[Pugwinkle]

Either of the two winter tires you mentioned should serve you well, being from reputable Tier One tire brands and with positive reviews. By the way, speaking of winter tires at Canadian Tire, I've been quite satisfied so far with their house brand "Certified" WinterTrek tires that I got a set of last year for my 2009 Grand Caravan back when they were on sale at a very good price; I actually wrote the most helpful user review posted on the CT website for them:

I'd say the Certified WinterTrek is a great winter tire to also consider whenever Canadian Tire puts them on sale for a good deal less than their original price, which is much too close to the prices of Tier One brand winter tires.

If you're looking to buy new wheels for the winter, I'd suggest the ART Replica 48 available at WheelWiz and CanadaWheels which replicate the look of the OEM 17" alloy wheels of the 2013-2020 Grand Caravan SXT. As far as used wheels go, anything off of any 5th gen 2008-2020 Grand Caravan or 2008-2016 Town & Country will fit your 2012 Town & Country, but the wheels will need to be at least 17" if your Town & Country either already has or you've upgraded it to the larger heavy-duty (HD) brakes that started being commonly used from the 2013 model year onwards.

You will need to purchase another set of TPMS sensors if you want to retain that feature with a second set of wheels, otherwise you'll have to deal with the TPMS light being lit on the instrument cluster unless it is disabled in the van's programming with software like AlfaOBD.

Yeah I will have to make sure they are 17". My van does have the HD brakes. I thought the sensor was a part of the rim? So if I were to by rims from the wrecker wouldn't the TPMS continue to work?

 

[Pugwinkle]

I have Michelin X-Ice tires for 3 different vehicles and highly recommend them. Shop around though, because I was able to get them a lot cheaper than Canadian Tire.

I hear you on the steelies. One thing to watch with aluminum is in really cold weather, because aluminum shrinks more than steel, aluminum is more susceptible to air loss at the tire bead.

As for TPMS, if you don't want sensors you don't need them. It figures out there are no sensors and you don't even get a light on the dash (that's how my Journey works, I assume the DGC is the same).

If I do decide to go with the steel wheels is there a way to stop them from rusting and looking so awful?

 

[Pugwinkle]

Spray them with Fluid Film and put wheel covers on them, is the easy route.

To make them look better requires a bit of work.
Clean with soap and water
Dry
Brush on rust converter to the rust spots only (read directions first)
Do a second application of rust converter (available at Canadian Tire - Rust Check brand))
Spray on a rust preventative black enamel type paint (Tremclad, Rustoleum, Armor Coat (CTC), Whatever)
Let dry and apply a second coat
Treat yourself to fish and chips.

So if I purchase some new steel rims I would simply spray them with Fluid Film in the fall before I put them on and maybe again in the Spring before I put them away? When you say wheel covers do you mean hubcaps?

Also those winter tires you are purchasing. Would they fit my new to me vehicle, the 2012 Chrysler Town and Country Touring-L? And what are the extra numbers 106T XL after the 225/65R17?

 

[Pugwinkle]

Maybe the DGC is different from the Journey. On the Journey, I get the light and chime only on the very first drive after putting on the winters. Then nothing for the rest of the winter.

I hope it's the same for the Town & Country.

 

[Pugwinkle]

The sensors are not integrated with wheels; rather, they are separate and are installed where the standard rubber valve stems would go:

If you get wheels from the junkyard that have TPMS sensors with them, they should work as long as they're from a 2011+ 5th gen van (2008-2010 vans have a different part number, so sensors from those may not be compatible) and the batteries in them are not yet depleted.



I don't know if the 2011+ 5th gen vans are different in this regard, but my 2009 Grand Caravan will have the TPMS warning light on in the instrument cluster unless TPMS-equipped tires and wheels are present, along a "low tire" message and chime at every start-up.

OH Okay! Good to know. I didn't realize they had batteries. Can the batteries be replaced with new just to make sure they work?