[K-ville]

I know it's still some time before the snow flies, but I'm researching winter tires for my Seltos EX Premium.

The stock tires on it are 215-55-17
(FYI in case you were wondering, the Rims are 5 bolt, 114.3 (17x7) with 67.1 mm center bore, 43 offset)

My Kia dealer suggested I go to a 16-inch rim and slightly narrower - deeper tire for winter.
He suggested going to a 205-60-16 which is -2.3% from the original.

Does anyone who drives in harsh winters like we have here in eastern Ontario have any advice or recommendations?

Thanks, and hoping I don't see that white stuff any time soon.

 

[Random Vibration]

Suggestions:
1. Use tirerack.com for suggestions and reviews of tires.
2. There was nothing unsound about the dealer's recommendation. Why do you question it? Do you have a particular basis for not taking the advice?
3. I don't understand the reasoning you using determine what makes sense to you. Closer to zero, the better?

For winter use, a higher profile tire can be good. A slightly narrower tire isn't a problem. What do you perceive as the problem with that? Are you planning to have separate wheels for winter? Personally, I would focused on identifying the tire I want to use and getting the same exact wheel size Kia uses for the 16in wheel that fits.

 

[Jon]

I know it's still some time before the snow flies, but I'm researching winter tires for my Seltos EX Premium.

The stock tires on it are 215-55-17
(FYI in case you were wondering, the Rims are 5 bolt, 114.3 (17x7) with 67.1 mm center bore, 43 offset)

My Kia dealer suggested I go to a 16-inch rim and slightly narrower - deeper tire for winter.
He suggested going to a 205-60-16 which is -2.3% from the original.

Does anyone who drives in harsh winters like we have here in eastern Ontario have any advice or recommendations?

Thanks, and hoping I don't see that white stuff any time soon.

Cant help with tyre recomendations for snow but just be aware that going down to 16s with 60 height you lose a little ground clearence, just a little but you do. And your speedo will be out as well by a little.
I have an S model with 16 inch steels and 60 profile tyres (the S here in Aus comes with steelies) and when I compare mine to a Sport with 17s you can just notice that little bit difference in clearence. I checked on some wheel tyre site in case I was imagining things and there was if my memory is right .7 inch difference.
Im not 100% sure it was .7 but thats what I think it was. The 17's rims I think are 7 inch wide, the Kia 16 steels 6.5
Here is a good tyre calculator that shows overall size differences as well as speedo differences when using different size rims and tyres.

https://www.tyresizecalculator.com/tyre-wheel-calculators/tire-size-calculator-tire-dimensions

 

[ONTPartsGuy]

I know it's still some time before the snow flies, but I'm researching winter tires for my Seltos EX Premium.

The stock tires on it are 215-55-17
(FYI in case you were wondering, the Rims are 5 bolt, 114.3 (17x7) with 67.1 mm center bore, 43 offset)

My Kia dealer suggested I go to a 16-inch rim and slightly narrower - deeper tire for winter.
He suggested going to a 205-60-16 which is -2.3% from the original.

Does anyone who drives in harsh winters like we have here in eastern Ontario have any advice or recommendations?

Thanks, and hoping I don't see that white stuff any time soon.

I work at a Kia dealership, and we advise customers to go to a 205/60R16. I'm in South Western Ontario, so our winters may not be as turbulent, and i havent had a chance for winter driving yet, but i am excited to see how it handles.

The speedometer would be out slightly, but not much more than 2km/hr.

 

[K-ville]

I work at a Kia dealership, and we advise customers to go to a 205/60R16. I'm in South Western Ontario, so our winters may not be as turbulent, and i havent had a chance for winter driving yet, but i am excited to see how it handles.

Thanks very much for the reply. Good to hear from a Kia employee and from someone in Ontario. I too am excited to see how it handles, but can certainly wait for the white stuff to arrive, however, given how stores are sold out of just about everything, I wanted to get a jump on my winter tire purchase before the rush.

 

[Jon]

I work at a Kia dealership, and we advise customers to go to a 205/60R16. I'm in South Western Ontario, so our winters may not be as turbulent, and i havent had a chance for winter driving yet, but i am excited to see how it handles.

The speedometer would be out slightly, but not much more than 2km/hr.

View attachment 446

Hi. As the reason is unsprung weight to switch to steels for winter driving, steels being heavier than alloys, and you are at a Kia dealership, what is the weight difference between the 16" steels with the supplied tyres and the 17" with the supplied tyres please. There would need to be a substantial difference im guessing otherwise it would be a waste of time and money if they were very similar.
Would love to know the weight differences. As you guys give the advice to switch you must also be able to supply the relevant info to your customers in regards to advising people to do that and buy another set of wheels when they ask why.
Here is a good bit of info on it. There can be, not saying there is with the Kia Steel vs Alloy, very little difference between a smaller steel and bigger alloy. You really need to know the weight difference because if you get something weighing similar your throwing your money away. Its not as simple im told as just going from Alloy to Steel. Click on the below link for some info on it.

Weight Savings: Steel Vs. Aluminum Wheels

Unsprung weight, or the weight of wheels and tires, are considered to have a significant effect on the handling and acceleration of a car or truck. Unsprung weight also leads to stress and wear on suspension components. The most common way to reduce unsprung weight is to substitute aluminum...

itstillruns.com

Looking forward to hearing those differences. Cheers.

 

[K-ville]

I don't plan on switching to steel wheels for my winter tires because I think they are ugly, and due to all the road salt, they always rust, which looks even worse, especially when they are on the vehicle for 5 months. I now have a set of 16-inch alloy rims designated for winter use. The 16 inch rim allows for a 205-60-16 which has a deeper tire profile that bites the snow better than the lower profile 215-55-17. I appreciate the size confirmation from ONTPartsGuy.

 

[ONTPartsGuy]

Hi. As the reason is unsprung weight to switch to steels for winter driving, steels being heavier than alloys, and you are at a Kia dealership, what is the weight difference between the 16" steels with the supplied tyres and the 17" with the supplied tyres please. There would need to be a substantial difference im guessing otherwise it would be a waste of time and money if they were very similar.
Would love to know the weight differences. As you guys give the advice to switch you must also be able to supply the relevant info to your customers in regards to advising people to do that and buy another set of wheels when they ask why.
Here is a good bit of info on it. There can be, not saying there is with the Kia Steel vs Alloy, very little difference between a smaller steel and bigger alloy. You really need to know the weight difference because if you get something weighing similar your throwing your money away. Its not as simple im told as just going from Alloy to Steel. Click on the below link for some info on it.

Weight Savings: Steel Vs. Aluminum Wheels

Unsprung weight, or the weight of wheels and tires, are considered to have a significant effect on the handling and acceleration of a car or truck. Unsprung weight also leads to stress and wear on suspension components. The most common way to reduce unsprung weight is to substitute aluminum...

itstillruns.com

Looking forward to hearing those differences. Cheers.

I asked a few other fellow parts managers, and i myself, nor has anyone here been asked about the weight of alloy v.s steel wheels. People generally choose steel wheels over an aftermarket wheel due to cost point.

 

[ONTPartsGuy]

I don't plan on switching to steel wheels for my winter tires because I think they are ugly, and due to all the road salt, they always rust, which looks even worse, especially when they are on the vehicle for 5 months. I now have a set of 16-inch alloy rims designated for winter use. The 16 inch rim allows for a 205-60-16 which has a deeper tire profile that bites the snow better than the lower profile 215-55-17. I appreciate the size confirmation from ONTPartsGuy.

Happy to help where i can.

 

[Jon]

I don't plan on switching to steel wheels for my winter tires because I think they are ugly, and due to all the road salt, they always rust, which looks even worse, especially when they are on the vehicle for 5 months. I now have a set of 16-inch alloy rims designated for winter use. The 16 inch rim allows for a 205-60-16 which has a deeper tire profile that bites the snow better than the lower profile 215-55-17. I appreciate the size confirmation from ONTPartsGuy.

Oh, ok, sorry I mistook that you were inquiring about the steels. My mistake.
I have them on mine and dont mind them. Not too many people where I live to worry about the looks of them, I drive it, get out of it. They come standard on our base models here. I was just happy to be able to get a car full stop. But I do get people caring about how things look and wanting to bling em up.
What I did notice when test driving the Seltos was the first I drove had 17" with 55 profiles and it didnt ride over bumps and road imperfections it felt like it was hitting them. It felt like someone had inflated the tyres to 50 psi! They weren't. Then drove the S version I now have with the 16" and 60 profile tyres and it didnt go over them as hard, felt better for sure. Not hugely but didnt feel it was hitting them. If I really wanted Alloys id go myself for 16" with 60 profile tyres, bettter ride for sure. But I do know our Seltos has been specifically suspension tuned for our Aussie bad roads. Whoever gave them the feedback that they got it right, being so stiff especially with the upper grades with 17 × 55s, had no idea what our roads are really like. They must have just driven on freeways or something. Mine rides the bad roads ok but it could still be a bit softer at times.
Your Seltos's there though may have different suspension tuning altogether than ours and may ride much nicer than ours here wittlh the 17's.
Heres my little ugly in the bush yesterday ugly little steel wheel thing. Just kidding.

QUOTE="ONTPartsGuy, post: 1851, member: 1060"]
I asked a few other fellow parts managers, and i myself, nor has anyone here been asked about the weight of alloy v.s steel wheels. People generally choose steel wheels over an aftermarket wheel due to cost point.
[/QUOTE]
Ah, I see. Just when I got mine and was looking up about alloy vs steels I read that steels were recommended in snow because they increased the overall unsprung weight and gave better traction over Alloys. Not that I get snow here, just read it as part of the article. Would have been interested to know the difference out of curiosity.
Anyway, cheers and take care over there guys with those fires if you are near any of them. Stay safe.

 

[K-ville]

....

Heres my little ugly in the bush yesterday ugly little steel wheel thing. Just kidding.
View attachment 447
QUOTE="ONTPartsGuy, post: 1851, member: 1060"]
I asked a few other fellow parts managers, and i myself, nor has anyone here been asked about the weight of alloy v.s steel wheels. People generally choose steel wheels over an aftermarket wheel due to cost point.

Ah, I see. Just when I got mine and was looking up about alloy vs steels I read that steels were recommended in snow because they increased the overall unsprung weight and gave better traction over Alloys. Not that I get snow here, just read it as part of the article. Would have been interested to know the difference out of curiosity.
Anyway, cheers and take care over there guys with those fires if you are near any of them. Stay safe.
[/QUOTE]

If those are steel wheels, they are nothing like the ones in Canada. Yours are nice and look more like alloy wheels. Most of our winter steel wheels look like crap.

 

[Jon]

Ah, I see. Just when I got mine and was looking up about alloy vs steels I read that steels were recommended in snow because they increased the overall unsprung weight and gave better traction over Alloys. Not that I get snow here, just read it as part of the article. Would have been interested to know the difference out of curiosity.
Anyway, cheers and take care over there guys with those fires if you are near any of them. Stay safe.

If those are steel wheels, they are nothing like the ones in Canada. Yours are nice and look more like alloy wheels. Most of our winter steel wheels look like crap. View attachment 448
[/QUOTE]
Yeah they do look like they have less holes/ cut outs than mine has. Mine does have hubcaps but still look better than that. Mine came with a stupid looking space saver too that looked like a motorbike wheel instead of an actual Car spare. But I got a full size steel instead. I live in the Aussie bush and that idiotic space saver was to say the least, an insult to the intelligence. But I gotta say, overall, the Seltos really did surprise me when I drove this Aussie S version. Really does punch above its weight! And now I've done the take it easy run in for the recommended 1000 kilometers by the book, when I give it to it in Sport mode, I am amazed that an Atkinson 2 litre engine can do what this does! And I say this after trading in a 2 litre Turbo diesel for this that had twice the torque. My friend said to me I will miss the Turbo Diesel and regret it, he has a diesel like I had. I can say I dont miss it for 1 second. Im loving this thing. Atkinsons were once considered slugs of engines, this aint no slug as you'd know. Cant wait to see him and give him a drive of it and see the smile wiped off his face.

 

[nexgen00]

Just received my Quote for 2021 Seltos SX turbo - winter tire package.
I have factory 18" rim, but will be downsizing to 16":
steel wheels - X99128N (85.00) each
NEW Michelin X-ICE® SNOW (come out in 2 weeks) 205/65r16/XL 99 (156.43) each
If you get TPMS (350.00) ouch
Also in Canada

 

[K-ville]

...
NEW Michelin X-ICE® SNOW (come out in 2 weeks) 205/65r16/XL 99 (156.43) each
If you get TPMS (350.00) ouch
Also in Canada

Thanks for the tip on the New Michelins. I'll have to check it out.

 

[Vectencian]

Just picked up some Bridgestone Blizzak WS90's with new wheels through Costco. They had a one day 20% off sale, so couldn't pass it up. I decided to go with 17's for my SX. I'll see how they handle the winter. So far I'm super happy with the car overall.

 

[Jon]

Just picked up some Bridgestone Blizzak WS90's with new wheels through Costco. They had a one day 20% off sale, so couldn't pass it up. I decided to go with 17's for my SX. I'll see how they handle the winter. So far I'm super happy with the car overall.

View attachment 452

They look nice n meaty Cool.

 

[nexgen00]

very nice, those are awesome winter tires also, how much for the wheels?

 

[ONTPartsGuy]

Wheels look great!

 

[Vectencian]

The wheels were $140 each - they seem to be pretty good quality. The Blizzaks are a great winter tire. I've had them on other vehicles and they are very good on snow and ice. A little noisy, but they wear well.

 

[Jon]

Not along the same line. But I got a Kia Steel 16 with Khumo tyre and pressure gauge in it along with the tyre change holder here in Oz for $300 which I thought was ok really. My car here the S version comes with steels as standard and a stupid space saver. Honestly! A skinny motorbike thin space saver in a country like Australia with our open wide huge country roads! Idiotic to be honest and why I immediately ordered a full size. Kia guys must have never visited down under thats for sure. Space saver in OZ. Hilarious!