Once upon on a time, the Alfa Romeo 164, FIAT Spider, Peugeot 505 and Renault Fuego roamed the American streets with their French and Italian charms. Then FIAT said "arrivederci" in 1983, Renault bid us "adieu" in 1987, Peugeot was no longer available in America starting in 1991 and Alfa said "ciao" in 1995. Blandness had apparently won.
Well, FIAT has brought flavor back with the new 500. If you managed to snag one and live in an area that receives snow, your 500 isn't complete as it really needs a set of dedicated winter / snow tires. Given the vehicle's low curb weight, most 500 drivers should install Studless Ice and Snow tires on all four corners.
Snow Tire Size
The 500 Pop and 500 Lounge come equipped with 185/55-15 tires, while the 500 Sport rolls on 195/45-16 tires. 185/55-15 is the ideal size for cutting through moderate and deep snow without compromising ice and dry road grip. To gain a better understanding of how to choose the proper winter / snow tire size, read "Size Selection of Winter Tires / Snow Tires."
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
The 500 uses a direct TPMS that has the ability to automatically learn the electronic serial numbers of new sensors by simply driving the vehicle for 15 minutes at 15 mph or faster. TPMS sensors are reasonably priced at $39* each and installation is included with our free mount and balance.
Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package
For the 500, I like the Michelin X-Ice Xi2 for its great balance of ice grip and relatively good steering response. The 185/55-15 Michelin X-Ice Xi2 preserves a fair amount of the car's go-kart nature. As for wheels, the Sport Edition CE in either silver or bright satin would look great. The CE's bright satin finish is a shiny grey that goes well with the vehicle and while it may be a little hard to clean at times, a set would be a great complement to your new Michelin radial tires. This car wheel and tire combination is currently priced at $876*
2012 FIAT 500 Winter FAQs:
1. Will the wheels listed for the Pop also fit the Sport? Yes, the relevant specifications are the same.
2. My 500 has a 4-98 bolt pattern, but Tire Rack sells both 4-98 and 4-100 wheels. How does the 4-100 wheel fit on the 4-98 vehicle? 4-100 wheels are compatible with 4-98 cars by using wobble bolts. Wobble bolts are bolts with floating seats. On the 500, each bolt seat moves slightly upward to accommodate the 4-100 bolt pattern. Since the wheel is centered on the hub by the wheel's centering ring, the wheel and tire assembly runs smoothly. You must use the included wobble bolts.
3. Are there any special installation instructions? Yes, please remove the two locator pins that are on the hub. These locator pins are used solely during the assembly of the car and serve no other function. They will need to be removed so the wheel fits flush against the hub.
*Excludes shipping
Well, FIAT has brought flavor back with the new 500. If you managed to snag one and live in an area that receives snow, your 500 isn't complete as it really needs a set of dedicated winter / snow tires. Given the vehicle's low curb weight, most 500 drivers should install Studless Ice and Snow tires on all four corners.
Snow Tire Size
The 500 Pop and 500 Lounge come equipped with 185/55-15 tires, while the 500 Sport rolls on 195/45-16 tires. 185/55-15 is the ideal size for cutting through moderate and deep snow without compromising ice and dry road grip. To gain a better understanding of how to choose the proper winter / snow tire size, read "Size Selection of Winter Tires / Snow Tires."
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
The 500 uses a direct TPMS that has the ability to automatically learn the electronic serial numbers of new sensors by simply driving the vehicle for 15 minutes at 15 mph or faster. TPMS sensors are reasonably priced at $39* each and installation is included with our free mount and balance.
Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package
For the 500, I like the Michelin X-Ice Xi2 for its great balance of ice grip and relatively good steering response. The 185/55-15 Michelin X-Ice Xi2 preserves a fair amount of the car's go-kart nature. As for wheels, the Sport Edition CE in either silver or bright satin would look great. The CE's bright satin finish is a shiny grey that goes well with the vehicle and while it may be a little hard to clean at times, a set would be a great complement to your new Michelin radial tires. This car wheel and tire combination is currently priced at $876*
 185/55-15 Michelin X-Ice Xi2 |  15x6.5 40mm Offset Satin Silver Sport Edition CE |  15x6.5 40mm Offset Silver Sport Edition CE |
2012 FIAT 500 Winter FAQs:
1. Will the wheels listed for the Pop also fit the Sport? Yes, the relevant specifications are the same.
2. My 500 has a 4-98 bolt pattern, but Tire Rack sells both 4-98 and 4-100 wheels. How does the 4-100 wheel fit on the 4-98 vehicle? 4-100 wheels are compatible with 4-98 cars by using wobble bolts. Wobble bolts are bolts with floating seats. On the 500, each bolt seat moves slightly upward to accommodate the 4-100 bolt pattern. Since the wheel is centered on the hub by the wheel's centering ring, the wheel and tire assembly runs smoothly. You must use the included wobble bolts.
3. Are there any special installation instructions? Yes, please remove the two locator pins that are on the hub. These locator pins are used solely during the assembly of the car and serve no other function. They will need to be removed so the wheel fits flush against the hub.
*Excludes shipping
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