The Winter's Coming Winter Tires Thread

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

Something just doesn't sound right with what you are doing, because the impact gun shouldn't have any bearing on damaging wheel nuts. Shops use more powerful air impact tools all the time. Perhaps your socket is worn? An impact gun is also less likely to break bolts. The clicking and clacking on loosening is normal, even if it makes you feel like it is doing damage. When you put them on, you just go until the first impact noise and then switch tools, or use a torque bar and don't worry about it.

The sockets were new. Maybe they were bad quality and not quite the right size/snugness? But I'm using them fine with the breaker bar. I'd also often run into issues where the lug nut often comes off and it'd be stuck inside the socket with that impact wrench. Easy enough to tap the socket on the ground to loosen it, but occasionally I'd need to push something through the other side to knock it out. Certainly annoying, but I was concerned it was the start of a bigger issue.

Or... could it be a SAE vs metric size difference that was only noticeable when the torque was high enough? The sockets are fine when using the breaker bar. It's only when I used those sockets with the electric impact wrench that they'd get stuck inside the socket and a wear on the hexagon edges would occasionally be noticed.

[puffnstuff]

Were you using actual impact sockets? Or just regular ones? The black vs chrome makes a difference.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by DoubleF

The sockets were new. Maybe they were bad quality and not quite the right size/snugness? But I'm using them fine with the breaker bar. I'd also often run into issues where the lug nut often comes off and it'd be stuck inside the socket with that impact wrench. Easy enough to tap the socket on the ground to loosen it, but occasionally I'd need to push something through the other side to knock it out. Certainly annoying, but I was concerned it was the start of a bigger issue.

Or... could it be a SAE vs metric size difference that was only noticeable when the torque was high enough? The sockets are fine when using the breaker bar. It's only when I used those sockets with the electric impact wrench that they'd get stuck inside the socket and a wear on the hexagon edges would occasionally be noticed.

If the nut sticks in the socket, just manually thread it back on the wheel stud a turn and pull. Is it 19mm? Do the lug nuts possibly have those crappy chrome caps that swell?

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by MoneyGuy

My neighbourhood guy changes tires (on rims) for $20. I give him $30. It’s not worth my time, plus I’m old.

Edit: typed wrong price; charges $20, not $25.

$20 is a good price, Urban X charges $50, but they can get you in pretty much the next day if you can leave the vehicle with them.

To my amazement, Discount Tire does changeovers for FREE.

[Wormius]

I thought most places did them free if you purchased from them originally? I just stopped because it was inconvenient. I think Country Tire and UrbanX did that?

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

Were you using actual impact sockets? Or just regular ones? The black vs chrome makes a difference.

Don't ever use regular sockets in an impact. They might shatter.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I thought most places did them free if you purchased from them originally? I just stopped because it was inconvenient. I think Country Tire and UrbanX did that?

UrbanX does for sure, as does Costco.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Shazam

UrbanX does for sure, as does Costco.

Really? I didn't know Costco did this. Maybe I knew this but gave up trying due to the difficulty of making a timely appointment to have them changed.

[chemgear]

I used to use Urban X. Then I tried to book something (several calls) with them a year or two ago and they never called back.

Not sure why but I just stopped going there after that.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by D as in David

Really? I didn't know Costco did this. Maybe I knew this but gave up trying due to the difficulty of making a timely appointment to have them changed.

They sure do as long as you bought from them.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by chemgear

I used to use Urban X. Then I tried to book something (several calls) with them a year or two ago and they never called back.

Not sure why but I just stopped going there after that.

They seemed to be bad as far as communication goes. They seemed a bit overrated after dealing with them. Like, they weren’t bad, but the whole tire buying experience wasn’t as orgasmic as some people made it out to be. Pretty standard place. Not disappointed, but not blown away in any sense.

One note, when we did get our tires swapped, they did say the south and north locations weren’t the same, so they swapped the tires for free at the time, but it sounded like that wasn’t something they’d do if you bought your tires from the south location and tried to get then swapped later in the north.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Wormius

They seemed to be bad as far as communication goes. They seemed a bit overrated after dealing with them. Like, they weren’t bad, but the whole tire buying experience wasn’t as orgasmic as some people made it out to be. Pretty standard place. Not disappointed, but not blown away in any sense.

One note, when we did get our tires swapped, they did say the south and north locations weren’t the same, so they swapped the tires for free at the time, but it sounded like that wasn’t something they’d do if you bought your tires from the south location and tried to get then swapped later in the north.

They just don't screw you over on price. And they won't oversell you either.

Some places charge a TPMS fee. Like you have a choice these days.

Also they're really quick. It took Costco all day to rotate my tires. Despite me making an appointment. It was hardly worth the free cost. UrbanX north rotated my tires in 20 minutes.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by puffnstuff

Were you using actual impact sockets? Or just regular ones? The black vs chrome makes a difference.

Hmm maybe that's it. Not black, it is socket set for tire swap, so I assumed it'd be OK?

https://a.co/d/96HQVMR

It's this set.

https://a.co/d/7ANpW6O

I was thinking to buy something like this as a spare set.

[photon]

My wife got a new vehicle and looks like it has 19x8" rims running 45 profile tires.

Going to look for rims and tires for winter was thinking of going a smaller diameter so can run higher profile tires, and I've heard that getting narrower tires is also good for winter, is that a thing? Or is it much of a benefit (like going from 19x8 to 18 or 17 x 7.5 or 7?)

Midsummer shopping bump

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by photon

My wife got a new vehicle and looks like it has 19x8" rims running 45 profile tires.

Going to look for rims and tires for winter was thinking of going a smaller diameter so can run higher profile tires, and I've heard that getting narrower tires is also good for winter, is that a thing? Or is it much of a benefit (like going from 19x8 to 18 or 17 x 7.5 or 7?)

Midsummer shopping bump

Narrower tires have higher weight/inch of surface causing some to assume that they’d perform better on ice, but it’s a false assumption. Simultaneously, they also have narrower friction surface nullifying the former benefit. Narrower tires are usually cheaper and can be mounted on standard cheap steel rims. They are also lighter and, technically, contribute to better fuel efficiency in a very small way, if cost is a big consideration.

Some people run their winter tires at slightly lower pressures. Higher profile tires on smaller rims allow for this better than the low profile tires. But no manufacturer has ever recommended doing this though. Could be a fad. (It does work for rocky roads, actually).

Finally, buying winter tires in summer is good if you’re buying them used. People are cleaning their garages and there are some great deals out there (I bought studded Michelin set for $400 in almost new condition (they are $584/tire new). But tire shops don’t have their sales starting until October.

Hope it helps.

[photon]

Ok thanks, my only motivation for higher profile tires was more sidewall to protect the rims more.

I won't worry about messing with the width then.

[Ryan Coke]

I got the original spec (quite wide) winter tires on mine, and haven’t regretted it once.

[Brendone]

I hate that this thread has been bumped

[bossy22]

When do you get new winter tires? I currently have some Michelin Latitude X-Ice that are at 5/32. We drive a lot in the winter going to the ski hill every weekend. My has moved from Norquay to now Louise so the driving will be further. I'm thinking of just being done with it and getting some Nokians mounted to the rims even though the Michelins have some life left in them.

[photon]

Transport Canada says 5/32 should not be driven on snow covered roads: https://tc.canada.ca/sites/default/f...2823e_2011.pdf
(page 9)

I've always been told 4/32 was the replace-me level, but that's always been tire sales guys.