Tire size for 16" on GLS

[guitarfish]

Mine has the stock 205/65-16. I'm looking at getting a winter tire/wheel package. Tire Rack lists the above as recommended, and 215/60-16 as an alternate. Any reason to go with the alternate?

Also, they show both 16x7 and 16x7.5 wheel sizes as options. I don't know what the stock wheels are, so I'm not sure which is the better choice.

I'm looking to stay at 16", I just want to understand my choices.

[Bose]

I think for a large car 205/65/16 are a bit on the small size and a high sidewall r
Iam running 215/65/16 snow tires on my gls alloys
and was running 225/50/17 summers before a sold them
ill just switch back to the stock 205/65/16 summers that came with the car for next summer
215/60/16 are the size id go for
Bose

[Danno]

My tire guy recommended General Altimax 215/60-16 with hubcebtric steel rims. I am waiting for some colder, snowy weather to install them.

[Smutty]

If you're in an area where you get a lot of snow which will stay on the ground for most of the year then a narrower tire is for you. A narrow tire with lots of deep circumfrencial grooves and sharp edges will cut through the snow and give you better contact with the road.

A wider tire with lots of sipes and compounds that remove water from the road are better for icy conditions. Choose a tire and size that are suitable to your conditions, not just what everyone else is doing.

Make sure you get the hub-centric wheels as well. Not the LUG-centric. With hub-centric you reduce the change for vibration; A LOT!

[Moody Blue]

I have been running 225/60-R16 tires for two winters on my GLS and have been happy with their performance. We just got a foot of snow and freezing rain to boot on Saturday. No the car will not push through one foot of snow even with good tires, the bumper makes a poor plow.
My rims are lug centric and i have had no vibration problems because i install my own tires with hand tools.
If you carefully and slowly tighten the nuts evenly the wheel will run true. If you have a shop install with an impact wrench the odds are the rim will not be installed true unless it is hub centric.

[Steelguy]

IMHO The best Winter tires are Nokian Hakkapaletta for serious snow driving (I think the Swedes KNOW about Snow), Yoko GR400's for Mixed use and surprisingly Goodyear Advantage Triple Tracks.
I drove NYC to Plattsburg, NY after the 24" NYC Blizzard last year, up I-87, most of the time on 4-6 inches of packed show (after Saratoga Springs) and the Hakkapalettas did a great job. My other ride, Volvo 240 RWD, had the Yokos and I was climbing hills in my neighborhood that most folks could just look at. My wife's ride has the GY's and she had no problems either in loose or packed snow.
In all these cases, my snows are a narrower tire than stock and they cut thru the surface and provide traction while the 215/60's usually just ride on top and you get bogged down by the build up at stops/starts.

[Danno]

Originally Posted by Steelguy

IMHO The best Winter tires are Nokian Hakkapaletta for serious snow driving (I think the Swedes KNOW about Snow), Yoko GR400's for Mixed use and surprisingly Goodyear Advantage Triple Tracks.
I drove NYC to Plattsburg, NY after the 24" NYC Blizzard last year, up I-87, most of the time on 4-6 inches of packed show (after Saratoga Springs) and the Hakkapalettas did a great job. My other ride, Volvo 240 RWD, had the Yokos and I was climbing hills in my neighborhood that most folks could just look at. My wife's ride has the GY's and she had no problems either in loose or packed snow.
In all these cases, my snows are a narrower tire than stock and they cut thru the surface and provide traction while the 215/60's usually just ride on top and you get bogged down by the build up at stops/starts.

What size snows are you running on the Sonata? I could not tell from your post - thanks.

[Steelguy]

Originally Posted by Danno

What size snows are you running on the Sonata? I could not tell from your post - thanks.

195/65-16 previously on my Volvo. Not a easy size to get, but most Nokkian dealers will order them. They seem to cut thru the snow easier. Also the ESC makes a lot of difference. I prefer the Sonata system to the Volvo system.