You're taking the same route I did. That is until I got pissed off and broke out the sawsall. I tried trimming the dampener wheels first, which is a waste of time. Just cut them off below the wheel as close as you can get to the caliper housing(not with a sawsall!). Then give Rudy at Tirerack a call for 18s or 19s. I got a set of 19" close-out rims for $109 a piece. Blizzak DMVI light truck tires for $141 a piece. TPS sensors for $62 a piece.
Can't wait for snow