Hi guys,

I've been browsing the forum for quite a while now and was hoping to get some help. I've just ordered an MCS R56 which should arrive end of November by which time the snow will be starting to fall. Wheels are 17"x7" Challenge Spoke ET48.

I expect the car to come with standard 205/45/R17 Run Flat tyres (whatever they may be). For winter I was planning to buy some Nokian Hakkapeliitta 7s or MichelinX-ICE North XIN2 (both are studded) but as neither do a tyre in the OEM width (205) I'd need to get the 215/45/R17 (non-Run Flat).

1. Is the 215 width OK on these wheels?
2. Any problem with switching to non-run flats?

I also noticed a lot of people buy a second set of wheels and and tyres for winter, what is the reason for this? Surely a 17" wheel isn't too bad on snow/ice grip to justify a downsize?

Thanks in advance.

I have a cheap set of 16-inch steel wheels for winter. The 16-inch wheels give me a taller sidewall and are 195s: less width = better traction in snow.

Also, it keeps the summer wheels from corroding from all the salt they put down on the roads out here.

This section of the forum is a little quiet it seems..