When to put on the winter tires (NYC area)

[E90potentialbuyer]

hey guys, especially those around NYC, when do you put on the winter tires? Looks like the temperatures have started dropping, but still nowhere near winter temps. Wondering when people usually put the winter tires on to be safe?

Thanks

[AGS]

I wait until the daily temps are regularly below 40 degrees. Usually ends up being late November or early December.

[M3 Esq]

Same here - late november or early december.

[E90potentialbuyer]

Thanks guys

[dadysev]

just north of the border in Toronto. I usually wait for the first sign of frost or snow. I keep a eye on my weather app.

[mwlmd]

I put them on just before Thanksgiving and remove them just before Easter.

[Squddie]

A couple of evening commute below 45 degrees and then extended forecast with rain.

[johnm550]

Can we see some pics of the winter tire and rim set up from those that do swap tires every winter. Do you change tires only or swap rim & tire?

I too live in NY (Long Island) and I didn't change tires last season, never drove in rain or snow and it was still all over the road when temps fell below freezing. I bought a truck for the winter but would love to drive the beast as much as possible so I'm considering a rim/winter tire set up.

[celicatoe46m3]

What specs do you guys run for a winter setup?

[E90potentialbuyer]

Originally Posted by johnm550

Can we see some pics of the winter tire and rim set up from those that do swap tires every winter. Do you change tires only or swap rim & tire?

I too live in NY (Long Island) and I didn't change tires last season, never drove in rain or snow and it was still all over the road when temps fell below freezing. I bought a truck for the winter but would love to drive the beast as much as possible so I'm considering a rim/winter tire set up.

Can't change just tires - tire is gone once you take it off the rim on these cars. I have a separate set of winter wheels with Pirelli SottoZero 's on it. It's on the BMW winter wheel setup - 19" 601s.

And given this is my only car, I'm hoping that with winter tires, I can drive the car in winter.

[johnm550]

Originally Posted by E90potentialbuyer

Can't change just tires - tire is gone once you take it off the rim on these cars. I have a separate set of winter wheels with Pirelli SottoZero 's on it. It's on the BMW winter wheel setup - 19" 601s.

And given this is my only car, I'm hoping that with winter tires, I can drive the car in winter.

Thanks, Good to know I'll need rim & tire package. Good luck driving in the snow this winter.

[AGS]

Originally Posted by johnm550

Can we see some pics of the winter tire and rim set up from those that do swap tires every winter. Do you change tires only or swap rim & tire?

I too live in NY (Long Island) and I didn't change tires last season, never drove in rain or snow and it was still all over the road when temps fell below freezing. I bought a truck for the winter but would love to drive the beast as much as possible so I'm considering a rim/winter tire set up.

Originally Posted by celicatoe46m3

What specs do you guys run for a winter setup?

I'm running 19" Bridgestone Blizzacks in a 4-square setup (front tire size on all 4 corners) on the BMW OEM winter wheel for the F10 M5.

[Mpire]

I don't understand why tires are gone once you take them off from wheels?

[E90potentialbuyer]

Originally Posted by AGS

I'm running 19" Bridgestone Blizzacks in a 4-square setup (front tire size on all 4 corners) on the BMW OEM winter wheel for the F10 M5.

I have the same wheels but with Pirelli winter tires

[E90potentialbuyer]

Originally Posted by mpirestate

I don't understand why tires are gone once you take them off from wheels?

Dont know enough to go into science but I was told that the integrity of the tire structure is compromised once you take it off the wheel.

[M6-Coupe]

Originally Posted by E90potentialbuyer

Dont know enough to go into science but I was told that the integrity of the tire structure is compromised once you take it off the wheel.

Are you sure the guy told you this wasn't in the tire business or working for tire shop to convince you to buy new tire from him? LOL
No it's not correct. You can take the tire off and install it again as long as it is not damaged... just make sure:
1. Both tires on the same axle must be the same size and the same brand
2. Both tires on the same axle must have tread left evenly and worn evenly (the same as the other one)
3. The left and right side of tire must be worn evenly
4. There is enough tread left. Usually at 3/32" you need to replace the tire.
5. Tire is not too old (usually more than 3 years).

[E90potentialbuyer]

Originally Posted by M6-Coupe

Are you sure the guy told you this wasn't in the tire business or working for tire shop to convince you to buy new tire from him? LOL
No it's not correct. You can take the tire off and install it again as long as it is not damaged... just make sure:
1. Both tires on the same axle must be the same size and the same brand
2. Both tires on the same axle must have tread left evenly and worn evenly (the same as the other one)
3. The left and right side of tire must be worn evenly
4. There is enough tread left. Usually at 3/32" you need to replace the tire.
5. Tire is not too old (usually more than 3 years).

Ha, it was the dealership. But to his credit, he also recommended that I look on the forums for winter tire / wheel packages as those can be substantially cheaper than the dealership. He is a pretty honest guy so I doubt he was trying to make a quick buck.

Question is can you practically take the tires off the wheel without damaging them? Perhaps that's what he meant by why i need winter wheels and tires?

Thanks for the info.

[M6-Coupe]

Originally Posted by E90potentialbuyer

Question is can you practically take the tires off the wheel without damaging them? Perhaps that's what he meant by why i need winter wheels and tires?

Thanks for the info.

Yes you can... we are living in 21st century

[Misfired Cylinder]

Originally Posted by E90potentialbuyer

Can't change just tires - tire is gone once you take it off the rim on these cars. I have a separate set of winter wheels with Pirelli SottoZero 's on it. It's on the BMW winter wheel setup - 19" 601s.

And given this is my only car, I'm hoping that with winter tires, I can drive the car in winter.

That is the funniest thing I have read. Oh boy, I bet you also bought your winter setup for 3-5k from the dealership?

You can mount and unmount tires tens of times, no damage to the wheel or the tire. They just have to be balanced.

Do you know that dealers have 100-150% markup on tire prices and around 50% markup on wheels? Anyone who buys tires off a dealership gets ripped off.

So next time, you can go to tirerack.com, get a set, mounted/balanced/shipped to your doorstep. Then all it takes is a $100 jack and a torque wrench to put them on. Now if you cannot be bothered with changing the wheel and not one of those DIY people, tirerack ships them to any tire shop and they'll put them on for you for probably $50.

Also the cost of mounting a tire in a tire shop is around $25-45. The same cost at a dealership is at least 3 times more.

Don't let people take advantage of you, they will, thinking you are someone with money who knows better because you are driving an M5.

The biggest selling point for having a separate winter set is so that you yourself can put them on/off. If you are constantly paying someone to do it for you, you are wasting your money, might as well use the standard BMW wheels and just get winter tires for them.

[mwlmd]

I also use the OEM 19" winter wheel set 408M I believe. Tires are 255/40/19 I think. Pirelli sottozero serie 2

Over the years I have used Michelin aplina 2 and 3, dunlop wintersports, nokian WRG2 and the pirellis.

They all work fairly good. Good dry performance and acceptable cold/snow grip.

The key is to not drive with summer tires during the winter!!

Side note: I just replaced the OEM tires that came on our 2015 Q5 TDI (Goodyear excellence summer tires!!!!!) with Continental extreme contact DWS 06. So far very happy.

[E90potentialbuyer]

Originally Posted by Misfired Cylinder

That is the funniest thing I have read. Oh boy, I bet you also bought your winter setup for 3-5k from the dealership?

You can mount and unmount tires tens of times, no damage to the wheel or the tire. They just have to be balanced.

Do you know that dealers have 100-150% markup on tire prices and around 50% markup on wheels? Anyone who buys tires off a dealership gets ripped off.

So next time, you can go to tirerack.com, get a set, mounted/balanced/shipped to your doorstep. Then all it takes is a $100 jack and a torque wrench to put them on. Now if you cannot be bothered with changing the wheel and not one of those DIY people, tirerack ships them to any tire shop and they'll put them on for you for probably $50.

Also the cost of mounting a tire in a tire shop is around $25-45. The same cost at a dealership is at least 3 times more.

Don't let people take advantage of you, they will, thinking you are someone with money who knows better because you are driving an M5.

The biggest selling point for having a separate winter set is so that you yourself can put them on/off. If you are constantly paying someone to do it for you, you are wasting your money, might as well use the standard BMW wheels and just get winter tires for them.

I didn't buy it from dealership. Bought it from forum member. Its stated in earlier post in the same thread! If you want to take tires off, and put them back on, sure. Or if you have the dough, get a complete second set.

Had bad information. Glad you guys can correct where needed.

[M6-Coupe]

Originally Posted by Misfired Cylinder

...Do you know that dealers have 100-150% markup on tire prices and around 50% markup on wheels? Anyone who buys tires off a dealership gets ripped off...

You are right. Last November I dropped my car for service and SA called me to let me know my car needed a set of tires. The price they offered me was about $2400-2500 out the door if I'm not mistaken. A week later I had my tires replaced (by Americas tire) for ~$1450 even with 305 rear which is more expensive than 295...