"smobgirl" (smobgirl)
12/27/2019 at 12:24 • Filed to: None
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"smobgirl" (smobgirl)
12/27/2019 at 12:24 • Filed to: None | 0
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I need snow tires, and I need your help.
If I want to leave Denver between September 1 - May 31, I need snow tires or AWD. Because the weather in the city can be pretty warm for a good 4-5 months of that, I would prefer that the snow tires be mounted on a second set of wheels. (This is negotiable).
For a little back info, I have a 2012 Fiat 500 Abarth. Fiat uses a 4x98 bolt pattern. The Abarth came stock with either 16x6.5 or 17x7 wheels. Supposedly OEM 15s will fit but aftermarket 15s can have clearance issues, so cheap chinesium steelies don’t appear to be an option...unless someone can help explain wobble bolts or whatever other adaptations are necessary for 4x100 bolt patterns on my car. And explain like I’m a 5-year-old, because I’d rather have an idiot-proof explanation from y’all than any more condescension at a shop. (4x98 steelies in 16 or 17 inch options seem to run $200/wheel).
Once upon a time I had 17 inch wheels and Blizzak WS80s and life was grand. I was told that 16 inch wheels would have more tire options! ...but this doesn’t seem to apply to snow tires. The only ones I found last time were Pirelli Cinturatos, and they’re a joke. I legitimately do need to drive my car in snow and not just pass traction laws on paper.
So please, Oppo...give me some advice. I don’t give a rats ass about the wheel size or aesthetic if they fit the car - but I do prefer cheap . I’d rather spend more money on better tires. I can’t seem to find a good compromise - it’s either good money for a set of 17s to get Blizzaks again, good money for more 16s and more shit tires, or I’m missing options somewhere because I don’t understand tire clearance and/or wheel fit.
(To throw a little emotional plea in here too, my dad is a car guy. I asked him for help first but he’s ignored the last few weeks of texts I sent him, so Merry fucking Christmas to him too).
Thank you!
RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
> smobgirl
12/27/2019 at 13:35 |
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I would not recommend using wobble bolts or adapters or any sort...far safer and easier to just go 4x98 on your winter rims.
Can you find a set of used normal 500 rims on the local Craigslist...from a Pop or Sport model? They’d be 15" and would have no clearance issues.
Longtime Lurker
> smobgirl
12/27/2019 at 13:35 |
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How much does Fiat want for a set of OEM 15s?
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smobgirl
> RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
12/27/2019 at 13:41 |
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The 15 inch OEM pop or sport alloys don’t fit, just the steel ones (according to the Fiat forums) . I believe there are brake clearance issues. And nothing on Craigslist anyway because no one bought Fiats :)
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smobgirl
> Longtime Lurker
12/27/2019 at 13:42 |
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More than aftermarket 16s.
JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
> smobgirl
12/27/2019 at 14:06 |
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Wow, you’re not kidding about wheel scarcity... If you can get a set of 16" for a price you can stomach, there are a good selection of winter tires in 195/50-16. Thats a 0.9% oversize and falls fully within margin of error for speedometer accuracy, you should have no clearance issues at all, and like I said, good selection of reputable snow tires in that size.
Sample of snow tires available in 195/50-16
Continental VikingContact 7
Blizzak WS-80
Pirelli Snow-control 3
Yokohama IceGuard ig53
FIRESONE win terforce
Toyo Observe (gsi-5/6)
And more...
wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series
> smobgirl
12/27/2019 at 14:16 |
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spacers worked on my GTI when I had clearance issues with my winter wheel/tire set , but as a former owner of a 500 Abarth I know how hard that bolt pattern makes it to find parts!
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wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series
> wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series
12/27/2019 at 14:17 |
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I used Blizzaks on the OEM Abarth 17s, for what it’s worth.
Highlander-Datsuns are Forever
> smobgirl
12/27/2019 at 14:22 |
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I don’t see anything on eBay that’s reasonable. I don’t know what to do other than to bite the bullet and spend all the money. I would probably go with 16’s and blizzaks
gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
> smobgirl
12/27/2019 at 14:24 |
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Did you try a local tire shop. Sometimes they have a more options than tire rack.
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smobgirl
> JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
12/27/2019 at 14:26 |
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Thanks! I know stock recommended is 195/45, and the last shop refused to do anything else (hence the Shiturados) so I was curious how much flexibility I might have. The short term option might be to just throw something else on my current wheels so those would work fine then.
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smobgirl
> gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
12/27/2019 at 14:32 |
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Umm. So I know how to find tire chain shops and very sketchy-looking llanterias but no “local tire shops” in my quadrant of town. Not opposed to the idea, just maybe not sure how to look.
(Ok, I just found a “best tire shops of Denver” list and there’s...one option. Definitely worth a visit!)
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JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t
> smobgirl
12/27/2019 at 14:37 |
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FYI:
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smobgirl
> wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series
12/27/2019 at 14:37 |
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I loved my Blizzaks. LOVED them. I could get some on the 16s I’m currently running but they’re a little narrow and besides looking kind of stupid, I’d prefer the extra smidgen of curb rash protection from normal-fitting tires. If I could get a cheap set of 17 inch wheels I’d be thrilled.
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wpudvah: GTI, Super Beetle, now with more 80-Series
> smobgirl
12/27/2019 at 14:39 |
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I wish you the best of luck! I remember taking mine to Discount Tire and they were blown away by how few options you get with the 4x98 pattern. Blizzaks are the TRUTH, have them on my GTI now as well . Loyalist!
HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> smobgirl
12/27/2019 at 16:22 |
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Maybe look into 4x100 adapters. That opens up a lot of wheel options.
SlideshowOhNO - Fixit Union, Chapter of Kinja
> smobgirl
12/27/2019 at 17:25 |
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We put Cinturato Winters on our 17' Abarth 500 and they work great so far. Granted, the FIAT is for local drives, not much mountain travel, so we haven’t tested it to that degree. We get loads of ice and snow pack on the roads in the Springs though, and so far it hasn’t been stopped.
What didn’t you like about the Pirellis? We went with them as it is what Tirerack had and the price was right. There are other options available from other sources, including the ubiquitous Blizzak WS80.
As for size, I like the stock 16's for snow. You could get Pop steelies for cheap if you really want to get to that 15" size, but I can’t guarantee your tire options.
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SlideshowOhNO - Fixit Union, Chapter of Kinja
> gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
12/27/2019 at 17:28 |
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I don’t think I’ll ever shop through a local shop ever again for tires. Through five separate shops and experiences I’ve seen them try to pedal a shit tire option that I already tested and hated, or that research proved it to be a tur d.
I almost always buy my tires from TireBuyer or TireRack and then take them with the wheels to be mounted. Discount Tire or Action Gator (I think they were local to FL as I have’t seen one since moving to CO) in some cases were solid options,but I always came in knowing what tire I wanted already, and if they didn’t have it, and weren’t willing to procure it, I moved on.
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smobgirl
> SlideshowOhNO - Fixit Union, Chapter of Kinja
12/27/2019 at 22:04 |
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So, for perspective, I previously had a stock ‘99 Civic with all seasons. I got the Abarth and got Blizzaks the first winter I had it. It was amazing in the snow - I never had issues starting or stopping, even in the middle of a h ill, and I was passing Jeeps and Subies left and right in the mountains. I was never once in a situation where I felt any potential for loss of control.
The Cinturato winters are like being back in the Civic. From day one, if I want to leave the neighborhood I need a running start up the hill, because if I have to stop and wait for someone to turn I won’t be able to get going uphill again...and that’s in the city. They’re legal on paper to drive west of here but I had to deal with mountain snow in them once and nearly had a panic attack they were so sketchy . Plus they leak air faster in the cold than any other tire I’ve used and the tread is wearing out faster than the Blizzaks (which is impressive ).
Technically, yes, I can get 195/50 Blizzaks, but I’d rather be running 205 or 215 tires on my current wheels (slightly wider than stock) . So the ideal situation is a second set of wheels, but cost wise that might have to wait if I’ve correctly determined that cheap wheels don’t actually exist for this car.
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smobgirl
> HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/27/2019 at 22:06 |
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It does open up options. The internet seems to be split half your perspective, and half NEVER DO THAT. I’m not knowledgeable enough to know which of you to trust.
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HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
> smobgirl
12/27/2019 at 22:35 |
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Yeah a lot of people think spacers and adaptors are the devil, but honestly how often do you hear about some one having one fail?
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SlideshowOhNO - Fixit Union, Chapter of Kinja
> smobgirl
12/28/2019 at 00:56 |
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For snow-use, a little thinner works to your advantage as it leads to greater ground pressure. My plan for the broheim’s 500A is to just get whatever OE wheels I can find and stick the winters on it, then pop his summers back on the nice Abarth wheels and swap as needed. Guaranteed fitment, OE quality, and sufficient
tire choice (ya only need one, right?) lol
We might try Blizzaks next time based on your feedback.
TysMagic
> smobgirl
12/28/2019 at 07:25 |
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I was unhappy with everything I read about wobble bolts and adapters when I was researching wheels for my abarth. So I have no experience with them other than others’ feedback drove me away
While Nashville didn’t need snow tires, the summer tires were far too focused one direction for even the cold and rain we get here. I purchased a set of OEM 16” abarth wheels off craigslist and found a set of Pirelli snow controls on tire rack in the stock size. All in I had about $500 in the set and I sold them for that after a few seasons of use. I vote looking for a used set of fiat wheels. They only fit the one application (or the Maserati biturbo for a fun fact) so most of the time they’ll be cheap.
The Snowman
> SlideshowOhNO - Fixit Union, Chapter of Kinja
12/28/2019 at 10:24 |
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This is correct. Go narrow for winters.