Getting those winter tires

[desura]

im thinking I should get winter tires this year. I usually just do the all seasons, but a Google search says that all seasons aren't that great in winter.

What is the best place to get winter wheels plus tires? Tire Rack? Walmart? Anywhere else?

 

[msi1337]

Many times when I figure in the cost of having tires mounted and balanced when buying them online, and the fact that many shops in my area charge more to mount and balance tires from another vendor. It is just cheaper for me to get them locally. I believe my Mr. Tire has a good price match policy.

 

[jlee]

When I had Discount Tire locally, they were my go-to. Now it's wherever I can get the tire I want for the least amount of money.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Many times when I figure in the cost of having tires mounted and balanced when buying them online, and the fact that many shops in my area charge more to mount and balance tires from another vendor.

My mechanic doesn't. *biggrin*

Tire Rack and/or other mail order is almost certainly going to be cheaper, anyway. Even if somebody charges you an extra $10 per-wheel mounting fee.

 

[Yuriman]

At least in the size my car takes, Nokians are far and above the best winter tire. I don't think they're typically carried by major chains.

 

[herm0016]

Discount had nokian. Put a set of the entiyre 2 on our volt and they are great.

 

[desura]

Yeah, called a local place, the quote they gave me is like $500-$600 more than tire rack, and this is not including rebates from tire rack.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

At least in the size my car takes, Nokians are far and above the best winter tire. I don't think they're typically carried by major chains.

This.

I've had them on my last two cars - I've probably driven ~140k miles on Nokian WRG2s. Always had to order them special.

I actually just left them on all year round... but I don't recommend that. The winter performance is great, but on dry roads, they're loud, and they wear out faster than a $500 set of tires should. In retrospect, bad idea.

I recently replaced them with the Bridgestone Ecopias that Costco has, they're cheaper, last longer, ride's a lot quieter... but I'm hoping it's a mild winter.

 

[desura]

Wonder if it makes more sense to get snow tires and swap them out every year, or to just get all seasons.

Winter where I live is cold and it sucks, but there are days temps hit 60's. Looking at tests, all seasons come within 20-30% of snow, while are like 200% more effective than summer tires which I have installed currently.

 

[Yuriman]

Where do you live? I get heavy snow (sometimes it's higher than the cars) and temperatures as low as 40 below zero sometimes, and the tire compounds in all seasons simply don't work at those temperatures.

 

[desura]

I live in the SW PA region. Winter temps are between 10-50 F in winter. Big snows come like 3 times a year.

 

[msi1337]

I live in the NW region of MD (so, basically the same area) and I use Michelin X-Ice 3 and love them.

It was about $11 more per tire for me to get them from Tire Rack and have them mounted (my local dealer had a rebate for $100 for 4 just like Tire Rack did)

Getting a set mounted and balanced from Tire Rack cost me $80 at a local shop

 

[herm0016]

I have separate winter tires on different wheels for both my truck and our volt. I will always have this for all the vehicles we have, the difference in the winter is amazing and it opens up summer tire options to more all/mud terrains for the truck and LRR tires for the volt. easy to swap myself as well.

 

[Midwayman]

Many times when I figure in the cost of having tires mounted and balanced when buying them online, and the fact that many shops in my area charge more to mount and balance tires from another vendor. It is just cheaper for me to get them locally. I believe my Mr. Tire has a good price match policy.

Its not a ton different except for sales tax. Shipped the price is the about the same at discount tire or tirerack for me. We have a god aweful 10% sales tax though.

 

[Crono]

I was considering getting a set of Nokian WRG3s instead of a dedicated winter tire, as we get snow here (suburbs of NYC, so not that different weather from the OP) but it's a bit unpredictable as to how bad the winter will be. Unfortunately they aren't available in my car's tire size of 195/50/16 (at least from casual searching) but Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 tires are. Worth going with all-seasons that can handle light snow versus swapping between summer and winter tires?

 

[BurnItDwn]

This.

I've had them on my last two cars - I've probably driven ~140k miles on Nokian WRG2s. Always had to order them special.

I actually just left them on all year round... but I don't recommend that. The winter performance is great, but on dry roads, they're loud, and they wear out faster than a $500 set of tires should. In retrospect, bad idea.

I recently replaced them with the Bridgestone Ecopias that Costco has, they're cheaper, last longer, ride's a lot quieter... but I'm hoping it's a mild winter.

My 08 forester has been wearing a pair of Costco Ecopias for the last 30K or so miles. They are no winter tire, but they have adequate grip in the snow. Driving through the mountains of Pennsylvania in the winter during a blizzard was a bit nerve-wracking at times, but the tires held on well enough. They are useless on ice though.

In Illinois where I live, the biggest "mountains" are small gentle rolling hills no more than maybe 100 feet or so total height. Don't really need winter tires here since traffic is the bottleneck, you never really get a chance to open the throttle on the roads in the winter unless you get like 3+ feet of snow and everybody stays home.

 

[desy]

I've been looking at an all weather tire to try for my 3rd car cause I'm tired of swapping. Can you get Toyo Celcius? they are between all season and winter and better wear rated than the Nokian WRG3 but not as good in snow as the Nokians.