Instead of changing wheels and tires for the season...

[adamtc4]

More of a general question, so please move if needed.

I see a lot of threads about people having 2 sets of wheels and tires. One for summer and One for winter.

My question is, are you able to have 2 sets of tires and just keep switching them during the seasons or are tires ruined once they are taken off the wheel? I searched online and couldn't find the answer.
I would think it would be cheaper to just change the tires uninstalled/installed twice a year instead of buying a new set of $1000+ wheels or maybe you really like the one set of wheels you have. So in essence you would put maybe 5-10k on the summer tires, uninstall and then install the winter tires on the same rims for a few months and then switch back.

Sorry ahead of time for my ignorance.

[myrison]

Yeah that's possible. It's a bit more work/cost each time you switch setups but as you said, it saves you the cost of a dedicated set of wheels.

Some people like to run smaller winter tires for traction purposes in which case you need smaller wheels to match.

Long story short though you can do what you're thinking.


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[LJO]

I have done both, only switching tires and having a dedicated winter wheel set. I prefer having an extra set of wheels because you can do the install yourself and in no time at all. Take a look at ECS Tuning they have Alzor wheels for about $400.

[Race Shooter]

You can do what you're suggesting, its just a bit more of a pain.

Many people like having a second set of wheels as well to protect their nice "summer" wheels from winter abuse. You're more likely to hit potholes created by plows, or slide into a curb, or just the abuse of road salt and sand on the finish during the winter, so many have cheap winter wheels they dont worry about as much.

[RudyH]

I have done both, only switching tires and having a dedicated winter wheel set. I prefer having an extra set of wheels because you can do the install yourself and in no time at all. Take a look at ECS Tuning they have Alzor wheels for about $400.

This, when you think about it. If you have to take the tires of the wheels each time it's around $100 x twice a season. In two years your Alzor wheels are paid off...and you never ruined your summer rims with pot holes that start showing up in the early spring and kissing the curb from a slight ice misjudgment.

That said, I am thinking of just sticking with my original plan, and your suggestion, where my summer tires still have tread, so no point in grabbing new rubber and wheels till maybe 2 summers down the road.

[richardm0025]

You could always get some wheels off of Craigslist for dirt cheap. I think there was a thread recently that some guy got winter wheels for 300 and then just painted them and now has a cheap set of winter wheels.

Your theory works but I don't think it's as cost effective as you would hope.


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[adamtc4]

Thanks for the replies people!

[mr shickadance]

More of a general question, so please move if needed.

I see a lot of threads about people having 2 sets of wheels and tires. One for summer and One for winter.

My question is, are you able to have 2 sets of tires and just keep switching them during the seasons or are tires ruined once they are taken off the wheel? I searched online and couldn't find the answer.
I would think it would be cheaper to just change the tires uninstalled/installed twice a year instead of buying a new set of $1000+ wheels or maybe you really like the one set of wheels you have. So in essence you would put maybe 5-10k on the summer tires, uninstall and then install the winter tires on the same rims for a few months and then switch back.

Sorry ahead of time for my ignorance.



obviously you have your answer, but as far as preferences go, the better option (if you have 19's or higher) is to have a dedicated winter wheel/tire combo.

the reason why is because:

1) the combination of wheels plus tires for an 18 inch set up is about the exact same price as a new set of winter tires at size 19 and above (20's+ are even more expensive and rare to boot)
2) reducing your wheel size gives you the luxury of running a taller sidewall, i think myrison was trying to say this but he came out saying smaller tire as well, such should not be the case.
3) taller sidewall affords you a bit more protection against the curbs that can be hidden by snow, and potholes that you hit due to the winter weather, i would rather fix a tire than fix a wheel/suspension components and that extra bit of sidewall could mean the difference between the two.
4) protects your original wheels or your nicer set of wheels during the times when the roads can be full of god knows what.


other than those performance aspects, it also gives you a chance to change up the look of your car just a little bit which i guess is a nice benefit.

IF you had 18's i would suggest just switching your tires, 18'' winter tires are pretty cheap and it would be an extra expense to get a dedicate wheelset to go with it and unless you are nervous about screwing up your wheels there is no real benefit that you couldn't get from having a winter tire.

[adamtc4]

obviously you have your answer, but as far as preferences go, the better option (if you have 19's or higher) is to have a dedicated winter wheel/tire combo.

the reason why is because:

1) the combination of wheels plus tires for an 18 inch set up is about the exact same price as a new set of winter tires at size 19 and above (20's+ are even more expensive and rare to boot)
2) reducing your wheel size gives you the luxury of running a taller sidewall, i think myrison was trying to say this but he came out saying smaller tire as well, such should not be the case.
3) taller sidewall affords you a bit more protection against the curbs that can be hidden by snow, and potholes that you hit due to the winter weather, i would rather fix a tire than fix a wheel/suspension components and that extra bit of sidewall could mean the difference between the two.
4) protects your original wheels or your nicer set of wheels during the times when the roads can be full of god knows what.


other than those performance aspects, it also gives you a chance to change up the look of your car just a little bit which i guess is a nice benefit.

IF you had 18's i would suggest just switching your tires, 18'' winter tires are pretty cheap and it would be an extra expense to get a dedicate wheelset to go with it and unless you are nervous about screwing up your wheels there is no real benefit that you couldn't get from having a winter tire.

I have 19" peelers on there currently. I think what I might do is ride out this winter with the current setup (19s w/ conti All seasons) then in the spring switch out the AS tires to some nice summer tires and then in the fall buy some 19" Alzors and put the AS tires from this winter on those. Do the Alzors have a decent reputation? Seems like a killer deal on the pricing.

[plev72]

I'm running 19" stock summers and 18" winters. I don't recommend switching the tires back and forth, too much wear and tear on the band of the tires taking them on and off, too much risk of someone scraping the heck out of your wheels as you'll be changing them out twice a year, every year.

[Johnnycash]

putting different tires on and off the same wheel is stressful on both the wheel and tire, and runs the risk of damage to both. plus its a major pita!

separate sets are well worth it and pay for themselves over the duration...

[mr shickadance]

I have 19" peelers on there currently. I think what I might do is ride out this winter with the current setup (19s w/ conti All seasons) then in the spring switch out the AS tires to some nice summer tires and then in the fall buy some 19" Alzors and put the AS tires from this winter on those. Do the Alzors have a decent reputation? Seems like a killer deal on the pricing.

as winter wheels they are fine, they are not going to be winning any lightweight awards, but in the winter time, who cares and at that price, can't be beat, brand new TUV approved wheels? mint.




putting different tires on and off the same wheel is stressful on both the wheel and tire, and runs the risk of damage to both. plus its a major pita!

separate sets are well worth it and pay for themselves over the duration...


ehh, this is a reach, a decent tire shop will not ruin the tire or the wheel. I used to swap tires on my cars and never once was a wheel or tire scratched or ruined.

[Race Shooter]

I have the Alzors for my winters and they're fine. Balanced fine and mounted up perfectly. I dont know how great they are against bends as havent had them that long, but so far so good for the money.

With tires in 18" size, the entire set was less than just buying 19" snows for the stock wheels.

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7544/15977956522_cf3d586dbf_c.jpg

[Johnnycash]

ehh, this is a reach, a decent tire shop will not ruin the tire or the wheel. I used to swap tires on my cars and never once was a wheel or tire scratched or ruined.

i used to break tires and mount and balance back when i was a whipper snapper and i remember the larger wheels with low profile tires were significantly harder to break and mount, now i havent been in that business for a while so i will assume that there are new tire machines that make the process easier?for me personally i guess im just at a point in my life where it makes more sense to me to have dedicated sets.

i still dont think its good more so for the tire to have its bead broken and stretched on and off of a wheel 2xs a year for however many years of its treadlife...

[saxon]

For me it was much cheaper to get brand new 18 inch wheels and winter tires than to buy winter tires for my 19" wheels

[MrFunk]

Johnnycash is right on.

Swapping tires on the same rim is recipe for damage to wheels and tires....
Plus at $50 bucks a mount and balance @ 2x a year... plus time and energy hauling wheels and sitting around shops waiting for them to swap then putting dirty wheels back in your car to haul home... it only takes a few years and you've paid for a dedicated set of wheels...

[mr shickadance]

i used to break tires and mount and balance back when i was a whipper snapper and i remember the larger wheels with low profile tires were significantly harder to break and mount, now i havent been in that business for a while so i will assume that there are new tire machines that make the process easier?for me personally i guess im just at a point in my life where it makes more sense to me to have dedicated sets.

i still dont think its good more so for the tire to have its bead broken and stretched on and off of a wheel 2xs a year for however many years of its treadlife...

dedicated new machines make it damn near impossible to fuck it up. the only tire that is pretty tough to mount is stretching a tire to a wheel. why? bc you cant use the machine

[stoked_S4]

OP: You are in Arlington VA. How much snow you get down there? Just get Michelin AS3's on an AWD car and be done with it(craigslist/ebay/AZ list the original tires).

If you still want winter tires then go dedicated wheels. Potential damage to wheels/tires are too high at each swap as mentioned many times. You maybe be able to use them on your next Audi or just sell them to recoup some of the cost when no longer needed.

[adamtc4]

OP: You are in Arlington VA. How much snow you get down there? Just get Michelin AS3's on an AWD car and be done with it(craigslist/ebay/AZ list the original tires).

If you still want winter tires then go dedicated wheels. Potential damage to wheels/tires are too high at each swap as mentioned many times. You maybe be able to use them on your next Audi or just sell them to recoup some of the cost when no longer needed.

Yea I'm in Arlington. We usually get 1-2 bad storms a year but a lot of light dusting.


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[VenturiRS]

Wow... 50-100$?

I'm getting gouged... 34.99 a wheel/tire. And that's not even the stealership!

[mjames]

If anyone is interested in a cheap winter setup, I am selling my OEM 18s + Pirelli P6 tires in NC.

Fortunately I can run summer setup year-round, but if I couldn't, I'd have a set for each season.

[Thumper3]

Wow... 50-100$?

I'm getting gouged... 34.99 a wheel/tire. And that's not even the stealership!

Wow, they aren't even using lube on you at that price man. LOL

$10-20 per wheel is pretty much the standard.