The Winter's Coming Winter Tires Thread

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Nyah

Every time I see this this thread bumped, I wish it was titled The 'Winter Is Coming' Winter Tires Thread.

Now look what you've done.

[WhiteTiger]

Last year was my first year with winter tires. I went with unstudded Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2's.

I was a little skeptical about winter tires in general, but after using them...I'm a huge convert. I had no problems at all going where I needed, when I needed last year. Coupled with conscientious driving, winter tires can make a massive difference in one's comfort in driving in winter.

Most of the arguement that I see when it comes to Calgary specific is "studded" vs. "unstudded". I didn't find it a problem without studs last year...but I don't have any experience with studs to compare it to.

[pylon]

Anyone who wants winter tires PM me. We worked some pretty good deals for CP faithful last year on both summer and winter tires. Usually we could do it for the same landed cost as Tirerack without the freight hassles and wait. I am getting my parts manager to find a 'best value' option for this year. It looks like Continental is going to have the best deals this year with the mail in rebate factored in.

Stay Tuned.

[PsYcNeT]

I've decided to make the winter tire jump.

So if I have the storage space, the wherewithal and the means, is it better for me to buy winter wheels+tires, a jack, axel stands and a torque wrench and install them myself, or do what most people do and pay someone to swap them onto my wheels?

Is there any downside or danger (besides the obvious ones) of changing them yourself? Will tire/wheel retailers pre-combine and inflate anything I buy?

[DoubleK]

~$50 at Canadian Tire to swap.

My winters are mounted on rims, so no pulling tires on/off rims.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by PsYcNeT

I've decided to make the winter tire jump.

So if I have the storage space, the wherewithal and the means, is it better for me to buy winter wheels+tires, a jack, axel stands and a torque wrench and install them myself, or do what most people do and pay someone to swap them onto my wheels?

Is there any downside or danger (besides the obvious ones) of changing them yourself? Will tire/wheel retailers pre-combine and inflate anything I buy?

If you have the space, the jack/impact gun/torque wrench route is awesome.

I have the same electric impact gun I bought at Crappy tire 15 years ago for $50 bucks on sale, and it works perfectly. Buy a plug in, not a cordless, they are more powerful, and for the 2 times a year you use it, you don't have to worry about charging. Princess auto usually has impact sockets sets for $20 bucks. I bought a decent 2 ton jack for 50 bucks as well, and a torque wrench at sears for the same.

So for $150-170, you will have everything you need to change tires for probably 20 years. Most tire shops charge $50-80 each way, so after a year it is paid off. Jack stands are overkill and not required for tire swaps. Just buy yourself a decent rolling pump jack, and you are golden.

The biggest thing with swaps if you do them on your own, is to make sure you only use the impact gun taking them off, and to always torque your bolts correctly. An over tightened bolt can wreak havoc on disk brakes. And the last thing is make sure you store your torque wrench properly, at the tension the manufacturer recommends, and NEVER use it as a breaker bar/swedge. Just use an old piece of pipe over your tire iron for extra leverage if your impact gun wont loosen a lug nut.

This tire swap PSA brought to you by Northland Volkswagen. Right on the corner, right on the price. Were not satisfied, until your satisfied. Where the customer always comes first. Where you are not just a customer, you are family. We go the extra mile for you.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by pylon

Were not satisfied, until your satisfied.

I thought it went: "We're not happy until you're not happy."

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

I thought it went: "We're not happy until you're not happy."

That's the ending........

[Huntingwhale]

Awesome. Got to have my summer tires on for all of 4 months and I'm already making plans to put my winter ones back on

[CarlLester]

Originally Posted by Huntingwhale

Awesome. Got to have my summer tires on for all of 4 months and I'm already making plans to put my winter ones back on

This is something I have been thinking about....considering that the winter wheels are on the car for as long as or longer than the summer wheels, does anyone spend the money for nicer winter wheels or do you stick with cheaper replica style wheels (assuming something a little more attractive than steelies is desired)?

[Sliver]

Hey Pylon I have a question for you on my 2014 Passat. If I change the wheels out myself, will I still have to go to the dealership to have them reset my TPMS or can I just press that button in the glove box? If I can just swap out the wheels myself without screwing around with the dealership, I'm going to buy rims. If I have to go to the dealership anyway, I'm just going to swap tires out on the factory rims.

I had to go to the dealership to have them reset the TPMS after a wheels swap with my wife's Pathfinder and it completely defeated the savings from swapping them out myself.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Sliver

Hey Pylon I have a question for you on my 2014 Passat. If I change the wheels out myself, will I still have to go to the dealership to have them reset my TPMS or can I just press that button in the glove box? If I can just swap out the wheels myself without screwing around with the dealership, I'm going to buy rims. If I have to go to the dealership anyway, I'm just going to swap tires out on the factory rims.

I had to go to the dealership to have them reset the TPMS after a wheels swap with my wife's Pathfinder and it completely defeated the savings from swapping them out myself.

I am pretty sure your Passat doesn't have in wheel sensors. Most VW TPMS systems calculate the rolling diameter through the ABS sensors. So basically when you swap your tires you just need to go into your trip computer and select the winter tire function to compensate for the rolling speed difference and or just reset your tire values if it triggers the light.

Basically on VW's system, if the light goes on, it does not tell you which tire, it just tells you a tire is low. So once you fix the tire, you adjust/balance the pressure in all 4, then reset the system. Once one tire goes out of 'rythym' it will trigger the light again.

VW ditched in rim sensors because they are a PIA in winter climates with false warnings. The newer system is lower tech, but way more reliable. Every time mine has been triggered, it has been once the tire drops about 20lbs, and it is super easy to tell just by looking. And I have had A LOT in the last couple years. My folks built a new house in a new community, and it seems every second or third visit I am picking up a frikkin drywall screw or something.

[Calgary14]

Originally Posted by CarlLester

This is something I have been thinking about....considering that the winter wheels are on the car for as long as or longer than the summer wheels, does anyone spend the money for nicer winter wheels or do you stick with cheaper replica style wheels (assuming something a little more attractive than steelies is desired)?

I don't have nice wheels for my winter tires simply because they take such a beating in the winter. With all the snow, ice and salt I find its not even worth it to have anything other than basic, OEM wheels for the winter (that, and the fact I am cheap )

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by pylon

I am pretty sure your Passat doesn't have in wheel sensors. Most VW TPMS systems calculate the rolling diameter through the ABS sensors. So basically when you swap your tires you just need to go into your trip computer and select the winter tire function to compensate for the rolling speed difference and or just reset your tire values if it triggers the light.

Basically on VW's system, if the light goes on, it does not tell you which tire, it just tells you a tire is low. So once you fix the tire, you adjust/balance the pressure in all 4, then reset the system. Once one tire goes out of 'rythym' it will trigger the light again.

VW ditched in rim sensors because they are a PIA in winter climates with false warnings. The newer system is lower tech, but way more reliable. Every time mine has been triggered, it has been once the tire drops about 20lbs, and it is super easy to tell just by looking. And I have had A LOT in the last couple years. My folks built a new house in a new community, and it seems every second or third visit I am picking up a frikkin drywall screw or something.

That's so rad, thanks for the explanation. Yeah the wheel sensors are a giant pain in the dick. I'm really happy to have the VW system.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Sliver

That's so rad, thanks for the explanation. Yeah the wheel sensors are a giant pain in the dick. I'm really happy to have the VW system.

Here is an explanation of how uindirect TPMS works using ABS. It is one of those low-tech solutions, that works better than the hi-tech options in the real world. When the Touareg first came out with direct TPMS my phone would ring off the hook every time it dipped below -20c like clock work, with customers that had their tire light coming on.

So in Canada this is the better solution. It's less sensitive, but still highly effective.

http://www.tpmsmanager.com/blog/the-...indirect-tpms/

[psicodude]

Originally Posted by CarlLester

I have a quote for new winter wheels and tires. The quote says I can choose the new Blizzak WS80 or the Michelin Xi3 for the same price. I have done the obligatory research on tirerack.com, etc and read a bunch of reviews.

Does anyone have any input for selecting one of these tires for driving in Calgary? I can only read so much about one being better on clear roads, one better in snow, one not as good in slush, etc.

I have never used winter tires before () but this year I need to. Any input from somone who has used either Blizzaks or Xi3s would be appreciated.

I put the Michelin Xi3's on my BMW a few years back and they were great. I am not an expert like some guys, but the tires worked perfectly in last years brutal winter and never let me down. I had the run-flat version, so commenting on how hard the tires were wouldn't really be fair.

[t0rrent98]

Since I started driving again in 2009 after so many years working downtown I haven't used winters ever and probably never will since mine are all season tires. Through I have had 1 major and a few minor incidents due to careless driving all of which are all my fault which don't involve another party, I may decide to buy winters this year.

Through, what I want to do was switch over my all seasons onto a brand new Alloy rim and buy winters From costco and put them on the factory steel rims that previous had the all seasons but it maybe a little pricey for my liking.

[pylon]

Gents, this just showed up in the Canadian Tire Flyer. It didn't upload to their site right, but if you look in the flyer, that is a crazy deal.



http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/ma...l#.VAk_o1Y09uY

It is a breaker bar/torque wrench set for $57.77. Seriously, go down to Canadian Tire first thing tomorrow and grab one. These will sell out ridiculously fast. That is a stupid deal, and I will probably grab a dozen myself for customer give aways. It is exactly what you need if you are doing your own rim swaps. Normally the wrenches are $70 alone on sale. This set gives you both a wrench and a breaker bar.

[BlackArcher101]

Wow, I've never seen that deal before, that's dirt cheap.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Originally Posted by CarlLester

This is something I have been thinking about....considering that the winter wheels are on the car for as long as or longer than the summer wheels, does anyone spend the money for nicer winter wheels or do you stick with cheaper replica style wheels (assuming something a little more attractive than steelies is desired)?

I've always gotten decent alloys or at least cheapo wheel covers for steel wheels. It always irks me to see an expensive $50k car with ghetto black steel cop car wheels. Now I get a nice set of alloys, move the oem all seasons to them, and put the winter tires on the oem wheels.

If you get the closeout alloy wheels from tire rack or other places it's not too expensive.