215/55R16 would be the closest to the stock 215/50R17. The difference is 0.5% (@100 mph speedo would read 99.5)

There is a good tire calculator at Discount Tire:

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infoTireMath.dos


[IMG]local://upfiles/2513/6AAC9161562F453CA9B0984B9148C00F.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/2513/7B1966D482594018B4BD25E8105C177F.jpg[/IMG]

 

yeah, that comes really close to stock. Couldn't get them in Hakka's. My guy is looking on Montreal again for this size but snow is coming in a couple of days so I think I will go with the X-Ice's. I'll report back with an honest assessment as the winter rolls in. So far my only winter related complaint about my new 6 is the heated seats. Either they are are off or on. The old VW I had had a five point setting. Well, at least my butt is toasty.
Speaking of my old Jetta here is a picture of it taken with my cell phone last winter after a windstorm. Yes that is in under the tree and the garage. It did live to drive another day.

[IMG]local://upfiles/2308/A717F17DB53049B9AD3F4F069BDD6FDD.jpg[/IMG]

 

ouch, that looks like no fun heh heh!

 

I think I read it in the owner's manual .... it works in concordance with the thermostat / what temp. you set your dash heater to

 

I usually have it set to 25c, sometimes a couple of degrees cooler. The owners manual for the '04 (pp 2-8) says it the temp is regulated by on and off only. Maybe it is different in newer models?.
It isn't a huge inconvenience because it does work quickly, just one of those things. Michelins go on tomorrow - just in time for snow on Friday!

 

Have had some snow (who hasn't?). Not enough to really put the Michelin X-Ice's completely through their paces but the early verdict is really decent wet and dry handling. Decnet enough dry braking. Very good cornering in the snow. Near excellent traction in the snow. Very good on ice. A bit noisy and a bit mushy as expected in a winter tire. So, really what it comes down to is that it is near-excellent or excellent in almost all categories making it a terrific all around tire. But isn't "absolutely amazing" in any one category. The bottom line is that I am quite happy, though the plain black rims, which normally look pretty good in a rough kind of way on most cars, look a bit odd on my Sport/GFX. Might get some hub caps. Still thinking about it.