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greggtsr
10-01-2004, 06:58 AM
I unfortunately have to drive my 03 MM this winter.I was wondering what wheel and tire combo I can run.What other wheels fit.Any ideas?

ADE 1000
10-01-2004, 07:10 AM
I unfortunately have to drive my 03 MM this winter.I was wondering what wheel and tire combo I can run.What other wheels fit.Any ideas?

I have been researching the same subject myself. There is a thread in the "news" section discussing this in detail. Most make an effort to match the same ratio of diameters as the stock 18" wheels to ensure there are no issues with the ABS or traction control. You can use OEM 2003 or newer Town Car, Crown Victoria, or Grand Marquis wheels. It appears that 2002 and newer Explorer, Aviator, or Mountaineer wheels might fit as well. There are also several aftermarket rims available in 16" and 17" sizes. Steel wheels are also available, if you can live with how they look.

As far as tires are concerned, the best matched set comes in 16" sizes and are available at the Tirerack:

215/65-16 $89 Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow or $56 Firestone Winterforce

225/70-16 $89 Pirelli Scorpion Ice & Snow or $50 Firestone Winterforce


For a 17" setup, I have found the following but the ratio of front to back tires will be 1.08 instead of the desired 1.05. I am not sure what issues this might cause:

Front: 225/55-17 = $98.99 Hankook W300 Icebear

Rear: 235/65-17= $71.99 Hankook W300 Icebear

Ideally, you would want a 225/60-17 in the front for this combo, but I can't find a matched set in this size.

If you want to run 18s all around, 235/50-18s are available in Bridgestone Blizzaks and the Hankooks. But there is no snow tire that matches the rear diameter to my knowledge.

BillyGman
10-03-2004, 01:25 PM
If you want to run 18s all around, 235/50-18s are available in Bridgestone Blizzaks and the Hankooks. But there is no snow tire that matches the rear diameter to my knowledge.I have to correct you on that. The Bridgestone Blizzak W-50's come in P235/55/18" and are exactly 28.3" tall (diameter) which is a perfect match for our cars. So I believe that they're the best choice for all four corners IF you want to use the 18" mags for winter driving. And for an 18" snow tire that also has the correct tire height, they're probably the only choice.

here's a link to the tire spec chart that backs up my claim. After you click on the link, go all the way to the bottom of the chart. I hope this helps....


http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.jsp?make=Bridgestone&model=Blizzak+WS-50