I have been looking at tirerack and I cannot find snow tires that will fit the 2007 17 inch rims, do snow tires not come in 17 in?

also if you ride around in snow tires when there is no snow, does it really drive awful?

Because I live in NJ and we get snow during the winter times.

 

Get a set of AP1 rim and mount snow tires on those and store them in the garage. When it snows just throw them on.

 

I bought Hankook Icebears from Discount Tire for my stock AP2 wheels. They worked fine for my first Chicago winter in the S. Paid less than 500 for the set.

 

We do not have them in stock right now but the Dunlop Winter Sport will be available in the AP2 stock sizes. If I can help let me know.

 

any experience with driving snow tires on regular days with no snow?

Does it drive horrible?

 

If that question is directed towards me, the Hankooks have a softer sidewall than OEM tires, and I knew not to push it too hard on warm days for fear of scrubbing lots of tread away. I kept them on till temps were over constantly over 50 (Mid April I believe) and they drove fine on dry or salty pavement with no snow. Just cruise around normally and you will be fine. I expect to get 4-5 seasons out of them, if not more.

 

Good snow tires drive just fine on dry roads. They don't have as much grip as racing tires, but they're fine. They stay soft on cold roads, so they're probably better than summer tires on dry winter roads.

And it's good to have your sidewalls a little softer, and your tires a little thinner, with snow tires than with street tires. That's why many of us with AP2 cars just bought a set of used AP1 wheels (really cheap, and nice wheels), and put AP!-sized snow tires on them. I got Bridgestone Blizzak LM22 from Tire Rack, and they're great, getting me through anything Seattle has to throw at me.

 

I have 225/45 17 snow tires all around. I never bothered to switch back to summer tires (I don't drive too often), but they drive just fine. I even was able to keep up with a S2KI drive (and lead parts).

Tim