Why do people buy winters wheels instead of swapping tyres?
Discussion
2110 through 2013 I had a VW CC on which I changed the tyres from Contis to Hankook Icebears every winter. I have my own tyre changer and balancer and it used to take me maybe a couple of hours or so, including given the rims a good clean and checking the brakes etc.
When I bought a 5 series last March I bought a set of winter tyres and alloys with it, which I swapped over at the beginning of November. I'm not as good as some here, it took me probably an hour or so, but 10/20 minutes seems quite optimistic! 5 minutes a corner? Really?
All my rims are the same diameter but the winter tyres are a bit narrower with a higher aspect ratio.
The most important thing is not too underestimate the benefits of a decent set of winter tyres when temperatures are low, and especially in the snow. It's not without reason that the Scandinavians have a saying "winter tyres first, 4 wheel drive second". The compound and multi sipe tread patterns really stick to snow and ice.
I've never got stuck with winter tyres on a 2WD though 4WD adds an extra dimension, especially full time 4WD.
When I bought a 5 series last March I bought a set of winter tyres and alloys with it, which I swapped over at the beginning of November. I'm not as good as some here, it took me probably an hour or so, but 10/20 minutes seems quite optimistic! 5 minutes a corner? Really?
All my rims are the same diameter but the winter tyres are a bit narrower with a higher aspect ratio.
The most important thing is not too underestimate the benefits of a decent set of winter tyres when temperatures are low, and especially in the snow. It's not without reason that the Scandinavians have a saying "winter tyres first, 4 wheel drive second". The compound and multi sipe tread patterns really stick to snow and ice.
I've never got stuck with winter tyres on a 2WD though 4WD adds an extra dimension, especially full time 4WD.
blueg33 said:
20 mins is possible. On the Evora jacking one side lifts both front and rear wheels.
I guess it's 25 to 30 mins if I include getting tools and jack from the garage and putting the replacement wheels ready at each corner.
Fair enough. I have to jack each corner and given the propensity for BMW wheels to adhere to the spigots always clean them and apply some coppaslip. When I changed them in November two of the wheels needed persuading off with a rubber mallet, on an eight month old car......I guess it's 25 to 30 mins if I include getting tools and jack from the garage and putting the replacement wheels ready at each corner.
No matter, it's an easy enough job which I'd much rather do myself for what it takes.
REALIST123 said:
blueg33 said:
20 mins is possible. On the Evora jacking one side lifts both front and rear wheels.
I guess it's 25 to 30 mins if I include getting tools and jack from the garage and putting the replacement wheels ready at each corner.
Fair enough. I have to jack each corner and given the propensity for BMW wheels to adhere to the spigots always clean them and apply some coppaslip. When I changed them in November two of the wheels needed persuading off with a rubber mallet, on an eight month old car......I guess it's 25 to 30 mins if I include getting tools and jack from the garage and putting the replacement wheels ready at each corner.
No matter, it's an easy enough job which I'd much rather do myself for what it takes.
Took me longer on the A6 because the wheels were bloody heavy which made them hard to keep on the spigot and line up the bolt holes, also had to jack 4 times.
mark.c said:
I'm in the spare set of wheel camp....the other thing that I haven't seen mentioned yet is potential damage that can be done to a perfectly serviceable tyre that's regularly taken on and off a rim. Next time you get a fancy new tyre for your 19/20 inch rim, see how much distortion it goes through to get it on. Over the years I've have several expensive tyres damaged whilst being swapped over to a different rim.
Cheap rims off ebay is a no brainier to me.
see post at 16.27 yesterday Cheap rims off ebay is a no brainier to me.
I'm in the separate winter wheels and tyres camp, swapping over and storage isn't a problem for me. I'm a little more careful than tyre fitters when I'm using a trolly jack and a puck to locate the jacking points. Damage caused by removal of weights with a knife and wheel bolts tightened up with a air tool are enough to put me off. Not sure how good it is for tyres to be swapped from the rims twice a year either. Once you factor in a potential refurb for the wheels the cost factor, if thats the driving force, is minimal.
ashway said:
see post at 16.27 yesterday
I'm in the separate winter wheels and tyres camp, swapping over and storage isn't a problem for me. I'm a little more careful than tyre fitters when I'm using a trolly jack and a puck to locate the jacking points. Damage caused by removal of weights with a knife and wheel bolts tightened up with a air tool are enough to put me off. Not sure how good it is for tyres to be swapped from the rims twice a year either. Once you factor in a potential refurb for the wheels the cost factor, if thats the driving force, is minimal.
You've used the wrong tyre fitters in the past I think, none of this is an issue if you use a competent and professional outfit. There's not an air tool in site at the company I use.I'm in the separate winter wheels and tyres camp, swapping over and storage isn't a problem for me. I'm a little more careful than tyre fitters when I'm using a trolly jack and a puck to locate the jacking points. Damage caused by removal of weights with a knife and wheel bolts tightened up with a air tool are enough to put me off. Not sure how good it is for tyres to be swapped from the rims twice a year either. Once you factor in a potential refurb for the wheels the cost factor, if thats the driving force, is minimal.
ashway said:
see post at 16.27 yesterday
I'm in the separate winter wheels and tyres camp, swapping over and storage isn't a problem for me. I'm a little more careful than tyre fitters when I'm using a trolly jack and a puck to locate the jacking points. Damage caused by removal of weights with a knife and wheel bolts tightened up with a air tool are enough to put me off. Not sure how good it is for tyres to be swapped from the rims twice a year either. Once you factor in a potential refurb for the wheels the cost factor, if thats the driving force, is minimal.
I think you're right to be concerned. Beads will lose tension with repeated fitting and removal, though this shouldn't be an issue with normal mileages as they'll be worn out first. I'm in the separate winter wheels and tyres camp, swapping over and storage isn't a problem for me. I'm a little more careful than tyre fitters when I'm using a trolly jack and a puck to locate the jacking points. Damage caused by removal of weights with a knife and wheel bolts tightened up with a air tool are enough to put me off. Not sure how good it is for tyres to be swapped from the rims twice a year either. Once you factor in a potential refurb for the wheels the cost factor, if thats the driving force, is minimal.
Repeated removal of weights can lead to damage and at the very least leaves a mess of tape.
Just not worth the risk or effort IMO.
Best - and easiest - option is obviously to buy a set of spare wheels with winter tyres.
But if you want to save money, are not put off by the hassle of having to involve a tyre fitter, and / or you don't have space to store a spare set, then just swap tyres.
Not sure there is much else to say is there?
But if you want to save money, are not put off by the hassle of having to involve a tyre fitter, and / or you don't have space to store a spare set, then just swap tyres.
Not sure there is much else to say is there?
dgm said:
On my Z4MC I have two sets of CSL wheels and swap them over when appropriate. I also use the same tyre sizes on my winters as on the summers and the wider tyres (265/30/19) don't behave poorly in ice and snow as some have inferred here. Narrower may be the optimum for use in the snow but that doesn't mean that the wider winters dont perform really well in their own right. At the same time they leave the car feeling much the same as it does on the summers when there isn't snow on the ground. I haven't got near to getting stuck or feeling like the car was anything other than surefooted in all the varied depths of snow over the last 6 years of use.
Same here with my 135i.I use the original OEM alloys as my winters, with winter tyres same size as summers, and bought a set of CSL style rims for summer use.
But, we don't get much in the way of snow down south, so it's not such an issue. When we did though a couple of winters back, the 225/255 size combo wasn't an issue.
drmark said:
Best - and easiest - option is obviously to buy a set of spare wheels with winter tyres.
But if you want to save money, then just swap tyres.
There was no saving for me. 19" winters for my E92 approx. £750..... 17" winters £350 + S/H BMW alloys £350.But if you want to save money, then just swap tyres.
Its easy to change wheels yourself but not tyres so there's another 10 free
each time they're swapped over. 
Crackie said:
There was no saving for me. 19" winters for my E92 approx. £750..... 17" winters £350 + S/H BMW alloys £350.
Its easy to change wheels yourself but not tyres so there's another 10 free each time they're swapped over.
Aye, but your car looks silly for a few months of the year Its easy to change wheels yourself but not tyres so there's another 10 free
each time they're swapped over. 
I only dropped to 18 for my winters and kept 245 section and they work fantastically.
drmark said:
Crackie said:
There was no saving for me. 19" winters for my E92 approx. £750..... 17" winters £350 + S/H BMW alloys £350.
Its easy to change wheels yourself but not tyres so there's another 10 free each time they're swapped over.
Aye, but your car looks silly for a few months of the year Its easy to change wheels yourself but not tyres so there's another 10 free
each time they're swapped over. I only dropped to 18 for my winters and kept 245 section and they work fantastically.
drmark said:
HoHoHo said:
Not sure my M5 looks silly on winter rubber........
Looks better on its 20's but OK on 19's as well
Aye but they are not 17 inch 225s are they Looks better on its 20's but OK on 19's as well
BTW I actually prefer 19 inch rims on a M5.
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