AWD car - safe to change wheel size?

[creamaster]

I have a 2005 Aerio SX AWD wagon and want to set it up with 4 winter tires this season. A local tire dealer says it is unsafe to go from the factory 15" wheel down to a 14" wheel, yet Tirerack.com will quote me a package for 14" wheels/tires. If I change all 4 wheels from 15" to 14", and go from 195/55/15 to 185/65/14 tires (tirerack.com reccommends), will this damage my AWD system?

[curtis73]

As long as you keep the same overall tire diameter all the way around, you could put 12s on it Kinda look funny though.

You may have trouble with brakes. Most factory wheels are carefully designed with just a hair of room between the brakes and the inside of the wheel. Going down an inch worth of wheel will probably contact the brakes prohibiting being able to mount the wheel at all. I would stick with 15s.

There is a Tire Rack rep over at the tire/wheel forum here at AF. Go to the very top forum directory and its listed under wheels and tires. I wouldn't dream of stepping on his toes, but I can also recommend my uncle Lee who works at Tire Rack. He might have a counterpoint to what size wheels will fit over the brakes. Tell him Curtis sent you. I married his neice, so I need all the brownie points I can get

[MagicRat]

I would also add that a smaller tire and wheel will not damage your AWD system, so long as all tires are the same size and tread design.

The 14 inch rim must have the same 'offset' for the steering to work as designed.

Generally a sligthly narrower tire is better in the snow than a wider one. However, as Curtis says you want to maintain about the same overall diameter, so your speedometer, speed - related contols like ABS and auto trans computer continue to work as intended.
The rim size can be smaller, (if they fit without clearance issues) since the taller tire profile will compensate for the smaller rim.
A local tire store might let you 'test drive' a 14 inch tire and wheel combination so you can see for yourself.