode Terras or modern spindly Assetto Garas on a bright blue Corolla Hatchback. I’m kinda leaning towards the Assetto Garas but I’m not sure.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/04/2019 at 22:20

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What I got out of this was: you’re already tired of the Corolla and are offering to sell it to me with a friendly oppo  discount?

Cash Rewards > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/04/2019 at 22:20

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Did your xse package come up better brakes at all? I'd just double check on clearance dropping down two whole inches

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Cash Rewards 10/04/2019 at 22:23

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Same brakes between SE and XSE. Tire Rack is usually pretty good about making sure wheels will clear brakes before trying to sell them to you too. Supposedly I can go as far as a 15" but that sounds like a comical amount of sidewall to me.

zipfuel > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/04/2019 at 22:30

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I l ove the retro rally look of those S parco Terras, I’ve considered them for winter rims too although I’d have them in white.

CB > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/04/2019 at 22:37

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I'd do the 16s.

zipfuel > zipfuel 10/04/2019 at 22:54

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Edit: never mind they don’t come in white, must have been thinking of the OZ rally race ones.

My car colour really doesn’t fit white wheels sadly and grey/black get a bit lost. I think bronze might be the way to go.

CompactLuxuryFan > CB 10/04/2019 at 22:57

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My vote goes to those as sell. Save money up front, potentially down the line, better ride, and they even look better to me. 

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/04/2019 at 23:01

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I like the Terras, plus the extra sidewall would be nice in the winter

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/04/2019 at 23:04

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I *really* dig the look and color of the Terras.  From a pothole perspective, are the Terras any stronger?

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/04/2019 at 23:19

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You should troll Subaru drivers with some gold wheels.

Actual vote: the Terras.

AestheticsInMotion > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/04/2019 at 23:42

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I think the Gara's look way better. Enough so that I'd beat myself up for not getting them, despite liking smaller wheels in general more than large ones

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/04/2019 at 23:42

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Sparcos all day hands down no questions asked those rule 100% buy them 

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 10/04/2019 at 23:45

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Screw them, gold wheels on blue cars is awesome for everyone. Too many boring cars to exclude 

Dusty Ventures > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/04/2019 at 23:47

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That’s what I heard

Forrest > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/04/2019 at 23:58

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I have 15s with giant sidewalls on my ‘18 Golf. It looks a little silly, but it is so comfy over bumps, and it is still decent at canyon carving for what it is.

PowderHound > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/05/2019 at 00:07

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I like the terras and have considered them for my car. Only thing I’m ever weary of is too many spokes for snow to get stuck in to throw off the balance. I ran legacy snowflakes in the winter before and they were horrid. I think the terras seem to be short enough gaps to not have that issue

smobgirl > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/05/2019 at 00:28

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I like the Terras! I like the color better and I think they look pretty badass. But you do your thing.

I had a rental Corolla a couple weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised. I bet the hatchback version is fantastic.

BvdV - The Dutch Engineer > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/05/2019 at 05:03

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Rally wheels!!! I’d  been looking at Terra-like wheels for the Twingo a while back, so they definitely get my vote for the Corolla

Sovande > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/05/2019 at 06:15

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Asseto Gara in gold. 

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/05/2019 at 07:04

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It paint steelies for a 1/3rd of the price of sparcos.

KnowsAboutCars > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/05/2019 at 07:41

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I’m with the Crazy Kanuck. I’d paint the steelies white and replace the cheapo tires with Hakkas. But if you got your mind set for those two the 16" Terra is what I would go with.

Lrrr! > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/05/2019 at 07:43

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Do the Sparcos. The extra sidewall and higher spoke count will serve you better in icy New England winters on shitty New England roads.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > zipfuel 10/05/2019 at 09:20

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The Terras do come in white but Tire Rack only has the white ones in 17s.

I didn’t like the way the white was looking last night but I like them a lot more this morning.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > PowderHound 10/05/2019 at 09:22

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The pattern on the OEM Mini wheels I had for my Mini was way tighter than the Terras and the only time I had an issue with them packing up was when I went sideways at 45+ mph into the fluffy snow at the side of an ITT course.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > KnowsAboutCars 10/05/2019 at 09:24

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I don’t have any steelies anymore. That 2006 Corolla was traded in about 5 years ago now when my dad bought his first BRZ. The new Corolla has 18" alloys with 215/40 tires on it.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 10/05/2019 at 09:27

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They do have gold Terras.

It’s too light of a blue to pull off the gold wheels in my opinion.

Dr.Jeckyl > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/05/2019 at 10:17

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Rallys!!! Those Sparcos just look right. I’m in the same boat of shopping winter wheels and tires. But I don’t think I can justify rallys for my GTI. They are about $100 more per corner for 17s and even more if I go with 18s.

QCGoose > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/05/2019 at 10:21

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Definitely the meatier tires on the Terras. I love throwing my winters on my ‘14 Focus work car; downsized wheels from stock with more sidewall tires = a softer and cushier ride.

Plus IMO the Terras look better, and for a winter tire setup, smaller wheels + more sidewall always looks better.

Bryan doesn't drive a 1M > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/05/2019 at 10:53

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Uh oh, I love it.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Dr.Jeckyl 10/05/2019 at 11:45

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Are they that expensive for the GTI? The Terras are $156 for a 16 or $164 for a 17 for the Corolla. The full rally spec OZs are understadably expensive at almost $270 each but they are full spec heavy duty rally tires for that price.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > Bryan doesn't drive a 1M 10/05/2019 at 11:46

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If they had a softer bronze I might do it. Their options are bright gold or metallic brown though.

i86hotdogs > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/05/2019 at 12:35

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Terra’s come in white 16's. Perhaps not in your lug size maybe? I considered them for the van. Kinja is killing me so I cant show you the screenshot I took.

The only thing to look out for with the Terra’s are complaints about the Sparco label coming off easily. Apparently it’s a cheap decal they put on the wheel.

I’d go any white rally wheel, 2nd choice is the gray terra’s.

seoultrain > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/05/2019 at 14:33

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Definitely the Terras. Gar as are too dark and thin to have any visual impact . Extra sidewall is always a good choice for winter wheels.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > i86hotdogs 10/05/2019 at 18:34

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They do come in White in 16s but Tire Rack doesn’t have them in stock at the moment.

With a 5x100 bolt pattern basically everything is available for my car.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > AestheticsInMotion 10/05/2019 at 18:35

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I like the Garas too but they are screaming for some sticky meats on them.

i86hotdogs > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/07/2019 at 11:06

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Basically universal bolt patterns are a blessing.

thejustache > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/08/2019 at 16:22

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I have the sparco terras in 16" on my outback for my winter setup, and I love them. I dig the rally look, and I think they look great with snows on (I actually just got new meats on mine today. Yay winter!) On the other hand, I tend to agree with you that the Garas look a little better on the Corolla. I also agree that they might look better with sticky summer tires then winter tires... Sorry if that doesn’t help. I am looking forward to seeing whatever you choose - I really like the look of that new corolla hatch, to the point where it has me thinking about one in a couple years

In other news, where do you do Ice Time Trials? I know there is some ice racing around me and I’ve been keen to check it out.

Dr.Jeckyl > TheTurbochargedSquirrel 10/09/2019 at 09:00

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$200 for the Terras for the GTI. The issue is they only have 18" for my GTI. I’m leaning towards 17" so I can go with a slightly taller sidewall. It helps with the pothole haven I live in. Although I’m not sure how much it helps.

The only 17" rally style I found were LP Adventures and they were $240.