Wheel size for snow

[Gary crouch]

Just bought the new LC! Couldn't be happier... Now we need to take it from so cal to north Idaho... It'll be the get around car for up there. My question is.. The stock 16 inch wheels have been replaced with some really nice chrome Toyota 18 inch wheels. I have bee reading 18 inch wheels are not as good in snow and ice as the 16 inch rims.... Really?? Isn't a good snow and ice tire going to work on either size rim?

I don't really want a dedicated set of snow tires and rims, I don't think for the couple three trips a year we might take justifys the cost... I just want to put on some more aggressive ( like duratracs ) tires and call it a day.... Anyone have experience with these LC's and snow tire and wheel combinations
Thanks
g

 

[Tremek]

Tons of trucks are running around out there with 18" or larger wheels; the question becomes what tires are available for those sizes.

For northern Idaho if you're considering two sets of tires depending on the season (winter vs. something else - all season or AT/MT etc) you should be looking for relatively narrow cross-section tires to raise the PSI on the tire contact surface and therefore make it easier to get through deep snow.

Looking at what's available for a 18" wheel the selection is definitely more limited re: LT winter tires, but it looks like TireRack's survey's top-rated tire is a Blizzak DM V1 and it comes in 275/60/18:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...Year=2003&autoModel=Land Cruiser&autoModClar=

275 isn't particularly narrow, but I suspect you would be better off as compared to 99% of what's on the road with a LC + serious winter tires. Do keep in mind you can just have the tires mounted/demounted each season, and you don't necessarily HAVE to have a second set of rims.

All seasons are also an option but will bring compromise. How serious is your weather? I live in CO and can run around in a RWD car with winter tires and be fine, but I live on the high plains and not in the mountains. If I was in the hills it would be a different story. With that said supposedly Duratracs are good in the nasty stuff; I will likely be going the Duratrac route once I am LC-enabled.

Edit: one final comment re: tires and surface conditions. I put severe-weather rated all-season tires on my wife's Cayenne last year. It rolls around on 22" rims, so the tire selection (as well as sidewall height) combined with stupid Porsche requirements makes the field pretty narrow.

2 months later she managed to stuff it into a curb and do $4500 in suspension damage when she didn't brake early enough on ice. Winter tires MIGHT have helped that situation as they're usually a softer compound and have all sorts of aggressive siping etc. that help cars stop more effectively on ice. Depending on your or your SO's competency at driving, you can buy yourself some cheapish insurance in getting the most appropriate tire for the possible conditions.

 

[Gary crouch]

Thanks for those comments.... I am leaning towards a set of the duratracs... I'll likely just drive what is on there up to Spokane and stop at Les Schwaub's and switch out to the DT's and I guess put them on the 18inch rims...