New winter wheels and tires installed. Post yours up!

[RedRider]

How are you finding the aluminum rims working out with salt damage? Salt and the bromine solution on the roads are the main reasons why my snows have always been on on steelies in Ontario. I found that the aluminum rims corroded especially at the tire sealing area, causing leaks that can't be fixed. That plus steelies can be fixed when you occasionally slide into a curb...

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[LSchicago]

These are my winter tires. Toyo Observe GSI-6.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

Today I picked up my new winter rims & tires, I really like the stock XLT rims so I tried to go with something that looked close to stock.
I’ve had my truck for almost two weeks and love it so far.

We love it, Kevin! Always best to be prepared for the winter season!

 

[Ford Motor Company]

These are my winter tires. Toyo Observe GSI-6.

That's a stunning Ranger, Lloyd! Wow! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Stang89]

How are you finding the aluminum rims working out with salt damage? Salt and the bromine solution on the roads are the main reasons why my snows have always been on on steelies in Ontario. I found that the aluminum rims corroded especially at the tire sealing area, causing leaks that can't be fixed. That plus steelies can be fixed when you occasionally slide into a curb...

I've never noticed any salt damage to my previous aluminum rims in the past, its possible less salt is used in the Prairies than Ontario. I could have picked up steel rims for my Mavericks winter tires but liked the price and looks so much more.

 

[LSchicago]

That's a stunning Ranger, Lloyd! Wow! Thanks for sharing!

Oops! Maverick, but thanks.

 

[HyphyStryke]

Today I picked up my new winter rims & tires, I really like the stock XLT rims so I tried to go with something that looked close to stock.
I’ve had my truck for almost two weeks and love it so far.

What’s the name of the tire and what size did you go with?

 

[Optimus]

I live in Minne-snowta. The salt/brine we use here is absolutely nasty and seeps into everything. Cross the border into North Dakota—and they use a lot more sand than salt, and their vehicles are a lot cleaner. Both steel and Aluminum wheels will corrode, and both will leak at the bead. Aluminum seems to leak easier, meaning it takes less corrosion to leak. I treat all winter wheels with a bead sealer, regardless if there is already any existing corrosion or not. I also try to use stick-on wheel weights, at least for the outer bead, as the traditional “hammer-on” style are often the starting point for bead corrosion. Hammer-on weights scratch off the powder coat or clear coat, and create a tiny path fir salt/brine to get closer into the bead.

I’ve also added a new step as of last year on two other vehicles. I run a bit of Fluid Film around the crevice between the rubber of the tire and lip of the rim (with the tire already installed). Just enough to provide a thin coating but not enough to sling it all off again once the vehicle is in motion. I am NOT applying Fluid Film to the bead surface itself, as that would make it slippery and cause the tire to spin endlessly on the rim. Bead sealer is already applied to the bead surface. I am just applying Fluid Film to the outside crevice, trying to create a barrier to prevent salt from going in, in the first place.

It helps that I have my own tire machine and balancer to do this stuff (used to work in a shop). I can re-coat the Fluid Film as needed, or take it off with a power washer. I’ll try anything at this point to protect against corrosion, including some temporarily ugly anti-corrosion spray in the winter. It beats trying to re-inflate a tire at -30F. It seemed to help last winter, so I will do it again this season. I’ve been treating the entire undersides of my vehicles with Fluid Film for about 8 years now. It is amazing stuff.

 

[Montana]

I'm going to run the KO2's for a while on the wheels I have and see how they hold up, but I'm prepared to not be impressed. If so, I'll run the stock FX4 wheels ('22) and get some snow tires.

Seems like most people that have ran both KO2's and the AT3W's in snow report the KO2's being subpar.

 

[RLmesc]

I have 18x8.5 Touren five spoke rims with Michelin X-Ice tires.

 

[Stang89]

What’s the name of the tire and what size did you go with?

Its a Goodyear Winter Command Ultra, 225/65/R17. I've used Nokian and Michelin before, this will be my first Goodyear tire.

 

[ianjay]

I picked up a set of take off Lariat rims and put Michelin snows on my XLT hybrid. I have ordered a Lariat hybrid, so they can migrate to the new Mav when the XLT gets traded in.

 

[Stang89]

I have 18x8.5 Touren five spoke rims with Michelin X-Ice tires.

Nice rims, those were one of the options I looked at before picking the one I did.

 

[dadd75]

I've driven in mid-Michigan for over 35 years. I've never gotten snow tires, just kept the all-season radials. That goes for RWD, FWD, AWD and 4WD that I have owned over the years.

This all depends where you live. First 35 years of my life lived in Saginaw, MI, got by with just All-Sesson radials, but lived in areas with good snow plowed roads. Then for 21 years lived in Traverse City, MI. I had a 2.5 mile trek every morning getting out to the highway on my way to work. The roads were not plowed yet since I left for work around 5:30am. I had FWD cars and there were many mornings I never would have made it to the highway with just All-Season radials. Snow tires are a must in many parts of America and Canada.

 

[K5Blazer]

The OP’s pictures clearly showed a siped winter specific tire.

Some people here have no idea what they are talking about.

And yes, winter specific tires work much better in slippery winter conditions than aggressive off road tires.

20 years in Alaska proved that fact to me. I even used studded off road tires for a while in the winter there. Switching to winter compound rubber was a revelation.

Some people here have no idea what they are talking about.

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