Will 235 snow tires fit my GT? pros and cons of narrow tire?

[locks66]

I have a standard GT and can't seem to find a definitive answer on width. I do not understand tires well. I love the Verdesteins Wintrac, but the stock wheel size of 245/45r20 are currently in low inventory and I can only get 3. I can go smaller width though.

Will my GT fit those? I know being more narrow improved snow handling, but are there any other pros or cons? I really know very little about tires other than the most basic of basics.

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[phidauex]

I have a standard GT and can't seem to find a definitive answer on width. I do not understand tires well. I love the Verdesteins Wintrac, but the stock wheel size of 245/45r20 are currently in low inventory and I can only get 3. I can go smaller width though.

Will my GT fit those? I know being more narrow improved snow handling, but are there any other pros or cons? I really know very little about tires other than the most basic of basics.

You could fit a 235 width just fine on the stock GT rims. The trick is that there isn't a perfect size - you can go with 235/45, which will be 1.2% smaller diameter than your current tires, or you could bump up to 235/50, which would be 2% larger than your current tires. Both tires will fit on the wheels and under the car without trouble.

Both of those are within the +/- 3% recommendation, just a matter of preference. The slightly smaller size would benefit efficiency a bit, but the slightly larger will give you a few more mm of ground clearance which can be handy in the winter.

 

[Scooby24]

I'd go 235 over 255. 8" wheel is pretty skinny for 255 which will look fairly fat on the wheel.

 

[locks66]

You could fit a 235 width just fine on the stock GT rims. The trick is that there isn't a perfect size - you can go with 235/45, which will be 1.2% smaller diameter than your current tires, or you could bump up to 235/50, which would be 2% larger than your current tires. Both tires will fit on the wheels and under the car without trouble.

Both of those are within the +/- 3% recommendation, just a matter of preference. The slightly smaller size would benefit efficiency a bit, but the slightly larger will give you a few more mm of ground clearance which can be handy in the winter.

Thank you! I wound up going with 235s and bought a set of rims from tire rack.

 

[phidauex]

Thank you! I wound up going with 235s and bought a set of rims from tire rack.

What wheel size did you go with?

 

[tuminatr]

I have a standard GT and can't seem to find a definitive answer on width. I do not understand tires well. I love the Verdesteins Wintrac, but the stock wheel size of 245/45r20 are currently in low inventory and I can only get 3. I can go smaller width though.

Will my GT fit those? I know being more narrow improved snow handling, but are there any other pros or cons? I really know very little about tires other than the most basic of basics.

The important factor here is will the 235/45/20 100v handle the weight, and the answer is no. If you cant get the 245/45/20 103h tire size you could go 255/45/20 105v. Your speedo would be off but not by much @60 your actual speed would be 60.74mph

If you change to 255/45/20 105V it will work tire rack says they will fit an 8" rim so your good to go with that size

 

[locks66]

The important factor here is will the 235/45/20 100v handle the weight, and the answer is no. If you cant get the 245/45/20 103h tire size you could go 255/45/20 105v. Your speedo would be off but not by much @60 your actual speed would be 60.74mph

If you change to 255/45/20 105V it will work tire rack says they will fit an 8" rim so your good to go with that size

So I don't think that tracks...

The tires the mach e need to be xl rated. The mach e gt weighs just under 5,000 pounds. The verdesteins are rated for 1,764 pounds a tire. Multiple that by 4 and you get 7,056.

Why would they not work?

 

[locks66]

What wheel size did you go with?

20 inch and 235. See my screenshot above.

 

[tuminatr]

So I don't think that tracks...

The tires the mach e need to be xl rated. The mach e gt weighs just under 5,000 pounds. The verdesteins are rated for 1,764 pounds a tire. Multiple that by 4 and you get 7,056.

Why would they not work?

The load rating is the 100v yes that 1764lbs but the factory tires are 103v or 1929lbs. The XL in the tire allows for increased load and tire pressure but not above what they are rated.


So by putting these 100v tires on you lower your load capacity by 660lbs. It's your car but I wouldn't do that to mine.

Load ratings are very important as a general rule you can go up but you should never go down.

With full disclosure, I work in the automotive industry and have been doing customer wheel applications for 30+ years.

 

[Scooby24]

The load rating is the 100v yes that 1764lbs but the factory tires are 103v or 1929lbs. The XL in the tire allows for increased load and tire pressure but not above what they are rated.


So by putting these 100v tires on you lower your load capacity by 660lbs. It's your car but I wouldn't do that to mine.

Load ratings are very important as a general rule you can go up but you should never go down.

With full disclosure, I work in the automotive industry and have been doing customer wheel applications for 30+ years.

Does wheel load rating need to be as high as the tires? IE: flow formed wheels are generally under that 1929 lbs. (17-1800)

 

[locks66]

The load rating is the 100v yes that 1764lbs but the factory tires are 103v or 1929lbs. The XL in the tire allows for increased load and tire pressure but not above what they are rated.


So by putting these 100v tires on you lower you load capacity by 660lbs. It's your car but I wouldn't do that to mine.

The load rating is the 100v yes that 1764lbs but the factory tires are 103v or 1929lbs. The XL in the tire allows for increased load and tire pressure but not above what they are rated.


So by putting these 100v tires on you lower your load capacity by 660lbs. It's your car but I wouldn't do that to mine.

Load ratings are very important as a general rule you can go up but you should never go down.

With full disclosure, I work in the automotive industry and have been doing customer wheel applications for 30+ years.

I'll change my order up. Appreciate the insight.

 

[tuminatr]

I'll change my order up. Appreciate the insight.

Good, and those Wintrac Pros are a very good choice, they will work great.

 

[locks66]

Good, and those Wintrac Pros are a very good choice, they will work great.

So they are out of the 20 inch. What are your thoughts on going smaller on diameter. Heading down to 19 or even 18 inch?

 

[tuminatr]

So they are out of the 20 inch. What are your thoughts on going smaller on diameter. Heading down to 19 or even 18 inch?

I have heard the 19" wheels will work on the Mach E GT. having more sidewall for the winter is a good idea. you could do 225/55/19 make sure they have the 103 load rating.

You could also choose another brand tire. The Viking contact or pirelli winter are very good too

 

[locks66]

I have heard the 19" wheels will work on the Mach E GT. having more sidewall for the winter is a good idea. you could do 225/55/19 make sure they have the 103 load rating.

You could also choose another brand tire. The Viking contact or pirelli winter are very good too

Based on tireracks search tool it appears the GT PE has a different wheel size which makes sense as it has different breaks and I just have red calipers.

If I select a GT PE they limit me to 20 inch tire searches for winter tire packages.

If I select GT, I can go from 18 to 21 for winter tires.

I think I will go with the 18 verdesteins. Saves me money plus I like the look of the Rims available better.

I appreciate your help on all of this! Thank you for helping educate me on it all

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