GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Hello:I am from Winnipeg, Canada, and am considering winter tire options for my 2007 Vibe. Due to a significant cost advantage, I'm considering changing from the factory 205-55-R16 to a 205-65-R15. Has anyone out there had success with 15" rims? Does the Vibe brake assembly accommodate this?Thank you very much for your suggestions.

Welcome to Genvibe.15" Toyota Corolla rims work perfectly. 5x100 +38 offset. 195/65/15 tires are also a perfect match. A lot of us use them. Narrow is better for a snow tire

15" winters will be fine.

I used 15" inch rims with Blizzak REVOs last year....in fact they were listed as one of the preferred packages for Vibes through Tirerack. I had no problems. The narrow width is better for the snow but just as important to me was that the higher sidewall can better handle pot hole hits.

A larger diameter tire would be an advantage, but I never understood why car companies opt to use a larger rim and narrower sidewall. Only advantage I can see is perhaps some like the looks of that wheel/tire choice.

Quote, originally posted by jake75 »A larger diameter tire would be an advantage, but I never understood why car companies opt to use a larger rim and narrower sidewall.I agree, but a glance at all the threads here about using even larger 18" and 20" rims makes it clear that there's a market for the large rim/small sidewall style. The style makes sense for improved handling in sharp turns on smooth roads, but how many of us do much of that kind of driving? OTOH, ride comfort and resistance to damage from potholes both suffer with the smaller sidewalls. Our older Corolla (13" rims) and Camry (14") both ride much better on rough roads than our Vibes - and replacement tires are also far less expensive.

Thank you all for your quick responses. I won't hesitate any longer in ordering my winter wheels and tires. Even after shipping, Tire Rack is very competitively priced with conventional Canadian tire suppliers.

Get them small wheels, then you can be like this guy, lol couldn't resist.

Quote, originally posted by Whelan »HEY thats my car.... .......................NOTHAHAHAHAHA

It's the same color.

Quote, originally posted by Raven »Welcome to Genvibe.15" Toyota Corolla rims work perfectly. 5x100 +38 offset. 195/65/15 tires are also a perfect match. A lot of us use them. Narrow is better for a snow tireCan anybody explain to me why narrow tires is better for the snow?

You get less floatation on the snow and more pounds per square inch of pressure on the tread to grip the ice and hard packed snow. Also in deep snow a narrow tire has to push it's way through less snow so there is less resistance to forward movement.

Has anyone put the 15" rims on a GT at all, I was just curious for the clearance. I just got a vibe and am so in need of winter tires and rims, i would like to pick up a pair of steelies off a corolla if i could

Loads of folks have done it. Base or GT makes no difference, it works.

I too am considering a set of winter tires and rims for my Vibe. I'd like to get an affordible set of steels wheels from the junk yard. What COMMON vehicles have 15 inch rims compatible with my base Vibe?