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Can't find a picture of the snowflake wheels. There used to be on at Jeff and Royce's Saab Extravaganza but I just can't find it. :( You also used to be able to get to it at http://www.saabcatalog.com but the new summer catalog appears to be up.
Regarding the size, the 17" summer wheel also rides on lower profile (45) tires. The winter size is a 16" but rides on higher profile tires (60 I think). "Profile" refers to the height of the rubber from the wheel to the surface of the tire. So, the lower wheel size is offset to some degree by the taller rubber. My guess is that the effect on the diameter of the tire is minimal.
I purchased mine from Meyer Garage (http://www.meyersaab.com) in Iowa as a set that included 4 16" wheels and 4 gislaved Nordfrost II tires. I paid around $800 for the set - a good deal. The list price is about $1100. These are not steel wheels with cheap plastic covers (like I use on my old 900) so are worth a premium. However, with the higher profile rubber, you're less likely to damage them. The actual design is a 5 spoke (I think) from the hub, with each spoke breaking into 2 more spokes to the outer wheel. It looks like a snowflake when it's on the car or when off, kinda looks like 5 open wrenches. Frankly - it didn't impress me when they are off the car or in photos but I love them when they're on the car. Of course, I *LOVE* the 3 spoke 'klingon' wheels that many people dislike. They seem very 'saab' to me.
Another option is to buy a package from somewhere else like http://www.tirerack.com. I've done this also and got a 15" steel wheel, plastic cover and Blizzak MZ-02 package, mounted and balanced for around $550 including shipping. I went with the Saab deal because the wheels were worth $250 to me. Were I forced to pay $1100, I probably would have went cheap and got another set from tirerack. The cool snowflake wheels are not worth $500 to me.
By the way, the OEM snowflake wheels alone (no gislaved tires) were $1200! Get the package.
To be honest, my insurance is outrageous and I'll do anything (except stop speeding - that's just too hard with the Aero) to reduce my rates. To me, the possibility of even a minor insurance claim is enough that I won't risk running all seasons in MN. One simple test to try sometime is to drive along at a normal pace after it's snowed, approaching a corner that you drive past on a frequent pace. Imagine a car parked too close to the corner limiting your vision. Also, imagine a car sliding into the intersection on bald tires and project where that car would become visible. Then, slam on the brakes and see how far you slide. It's so easy to be just a little overconfident on a road like that and not allow enough space for someone ELSE to screw up.
With snows on, I know I can stop fast enough that chances are, I'll be rear-ended, not be the one rear-ending someone else. Being that the insurance claim will go against the person doing the rear-ending and I'm pretty safe with saab active head restraint, lots of buffer with the trunk and all, that's something I want.
Also - summer tires are way more fun than all-seasons! I can't wait to wear out my Pilots!
Bryce
85 900S
00 9-5 Aero
, Sun, 13 May 2001 07:21:51, Sun, 13 May 2001 07:19:43
, Sat, 12 May 2001 12:18:47
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