The Winter's Coming Winter Tires Thread

[Nufy]

I would keep separate winter rims...if my car would recognize 2 sets of TPMS sensors.


Until then its the stock rims and swap tires twice a year.

[ken0042]

For tire swaps, you just need to find a shop that does them for next to nothing with an oil change; and/or offers storage. As I get older I appreciate not needing to do the swap; and also not losing garage space for 2 sets of times.

Photon- I recently switched both of our vehicles to Blizzaks and and really happy. The Civic had X-ice and they always felt "floaty" on ice. I never actually lost control, but it didn't feel right. The compact SUV we switched over from Hankook iPikes.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

I just don’t understand having steelies and making your car look awful for half the year, for a pretty small difference in cost. The cost for alloys vs steelies is so small compared to the cost of almost any car, and then it actually looks decent for the 6 months of the year when you have winters on.

I mean, when I was broke and drove a beater car, then the cost mattered way more than the looks. But most people care a little bit about how their car looks.

Depending on the overall weight and weight distribution of your vehicle, I wonder if steelies are occasionally better performing than alloys. The extra weight helps in the same way as someone putting a few salt or sand bags in their trunk during the winter, but also better and more evenly distributed around the vehicle. Probably most noticeable during snowfall or slushy periods. The difference might also be less noticeable with AWD with allows, but for front wheeled vehicles, the weight might help to reduce spinning when starting from a standstill.

The cost also isn't too insignificant to some. $50-100 each is still $200-400 total. Over 5+ years, that's not much at all, I agree. But many people really don't like upfront costs.

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

I just don’t understand having steelies and making your car look awful for half the year, for a pretty small difference in cost. The cost for alloys vs steelies is so small compared to the cost of almost any car, and then it actually looks decent for the 6 months of the year when you have winters on.

I mean, when I was broke and drove a beater car, then the cost mattered way more than the looks. But most people care a little bit about how their car looks.

Steelies look great on a black off-road capable SUV with knobby tires.

If you think they look awful, don’t buy them.

[Hemi-Cuda]

Originally Posted by Ryan Coke

I just don’t understand having steelies and making your car look awful for half the year, for a pretty small difference in cost. The cost for alloys vs steelies is so small compared to the cost of almost any car, and then it actually looks decent for the 6 months of the year when you have winters on.

I mean, when I was broke and drove a beater car, then the cost mattered way more than the looks. But most people care a little bit about how their car looks.

Yea I've always splurged the extra money for a nice set of aftermarket rims that my summer tires go on, and the winters go on the stock rims. Unless it's a beater car you don't care about, why would you want to look at ugly steel rims half the year?

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Hemi-Cuda

Yea I've always splurged the extra money for a nice set of aftermarket rims that my summer tires go on, and the winters go on the stock rims. Unless it's a beater car you don't care about, why would you want to look at ugly steel rims half the year?

I mean, other than the rust that starts by the second winter, there's actually some pretty cool and aggressive looking steelies out there. I had a set. They looked better than some alloys until the rust look took over. The guys at UrbanX used to comment about how surprised they felt that it looked good.

Some of the cheaper alloy wheels look terrible. Plus steelies don't have as many gaps as alloys do. There's less chance of random ice build up on one wheel which can cause significant vibration and whatnot.

[TorqueDog]

I scored a great set of winter wheels (black Range Rover Sport 20x8.5 with factory TPMS valve stems) with rubber that is still serviceable for another winter or two (Pirelli Scorpion Winter PNCS 255/55R20) for $1,200.

Now the question: what’s the best time to put them on? I’m thinking next week, but it might be too early / warm as of yet.

[Diemenz]

Based on the forecast at least 2 weeks. You don’t need snow for winter tires but +15 weather and several days above +20 is still non winter tires weather as they will perform blah on that warm pavement.

[lazypucker]

I know I know this is frowned upon, but the new Costco tire appointment booking website is SH*T!!

How come there is ZERO appointments at any location for the next month!!

[Amethyst]

If I want to get new winter tires and rims (new car), is there any way to get rims that aren't so ugly? The only work I want to do is drive my car to the garage.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

If I want to get new winter tires and rims (new car), is there any way to get rims that aren't so ugly? The only work I want to do is drive my car to the garage.

Go to a shop that sells rims, too?

[Amethyst]

Originally Posted by WhiteTiger

Go to a shop that sells rims, too?

Haha, okay, then my question is recommend a shop that sells rims? Or do they all? Last time, I just got those standard ugly steel ones and didn't really think much of it.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

Haha, okay, then my question is recommend a shop that sells rims? Or do they all? Last time, I just got those standard ugly steel ones and didn't really think much of it.

I like Kal Tire. I use Nokian winter tires, and they are the only place that sells them, so it was a win/win for me.

[Ryan Coke]

You can order tires and rims from a place like PMC tire, they get shipped to you, then bring them anywhere to get mounted.

[Diemenz]

I have used PMC several times and have not been disappointed

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

Now the question: what’s the best time to put them on? I’m thinking next week, but it might be too early / warm as of yet.

Are you putting them on yourself? If so, just watch the forecast and wait until snow and/or sustained cold temperatures are almost upon us. I usually do mine around Thanksgiving, but only when it looks like they’re going to be needed.

If you’re getting a shop to do it… good question. Beat the rush while it is still a bit too warm? Or wait but run the risk of needing them but not being able to get in?

[Amethyst]

Okay, so another about the rims. Is the main difference the price? One of the websites says steel wheels help prevent sliding on snow and ice. The price difference isn't a deciding factor for me, but if steel wheels make a noticeable difference in winter driving control, that could be.

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

Okay, so another about the rims. Is the main difference the price? One of the websites says steel wheels help prevent sliding on snow and ice. The price difference isn't a deciding factor for me, but if steel wheels make a noticeable difference in winter driving control, that could be.

Zero difference in driving control over an alloy or steel wheel. The lighter wheels will actually increase performance over the steel. The tires do all the heavy lifting.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

I know I know this is frowned upon, but the new Costco tire appointment booking website is SH*T!!

How come there is ZERO appointments at any location for the next month!!

The website is awful, especially if you want to search other stores to see if they have appointments. We were at Costco yesterday, so we stopped into the tire store. The next appointment they had for a tire swap was December 5th and we booked one car in for that. I needed winters for this weekend, so I had mine swapped yesterday at Fountain Tire. It cost me $84 and took 45 minutes. Both sets of my tires are on rims.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Amethyst

Okay, so another about the rims. Is the main difference the price? One of the websites says steel wheels help prevent sliding on snow and ice. The price difference isn't a deciding factor for me, but if steel wheels make a noticeable difference in winter driving control, that could be.

I don't think the typical performance is noticeable unless your vehicle is super light. An extra 5-10 pounds per tire might be most noticeable if you have to roll those things around and/or mount them yourself. In general while driving though, no not really. As others mentioned, it's your tire and/or studs.

The sole difference for performance that might be noticeable is that there's less gaps in a steelie than most alloy wheels. So if ice gets into the tire area and freezes, your vehicle might vibrate more from that. But that's not a true alloy vs steelie performance difference and it's easy enough to just go to a heated underground parkade for an hour or two while shopping and then use a snow brush for the remaining slush that remains in the wheel well.

Steelies rust very quickly though. Alloys shouldn't rust.

Originally Posted by squiggs96

The website is awful, especially if you want to search other stores to see if they have appointments. We were at Costco yesterday, so we stopped into the tire store. The next appointment they had for a tire swap was December 5th and we booked one car in for that. I needed winters for this weekend, so I had mine swapped yesterday at Fountain Tire. It cost me $84 and took 45 minutes. Both sets of my tires are on rims.

$20 per tire + GST. Sounds about right.

Are mobile tire swappers not advertising their services yet? Booked out to December is ridiculous.