Snow tires when to put on?

[HondaScott]

I am going to put my snow tires on today....is this the right time of month or should I wait a few more weeks?

[hi-tech]

I wouldn't wait too long, maybe a week at max...

I made that mistake last year, and let me tell you, driving through 2 ft of snow in a lower rsx with summer tires is probably the worst thing in life.

[myhusky]

I'm putting on mine tomorrow morning

[gheart008]

Really depends on where you are, but the general rule of thumb is if it's consistently 7 degrees Celsius and/or below, then you should have your winter tires put on.

[BartBandy]

Any time around now is good.

Mine will go on this weekend.

[mr_raider]

Really depends on where you are, but the general rule of thumb is if it's consistently 7 degrees Celsius and/or below, then you should have your winter tires put on.

Easier said than done:

http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/city/pages/qc-147_metric_e.html

[ninety09]

I put mine on yesterday.

[maniacshopper]

did anyone see the weather forecast for next week?
We're back in the double digits.

I'd say if it's consistently at 7* or less, time to change the car's shoes to winter boots.

[Wiseman]

did anyone see the weather forecast for next week?
We're back in the double digits.

For GTA? Just from Saturday to Tuesday. Then it's back to single digits. If you put them on yourself, might as well take advantage of the nice weather this weekend to do it.

[m4gician]

Typically when consistently the high of the day is a LOW single digit number. Your winter tires may come in handy if there are flurries, or there is a flash snow fall at that time.

[maniacshopper]

my 3 season tires have decent meat on them, but I intend to switch in the 2nd or 3rd week of Nov.

Yes, I change my own tires, this is why I'd change them that late. Spend 15 minutes to do it.

[kenchau]

I don't know, but maybe it's because I've been a little stressed out lately, but ARE YOU KIDDING ME OP?!?! Do a damn search. Just a couple of weeks ago there was activity in a thread about this EXACT SAME QUESTION!!! :mad:

see I searched - took a mere 15 seconds to find. :confused:

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/when-put-your-winter-tires-803926/

[Azxster]

I was driving up on the 404 yesterday during rush hour and traffic came to a halt at Hwy 7 (HOV lane) due to hail. Luckily, I am on winter tires.

[bembol]

I'm running my OEM/All-Seasons, so unless the weather suddenly drops 5"+ I'm not worried. I am following the 7-Day forcast and my new Hankook W300 Ice Bear are ready. LOL

[belgiangenius]

Way too early, IMHO. Snow tires are dangerous when it's too warm out.

I wait until I see snow on the ground and then pull out my jack.

[bionicbadger]

Way too early, IMHO. Snow tires are dangerous when it's too warm out.

what? the only reason they aren't used when its warm is because they wear much faster.

[TenzoR]

usually when avg temp drops to under 7 degree Celsius but if you can't do it yourself at home. Get it done sooner than later as line up after first snow fall is brutal :)

[nyik]

Put mine on last weekend. Was useful last night with the snow. Big ass lineup at tiredepot.

For those of you who haven't gone there in awhile, they have a ticket numbering system - grab one to get into the queue.

They open at 9am on Saturday, and when I got there at 9:15, the number was already at 82...

[maniacshopper]

I bought my snows a couple of weeks ago. Its in storage in my basement. I will wait and monitor the weather forecast.

[YZFMax]

I always use the 7 degrees rule. Based on the long-term 2 week forecast in the GTA, you can wait until next weekend if you like. I will be changing both cars and winterizing my motorbike this weekend.

[Mayoo]

when the temp comes below 7 C .. Mostly i wait for first snow fall ..

[BartBandy]

There is one problem with waiting until the last minute to change to winter tires: It's cold.

This weekend will be nice. I'll change the tires and wash the summers before I hang them on the wall.

[mlc2000]

Black ice forms at 4degrees.

My car (VW Jetta) has an alarm when the temp reaches 4degrees.
Its been going off all week, in the morning.

I don't care about average temp.
Its parked all day while the temperature changes.

I am putting the tires on tomorrow.

And, just a note: They are winter tires, not snow tires.
Snow tires are for way up north.

With a snow tire, you still get chunky tread, a bit less stability on the highway and more noise, but you do get snow traction.

With a winter tire, you get quieter ride, very little squirm, less noise than some all-season tires, good pavement ride and grip, long wear characteristics, and – last but not least – good ice and snow traction.

[mlc2000]

There is one problem with waiting until the last minute to change to winter tires: It's cold.

This weekend will be nice. I'll change the tires and wash the summers before I hang them on the wall.

Hang em? Didn't you get the nice Tire bags from Costco?

https://www.tiresavings.com/tires/tiretote4.jpg

[Avatar]

I always put them on at or after Halloween. So ya it's time. You can wait if you pay somebody to do it.

[techwiz]

Mine went on today. It's about time.

[MP3_SKY]

Hang em? Didn't you get the nice Tire bags from Costco?

https://www.tiresavings.com/tires/tiretote4.jpg

I put them on the tire totes too. Just bought them few weeks ago and it's much easier to hang around especially the 18's are heavy!! :|

Mine went on today. It's about time.

Same, I put mine on today as well, gotta love the sleeper love, lol

[Azxster]

Way too early, IMHO. Snow tires are dangerous when it's too warm out.

I wait until I see snow on the ground and then pull out my jack.

The point of winter tire is to prepare for the unexpected...

[alex_d10]

Way too early, IMHO. Snow tires are dangerous when it's too warm out.

I wait until I see snow on the ground and then pull out my jack.

What? firstly, they are not dangerous when it's warm. They just wear faster.

Secondly, the softer winter compound is meant to be used in single-digit temperatures and lower, not only snowy conditions. My summer tires felt very hard this week and I've been losing traction more than I am used to.

Even though we can probably get away with another week, I'm gonna put them on this weekend.

[jed]

I don't know, but maybe it's because I've been a little stressed out lately, but ARE YOU KIDDING ME OP?!?! Do a damn search. Just a couple of weeks ago there was activity in a thread about this EXACT SAME QUESTION!!! :mad:

see I searched - took a mere 15 seconds to find. :confused:

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/when-put-your-winter-tires-803926/

lmao @ kenchau - I feel your pain - it happens ALOT in the forums nowadays. Maybe it is time for a vacation somewhere warm...;)

[baboo]

I am changing them this weekend....while its still warm and I can wash my summer ones...

Why wait until last minute, its about time now.

[zeeden]

I'm regretting I put my winter tires on now...its 20 degrees outside...wtf?

[Kellster]

I usually put mine on around December 1 when the temps are going to stay consistently low. I have great all season tires that will get me by if we get any snow by then and the winter tires wear alot faster in double digit temps like today.

[Anonymouse]

My costco doesn't have the tire totes this year - has anyone seen them in the GTA?

[zeeden]

My costco doesn't have the tire totes this year - has anyone seen them in the GTA?

Check craigslist. This past spring I found a lady selling sets for $15 each, I bought a whole bunch for friends and family.

[squall458]

I had mine switched last week and I still feel a bit too early. I remember reading how so many redflaggers had them swapped before Halloween even started.

[bembol]

Looking at the weather I don't think I will put them on until December.

[boredstudent3]

i'm gonna wait till snow is in the forecast...

my performance tires can handle the rain and cold so i'm not too worried about it...

doesn't take too long to switch em out and u just have to brush on some soap and then spray the summers with water then wrap them up to store...

[baillieul]

Put mine on in Halifax last Thursday just before a snow storm. Its 15C outside now, so I poped my all seasons back on. Forcast is clear for the next week. I find winters handle like s**t until the temp is at 0 C or so. Only takes me 15min max to swap them out anyway.

[zeeden]

Last year I put my winters on near mid November it was cold as hell. But its extra mild this year..Oh well only a few more weeks.

[nyik]

Had mine put on last weekend already. Wish I didn't, but the all-seasons were down to nothing.

[hesp]

going to put mines on in the first week of Dec

[Jucius Maximus]

I am getting mine switched over on Wednesday (two days from now).

[SkylineR34X]

I put them on right before the first snowfall.

[ItechJester]

I'm glad so many others invest in good winter tires.

Every year in mid january I see some poor sap spinning their wheels like mad, or fishtailing down the street.

I just put mine on today.

[Jucius Maximus]

I'm glad so many others invest in good winter tires.

Every year in mid january I see some poor sap spinning their wheels like mad, or fishtailing down the street.

I just put mine on today.

I just wish that people would REMOVE the Winters in the Spring. Even in July and August you can walk through parking lots and a few cars are still wearing their Winter footwear.

The mind boggles. These are surely the people who bought the cheapest winter tires available without separate rims and don't want to pay $80 to re-mount and re-balance.

[levush]

I get my tires changed and balanced twice a year and lowest I found is $50 each time + taxes. This totals $113/yr. Where do you get yours done for $80?

[Jucius Maximus]

I get my tires changed and balanced twice a year and lowest I found is $50 each time + taxes. This totals $113/yr. Where do you get yours done for $80?

I think I was quoted $80 once for a SINGLE switch over when only 1 set of rims was in use.

My actual winters are on separate rims.

[Avatar]

I get my tires changed and balanced twice a year and lowest I found is $50 each time + taxes. This totals $113/yr. Where do you get yours done for $80?

Why don't people use steel rims for the winter tires? Cost of switching tires with rims is $20 or $40/y. I agree it's not that much of saving if you actually pay $200 for a set of steel rims. But it's good for the original alloy rims since frequent install/remove tires is not good to the rims (air leak might occur). Alloy rims are not for Winter also.

[Jucius Maximus]

Why don't people use steel rims for the winter tires? Cost of switching tires with rims is $20 or $40/y. I agree it's not that much of saving if you actually pay $200 for a set of steel rims. But it's good for the original alloy rims since frequent install/remove tires is not good to the rims (air leak might occur). Alloy rims are not for Winter also.

People don't get a second set of rims for the same reason that people buy into subsidized cell phone contracts and financed cars. Most people lack long-term financial vision.

[darek_dade]

I have 2 set of tires and I am financing my car. How would you classify me?:lol:

[m4gician]

I bought the extra set of wheels for my car:

a) because I don't want to pay the change over fee everytime (regardless if I have a friend's friend mechanic).

b) it's already paid for itself since (3 winters).

c) the rims I picked up were on sale on kijiji and very aggressively priced :) hehe.

[Wolfskin]

I wouldn't buy another set of rims. My car has steel rims anyways, and plus I balance them every season.

[Wolfskin]

I'm glad so many others invest in good winter tires.

Every year in mid january I see some poor sap spinning their wheels like mad, or fishtailing down the street.

I just put mine on today.

What's sad, is when you see someone with a nice new BMW 3 struggling in middle of a blizzard in January.The guy has a nice car but doesn't understand that he needs the best high performance winter tires. Spend 1000 more, but be safe. Rubber is cheaper than the car.

[BartBandy]

Way too early, IMHO. Snow tires are dangerous when it's too warm out.

I wait until I see snow on the ground and then pull out my jack.

These days, in the afternoon, all-seasons will be the best tire. At night and early morning, winter tires will be offer better grip. It's all a bit pedantic.

Ideally, switch somewhere between mid-October through mid-November, but try to have them before the snow flies. There was snow last week above Toronto. The warmest October day won't terribly degrade the performance of a winter tire, nor wear it at a remarkable rate.

My wife's car got winters back on last weekend. Mine will follow when I find the time.

[bembol]

Looks like I will be putting on our Winters later this week. The temperature is dropping and this Friday we are getting <1cm. :mad:

[notanexpert]

I wouldn't buy another set of rims. My car has steel rims anyways, and plus I balance them every season.

Taking the tires on and off the rim every season is not good for them.

[txenglan]

Looks like I will be putting on our Winters later this week. The temperature is dropping and this Friday we are getting <1cm. :mad:

Back to rain again :) I am planning to install mine this weekend if the cooling trend continues.

[Rekognize]

http://imgur.com/AZ5k2.jpg

[MS MSP]

I installed mine yesterday.

[nasa25]

putting my snows on next Friday (Dec 4th)......its not supposed to snow before then.

[JohnB]

First week of Nov.

[kbjy11]

i put mine on this past weekend...

Could have probably waited another week, but I don't enjoy changing/washing rims in single digit temps...

[gridlocken12]

Way too early, IMHO. Snow tires are dangerous when it's too warm out.

I wait until I see snow on the ground and then pull out my jack.

Here here! Yea I'm doing the same.

[MS MSP]

Here here! Yea I'm doing the same.

That response made sense when it was posted 2 weeks ago, not so much now.

Rain/snow forecast for the end of this week.

Once temps are consistently under 7 celsius, it's time for snows.

[gridlocken12]

That response made sense when it was posted 2 weeks ago, not so much now.

Rain/snow forecast for the end of this week.

Once temps are consistently under 7 celsius, it's time for snows.

If your running Performance All seasons like I am (Yokohama Avid T4), you can afford to go into mid-December or even until you get a good dusting of snow on the ground.

Then its time to slowly transition into your "winter" (not snow) tires. Been following this same schedule for years now.

[VorteC]

Put mine on on Saturday.

[ES_Revenge]

What's sad, is when you see someone with a nice new BMW 3 struggling in middle of a blizzard in January.The guy has a nice car but doesn't understand that he needs the best high performance winter tires. Spend 1000 more, but be safe. Rubber is cheaper than the car.
Not entirely his fault though. It's also to blame on the government who never required him to know a damn thing about cars or vehicle equipment before getting a licence; also their fault for allowing garbage like all-seasons to be sold, used on public roads, and to be put on vehicles from the factory.

[gridlocken12]

Not entirely his fault though. It's also to blame on the government who never required him to know a damn thing about cars or vehicle equipment before getting a licence; also their fault for allowing garbage like all-seasons to be sold, used on public roads, and to be put on vehicles from the factory.

So your saying all all-season tires are garbage at any time of the year?

[MS MSP]

If your running Performance All seasons like I am (Yokohama Avid T4), you can afford to go into mid-December or even until you get a good dusting of snow on the ground.

Then its time to slowly transition into your "winter" (not snow) tires. Been following this same schedule for years now.

So your saying all all-season tires are garbage at any time of the year?

basically yes, they're no-seasons, they do nothing well.

Not as good as a summer tire in summer, not as good as a winter tire in winter.

Like I said, less than 7 degrees celsius = time for snow/winter tires.

[Rekognize]

basically yes, they're no-seasons.

+1

[gridlocken12]

basically yes, they're no-seasons, they do nothing well.

Not as good as a summer tire in summer, not as good as a winter tire in winter.

Like I said, less than 7 degrees celsius = time for snow/winter tires.

Ahhh they are a safe in b/w tire type for early winter (say early to mid-December) - enough for you to transition into your winters.

[MS MSP]

Ahhh they are a safe in b/w tire type for early winter (say early to mid-December) - enough for you to transition into your winters.

there's no set calendar date , it obviously goes by temperatures.

As November has been abnormally warm, I waited to put mine on.

Plus I don't drive much so even if I'm a week early, it's no biggie.

[Nat_]

I put mine on a 1 1/2 weeks ago and it took 15 mins. My friend did hers today it took 5 hours ???

[ES_Revenge]

So your saying all all-season tires are garbage at any time of the year?
Yes. Buying them for use on a road-going vehicle is irresponsible IMO, as is manufacturers putting them on new cars and selling them that way, as is the government allowing such nonsense on both counts.

This is not to say that there aren't crap summer and winter tyres out there too; but the vast majority of the crap is in all-seasons. I won't even call them tyres anymore because they are such garbage.

[Jucius Maximus]

Yes. Buying them for use on a road-going vehicle is irresponsible IMO, as is manufacturers putting them on new cars and selling them that way, as is the government allowing such nonsense on both counts.

This is not to say that there aren't crap summer and winter tyres out there too; but the vast majority of the crap is in all-seasons. I won't even call them tyres anymore because they are such garbage.

Be sure to take ES_Revenge with a grain of salt.
He is one of the most outspoken and extremist people on RFD in relation to this subject.

I put mine on a 1 1/2 weeks ago and it took 15 mins. My friend did hers today it took 5 hours ???

Maybe your friend went to Costco? :lol:
I got mine done at the dealership about 2 weeks ago (for only $19.99), but that is because I was going on vacation with the car sitting in the garage, and expected snow when I returned.

[ES_Revenge]

Be sure to take ES_Revenge with a grain of salt.
:rolleyes:

He is one of the most outspoken and extremist people on RFD in relation to this subject.
Yes, and for very good reason. I'm outspoken about road safety in general, and real road safety not the crap the government feeds people so they can make a quick buck and so people can scapegoat instead of taking responsibility. "Safe all-season" is just about an oxymoron, so yeah I'm outspoken about that as well.

[liorsyncro]

Haven't put mine on yet as the weather has been just splendid for November. Remember, they do perform best at 6 degrees and under. I'll prolly put them on this week.

[liorsyncro]

Be sure to take ES_Revenge with a grain of salt.
He is one of the most outspoken and extremist people on RFD in relation to this subject.

The guy knows cars..... period

[markjia]

I'm trying to decide btw getting all-seasons or winter tires...

When do the winter tires need to be taken off? What's the risk driving in the warmer months?

[MS MSP]

I'm trying to decide btw getting all-seasons or winter tires...

When do the winter tires need to be taken off? What's the risk driving in the warmer months?

winter/snow tires will wear quicker when driven in temps above 7 degrees celsius.

The hotter the temperature the faster the wear.

[m4gician]

winter/snow tires will wear quicker when driven in temps above 7 degrees celsius.

The hotter the temperaturem the faster the wear.

Actually it's 12 degrees celsius that they wear faster. 7 degrees is when they become more effective than all season tires.

:)

I'm not putting my tires on until I hear "100% chance of snow" in the forecast meaning the night before, haha.

[john widow]

Does anyone think now is the time to put on winter tires for gvrd? I think I saw salt trucks today as well. They spray liquid salt onto the roads now so the roads look like there are lines of several lines of water on the road.