Best time to get snowies?

[z1ggy]

Soooo I was on tirerack recently and it said with the 16'' steel rims, that due to some interference with the OEM TPMS, I need some "custom" sensors installed, which is an extra $220. So now, a 16'' steel rim with the altimax artic would run me over $1000 if I had them shipped to me, and I think just shy of $1000 if I went to pick them up.

It actually is cheaper to get a slightly better wheel which fits the stock TPMS but it's still around $970. That particular wheel is also the same width as the OEM wheel (just 1 inch smaller) so will traction really be that much better? For $970 bucks, I'd expect much better traction than just slapping on a 17'' snowie over my OEM wheels. Yes I know I won't get the ability to put the set on as I please, but for double the price... if traction isn't superior, I don't really see the point.

 

[Viper GTS]

You aren't buying new wheels for traction, you're buying them for convenience and long term savings. If you're spending $20-25 per corner to mount and balance tires every season change those wheels will pay for themselves within the life of the first set of snow tires.

After that you can just buy more tires without wheels and replace either your winter or summer set when necessary.

Yes it's expensive up front, but if you plan to have the car for the life of the next set of tires it will be cheaper to do this than to spend $200 a year in mount and balance fees to your local tire shop.

Viper GTS

 

[sdifox]

Soooo I was on tirerack recently and it said with the 16'' steel rims, that due to some interference with the OEM TPMS, I need some "custom" sensors installed, which is an extra $220. So now, a 16'' steel rim with the altimax artic would run me over $1000 if I had them shipped to me, and I think just shy of $1000 if I went to pick them up.

It actually is cheaper to get a slightly better wheel which fits the stock TPMS but it's still around $970. That particular wheel is also the same width as the OEM wheel (just 1 inch smaller) so will traction really be that much better? For $970 bucks, I'd expect much better traction than just slapping on a 17'' snowie over my OEM wheels. Yes I know I won't get the ability to put the set on as I please, but for double the price... if traction isn't superior, I don't really see the point.

why would you worry about oem tpms when you are getting a second set of sensors?

 

[z1ggy]

You aren't buying new wheels for traction, you're buying them for convenience and long term savings. If you're spending $20-25 per corner to mount and balance tires every season change those wheels will pay for themselves within the life of the first set of snow tires.

After that you can just buy more tires without wheels and replace either your winter or summer set when necessary.

Yes it's expensive up front, but if you plan to have the car for the life of the next set of tires it will be cheaper to do this than to spend $200 a year in mount and balance fees to your local tire shop.

Viper GTS

It's $10/ wheel at local Walmart for mount and balance. I did the math, I'd have to keep a set of snow tires for 5-6 seasons (assuming ~5,000 miles per snow season) for my ROI to be positive, based on the current cost. Doing some research shows most people only get around 15-20k miles before they need a new set.

why would you worry about oem tpms when you are getting a second set of sensors?

Because tire rack, unless I'm mistaken, won't let you purchase a set of snow tires and wheels that they mount and balance with out new TPMS. According to them, the steel wheel hub gets in the way of the mazda3 OEM TPMS, so a custom TPMS would need to be installed, which costs an extra $220.

This message did not pop up when I selected a different 16'' wheel, which ended up reducing my price a bit.

 

[Griffinhart]

Soooo I was on tirerack recently and it said with the 16'' steel rims, that due to some interference with the OEM TPMS, I need some "custom" sensors installed, which is an extra $220. So now, a 16'' steel rim with the altimax artic would run me over $1000 if I had them shipped to me, and I think just shy of $1000 if I went to pick them up.

It actually is cheaper to get a slightly better wheel which fits the stock TPMS but it's still around $970. That particular wheel is also the same width as the OEM wheel (just 1 inch smaller) so will traction really be that much better? For $970 bucks, I'd expect much better traction than just slapping on a 17'' snowie over my OEM wheels. Yes I know I won't get the ability to put the set on as I please, but for double the price... if traction isn't superior, I don't really see the point.

Don't expect better traction from different rims. As someone else stated, it's about convenience. Dragging a set of 4 tires to and from a garage twice a year can be a pain. Especially if you are trying to beat some bad weather coming in and there are a ton of people trying to do the same.

I went with a wheel and tire package. I keep the unused set in the basement. When it's time to swap I just take an hour and swap them myself. No trying to get 4 big tires to the garage. A big pain as I can fit, maybe two tires in my car. My friends Mazda 3 hatch can only fit three in. No worries about damaging the factory wheels during pothole season and I can swap them out as soon or as late as I want.

My stock wheels are staggered, so I also decided to keep all 4 winter tires the same size so I can rotate them and have better traction as the rear tires aren't quite as wide.

For me, it was well worth the extra expense. Sadly, I think it's about time for me to swap out my tires again. I have been feeling the summer tires break free much more easily on the colder mornings now.

 

[z1ggy]

Local guy quoted me $800 for 16' steelies and those General Altimax Arctic tires. Steep price in my eyes for that set up, but whatever, it's cheaper than tire rack and I don't need to drive as far to pick them up.