My new 01 V70T5 is due the first or second week in June. I live in the northwest and there is not a whole lot of snow in this area however my wife is leary of driving in the snow and I'm thinking of ordering an a set of 16" Metis wheels (i like the look of these wheels) and good snow tires for the winter. Then I could change out my tires in the winter and have perfomace tires on the 17" Amalthea's I have ordered with the car.

Is this overkill? Should I just try what I've got for a season? What about a 17" winter tire on the Amalthea wheels?

I have a chance to get the Metis for 25% off list, so with wheels it would be $879 for all four plus tires. I may also be able to add them to the car loan.

Make sense or am I crazy?

Gary

I wanted to buy an extra set of alloys (16") when I bought my T5 a year ago but got convinced not to do it... this was a big mistake. After driving (and looking at...) my car with 17", I had to settle for sluggish driving and extremely bad looks of steel rims and caps.

Basically, your car will switch from looking and driving very sporty to something laim...

This is MY personal opinion; I would not waste any $$$ on snow tires unless you live in a state where there is LOTS of snow. I live in Pennsylvania and I have never used snow tires and have not been stuck even w/ more than moderate amount of snow on the road. If there LOTS of snow on the road, I stay inside until they plow!

Second, if I were to get any accessories and tires (BTW, $879 for four Metis alloys, that is a very good price) in addition to what I am paying for the car, I woud not finance that stuff. If you add the interest, you will not be happy what would the final cost be after 4 or 5 years (life of loan).

Your 17" Amaltheas will come with the Pirelli P6 tire which is All-season and rated much better than its predecessor, the P6000 (average tire in the snow, even slush). You should be able to do just fine if you oly get little snow.

Sin, below, has a point about an alloy rim being "abused" in the winter but I cannot stand the looks of steel rims and the lack of handling when the snows are on. And if you take care of those rims (wash them OFTEN, as in at least once a week) you should be OK.

Yannis

Personally, I wouldn't suggest running alloy rims in the winter time.

Alloys damage easier, cost more, oxidize easily and are generally not for winter use.

Because of slippery conditions, you are more likely to rub a curb, or even hit it. And salt spread on the road dissolves in the water from the snow and ice, and this acidic solution will eat the finish off your rims in no time. Plus, being steel rims, maintenance is much easier. No need to scrub them down before storage if you don't want to. With alloys, it is highly recommended to clean them off before storage. Brake dust also damages alloy rim finishes.

Since you already mentioned little snow, you shouldn't have to run them very often. So why not steel wheels, Volvo hubcaps and winter tires in the winter, and the 17" other wise?

Just a suggestion.