Time to change back??

[James77]

Just for interest, do you have a second set of alloys or a second set of tyres?

Wondering how many times it's safe to swap tyres over and whther the tyre is stesssed and stretched each time. I'm not a hight miler I've gone 4 years on a single set before.

[James77]

Originally Posted by Haldex

Ahahahah Came here with popcorn as well- but so far doesn’t look promising..

Where’s all the “crossclimate” people to add some spice to the discussion?!

To stay OT: extended ski season for me means winters stay on probably till mid May the way things are looking right now

I see you're Paris based (possibly even French?!) So jealous I live in the south of England but it's too far to hack sown to the Alps for the odd weekend. There's so much snow as soon as I leave the Alps I feel I'm missing out! Had a fantastic week in La PLagne 1800 earlier this year but a long wwekend right now would really hit the spot.

[m2srt]

Originally Posted by Deman77

The winters don’t lose grip in worst condition for them as badly as summers do in worst condition for them so if you have one set - winters make more logical sense as the only tyre from safety perspective.
Also even in the south you get conditions that are more suitable for winters (low single digit lows) at least 6 months a year.

I see that you're a fellow OptiCoat user! As for my tyres, I've felt no detriment in using winters all all year round.

[SuffolkBoy]

Originally Posted by m2srt

TBH , I've been using my Vredstein Wintrac Extreme S all year round. They have 19k miles on them and they have around 5.8mm tread left. Life jacket on, waiting for the tsunami of hate to flow.

I wanted to do this about 3 years ago, but my insurers wouldn’t cover me for winter tyres on during the summer months.

My insurance is due in early June, and I didn’t want to change insurers part way through, so I changed to all season tyres and kept the winter tyres in storage.

[Haldex]

Originally Posted by James77

I see you're Paris based (possibly even French?!) So jealous I live in the south of England but it's too far to hack sown to the Alps for the odd weekend. There's so much snow as soon as I leave the Alps I feel I'm missing out! Had a fantastic week in La PLagne 1800 earlier this year but a long wwekend right now would really hit the spot.

Canadian, actually, just living in France Superb conditions right now- I was in Méribel (les 3 Vallées) just a week ago and there was over 2m of white stuff on the slopes- with even more snow expected in the next days. Easter long weekend is looking good!

[Snoodini]

Originally Posted by James77

Just for interest, do you have a second set of alloys or a second set of tyres?

Wondering how many times it's safe to swap tyres over and whther the tyre is stesssed and stretched each time. I'm not a hight miler I've gone 4 years on a single set before.

Here in Sweden at least, every car has two sets of wheels (Rims & Tyres) and we just swap the whole wheel. Older/Cheaper cars use steel wheels during winter even if they have alloys for the summer tyres. Pretty much all new cars will have two sets of alloys.

[gaby]

Originally Posted by Snoodini

Here in Sweden at least, every car has two sets of wheels (Rims & Tyres) and we just swap the whole wheel.

That's how I do it as well, also before the time of alloys.
I swap them myself, done by the time it would take me to drive to a shop
and a good opportunity to have a closer look at the brakes.

[Deman77]

Originally Posted by James77

Just for interest, do you have a second set of alloys or a second set of tyres?

Wondering how many times it's safe to swap tyres over and whther the tyre is stesssed and stretched each time. I'm not a hight miler I've gone 4 years on a single set before.

No alloys.

Volvo who are incentivised to sell you alloys pushed every swap saying tyres would get damaged. I was also worried about the TPMS. However, continental who get tyre sale no matter if I buy alloys or not, told me that if done by competent person it can take as many changes as needed for the whole tyre life and they would cover under warranty if tyres spontaneously gave in during swap. I have been swapping same two sets for 3.5 years and had no problems. Thing is SUV tyres have reinforced walls so they are a bit less likely to get damaged from swapping.

Two sets of tyres do not increase your ownership cost as they end up lasting you twice as long as two sets of tyres, you just pay upfront. Extra set of alloys is a chunky add on cost and if you skimp and go for smaller size your car will look ugly 6-7months a year. With tyre swaps you do have cost of swapping but my dealer charges me nothing to store and I get my wheels rebalanced twice a year because of swapping.

[Zebra]

I agree that the cost of the tyres is irrelevant and arguably winters wear less in the winter than summers and vice versa so it may even prolong the life of the tyres.

Personally I like the two sets of wheels. I can change them which avoids the two 44 mile round trips each year, the time involved and the £120 per year cost of changing and effectively storage. (Nothing is free). Quite fun changing them with my son, trolley jack, torque wrench and pressure checking. I guess the balancing might be of benefit...

[MOzS90]

Never changed out of them.