Hello, Before heading out on my first proper road trip (3000km or so around Gaspé), I thought now would be a good time to swap from 19" to 17" tires, specifically the Nokian WRG5 (215/55 R17). Plus there's $70 off a set of 4 at Kal Tire. I don't want to end up in the middle of nowhere without being able to source a next-day replacement. So the obvious question: what kind of wheels should I get? One important goal is for the improved efficiency of 17" wheels, and from what I've read here more a bit more durability in the tire. The other is finally to get all-weather tires, for decent winter performance without having to swap tires twice a year. (Winters here are quite mild by Canadian standards.) My thinking is that I should get alloy wheels, for being lighter weight (and as unsprung weight, more fuel-efficient than steel). Other than that, I'd like to hear what people think I should be looking for, or even what they think looks good. Should I get the wheels at Kal Tire (link) too, or is there a retailer with particularly good deals I should know about?
They’re probably neck-and-neck. There might be a Camry steelie that’ll work, think that was discussed here. Is your goal to have 2 sets (all-seasons and snows) or just one (all-weathers for year-round)? with our ‘10, within a week of purchase (in November of 2010), I had a dealership set me up with 195/65R15 Michelin X-Ice on Corolla steelies. A year back I replaced those, and also swapped over to nicer 3rd Gen Plug-In rims (15” alloys). Both those rims were around 16 lbs. Our stock rims with all-seasons are the 3rd gen 17” alloys, tip the scales around 23 lbs. our west coast winters are not that cold; I’ve stuck with 2-set solution with a couple of cars now, but am beginning to wonder. Plus our car usage has fallen off dramatically (think quintessential Sunday Driver); we’re rarely if ever obligated to drive in snowy conditions.
One set. I had the WRG (3 or 4, can't remember which) on my Yaris when it needed new tires, and swore I'd never buy anything but all-weather again. They are very close to a winter tire in performance, that the cost & hassle of switching is not even close to worth it. I can't believe they're not the norm for half the Canadian population at least that doesn't regularly get snowed in.
Get Pics when you’re done! I’m not a big fan of the prime wheels, but I am OK with my limited, I understand you’re going for efficiency.
Here we go! Put Nokian WRG 5 (215 55R17) on these rims, which I chose for being super light-weight (under 17lbs), and for being winter-safe. About to head out on a road trip. Let's see how the mileage improves... WRG 5 on RTX by mountaineer posted Jun 14, 2024 at 4:11 PM
Sorry, a bit late to the thread. Good looking rims! I had a co-worker who used the Nokian all-weather tires and we carpooled quite a bit. I find them to be noisy at highway speeds. They're also necessarily a compromise: not quite as good in winter as winter tires, and likely wear out a bit faster in the summer heat compared to summer or all-season tires. In what Aluminum rims are concerned, the OEM ones are certainly made for any kind of weather. After-market ones, however, can be a hit and miss. If you read carefully the details on Tire Rack, you'll notice that some alloy rims are NOT recommended for winter because the paint being used will not withstand road salt and sand.
My experience so far with the new rims & tires is that I see no efficiency gains – if anything, I might be using slightly more gas/electrons than with Toyota's original 19" rims & tires. It's very hard to get consistent measures, though, particularly with the gen 5 electronics. At least I'll have better winter traction. These rims are winter-friendly, btw.
