GT AWD 19 inch staggered... winter rims/tires?

[stinger123]

Hello,
I recently purchased a GT AWD in Canada with the staggered 19 inch sumer wheels/tires. I like to plan ahead and have been looking for a good set of winter tires/rims for Canadian winters. I see that some people suggest going with 18 inch wheels/tires. However, I am pretty sure that the owners manual states to use the same 19 inch staggered setup only. Does changing to a smaller setup affect performance/traction control/speedometer,etc? Most of the major canadian tire installers/retailers dont even have any products available when i search for my kia stinger. Some come up with the staggered set up of 19s, others show the 18s. I am confused as to what to do. Help!

 

[MerlintheMad]

I can't speak to the 18s availability in staggered. But why not? I expect staggered is available in all rim sizes. The OD will be within a couple tenths of an inch the same as the 19s with the higher aspect ration summer tires.

I am going to get winter tires to fit my staggered 19s. I am going to check with Costco first.

 

[Bobr]

I have related question:

Did anybody try 225/45 R19 on front and 255/40 R19 on rear? I.e. +5% on both ends? Will it fit without issues? Have difficulty to find studded winter tires for native size (225/40 on front and 255/35 on rear) here Wanted to buy Continental but have only Nokian and Michelin. For bigger size choice is better.

 

[WildBill]

@stinger123 There should be no reason that you can't go from staggered 19s to a square 18" setup for winter.
I would go with the stock 18" tire size of 225-45 18. The outside diameter of the tires is almost exactly the same so you shouldn't have any speedo error.

@Bobr I don't know why you'd want a wide 255 rear tire in the winter. It would get worse traction in snow than a 225. For snow you want the bite of a narrow tire, not a snow shoe. I don't know that anyone has upsized the tire diameter by an inch like you are asking. You could have rubbing issues. I'd look into a second set of 18" rims.

I have an AWD GT2 with the 18" square setup. My plan is to put a set of 225-45R18 Cooper Weather Masters on my stock rims for winter and then get larger/wider rims and tires for summers.

 

[MerlintheMad]

I have an AWD GT2 with the 18" square setup. My plan is to put a set of 225-45R18 Cooper Weather Masters on my stock rims for winter and then get larger/wider rims and tires for summers.

Are you going to "chip" your car so that you aren't speed limited to 140 MPH when you get your larger rims?

 

[westcoastGT]

Hello,
I recently purchased a GT AWD in Canada with the staggered 19 inch sumer wheels/tires. I like to plan ahead and have been looking for a good set of winter tires/rims for Canadian winters. I see that some people suggest going with 18 inch wheels/tires. However, I am pretty sure that the owners manual states to use the same 19 inch staggered setup only. Does changing to a smaller setup affect performance/traction control/speedometer,etc? Most of the major canadian tire installers/retailers dont even have any products available when i search for my kia stinger. Some come up with the staggered set up of 19s, others show the 18s. I am confused as to what to do. Help!

Go on the Tirerack site for recommendations for the GT , lots here have opted for UHPAS on the current rims

 

[BlaydeX15]

Going to post this here, because I just did a bunch of research and want to save it somewhere, but it might also help anyone looking to get 18" winter wheels and tires:

Tire Size: 225-45R18
Speedo Offset vs 19": -0.21% (Reads 99.79 MPH @ 100 MPH)

Wheel Size: 18x8
Offset: 40mm (34-43 should be fine)
Bolt pattern: 5x114.3 (or 5x4.5)

These configs match the 18" all seasons installed at the factory. You can punch those into any site and get compatible wheels and tires.

 

[Coltt]

There is only one option for keeping the factory 19" stagger for winter Pirelli Sottozero 3J which run $1800+ for a set. There are plenty of alternative sizes you can run for winter tires the main ones are 235/45R18 all around or directly sizing down to 225/45R18 front & 255/40R18 Rear

 

[WildBill]

Are you going to "chip" your car so that you aren't speed limited to 140 MPH when you get your larger rims?

I see no reason that I personally need to travel in excess of 140 MPH and I'll wait at least a year or more to see what issues creep up on any of these tuning options.

@BlaydeX15 Thanks for the factory offset specs, I had not seen them yet.

I'm with Coltt, Sometimes it's cheaper to get a second set of cheap wheels/rims for winter tires. Though, as mentioned, I'd go with 225s all around.

 

[NobleCrow]

You may pay a littler more up front, but my advice is fine some cheap 18s and mount some cheap tires. switch the sets when you need to.

When it comes to tires, one positive outlook of living in Texas is that we dont have winters, not usually anyways, and rarely cold enough for snow.

 

[BlaydeX15]

I see no reason that I personally need to travel in excess of 140 MPH and I'll wait at least a year or more to see what issues creep up on any of these tuning options.

@BlaydeX15 Thanks for the factory offset specs, I had not seen them yet.

I'm with Coltt, Sometimes it's cheaper to get a second set of cheap wheels/rims for winter tires. Though, as mentioned, I'd go with 225s all around.

No problem, I got it from another forum, someone was nice enough to compile it all there. Not sure if we're trying to avoid linking people over there though. Lol.

But yeah, the Stock 19's are 40mm, and the 18's on the 2.0 model are 34mm. Can't find info on the 18's on the GT AWD, but they're probably 40mm.

Still, plenty of brake clearance on the 40mm factory offset.

 

[stinger123]

Thanks for all the responses. The 18 inch wheels/tires are definitely a lot more reasonable in terms of $. So apart from the small 0.2% difference in the speedo, this different size would not affect handling/stability control, etc. to any noticeable extent? Thanks!

 

[MerlintheMad]

I'm with Coltt, Sometimes it's cheaper to get a second set of cheap wheels/rims for winter tires. Though, as mentioned, I'd go with 225s all around.

So I am going to "look forward to winter" by making my car ugly and therefore less fun to drive? I think not!

 

[MerlintheMad]

You may pay a littler more up front, but my advice is fine some cheap 18s and mount some cheap tires. switch the sets when you need to.

When it comes to tires, one positive outlook of living in Texas is that we dont have winters, not usually anyways, and rarely cold enough for snow.

Well, there you go! "Gone To Texas!" That's starting to have real appeal for the first time in my life. Hah!

What's with all the "advice" to put crap wheels on your car for X-months out of the year? I appreciate being safe and wise and especially not alarming anyone, starting with myself. But seriously, I have this car to enjoy. And I will have a difficult enough time enjoying slush and occasional icy conditions, at the best of times. I've lived in a "four seasons" part of the country all of my life. And I've run AS my entire driving life. For the first time in my life I have to seriously consider the upcoming winter instead of just barging through it without concern. My car is at stake. It's a new thing for me, to have a car that is in my life because it is FUN! I am not going to compromise that feeling with crappy looking wheels. If it comes down to it, I will buy a spanking fresh set of rims for fair season driving, and use my stock rims for winter. I'm not believing that Michelin doesn't have excellent winter tread for these rims.

(Edit: I am off to Costco to talk to the tire experts there, heh! Stay tuned ...)

 

[NobleCrow]

Well, my advice was based on his desire to have winter wheels/tires.

I've lived in four season states as well and I never changed wheels and/or tires. I just pushed through it. However, when I did buy aftermarket wheels, I'm a baller on a budget. I've owned many great looking replica/cheap aftermarket wheels and have never had an issue, even in those scenarios where something happens and you're sure you damaged a wheel. But that's just my experience.

 

[westcoastGT]

Well, there you go! "Gone To Texas!" That's starting to have real appeal for the first time in my life. Hah!

What's with all the "advice" to put crap wheels on your car for X-months out of the year? I appreciate being safe and wise and especially not alarming anyone, starting with myself. But seriously, I have this car to enjoy. And I will have a difficult enough time enjoying slush and occasional icy conditions, at the best of times. I've lived in a "four seasons" part of the country all of my life. And I've run AS my entire driving life. For the first time in my life I have to seriously consider the upcoming winter instead of just barging through it without concern. My car is at stake. It's a new thing for me, to have a car that is in my life because it is FUN! I am not going to compromise that feeling with crappy looking wheels. If it comes down to it, I will buy a spanking fresh set of rims for fair season driving, and use my stock rims for winter. I'm not believing that Michelin doesn't have excellent winter tread for these rims.

(Edit: I am off to Costco to talk to the tire experts there, heh! Stay tuned ...)

There are only 1 maybe 2 , 19" Winters for the GTs ( staggered ) better to step down to a square set up on 18s if that what you need ..........imho

 

[MerlintheMad]

There are only 1 maybe 2 , 19" Winters for the GTs ( staggered ) better to step down to a square set up on 18s if that what you need ..........imho

You appear to be right. I have returned from Costco. And I have just talked with a Michelin rep as well. "No winter tires in that size are planned", according to latest information. Hmm! Botheration!

Costco showed a Bridgestone and Potenza. Those are probably the two you are referring to? Why would either of those be a poor choice? I don't want to buy fresh rims just yet. Probably what will happen is that I go my first winter on my current, stock rims (which already have curb rash and other road attrition scarring). After a stiff winter on them, I will probably want my summer Pilot Sport tires put on fresh rims. And then my winter tires and rims will be stored under a tarp under the deck* outside right up against the house for 2020.

(edit: *make that in the shed, I forgot momentarily that we got rid of the fertilizer spreader. The tires/rims can go there.)

 

[Coltt]

You appear to be right. I have returned from Costco. And I have just talked with a Michelin rep as well. "No winter tires in that size are planned", according to latest information. Hmm! Botheration!

Costco showed a Bridgestone and Potenza. Those are probably the two you are referring to? Why would either of those be a poor choice? I don't want to buy fresh rims just yet. Probably what will happen is that I go my first winter on my current, stock rims (which already have curb rash and other road attrition scarring). After a stiff winter on them, I will probably want my summer Pilot Sport tires put on fresh rims. And then my winter tires and rims will be stored under a tarp under the deck outside right up against the house for 2020.

A Potenza is a Bridgestone summer/all season tire as I deal with this fairly if often if you insist on using the factory rims for your winter setup you only get 1 option Pirelli Sottozero 3. You could always pick up 2 factory front rims from someone else that way you have 8" rims all around for winter and then just run 225/40R18 or 235/40R18's All around. And you can get the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4's in 235/40R19

 

[WildBill]

What's with all the "advice" to put crap wheels on your car for X-months out of the year? I appreciate being safe and wise and especially not alarming anyone, starting with myself. But seriously, I have this car to enjoy. And I will have a difficult enough time enjoying slush and occasional icy conditions, at the best of times. I've lived in a "four seasons" part of the country all of my life. And I've run AS my entire driving life. For the first time in my life I have to seriously consider the upcoming winter instead of just barging through it without concern. My car is at stake. It's a new thing for me, to have a car that is in my life because it is FUN! I am not going to compromise that feeling with crappy looking wheels. If it comes down to it, I will buy a spanking fresh set of rims for fair season driving, and use my stock rims for winter. I'm not believing that Michelin doesn't have excellent winter tread for these rims.

I'm thinking that some of this is hyjacking the OP's thread but for the sake of potential enlightenment...
I don't believe that inexpensive and ugly are mutually exclusive. Steelies (ugly) cost $90 to $110 these days so for $120 to $150 you have your pick of dozens of aluminum rims (not ugly) you can mount your winter tires on.

You can run AS tires that's fine, they will be more fun when there is no snow on the ground but I can unequivocally say that even inexpensive Cooper snows in their 2nd or maybe even the 3rd season are head and shoulders above the best Michelin AS tires especially after a year or two of wear. The question here is about snows. And Michelin definitely has good snows.

Potenza is a line of Bridgestone tire. If they are winters I'm sure they would be fine.

 

[westcoastGT]

You appear to be right. I have returned from Costco. And I have just talked with a Michelin rep as well. "No winter tires in that size are planned", according to latest information. Hmm! Botheration!

Costco showed a Bridgestone and Potenza. Those are probably the two you are referring to? Why would either of those be a poor choice? I don't want to buy fresh rims just yet. Probably what will happen is that I go my first winter on my current, stock rims (which already have curb rash and other road attrition scarring). After a stiff winter on them, I will probably want my summer Pilot Sport tires put on fresh rims. And then my winter tires and rims will be stored under a tarp under the deck outside right up against the house for 2020.

Do research on UHPAS tires , we have lots of hills here and I have used them on my old X6 , 550Msport and a 650 Cab , plus my GT , never been in a hairy situation using them ......................