Hi, Guest
This is a postscript on my wheel+tire purchase from Cheap Thrills.
First snowfall today. The Hankook Ice Bears are performing well.
I tried getting the tire size changed from 205/55/16 to 205/50/16. The 205/55/16 size, in combination with wheels that have only 45mm offset - rather than the OEM 49mm - means that in worst case conditions the outer edge of the tire rubs the top lip of the front fender. You have to work hard to get to the worst case: fully loaded car, sweeping right turn, braking hard. But it will rub. Also, the tire fills the wheel well closely, so I imagine it will quickly get jammed in heavy snow.
I first approached Cheap Thrills. They denied there was a problem - and in fact still insist the 205/55/16 tires are the correct size - "fitted them many times to a Focus". They say their distributor does not have stock of the 205/50/16 tire - "three weeks backlog". Cheap Thrills did offer to take back my wheels and tires for a full refund. This would be inconvenient: I like the wheels and I got a good price I probably can't match elsewhere, and getting wheels+tires from another dealer would require another reinvestment of my time (I live 80km away).
I contacted Hankook Canada - and was told there is stock of the 205/50/15 tire through another distributor and dealer. I verified this, but another several days went by before I could get a final answer out of Hankook - they will not arrange a switch with another dealer. It's now more than ten days since the tires were fitted. They're no-longer new, and I have no leverage. I'll keep these tires. I just have to be careful - at least until the tires wear down a bit.
So the bottom line is that I'll keep the too-large tires, but this rubbing problem has taken away much of the gloat about getting a good wheel and good tire at a good price...
If you are fitting 16" snow tires to your SVT, the closer the wheel offset is to 49mm the better. Make sure the tire is 205/50/16 - don't take 205/55/16. You won't regret buying Hankook W300 Ice Bears.
First snowfall today. The Hankook Ice Bears are performing well.
I tried getting the tire size changed from 205/55/16 to 205/50/16. The 205/55/16 size, in combination with wheels that have only 45mm offset - rather than the OEM 49mm - means that in worst case conditions the outer edge of the tire rubs the top lip of the front fender. You have to work hard to get to the worst case: fully loaded car, sweeping right turn, braking hard. But it will rub. Also, the tire fills the wheel well closely, so I imagine it will quickly get jammed in heavy snow.
I first approached Cheap Thrills. They denied there was a problem - and in fact still insist the 205/55/16 tires are the correct size - "fitted them many times to a Focus". They say their distributor does not have stock of the 205/50/16 tire - "three weeks backlog". Cheap Thrills did offer to take back my wheels and tires for a full refund. This would be inconvenient: I like the wheels and I got a good price I probably can't match elsewhere, and getting wheels+tires from another dealer would require another reinvestment of my time (I live 80km away).
I contacted Hankook Canada - and was told there is stock of the 205/50/15 tire through another distributor and dealer. I verified this, but another several days went by before I could get a final answer out of Hankook - they will not arrange a switch with another dealer. It's now more than ten days since the tires were fitted. They're no-longer new, and I have no leverage. I'll keep these tires. I just have to be careful - at least until the tires wear down a bit.
So the bottom line is that I'll keep the too-large tires, but this rubbing problem has taken away much of the gloat about getting a good wheel and good tire at a good price...
If you are fitting 16" snow tires to your SVT, the closer the wheel offset is to 49mm the better. Make sure the tire is 205/50/16 - don't take 205/55/16. You won't regret buying Hankook W300 Ice Bears.