The Winter's Coming Winter Tires Thread

[GP_Matt]

Originally Posted by Brannigans Law

I have to swap out my wheels for my winter wheels. They are already on their own rims. Is it a simple process of unlocking the lug nuts and simply jacking up my wheels and going? Is there anything I should be careful of specifically?

Make sure that the treads are facing the right direction. A torque wrench is also handy.
Same with checking the pressure before putting them on, it might be a good idea to fill them if they are too low.

[burn_this_city]

Put a bit of oil on the lugs before you put the lug nuts back on so the threads don't slowly strip away.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by GP_Matt

Make sure that the treads are facing the right direction.

Just a heads up - not all tires are directional.

[Hans Landa]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Just put my Blizzak DM-V1's on yesterday. Bring on the snow!

Nice.

Loving mine so far but I want something biblical to fall from the skies and make a proper mess. Isn't the apocalypse next month?

[GreatWhiteEbola]

Originally Posted by Hans Landa

Nice.

Loving mine so far but I want something biblical to fall from the skies and make a proper mess. Isn't the apocalypse next month?

December.

[DownhillGoat]

Thought I'd mention it in here - Canadian Tire has a little 12v motomaster air compressor on sale this week. (iirc around $30-40)

Since most gas stations are charging for air now I figured it's a good thing to have. And it can fit in the trunk for those that don't want to eat up garage space (or condo dwellers).

I picked one up yesterday. It works pretty well. My only complaint is that the power cord could be longer. It was pretty stretched out to get to the rear tires on the truck.

[Envitro]

Still not sure on which tires to get. I've been getting Blizzak's for the last while but I'm told that the Federal WS2's are really good for the price. Of course the tire prices online are way better than in town, so I'd have to make a trip to Whitefish or something to get them swapped out if I went that route

[woob]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

I have a 2000 Jeep Cherokee 4-door Sport.

Nice. Enjoy your winter driving! Hopefully we get lots of snow this year and you get to boot around the crazy side streets lots. I loved driving my Jeep in the winter (had the same year, model) and always looked forward to the snow days.

[HELPNEEDED]

Question:

I put my wife's winter's on yesterday for the first time in 2-years. So they may have deflated while laying in the garage. How do I know the required pressure for them? The pressure guide on the drivers door is for the stock wheels/tires.

Advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Helpneeded

[polak]

After last winter I left my winter tires on cause I was planning on getting new ones and I didn't have money for both new winters and new summers (don't wanna go all season) but after driving around over the last week with the old tires still on, I decided I'll be fine for one more winter. They weren't any worse in terms of stopping then they were last winter and AWD makes starting a non-issue.

God I love AWD for that. Nothing better then me in my sedan passing RWD trucks that are stuck on hills :P

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by HELPNEEDED

How do I know the required pressure for them? The pressure guide on the drivers door is for the stock wheels/tires.

Are they roughly the same size? Stock pressure will still be fine.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by HELPNEEDED

How do I know the required pressure for them? The pressure guide on the drivers door is for the stock wheels/tires.

Always use the recommended pressure as stated manufacturer. Not exact of course, but as your starting point. For example for my car it states 29psi, I like to run 32-33, gives me a good compromise between grip and ride quality. The above of course applies if you have installed the correct replacement size/type tire. If you went and put some high speed/high performance tires then the recommended spec may not apply.

[fundmark19]

Just picked up a set of Michelin x-ice on rims for 250 for my Rav 4. Looking forward to tackling the Cochrane hill in the snow now!

[DownhillGoat]

Does anyone have a TPMS reset tool that would work on a GMC that they'd be willing to lend out for 10 minutes?

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Does anyone have a TPMS reset tool that would work on a GMC that they'd be willing to lend out for 10 minutes?

What kind of GMC?

This might apply:

"Basically you just select relearn on the dash control thingy and then you hear a beep.
You will let air out of each tire til you hear a beep.
You will start with drivers side front, then go to passenger front, then passenger rear, and last driver rear.
"

Or:

Show up to a tire shop, say "You forgot to reset my TPMS sensors when I got my winters on" and they do it with their tool for you in about 2 minutes.

[morgin]

Just wanted to say thanks the recommendation to go to tirebob (bob) at urban x. That guy is unreal. Answers all my stupid questions by e-mail with patience, beat all the online tire shops pricing, and is just an all around solid dude. Even if tirerack was cheaper I'd still go to him, as the service his shop provides is worth it. Also sure beats waking up at 5am for costco!

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by morgin

Just wanted to say thanks the recommendation to go to tirebob (bob) at urban x. That guy is unreal. Answers all my stupid questions by e-mail with patience, beat all the online tire shops pricing, and is just an all around solid dude. Even if tirerack was cheaper I'd still go to him, as the service his shop provides is worth it. Also sure beats waking up at 5am for costco!

Bob in the NE Urban X is the man. No need to go anywhere else for your local tire needs.

[flamesaresmokin]

Originally Posted by zamler

Always use the recommended pressure as stated manufacturer. Not exact of course, but as your starting point. For example for my car it states 29psi, I like to run 32-33, gives me a good compromise between grip and ride quality. The above of course applies if you have installed the correct replacement size/type tire. If you went and put some high speed/high performance tires then the recommended spec may not apply.

The specific tire inflation ranges are almost always stamped into the sidewall of any tire.

As far as winter tires go, I don't use them anymore. Tried them for a few years and the difference was basically negligible on city roads. If you have a good pair of all season tires to begin with you're going to be fine so long as you're not driving like its summer out during a blizzard....which is why most of the accidents I've witnessed in the winter have occurred.

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by flamesaresmokin

The specific tire inflation ranges are almost always stamped into the sidewall of any tire.

Inflating your tires to any number listed on the sidewall is a horrible idea.

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by hulkrogan

What kind of GMC?

This might apply:

....

Or:

Show up to a tire shop, say "You forgot to reset my TPMS sensors when I got my winters on" and they do it with their tool for you in about 2 minutes.

Hahaha unfortunately the guys at the tire shop in town know me, so that's not an option.

2012 Sierra. They changed the software mid-2011 so the air-out method no longer works. I'll order the tool but I can't find it in Canada, so it's a few weeks of my TPMS alarm going off instead.