Winter tire strategies

[pacem]

Want to have a summer and a winter tire..

Option 1: Remove tires every season and mount/balance the appropriate tires every time. Disadvantage: Expensive in DC area, sometimes almost 20/tire.

Option 2: Get spare rims. I have Impala SS rims for this Buick Roadmaster. But would have to get steel rims in the 15" size. Not sure how much steel rims cost. Advantage: Can DIY. Disadvantage: Takes extra storage space and a pain if you have to move.

 

[Papa Bear]

Tires and rims don't take much more room to store than tires alone. You should be able to get rims for the winter tires at the salvage yard.
I vote for tires & rims for the second set.

 

[sciphi]

Tires and rims if you can store them. 15" steelies can be had for $10-20 each, depending on the yard and where you are.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: pacem

Want to have a summer and a winter tire..

Option 1: Remove tires every season and mount/balance the appropriate tires every time. Disadvantage: Expensive in DC area, sometimes almost 20/tire.

Option 2: Get spare rims. I have Impala SS rims for this Buick Roadmaster. But would have to get steel rims in the 15" size. Not sure how much steel rims cost. Advantage: Can DIY. Disadvantage: Takes extra storage space and a pain if you have to move.

Option 2, because:
a. it's cheaper in the long run
b. 15" winter tires (or any tires for that matter) will be cheaper than comparable 17" ones
c. frequent mounting/dismounting of tires weakens their sidewalls, although it's probably not much of an issue here
d. I get to swap them whenever I want (like the night before the first snow storm)
e. extra storage is a non-issue. Rims with tires on them take up the same amount of space as tires without rims.

 

[JHZR2]

Tires and wheels dont take up much more space, though a good deal more weight. It works well and Ill bet you can find the identical wheels fairly cheap at this point.

 

[E365]

Option #2. Should be easy to find cheap steel rims, or even aluminum, in your fit at either a salvage yard or Craigslist

 

[weebl]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: pacem

Want to have a summer and a winter tire..

Option 1: Remove tires every season and mount/balance the appropriate tires every time. Disadvantage: Expensive in DC area, sometimes almost 20/tire.

Option 2: Get spare rims. I have Impala SS rims for this Buick Roadmaster. But would have to get steel rims in the 15" size. Not sure how much steel rims cost. Advantage: Can DIY. Disadvantage: Takes extra storage space and a pain if you have to move.

Option 2, because:
a. it's cheaper in the long run
b. 15" winter tires (or any tires for that matter) will be cheaper than comparable 17" ones
c. frequent mounting/dismounting of tires weakens their sidewalls, although it's probably not much of an issue here
d. I get to swap them whenever I want (like the night before the first snow storm)
e. extra storage is a non-issue. Rims with tires on them take up the same amount of space as tires without rims.


+1

 

[pacem]

Good point, thanks for the feedback.

 

[Spyder7]

Option 2. Each time the tire is removed and remounted there is a chance the bead will be stripped. Rims are usually cheaper than tires. Having had a bead stripped this way rendering the pair trash, I will use nothing but dedicated rims going forward.

-Spyder

 

[cp3]

Another vote for Option 2

Tires were not designed for repeated installation and removal from the rim.

 

[JustinH]

I was able to get a set of new 14 inch saturn ion steel wheels from tire rack for 19 dollars each on closeout.

Sure they are made in china, but work great as winter wheels.

I had them mount some general altimax artic's on there, no problems since.

 

[Craig in Canada]

My vote is always for separate rims.

Far less stress on the tires, far less chance of having potentially nice wheels damaged by the tire shop, keeps potentially nice summer wheels out of the winter weather (more of a salt belt factor), allows you to choose a narrower winter tire for better snow handling and, if you're able, you can easily DIY your winter/summer tire changeover saving $$$ and time.

 

[KrisZ]

+1 for separate rims as well.

 

[Rand]

Dont think I need to reply but..

go with seperate rims.

for numerous reasons its the way to go.

about the only disadvantage(for anyone) is the tpms light will be on (if equipped) unless you buy outrageously priced extra sensors.

personally I just live with the light on for 3-4monthes.
than pay 400$ for 4 sensors.. hard to stomache the fact that 4 sensors for my car cost more than 4 snowtires and 4 new steel rims.