Best time to buy winter tires?

Klutch9

Klutch9

Joined
Jan 7, 2009
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Location
Rochester, MI, US, World
I’ve owned a number of sets of winter tires. Some I’ve bought in spring, some in the fall. But I’ve always bought based on price, and not necessarily the specific tires I want. This time, I want a specific tire: the Continental Vikingcontact 7. Currently there is a $110 rebate on these tires til the end of August. Many retailers don’t have this tire in stock currently, but a couple do. Should I wait, or buy the tires now? I don’t know that the production window for winter tires is either, and I’m guessing anything sold now will be from last year, but I don’t know.
 
Before a snow storm! JK…

I’ve been tracking prices casually and haven’t noticed any wild swings in price (like off-season pricing). My guess is that the rebate reflects something akin to off-season pricing. $110 is a pretty good rebate. I’d say go for it.
 
Klutch9 said:
I’ve owned a number of sets of winter tires. Some I’ve bought in spring, some in the fall. But I’ve always bought based on price, and not necessarily the specific tires I want. This time, I want a specific tire: the Continental Vikingcontact 7.....
Click to expand...
Continental has introduced the VikingContact 8. It might be available in Oct 2024. I doubt that they would be manufacturing any VC7 tires in 2024.
 
I use to get Michelin winter tires but the last two set dry rotted. The last set was 2 years old when I got them. Apparently Michelin quit making that size as I can no longer get them. Never could wear them out though.
 
I have always found that the best time to buy winter tires is during the big sales that most tire stores run in mid to late November. Sales prices and rebates are being offered by almost every tire manufacturer at that time, and there is typically plenty of availability. Usually all the new offerings are available at that time too. By buying tires during the Thanksgiving season sales, I've been able to save as much as $200, between the manufacturer rebates and the Discount Tire rebates being offered.

I used to think that perhaps I could find better prices on winter tires by buying them when they are out of season, say during the big Memorial Day or Independence Day sales. But I quickly learned that it is all but impossible to find inventory on winter tires during the spring and summer months. I suspect most tire stores don't want to carry inventory that long, so they buy enough winter tires to sell through early and mid winter, and towards the season of winter driving conditions, may offer sale prices to clear out any remaining inventory.

But since you have already found a good rebate for the tire that you want, and you have found a store with them in stock, I'd say go for it. You know the saying, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
 
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usually aug/sept is pretty safe and usually rebates.
but if they are on sale now I dont see a problem buying now if you know for sure you arent selling the car.

I love the VC7 on the wife's 2020 elantra.. This year will be winter 5 (winters 20-23)on them.. probably have 1-2 winters left...
I have never been more impressed with the "all around performance" of a winter tire than the VC7.

but I would consider the blizzak ws-90
and michelin xice snow. if they were at least 100$ cheaper a set installed.

I also quite like my michelin xice snow but its on a subaru so hard to compare to the VC7 on a FWD sedan.
 
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Rand said:
usually aug/sept is pretty safe and usually rebates.
but if they are on sale now I dont see a problem buying now if you know for sure you arent selling the car.

I love the VC7 on the wife's 2020 elantra.. This year will be winter 5 (winters 20-23)on them.. probably have 1-2 winters left...
I have never been more impressed with the "all around performance" of a winter tire than the VC7.

but I would consider the blizzak ws-90
and michelin xice snow. if they were at least 100$ cheaper a set installed.

I also quite like my michelin xice snow but its on a subaru so hard to compare to the VC7 on a FWD sedan.
Click to expand...
I had VC7, and I agree, IMO best overall performance.
But WS90, that I have now on BMW and Tiguan, have exceptional wet performance. Was really surprised by that.
 
Xice Snow and WS90 are rated just slightly better than the VC7 in Consumer Reports. Xice Snow treadware compound may last a little longer. All are great tires, just get whatever works for you.

We have Xice Snows and XC2s on our Outback, and switch a later in the fall and earlier in the spring than before we had all weather tires.
 
Just ordered the VC7. Most retailers had my size at the same price, and was actually OOS at many of them, but I found one site that seemed sort of legit that had them for $14 cheaper per tire in stock, and Simpletire.com matched their price, plus I got free tire-replacement certificates, and a $110 mail-in rebate. Only catch is that I have to have the tires installed fairly soon, since the rebate requires proof of install and has to be postmarked by 9/30 for online sales (per Continental's terms). But thats not a problem. Looking forward to seeing how they perform!
 
Klutch9 said:
Just ordered the VC7. Most retailers had my size at the same price, and was actually OOS at many of them, but I found one site that seemed sort of legit that had them for $14 cheaper per tire in stock, and Simpletire.com matched their price, plus I got free tire-replacement certificates, and a $110 mail-in rebate. Only catch is that I have to have the tires installed fairly soon, since the rebate requires proof of install and has to be postmarked by 9/30 for online sales (per Continental's terms). But thats not a problem. Looking forward to seeing how they perform!
Click to expand...
I've been running the VC7 on my Outback as a winter tire. Excellent tire in the snowbelt, great on dry roads too. Like them better than my old Blizzaks. Good choice.
 
Klutch9 said:
I’ve owned a number of sets of winter tires. Some I’ve bought in spring, some in the fall. But I’ve always bought based on price, and not necessarily the specific tires I want. This time, I want a specific tire: the Continental Vikingcontact 7. Currently there is a $110 rebate on these tires til the end of August. Many retailers don’t have this tire in stock currently, but a couple do. Should I wait, or buy the tires now? I don’t know that the production window for winter tires is either, and I’m guessing anything sold now will be from last year, but I don’t know.
Click to expand...
Klutch9

Discount Tire and Michelin run some good sales in the Fall and the Spring
They'll most likely run a sale in Sept/Oct
You can get a good Price, Visa Gift Card, etc
And Discount Tire will give you 9 months same as Cash with a Discount Tire CC.
Good Luck,
 
Klutch9 said:
Just ordered the VC7. Most retailers had my size at the same price, and was actually OOS at many of them, but I found one site that seemed sort of legit that had them for $14 cheaper per tire in stock, and Simpletire.com matched their price, plus I got free tire-replacement certificates, and a $110 mail-in rebate. Only catch is that I have to have the tires installed fairly soon, since the rebate requires proof of install and has to be postmarked by 9/30 for online sales (per Continental's terms). But thats not a problem. Looking forward to seeing how they perform!
Click to expand...

Nice that you got a deal. I assume the low stock of the VC7 was they're being replaced by the upcoming VC8

https://www.continental.com/en/press/press-releases/20240216-vikingcontact-8-technology/
 
Klutch9 said:
I’ve owned a number of sets of winter tires. Some I’ve bought in spring, some in the fall. But I’ve always bought based on price, and not necessarily the specific tires I want. This time, I want a specific tire: the Continental Vikingcontact 7. Currently there is a $110 rebate on these tires til the end of August. Many retailers don’t have this tire in stock currently, but a couple do. Should I wait, or buy the tires now? I don’t know that the production window for winter tires is either, and I’m guessing anything sold now will be from last year, but I don’t know.
Click to expand...
Most tires companies are only manufacturing winter tires briefly one time a year, usually about now through August and September.
 
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