Ok, I just got some new wheels for my xB for xmas. They are black enkei's. I'm just wondering if I should put them on now...or wait until after winter. I live in Michigan, and the winter has been mild here to say the least. I'm also not the type of person to swap them out every year...

Opinions?

 

then why whait? put them on and roll. o yea and congrats on the new wheels

 

Yeah, put them on. Just flush them with water from time to time to knock off any road salt.

 

Enkei makes quality wheels. They will hold up fine. A little fresh water, maybe soap and water, even if you don't have time to wash the whole car, and they will look great all winter.

 

Ok, sounds good...looks like I'll install them this week. The quarter carwash is always nice.

 

curiuos.. what Enkei wheels you get.. im looking at getting some RZ-5 in the black or gun metal for my box.. but id like to see what they look like.. post some pics.. please

 

I got these (to go on my black xB)


PKR
15X6.5 4-100/11438BM (65561)
(Discount Tire)

 

As far as I'm concerned, it's not the rim you should be worried about... make sure that the tire you have can grip well in snow.

Sweet wheels though.

 

Yes, you should wait. That salt will eat at the clear coat on the polished lip. Wait a few months, and you and your rims will be happier in the long run... just my opinion having run wheels for 2 winter in a row and having them look like @ss when I finally sold the car...

 

I agree. Why spend the money on nice rims and mess them up during the winter. You should get in the habit of changing them out for winter. I have some new rims that I will wait till spring to put on.

 

I would wait.

 

yeah wait i'd only do like a test fit and take some pics but keep them away for winter.

 

wait. i change my rims every year andthey will last longer. and if you get a performance tire then you wont be going anywhere in the snow, they suck in the snow.

 

wider for summer skinner for winter.

 

If Michigan uses salt - wait

I always rolled on hubs and coiled my old car up in the winter! (Spent 15+ yrs in North Dakota)

 

My main problem is, I have the SAME tires, so changing the wheels is a bit more problematic for the average person to do.

 

You could buy some real cheap tires for the stock rims. Pep Boys always has a deal of buy 4 tires for $100.00

 

Is that really the SMART thing to do though, get CHEAP tires for winter? I guess I'll just install and keep them nice and clean. No snow yet

 

My experience over the years (and I'm pretty old) is when you only have one set of tires to share between your winter and summer wheels, you subject your nice rims to possible damage. Every time you mount and dismount tires there's the potenial for scrapes, nicks, dings, ect. So twice a year your nice rims are in the hands of some guy with a tire-changer and a metal pry-bar in his hand.....and mistakes do happen.

As for the "cheap" tires for the winter? Not sure which tire you have, but the stock Goodyears are only average, at best, in the snow. So, I'd say an inexpensive tire wouldn't give up much, if anything, to the stockers in the snow.

I'd get a second set of tires...even if they were cheapies. But that's just me.

 

Nothing wrong with "CHEAP" tires. You won't get 30,000 miles out them and your life isn't in danger if you put them on your car. I was just giving you an idea. Go ahead mess up the rims its your choice.