FX35/20" Wheels/Heavy Snow?

[Wireboltman]

I'm in the process of buying a 2003 FX35 with the sport package. (Ebay/Used/Decent Price)Can anyone tell me how these wheels do in the heavy snow? I live in the central UP of Michigan and we get 2-300 inches of snow up here every winter, I've heard some negative things about their performance in the snow. Anybody have any experience with this?Thanks.

[Darius]

I dont think snow performance is dependent upon wheel diameter. The most important factor is the tire compound and tread. The winter "performance" of the 20" wheel would be the same as a smaller wheel.

[ascottk]

I discovered that my FX35 didn't have the sport package as advertised? I like the look of the 20" wheels, would it be worth adding them without getting the sport package?

[Sue Esponte]

I dont think snow performance is dependent upon wheel diameter. The most important factor is the tire compound and tread. The winter "performance" of the 20" wheel would be the same as a smaller wheel.

Thinner tires perform better in the snow. I don't know if the 20s are wider than the 18s but if so, traction would be worse with the 20s in the deep white stuff (all other things being equal).

-Eric

[YSWEATME]

I have the sport package on mine and it didn't handle very well in the dry, white powdery snow. Not very good traction at all. The snow literally packed around the tires. I think it handles better in wet, slushy snow, though.

[Ledfoot]

A wider track on your wheels will give you less traction in the snow, if you are comparing two wheels of different sizes, both running on the same make/model of tire.

Honestly, this is all dependent on the tires you are running during the winter. If you are using all-season/winter rubber, the 20" wheels shouldn't behave severely different from the 18" ones. The only real difference wheel-to wheel would be the unsprung weight, in which case a heavier wheel is of greater benefit when the road gets snowy.