Snow Tires

I have moved away from my great tire source company, where they would change move snow tires onto my rims for free based on my purchase from them, and a lot of other business too. (2017 Chrysler 300) I have all the tools necessary to to the annual change over If I had the snows mounted on their own rims. (Jacks, high torq lug nut guns etc) I can afford the new spare rims, but there are special valves for airing up the tires that send a signal to the car's system as to what the pressure is in the tire and post a warning if it gets low. So I guess I have to buy those valves too. If I do that, is there something special that has to be done by the dealer to have these new valves work with the car after changing them over? I also have a 2007 Chrysler 300 that uses the same size tires in (ITS) rims. Does anybody know if those rims will interchange and be usable on the 2017 rear axle if I put the snows on them? I know I can physically try to do it, but thought somebody out there might know without me having to do that lol

 

The TPMS sensors have to be registered to the cars computer. Some cars let you do this yourself, on others it pretty much has to be done by the dealer or tire shop. Your cars manual should cover this.

Your other option is to not install TPMS sensors in the snows. You will get a nagging warning about tire pressure faults, but I find it easy to ignore I would only do this if you are diligent about checking tire pressure from time to time while the snows are on.

 

Not what you asked but one of the advantages I find in having a second set of rims for snow tires is you might have the chance to mount a narrower tire, which tends to provide better snow/ice traction on its own.

 

There isnt much to TPMS sensors, you just have to get the one for your car and the computer will read it, you dont have to do anything to link them up, they just send a local signal to the BCM which reads it.

Worst case you have to get a TPMS relear tool, like $10, that tells the BCM which tire is which.

 

thanks for the replies!

 

About 2 years ago I got 2 cheap steel wheels for mounting studded snow-tires, they're a real bonus on a modern front-engine front wheel drive car with abs and anti-lock.

Only suggestion, while an air gun is handy for removing lugnuts, do NOT use a torque gun to tighten lugnuts:
put the on by hand, spin finger tight, then use a tire iron or cross-wrench to tighten them by hand.

 

Since the duplicate rims that are presently on the car will cost $800 each, I will need to get creative in regard to the snow tire mounts. Torque specs for these rims are 120 ft pounds I really only need the gun to remove the lug nuts.(probably put on with a gun) .I have a manual torque wrench long enough to put the nuts back on as you suggest. I

 

Go to any junk yard tire shop. They have rims for cheap and mount for cheap too. That's your best bet.

 

For winter driving and resulting potholes, I'd consider something a bit cheaper...

Yes, basic steel wheels aren't as pretty, BUT, for my 2015 Corolla with the factory plastic hubcaps, I now take off the hubcaps in winter after having two of them crack over the years. Side benefit is that, since it is a white Toyota Corolla, I now stands out in a large mall parking lot, it is generally the only Corolla with all black wheels...

 

Hal, the price is right on the above remanned steel wheel.but i have 15" rims (put more rubber between the alloys and the pavement lol) I do not see a source name for the above wheel, can to forward it in a quick reply?

 

It's just a quick eBay search-

Reconditioned 18X4 Black Steel Wheel for 2005-2017 Chrysler 300 560-02307 | eBay
https://www.ebay.com/itm/403983999589
Seller is
https://www.ebay.com/usr/tobacco_road_auto?_trksid=p2047675.m3561.l2559

 

Does anybody know if the 2023 Chrysler 300 will use the same sized rim?

 

Between width, diameter and lug nut offset, I highly doubt it.

 

I just check the compatibility on Amazon + eBay. If both websites say a wheel-tire-part fits a particular make/model, I'm fairly confident they're right.

 

i can't even get a straight answer from a Chrysler Dealer about the rims. One DID tell me they are only offering a 17" and a 20" rim as standard, but I am pretty sure I ordered the 18s special for my 2017 300 to get more rubber between the rim and the curbs my wife likes to run over lol I will check and see if the dealer where I bought them has a record of the order I made back then. Thanks for the replies! (if a manufactured has a base model lthat they are going discontinue after one more run, why would they change the axle set up?

 

I just wanted to follow up to everyone who replied with suggestions for me. I got a set of black steel rims, and a set of TPS sensors and they adapted nicely to the car and computer so I am all set for getting my wife to some activity she HAS to get to even if there is a snow emergency lol

 

Just curious - Are snow tires really necessary? I grew up in northern New England and have lived in CT for the last 40 years where we get our share of snow. Not Norm like accumulations but occasional Nor'easters provide significant snowfalls. I have never had a set of snow tires. Years ago I kept a set of chains in the trunk but now I just run all season tires. I just don't see the need for front wheel drive vehicles.

As for TPM's they run around $30 each (OEM) for my Honda Pilot. I would probably just spend 2 bucks for an old school tire pressure guage.

 

There are a lot of opinions and schools of thought about snow tires. I had a Dodge Intrepid front wheel drive that was the best car I ever had for going thru snow that was up to the bumpers in snow around here. I moved back to rear wheel drives for other reasons, and could get away with all weather tires if I could run on my own schedule, which would be to just not go out in a blizzard. We had bumper deep snow one night last winter and I HAD to go out in it (wife and friends). With the Michelin Snows on the car (Chrysler 300) I never lost traction or sat spinning at a green traffic light. So I choose to spend the money for snow tires. and I have a RAM 4wd That will back me up if it is REALLY bad. lol (Never need snow tires for that Bad Boy lol

 

Eh, depends on the car, and the duties.

About 3 years ago, wife got assigned an early shift at work, which meant heading out 5:30-6:00 am, which is pre-dawn.
Based on that I picked up a pair of studded snowtires, not so much for deep snow, but for blowing snow or black ice.
One a newish front wheel drive car, automatic, ABS & traction control, you'll probably be fine driving in most snow. However, SE Pennsylvania we will get snow/ice storms when there's basically no traction unless you have aggressive tires. I'm on a state route, ~6,400 cars per day, so we end up with somebody in our front yard every couple of years- and somebody off the road within 500-feet of the house fairly commonly.

When it does snow, before the plows come out and salt goes down, cautious & experienced drivers are fine. Others not so much. Similarly, we've had a car in the front yard, husband got here with a standard sedan and tow-chain- did NOTHING. Helpful guy with an off-road style Jeep and aggressive tread tires had no problem pulling her out of the ditch.

One of the BIG limits now is the aerodynamics and chin spoilers, my lawyer-realtor office faced 'main street' with ~9,800 cars per day in a small town. With EVERY heavy snow we ended up with somebody's chin-spoiler or shattered pieces of ground effects on the front sidewalk because they either hit snow at speed, OR hit slush that had frozen solid.
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There is a saying around here Hal and CW, "that it is better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them" Northwest Ohio.

 

Agreed- I remember as a kid helping my dad put the snow tires on the car(s). The '68 Barracuda ragtop with positraction would simply chug away through the snow- (stopping not so much)

Recently, what was REALLY funny was the reaction from everyone in my area of NW Philly suburbs HEARING a car with studded snow tires for the first time. BUT, once the snow or freezing rain arrived, the little Toyota with front-engine, front-wheel CVT drive, ABS, anti-slip and studded snow tires is really effective. Only problem was having to drive backward through drifts or deep snow to save the front spoiler.

Tangent- oddly, the BEST car I ever had for snow was a 1970-72 Fiat 850 Spyder. (two years because it took 2 cars to make one working Fiat) With a rear engine, rear wheel drive car, narrow tires, and a front-trunk (i.e. enclosed on the bottom) that Fiat would drive through snow without any problems. What was REALLY unique was when you hit DEEP snow, the nose would lift up onto the snow putting most of the weight on the rear wheels: you were basically driving a snowmobile, because the front wheels were off the ground and pushing through the snow, so basically were using the wheels to steer like 2 rudders on a boat.
I got onto I-78 JUST before the PA State Police closed the Lehigh Valley entrances down, drove about 30 miles home without any problem, passing LOTS of bewildered tow trucks and local police.

(Only real problem was that towards the very end of the trip I ran out of washer fluid and the windshield was icing up, so I scraped the windshield clean, put the convertible top down, let the windshield get cold so the snow wouldn't melt on it anymore. Got some hilarious reactions driving a convertible around in a snowstorm...)