Need specific winter tire / rim advice. I'm completely ignorant!

Mergnthwirker

Shrute gives good advice. That's exactly what I'm doing as well (I too have the sport). So I had to buy a set of base rims from someone who was upgrading his car to bigger rims (Thanks Jason!)

Base rims are front: 18" x 8.0" with 43mm offset and rear are: 18" x 9.0" with 15mm offset
Base stock tires are 225/50-18 front and 245/45-18 rear

I ordered a set of Blizzak LM-60's in the stock sizes for $781 delivered to Connecticut from Tire Rack. Had to pay sales tax cuz they now have a warehouse in CT (damn!).

This was about the ONLY fitment that Tire Rack has right now. It may be scare tactics, but the word is that tire manufacturers cut back on snow tire production this year because of the recession, reduced car sales, and predictions that more people would put off buying snows. In other words, there is NOT much stock available, so for rare sizes, you are better off buying your snows sooner rather than waiting.

As others have said, you do have other options. If you can get a set of 18" x 8.00" wheels that will fit over the sport brakes, you could mount 225/45-18" tires all around, and that would perhaps be a bit better for optimum deep snow traction.

another less-good option would be to fit a 235/40-18" all around, on the base wheels. These tires technically would fit. For instance, looking at the Michelin site, they offer the Pilot Alpin PA2 in that size, which is a really good snow tire. That tire is designed for 8.5" wide wheels, but its fitment is recommended for wheels between 8.0" to 9.5" so it technically fits. But if you think about it, the sidewall flex will be different when compressed slightly to mount on the 8.0" wheels versus stretched slightly to mount on the 9.0" wheels. This will affect handling, and is not recommended.

My recommendation would be to pick up the base wheels and buy snows in the base sizes which unfortunately means one brand, one type, and not a lot of tires in stock.

Hope this helps!

HJM