need opinion on set of winter rims+tires

[trymonlam]

first i would like to say sorry to everyone for my ignorance. i am still learning my way around cars. i am choosing my first set of winter tires for my 99' c280. after some shopping i decided on a set of 17x7.5 rims(35mm+ offset) with pirelli snowsport 210s 225/45/17. for little over $1000.
anyone got any suggestions as to what i should change? do i need any spacers for the rims?
the reason i choose this is that the car's installed with a reiger body and a lowered front end. so it's already reaching low. so if the setup is small, the front lip will be kissing the snow... this setup gives only 1/4 inch lower than it is now, which i can live with.
please let me know what u guys think. whether i should get this, or whether i should get it at tirerack. clearly i need all the help i can get here. it's quite a investment for me since buying the car 4 months ago. and i don't want to regret too much over it later. thanks.

[SLAMMED_C]

any particualr reason why you want to go with 17's?.. just for the diameter to be larger then that of a 15 or 16" wheel set up?
cause you can run say 15's or 16's.. but instead of the 205/55/16 tire, you could go up in profile to get the overall diameter taller. say 205/65/16.
right now I have 17" evo (c-coupe) wheels for winter with 225/45/17 pirelli snowsports.. but I may drop down to a 16" rim and up the profile to get a larger overall diameter as the winters in canada are shit!.. I need narrower tires.. I almost got stuck a bunch of times with my 225/17's slipping their way through the snow!
and for a 17" rim with a 35mm offset.. you will be fine. no need for spacers.. unless you want to push the rear wheels out to make them look wider!

[trymonlam]

thanks slam, new england winter is brutal as well. so would u say that a narrower tire with higher profile would be better for this application? if u r in my shoes right now, what would u choose?
also, my roommate is questioning my calculation for the size of the setup. i am currently running 225/40/18. so if i do 225/45/17, how much difference is it? i got a 0.11 inch difference in overall diameter. am i correct?

[SLAMMED_C]

honestly.. a narrow tire for the snow is best on a passenger car with rear wheel drive.. you need to cut through the snow and slush.. the wider tire will just float on top of it and you wont get very far!!..
Im seriously considering getting some 16s and going with a taller profile myself.
if I were in your shoes.. Id go with a narrow tire with taller profile to keep a good height compared to your summer wheels.
as for the 225/40/18 and 225/45/17 overall diameters.. I got 25" overall diameter for the 17" and 25.1-25.3" overall diameter for the 18".
so you are correct with your calculation.

[trymonlam]

thanks slam, u have helped me much. i appreciate that. quick question for everyone though, anyone got suggestions as to where to get rims and tires except for tire rack? i would like to see what else is available. any help would be appreicated. thanks in advance.

[trymonlam]

can anyone tell me the bolt pattern for 202? i know it's 5 bolts, but what about the number? 5 - ?

[neema12]

5x112