Winter Tire Setup

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Sep 27, 2020 | 07:10 AM

chatheersh

Thread Starter

Driver School Candidate

Joined: Sep 2020

Posts: 2

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From: Ontario

Winter Tire Setup

I recently purchased a lexus is200t 2017. I'm looking for suggestions on a winter tire setup. Any suggestions? Is it necessary to go with the staggered setup 225/40R18 (front) and 225/35R18 (rear)?

Sep 27, 2020 | 09:28 AM

Sasnuke

Lexus Test Driver

Joined: Feb 2017

Posts: 6,260

Likes: 1,752

From: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Welcome to the forum!

The IS200t has the same brakes as the IS300 (RWD and AWD) and IS350 (RWD and AWD)...for the purposes of fitting winter wheels.

Check out these threads that discuss this very topic:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...sport-awd.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...ter-setup.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...0-f-sport.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...good-idea.html
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...is350-awd.html

Sep 27, 2020 | 09:40 AM

m1919

Intermediate

Joined: Mar 2019

Posts: 300

Likes: 79

From: Ontario

Quote:

Originally Posted by chatheersh

I recently purchased a lexus is200t 2017. I'm looking for suggestions on a winter tire setup. Any suggestions? Is it necessary to go with the staggered setup 225/40R18 (front) and 225/35R18 (rear)?

I just run a square 225/40R18 setup all around for winter. Doesn't snow enough in the GTA for me to go through the effort of looking for 17s.

Sep 27, 2020 | 03:55 PM

chatheersh

Thread Starter

Driver School Candidate

Joined: Sep 2020

Posts: 2

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From: Ontario

Thanks! So running a squared setup is fine for RWD?

Sep 28, 2020 | 03:53 AM

Sasnuke

Lexus Test Driver

Joined: Feb 2017

Posts: 6,260

Likes: 1,752

From: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by chatheersh

Thanks! So running a squared setup is fine for RWD?

Most run a square setup for winter...so yes, it's fine even for RWD.

Oct 5, 2020 | 11:24 AM

Infiverse

Driver School Candidate

Joined: Nov 2019

Posts: 47

Likes: 1

From: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1919

I just run a square 225/40R18 setup all around for winter. Doesn't snow enough in the GTA for me to go through the effort of looking for 17s.

Does the rear feel weird during the winter since you downsized from 255?

Oct 5, 2020 | 01:06 PM

Sasnuke

Lexus Test Driver

Joined: Feb 2017

Posts: 6,260

Likes: 1,752

From: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infiverse

Does the rear feel weird during the winter since you downsized from 255?

While you wait for m1919 to respond, pretty much anyone with a winter setup show have downsized tires.
The downsizing is really the width of the tire, as the height is the same between 225/40 and 255/35. I run 17's that are 225/45/17...which is also the same height as the aforementioned.
For winter driving it's actually beneficial to have narrower tires when driving through snow. When you drive on dry cold pavement though, it's easier to 'overpower' the rear wheels, as there is less rubber on the road.
However between AWD and all the safety systems onboard, once you have decent tires it's fairly hard to get into the weeds.