ModestW12

Anyone have a set for sale? I'm in Northern California so this would probably only be practical due to cost of shipping if you are in California or Reno/Tahoe area. But if you know otherwise let me know.

If you're close enough I can pick them. I've checked the classifieds but don't see anything recent.

mikesd1980

Check these out on Ebay. This guy lives in California.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/19-AU...Q5fAccessories

ModestW12

Thanks for the heads up! I've contacted the seller to see how close they are. Their other listings indicate they are in San Bernadino. I'm hoping they will be open to adjusting the shipping since I'm relatively close.

BTW, I posted because I'm looking for a set of winter wheels (for going snowboarding and to Tahoe in the winter).

Mister Bally

Also consider 18 or even 17" for winter tires. A more flexible sidewall is your friend with snow tires. I use 17" for my winter tires and 19" for summer. I was never big on spending lots for wheels & tires.

ModestW12

Thanks for the advice Mr. B. The reason I'm ok with 19"s is I would ONLY see snow on the few weekends that I go up up in the Sierra mountains, the rest of the time I'd be in the valley where rain is the only thing I'd need to worry about. I'd probably fit them with Conti ExtremContact DWS's or ContiProContact and ride around on them in the 2 1/2 sort of wet months we have here so the style of the 19"s would be nice to have during that time. I'd be content if I could get that ebay set for $600.

Edit: Looks like they don't make the DWS in the proper 19" size...

FlyTyinFool

No, but you can get really close! I was looking for the Conti DWS tires too and came to the same initial conclusion. I researched further and found 3 sizes that are acceptably close. These are all available through TireRack.com and the prices are from their web site a couple of weeks ago.


285/35ZR19 - $225ea - MPH:60=59.6 - Diameter:26.9"
275/35ZR19 - $219ea - MPH:60=59 - Diameter:26.6"
275/40ZR19 - $216ea - MPH:60=61.4 - Diameter:27.7"

Stock diameter for both 19 and 20 inch wheel/tire fitments is 27.1 inches. The MPH part is: When speedo reads 60 MPH = actual speed is 59.6 (for example).

Here is the full list of every Conti DWS size with full specs. Scroll down, under the image of the tire, and click on the Specs tab.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....um=045WR6ECDWS

ModestW12

Hmmm, the DWS charts shows the 275/35R20 size as having a 27.6" diameter. That's the sizing of the tire that goes on the OEM 20" 7 double spoke RS4 style wheels I have now.

Where did you see 27.1" listed as stock diameter for both 19's and 20's?

FlyTyinFool

My bad, ModestW12! (kinda) The 20" tires I was looking at for a second set were 255/35-20 which are 27.0" or 27.1" diameter, depending on brand. but I must have been incorrect about that size being stock. I based my choice of tire size on overall diameter, not tire size. To add to the confusion, now I'm seeing some brands mark the 255/35-20 as the stock size on their chart, while others mark the 275/35-20 (let's say this is the correct size) that you indicated.

Hmmm... That makes me wonder now...

Using an average of all the different brands, the 17" stock size (235/55-17) rings in at 27.0" diameter, the 18" stock size (235/45-18) comes in at 27.2" diameter, and the 19" fitment (255/40-19) splits the difference at 27.1" diameter.

Here's what I'm curious about though... Why do 3 of 4 tire fitments come in at 1/2" less than the 20" fitment? That doesn't seem right. I wonder if the W12 speedo is calibrated specifically for this difference? If there is no difference in speedo calibration, either the W12 speedo is off, or all three of the others are off (or whatever. It depends on the model used as the starting point).

With that in mind...

Let's say the 27.6" diameter is correct. That means all three other fitments are wrong at the speedo, and read 2% high. 60 on my speedo with the 19" standard wheel and tire size at 27.1" diameter, means I am actually going 58.8 MPH. Very similar results with 18" and 17" standard sizes. They are also reading about 2% high at the speedo.

But, if we assume an average diameter of 27.1" is correct, then the W12 with the standard 20" wheel and tire package (275/35-20 with a diameter of 27.6") is actually going 2% faster at about 61.2 MPH when the speedo reads 60.

Gawd... I'm so confused...


Maybe one of the experts can chime in and let us know what's what. I'm going to bed. My head hurts now...