I just switched to 215/55-16 Gereral Altimax Actric after running for 6 winters with 205/60-16, and after driving in the wet and the dry for the past week wish that I'd chosen this size years ago. This will be the 3rd winter running lowered with A-spec struts and Progress RSB.
Ok, these tires haven't seen any snow yet, but I feel the skinny 205/60's produce too much understeer, in the snow & wet & dry. Perhaps I've decided to make the trade-off for more control when there's not a lot of [deep?] snow.
There is a lot of new snow tire technology out there, making wider tires a viable winter option. I know the Arctic Altimax is not really new, but I've been running 195/55-15's on a Protege with a contact patch that is wider (at the road) than the 205/60-s on the 700lb heavier TSX, and that car has always worked better in the snow (and wet, when it's cold) than the TSX (with VSC off or on). I'd stay away from a "performance winter tire", if you expect regular snow; my 205/60-16 Dunlop M3's became marginal during their second winter everywhere except in dry conditions.
I seriously consider junking my snow tires if the tread in the fall is 7/32", so spending $1,200 for Michelin Xi3's, here in Canada, doesn't make sense for me, because I drive a lot, and would rather pay for new tires and get more tread depth.
My winter set of Motegi MR7 rims are 7" wide, and their +42 ofset still works with a fully loaded car - that is, there's no rubbing agains the fenders. There's a bit of spray on the body work, but it looks to be about the same as with the 205/60's; a higher offset would be better.
