Should I put my winter tires on a separate set of rims?

Should I put my winter tires on a separate set of rims?

Having a set of wheels (rims) to go with your winter tires is a good idea. It saves the wear and tear of seasonal tire mounting, and makes it easy and much less expensive to do the seasonal changeover. Alloy wheels are lighter for better fuel economy and handling and certainly look better.

Is it OK to use same rims for winter tires?

The Advantages of Winter Rims When you have your winter tires placed on their own rims, you are only paying for the balancing and installation of the tires. When you use the same set of rims throughout the year, you run the risk of damage caused by snow, ice and salt.

Can you put winter tires on aluminum rims?

It makes no difference to the winter tyre properties whether they are fitted on aluminium or steel wheel rims. The difference is only in their quality. While alloy wheels are usually somewhat lighter for winter conditions, steel rims provide additional robustness.

Should you downsize your winter tires?

Tire downsizing is an important winter driving preparation. Not only are snow tires expensive, especially larger diameter ones, they can also be less effective on snow and ice. Your downsized tires will be the right size to ensure both performance on snow and ice, and they will be more economical.

Do you keep your rims when you get new tires?

You can have your tires swapped onto your new wheels as long as you’re keeping the same size wheel. However, most people opt for a larger diameter wheel for aesthetic or performance reasons which of course means you need new tires as well.

How many times can you switch tires?

Mileage. The general rule of thumb is that tires can last anywhere between 25,000 to 50,000 miles before they need to be replaced. You will want to refer to the owner’s manual for specific recommendations that come with your car.

Does it matter if all four tires are the same?

The short answer is that, in general, manufacturers do not recommend tire mixing at all. That means having the same brand, size, tread pattern, load index, and speed rating on the front and rear tires. However, there are exceptions that can lead to mixing tire brands.

Do all four tires have to match?

Ideally, you want all four tires to match in both type and wear, but a set of mismatched tires isn’t a deal breaker, so as long as they meet the following criteria: A car with mismatched front and back tires should still be usable, especially if it is a two wheel drive vehicle.

Is there a difference between summer and winter rims?

Summer tires have a dedicated rubber compound that delivers excellent grip and handling on both dry and wet roads in warmer conditions. Winter tires provide outstanding grip on road surfaces covered with snow and ice, as well as wet roads in cold conditions.

Should you swap out winter tires for all-season tires?

Swapping out winter tires for all-season or performance tires twice a year is only a big effort if you do it yourself. The best tire shops do it for free as long as your tires are on wheels. If not, you can generally pay a small fee to have it done with little waiting.

Why do I need a separate set of winter wheels?

Having a separate set of winter wheels keeps your other set looking like new. There is a fee to remove and replace tires on wheels. When tires are already mounted on their own wheels, it’s treated like a tire rotation, which is a free service when you have tires from Les Schwab.

Should you replace your tires twice a year?

If swapping out your tires twice a year sounds like a drag, consider investing in a second set of less-expensive steel or alloy wheels for winter, preferably in a size or two smaller than your summer tires.

Can you mix snow tires with summer tires?

Mixing and matching snow tires with all-season or summer tires results in different levels of traction between your ride’s wheels, which can be a recipe for erratic handling. Those zig-zag lines in the tire tread are called sipes, and they’re built to provide extra grip on snow and ice.