[NGT]

I have a 2012 VW Jetta TDI diesel cheater that is being sold back to VW next Friday (2/3/2017). It currently has a set of 225/45 R 17 studded snow tires. I plan to take the VW over to Les Schwab and swap the snow tires for the regular tires before I turn the car back into VW.

I want to use the snow tires on my 2013 Volt. The VW 225/45 R 17 tires are 1.34 inches smaller in diameter than the Volt's 215/55 R 17 tires and less than 1/2" wider. Other than speedo error and reduced electric range and gas mileage are there any other problems I might run into?

Thanks,

NGT

 

[llninja]

You'd be making the already low volt even lower. Expect more front spoiler scraping. I'd be a little worried of bottoming out on something that might damage the underbelly of the car. Are you trying to put those tires onto stock rims or are you getting new rims that are the right width?

I'd love to see GM add a lift kit and AWD just like the Impreza morphed into the Crosstrek or like AMC had AWD Eagles in the aerly 80s

 

[NevynPA]

Using https://tiresize.com/calculator/ it shows you'd be lowering the car by 1.3 inches. I'd say that's a bit too much from a tire size change; it would likely need the suspension re-calibrated for the new ride height as well as scraping a LOT.

 

[NGT]

Cool tire comparator! I wish I had found that one...it would have saved me a lot of arithmetic. I'm retired, I shouldn't have to do arithmetic!

We normally don't get as much snow around here as we have this year but it happens sometimes. if I need to cross the mountains in the winter to get over to the Seattle side of the state it is not unusual for studs or chains to be required through the passes so i usually have studs on at least one car all winter. I am not planning any trips through the mountains till spring but still think I will chance it with the lowering aspect. It will be half of the 1.3 inches or about 2/3 of an inch. Mayhap I'll run the tires with the max rated tire pressure. There are very few places in town with sharp approach or departure angles and I already avoid those or take them at an angle.

Thanks for the input.

 

[NGT]

Thanks. I had not considered the lowering aspect. It would only be half the diameter change or about .66 inch. still it is something to think about. What with almost being through the "snow" season here I may try it then I'll know if I can use them all next winter or bite the bullet and just buy new tires.

Thanks

 

[NevynPA]

Thanks. I had not considered the lowering aspect. It would only be half the diameter change or about .66 inch. still it is something to think about. What with almost being through the "snow" season here I may try it then I'll know if I can use them all next winter or bite the bullet and just buy new tires.

Thanks

Derp. Ah yes, it *would* only be half the total effect. If they're still fairly gently used, you may be able to recoup some of the cost by private selling the tires - but that may be more hassle than it's worth in your situation. Definitely get the car aligned/adjusted if you do go forward with trying them; it'll save wear and tear on everything to be re-calibrated for the change in ride height.

 

[Norton]

.... it would likely need the suspension re-calibrated for the new ride height as well as scraping a LOT.

.... Definitely get the car aligned/adjusted if you do go forward with trying them; it'll save wear and tear on everything to be re-calibrated for the change in ride height.

Having the car sit 2/3" lower does nothing to the suspension settings. The 'alignment' would not know the difference.

 

[Qinsp]

A large dia narrow tire for snow has some advantages:

It is easier to roll out of an indention when parked.
The stipes bite harder.
Tread life improves when taller tires have deeper pattern.
Ground clearance when paths are high center is improved.
Chains are easier to install.
Lifting car to change tires is easier.

Sand is a different story for another time as is mud.

Ground clearance on a 2016/17 is higher at 5.5" so a .66" decrease is significant. More so with G1 cars. When fully loaded, things become worse.

 

[NGT]

I think I will run over today and get the tires VW tires mounted on my Volt wheels. If they are not satisfactory I may try to find some smaller diameter (i.e. 16") wheels and just get some taller winter tires to give me the original diameter.

Thanks for all the input.

NGT

 

[camaroz1985]

I have 16" snow tires, that are the OE diameter. Not only do you have to think about scraping on approach/departure with the smaller diameter, but in general you have snow tires for snow, and with your car lower you will be plowing through more snow. If anything you would want a taller narrower tire, not shorter and wider.

 

[hellsop]

Using https://tiresize.com/calculator/ it shows you'd be lowering the car by 1.3 inches. I'd say that's a bit too much from a tire size change; it would likely need the suspension re-calibrated for the new ride height as well as scraping a LOT.

0.7 inches. The shrinkage above the axle won't make the car lower.

 

[NGT]

Camaroz1985,

I just got back from the tire shop and have the smaller diameter tires on. They are doing just fine but the main roads have enough traffic that they are pretty much clear. The snow is still coming down hard though and they don't plow our street but the Volt had no problem there or on our back driveway with pretty deep snow from the last few weeks. We keep the car in the garage and had the front drive shoveled clear so only an inch or so of new snow there.

I agree with you about what would be ideal but since I am retired and on a fixed income, I am using the tires I have. Maybe not ideal but if they prove problematic I will replace them next winter with taller tires. In the mean time I had the guys at the shop inflate the tires to max pressure the tires are rated for to give me all the diameter I can get from the tires...We are having an unusual amount of snow for our locale but even so it is no where near as bad as say Minneapolis or St. Paul where I used to live. The last time we had snow like this around here was 1989. Usually we get a couple of inches and it lasts for no more than a week or so. Generally our winters are pretty mild here in the desert of south central Washington state. The studded tires are usually for going thru the mountains but this winter we have really needed them around here.

I will post again after driving on the tires for a week or two. I just hope the roads are clear for our trip up to Yakima to turn the VW in this coming Friday as we have summer tires back on the VW now...

 

[deekster_caddy]

edit - I duplicated hellsops post. You are only lowering the car by the difference in radius, not the difference in diameter.

 

[camaroz1985]

Glad to hear it is working out for you. I don't think the plowing is really that big of an issue, but it is something to think about. In my experience the Volt is pretty good in snow even with the stock tires. We had some crazy snow last year (30" over the weekend) and there were areas that weren't cleared out for days. I had a friend who needed out and I got down and back up a fairly steep hill with the stock tires (I will admit now that I was a little skeptical going down). It wasn't going through the full depth, but there was still at least 8-10" on the road, and I was able to plow my way through. All I had to do when I got home was clip the ends of the air deflector flap back into place, like I do every couple months anyway from driveways, etc.

I have General Altimax Arctic tires now in 215/60R16, and am very happy with them so far, but we haven't had anything more than a few inches to really challenge them this year.