I use to live in the south and my 18s stay on all yr round, now I live in Massachusetts and get to experience a snowy winter. Does the snow really mess up rims? What kind of problems is experience with leaving their rims on all winter?

 

Change them back to stock if you can. The road salt is not good for them at all. I aslo assume that your 18's don't have snow tires on them, they probably have performance tires which will really suck in the snow.

 

My 4 bent 17" rims from winter in Rhode Island say YES to taking them off! two words for ya....POT HOLE. Plus, the salt totally ate away the finish on them.

 

yup, what they said.. if yours has a purdy polished finish or anything but plain grey powdercoating, then you'll need to switch rims...

if you dont' want to bend a rim on a crater in the road, then switch rims...

think of how long you spent shopping for wheels and tires you liked.. now think of how long it's goign to take you to find ONE of those rims when you bend the !)@(#!)(!4 out of one on your car.......

 

Just wait until the salt gets on the car, you're gonna wanna cry. Oh and yes, take them off if you can

 

Specially if you have Chrome. Salt and Snow will tear chrome to pieces. Take them off, youll be happier with your stock wheels on, cause of the ride itself. Which is priceless!

Nick

 

I wouldnt know.....Its always sunny and warm here !

 

pot holes...i have had such bad luck wit them, even with STOCK rims. 18's will get ripped apart. Take them off if u r **** about keeping your rims in good condition. Snow doesnt do anything to them, snow is just water. Its the salt and potholes u have to worry about.

Take them off or drive very carefully and only on super clean roads with no snow or salt residue left.

 

Andrei

 

everyone on the .org that stays in cold climates---> <--- kloogy

 

is this your first winter driving in snow? The past few days must have helped make up your mind (I'm in NH). For those who don't know our area got an inch of snow, then it melted a little and froze... traffic backups were hours long yesterday.

ESPECIALLY if it's your first winter driving in the snow, get dedicated snow tires! 18s are probably gonna have you sliding all over the place.

 

When I lived up north...I drove on my rims through 2 winters. Never messed them up..I just wash them more often. Even if it was 16 degrees outside.

 

I've lived here in the NE (living in MA now) all my life and you are asking for BIG problems if you run low profiles during the winter months. The salt will destroy your wheels if you don't wash them immediately and in deep snow, you will slide all over the place. Get yourself a set of winter tires.

 

Well you don't know what your missing them. It was 18 degrees this morning and my car felt great sucking in that cold air. These cars haul in cold weather.

 

you don't have to...1. if you got the cash to keep replacing your rims

2. IF you have a winter car

3. If you have stock 17's/18's (rims)

It has been my experience that stock rims are made tougher than aftermarket rims.

 

I think that's the most important point. You need taller tires if you're going to be driving through a few inches (or more in Buffalo ) now and then.

 

its not so much salt.. you will spin like a **** and go NOWHERE

 

The salt could be a factor if your trying to pass a sander on the highway. My hood got trashed last winter. I hate riding behind those things.

 

Mine made it through last winter just fine, the finish is still great.. (check the sig)

On a side note, im keeping the lip on.. hehe, snow plow anyone?

 

North Carolina? lol

you realize winter in MA and winter in NC is a bit different right?

like this weekend we are getting about 1 - 1.5 foot of snow where i live in CT ..

how much you think NC is going to get?

and how many hills do you have in NC?

i couldn't begin to compare the differences

 

Well, I am just telling you my experiences sorry I haven't lived in CT before..

We won't get but about less than an inch this weekend haha yeah theres no comparison there..

Hills? We have lots of hills..