I am trying to put some winter/snow tires on my 2007 Caliber R/T which has stock 215/55R18 Firehawk tires, on 18" rims. What is the smallest size rim I could drop down to? I have heard that it could be 15", also that it might be 16". Anyone know for sure? The biggest concern is clearing the brakes for fit... the spare is a 16" so I'm pretty sure that would work.
Thanks!
-Tuna

 

see also: http://www.tirerack.com

 

as long as its bolt pattern 5-114 they should fit but it might mess up ur spedometer because of the switch to much smaller tires that came on the car. ON tire rack u can build a snow tire package for rims i think as low as like $99, but if u can find snow tires or all season for the 18's there is plenty of room inside the fender wells the calibers can fit a 22inch wheels.

 

did you get this figured out?? and any one with the rt change wheels and tires for winter??
if so which wheels and tire size did you go with???...........thanks

 

The Dodge Caliber SE has 15" wheels, so it shouldn't be a problem, however, your tire pressure monitor will not work and you will get a constant low tire pressure warning, unless you find 15" rims that have a pressure transducer. However, I don't think Chrysler sells the steel wheels with the tire pressure monitor, that is only available with 17" or 18" aluminum wheels.

I know this because when I took delivery of my Dodge Caliber SXT with sport package, the dealer had swapped out the 17" aluminum rims with the 15" steel rims w/hubcaps (he apparently sold the rims to another customer). I refused to take delivery until I had a written order that they were replacing the wheels at THEIR expense.

I drove around with the 15" wheels for about 2 weeks with no problem (other than the low tire light and no readouts on my tire pressure screen). After about 2 weeks (and threats of a lawsuit) they gave me new tires...

They pulled the 18" tires off of an RT and "upgraded" me. These also worked fine... except now that I live in snow country, it's a hassle finding snow tires and low-clearance chains for them!

 

The R/T may have bigger brakes. I'm not sure, though.

 

technically and for the italian law, we can put only 215/60-17 or 215/55-18 tyres..

 

I think ours has 215/60-17's on it. It's a SXT.

 

The front brakes on the R/T and the others are the same. The rear brakes on R/T are disc, vs drums on the SXT and SE. There is no difference in size. The only one I am not sure of is the SRT-4.