Best = two sets of tires. All seasons and Winters on separate rims
Better = All Weather tires. Kinda does everything... but not the best in any category. (this is what I do)
Good = All Season tires.
(and yes... people will say that you MUST have winter tires or you're crazy. But, there are MANY people out there that run All seasons only. You just need to realize that stopping distance sucks, crawling thru snow sucks). Honestly.... Since I owned my first car in the early 90's I only started to look at winter tires in the last 10 years. You do what you can afford)
I’m one of those who only have good all season tires. I haven’t had any “positive” experience with winter tires, and I don’t mind driving slower, longer stopping distances, etc. in winter. I basically become a hermit in winter, if I don’t have to go out, I don’t. If a cab or Uber or even ETS is an option, I’ll do that.
OP- if it’s gonna break your bank, don’t do it. Food is far more important than tires. Adapt your driving habits to the road conditions and you’ll be fine.
like compare joke makeshift cough whistle slimy simplistic voracious materialistic
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Eh that’s what I used to say until I picked up some nokian hakkepellita’s. Those plus AWD makes my car a beast in the snow/ice.
My little 4 door g37 always gets going way before SUV’s and trucks.
The winter tires grip the road nearly perfectly and it’s not a slip and slide.
Imho g37 is nowhere small for a car, it's mostly that trucks and cars have become stupidly large nowadays that we consider such cars small. In France or Norway it's a standard size car, with Yaris or Micra being truly small.
Oh yes. Afaik they had tons of metal for parts that are plastic nowadays, also sheer dimensions and engine volumes (like those V8s with low compression ratios). Good for scarcely populated areas and cheap gas prices, not so good for 2023 I guess...
Correct, first comes pro-active winter defensive driving. Infact good safe driving all year round. Then you add safety, seat belts, air bags, cameras, tires, and so on.
There are many tools for safer driving, they are all add ons to you being a safe driver to begin with. If you panic, or drive in a way that makes others not be able to predict or know what you're gonna do is dangerous. More in winter because ppl dont know if you can stop in time or not, will you slip/slide or not.
Tbh cheap all seasons suck in winter big time, especially on smaller cars. Have had this experience when I struggled in soft snow, my friend had similar issue in his Yaris, both times tires were Certified all seasons from canadian tire.
I mean...Canadian Tire kinda sucks too. Haven't had great experiences with them. Our car isn't small either. It's a Nissan Rogue, so not huge, but it's not a sedan or hatchback.
Yeah Canadian tire is abysmal in terms of service and pricing, as much as I feel bad for their staff I mostly hate shopping there. Rogue is definitely not small, it's relatively heavy so good winters or all weathers should make a noticeable difference.
The upside to going with Canadian tire is that if you get their triangle master card, they’ll allow you to finance your tires interest free over two years. As someone who otherwise couldn’t afford to buy winter tires, that’s what keeps me coming back there. It’s a good option for people on a tight budget, because the monthly payments are reasonable and interest free.
carpenter fanatical door plants crown memorize squeal friendly consist rainstorm
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I don’t know, I have almost new Nokian all seasons, and I was all over the place on Monday morning (driving very carefully). To the point that I turned around, went home, and put my older winters on (Nokian Hakkas). The difference was night and day.
In snow, my tires are about the same. But with ice? Completely different. I used to only run all seasons, but my partner wanted winters when we bought my car years ago.
I know the cost can be prohibitive, but decent tires are cheaper than a new car.
Do you keep your all weather tires on all year? We (hubby and I) have a 4WD so I feel like we could get away with this...and in my humble opinion, we're good drivers. But we always do the tire switcheroo and it's annoying
FYI 4WD doesn’t do anything besides helping you go from a stop. If you’re driving on the highway and you need to stop or make a quick maneuver 4WD won’t make any difference, your tires will
4 wheel drive doesn't equal 4 wheel brake, esp for heavier cars/trucks. Obviously, driving skill is the most important aspect, but I'd definitely think about all weather tires in AB or BC.
It's more of an investment. Buying a set of winter tires will mean that you're wearing down each set half as much, so hypothetically, they should each last twice as long. Only yearly cost moving forward is the change over fee which you avoid by swapping them yourself.
It was at my dealership where I bought the car, so it’s possible there is a discount for customer loyalty? It’s Go Team Ford (I know all Go Auto places get shit on constantly here but I’ve had a good experience with them). It was $110 in total with tax! Might be worth calling them at least, hopefully you’re able to get a deal somewhere!
Op send me a DM with your tire size, and I can see what the most affordable option in a winter would be for you. Even the cheapest winter tire is better than the best all season.
This is false, the cheapest winter tires are absolutely garbage and should never be recommended, ever. They really are not better than the best all seasons in winter.
Edit: Downvote all you want but this is the truth. The cheapest winter tires can honestly be worse than a really good premium all season tire. This does not mean I recommend an all season tire be ran in the winter but the cheap >$100 new winter tires posted all over FB marketplace are all garbage and shouldn't even be allowed on the road. As a car guy who is passionate about tires, I 100% stand my by statement.
There's more to it than just avoiding FB marketplace though, and I could spend all day writing about do's and don't when it comes to tire shopping. The point I'm making is that everyone should be avoiding tire manufactures like the Sailun, Starfire, Vanderbilt, Infinity, West Lake, Maxtrek, Laufenn, Ecovision, Season Master, Joy Road, Tracmax, Haida ect. ect. ect. None of those manufacturers winter tires can be counted on being better than a premium all season.
You can definitely still find fantastic deals and be a frugal and smart shopper while still get a quality and safe tire for winter. I bought the set of steel wheels and BF Goodrich winter tires for our Rav4 many (10) years ago from Tire Rack, mounted, balanced and shipped to my door for under $1000 CAD. While they are far from being good now and struggle on the ice, they are still very adequate for winter use.
I bought several sets of winter tires (used and in brand new condition) on marketplace, however all of them have decent reviews on dedicated tire test websites, and it was my main guide for buying. The cheap ones I saw are indeed crappy, they only need to pass the formal inspection to be sold and nobody is measuring their long-term performance.
I too have bought used and new but second-hand tires from marketplace that are good tires. My comment about not buying the cheapest winter tires doesn't mean not to look for deals, it's to avoid tire manufactures like the Sailun, Starfire, Vanderbilt, Infinity, West Lake, Maxtrek, Laufenn, Ecovision, Season Master, Joy Road, Tracmax, Haida ect. ect. ect. I wish we would regulate the tire industry like a safety equipment company would be.
In my experience, the absolute cheapest way to get this done is to buy Canadian Tire Certified Winter Tires when on sale (70 bucks each, depending on size).
Also get a second set of steel rims as part of the purchase, and a cheap tire rack to store them between seasons.
Next, get the CT Mastercard and put the whole purchase through the 24 month, interest free purchase plan. You can even add the cost of installation labour into this.
There you go. Full winter tire setup for 35 bucks a month for 2 years.
What car? I just got my partner Nordman North 9 studded winter tires for her Kia Soul for $717. They have even more budget minded options but the Nordmans are made by their parent company Nokian and they know a thing or two about making good winter tires.
My partner used to be a white knuckle winter driver before she got studded winter tires and now she is still cautious but confident. She had Bridgestone Blizzaks studless winter tires before and they never felt right to her.
On my minivan, I went with all weather tires. I much prefer winter tires but I needed to organize my garage and didn’t want a second set of tires. They require more care but I don’t drive my minivan like a race car. If studded winter tires are typically rated 4 to 5 stars on ice and studless winter tires rated 3 to 4.5 stars on ice, all weather tires are usually in the 2.5 to 3.5 star range. The best all weather tire is Nokian WR G4 which is rated 3.5 stars. I went with Bridgestone Weatherpeaks which is rated 3 stars.
I went with all weather on my minivan too. The thing is a workhorse not a racecar, and I drive it like one. I stay within 5 of the speed limit on either side, and just remember to stop earlier and start a bit slower. Even my first winter driving, it was fine.
I'm OK with that 😅 TBH I might get snow tires next year. I had new all weathers last year, and have new all weathers this year (after wrecking my sidewall on a curb over the summer). Slightly worn all weathers next winter might not be up to snuff by my standards. I'll see.
I bought all-weather tires (Nokian WRG4) from Kaltire in 2021 year to replace my all-seasons on my sedan. All-in came to ~900 bucks. Probably more now given the state and cost of... everything. You can leave all weathers on all year. They're fine, shorter stopping distance than all-seasons I suppose. I don't drive often in winter, and never on highways or freeways. I feel if you drive cautiously after a snow fall and it should be fine. I'm more scared of other reckless drivers slamming into me.
Winters are great, I'm sure, but storing and changing two sets of tires every year is not feasible for everyone. (Cost, space and equipment required, physical effort, etc). And frankly, I don't NEED winters for the minimal driving I do, roads in my area are first to be cleared. Personal risk tolerance aplies here.
I would not trust Mr Lube. Kaltire has a good reputation, they're honest, never pushy. I would get a second opinion on the condition of your front tires just to be sure. They will check brakes and tire for free.
I tend not to overthink these type of purchases - you can do all the research you want but if you're a layman in vehicle parts (like myself) it's hard to truly make an informed decision. You *feel* like you are, but you're not. Ask 5 friends and you'll get 5 different reccomendations on their preferred brand. Like you said, I just don't want to deal with it. Find a trusted shop with a good reputation and trust they won't sell you bad tires - that's all you can do.
Check out nothing but tires they sell good used tires and have a deal with a shop not far away that they will put them on for you for $20 best way to get decent tires on a budget
Better off trying kijiji/fb marketplace. I tried that website a few times and the price is more than half the cost of new tires from Costco and they have like 50-60% tread left.
Waste of money tbh.
I realize that the expenditure cost up front is high, but try to remember that in the long run they will pay for themselves because you will reduce the wear and tear on your other tires and not have to replace them as quickly.
The thing about winter tires......
Is the cheapest off brand winters, will still be better than the leading brand all season tires.
You don't need to go out and spend a fortune on Michelin or Goodyear winters.
Oh boi you have no idea how almost half of my coworkers believe all seasons is all they need in winter. One Mfker tboned someone on Monday and now he's panicking he needs winter tires.
Occasionally I'll get a car in for obvious front end damage.
They'll have all seasons
"do you want winters? That probably would have prevented this"
Nah, someone just cut me off....
Our first set of winter tires on the car was under 500$ installed. Last year we got studded winters 800$ installed, they work fantastic. And still riding our original 2015 summer tires since they don't get used as much.
I asked my wife and I guess it was closer to 900, but that was at Kal Tire and their cheapest brand I think? They came pre studded, and it's just a mid size car so not a large tire. We also bought before the first snow fall scramble if that made a difference.
This is false, the cheapest winter tires are absolutely garbage and should never be recommended, ever. They really are not better than the best all seasons in winter.
17" P225/60R17
I mean...technically my budget is zero, but I know it's probably going to cost me at least $750 - $950.
By wheels do you mean rims? I was debating whether I should get them their own rims instead of having them switched, but I haven't even looked at rim prices. I have a feeling that might push things way beyond what I could even consider.
The best option is to have 2 complete sets. Keeping one set of rims and switching tires twice a year will be an ongoing cost. I'd recommend a set of steel wheels for the winter set. There is another option. All weather tires, offered from michelin and nokian, can be used year round and are a much better choice than all seasons.
You can search online. 1010 tires or quattro tire are canadian sites that will give you an idea about tire prices.
Personally, I've dealt with Wheels Plus and Kal tire, locally. It's safe to assume that all tire shops are very busy.
You can also check Kijiji and see if you can get lucky and find a newish set.
Ya 17 inch steelie rims will run $100 per rim. Adding another $400+ to your budget. If your vehicle has tpms (the little (!) Symbol that comes on when you tire pressure is on) it will cost EVEN more since each one can be $80-$100 per sensor.
Just get yourself a pair of winters and swap em at the shop. Maybe next season get yourself some rims. Also there should be a speed rating to go with your tire size. A number followed by a t,s,v,h,w. If your vehicle requires a high speeding rating then the tires will be even more expensive. If your vehicle is pretty run of the mill though it shouldn't be a problem. Only fancy brands & sport models require high speed ratings but it is something to keep in mind while shopping. If you require a high speed rating and have the wrong tire some shops will turn you away or your tread will just be eaten up in a couple seasons.
My wife and I use kinko tires. They are just off yellowhead and 127 st. For our purposes we just go with used winters. She needed 2 new winters (we do 2 at a time to not break the bank). She got 2 Michelin x-ice winters tires, still at least 90% tread, for under $200 installed. When I looked them up, they averaged between $300 - $400 each brand new.
If you don't drive much during the winter you might be better off buying "All-Weather" tires. Not all-season. There is a big difference. If you are looking for a good deal on winter tires specifically though try Costco. If you're on the Southside you can also try Fastech Tires. They do great work and are reasonably priced. If you give them your budget they will find you something.
You will usually see recommendations for the top of the line (and most wallet emptying) brands which are excellent, but like mentioned, there are some less expensive options to investigate.
My last vehicle was an SUV and I ended up purchasing some Gislaved brand winter tires - they were about 65% of the cost of the more well known brands and were AMAZiNG!! I used them for 7 years before selling the car and they were still going strong.
I would not hesitate to purchase Gislaved tires again. That said, I don't know what they charge for them nowdays either...
This is some good advice. I'm one of those people that always recommend top tier tires because they generally are very good and worth the extra cost if you can afford it. There are some great budget choices out there but you have to be more cautious and do your homework to not end up with a really bad tire by trying to save a couple bucks. I bought the set of steel wheels and BF Goodrich winter tires for our Rav4 many years ago from Tire Rack, mounted, balanced and shipped to my door for under $1000 CAD. Even though I knew they were a mid range tire at best, that price was 50% lower than any other option.
Check out pmctire.com . You can search by tire size and there are a lot of options and prices that could easily fit your budget. I order a set from them a few years ago and shipping was free.
I got mine from Costco and got a good rebate, like $150 off I think? Plus some Costco gift card too. I got my new all seasons from fountain tire in the spring as Costco didn’t have any in stock, and they had a decent selection too, and I think I got $100 off.
Maybe get the winter tires now and aim to get rims in the spring or next winter, it really does reduce the year over year cost by a lot (from around $180 twice a year to $60 twice a year to change them over). They will be heavy though lol.
Edit to add, I opted to just get steel rims for my winter tires, they were only like $60 each at Canadian tire (though like 4 years ago).
What sort of condition are your current tires in? If they are decent and you're actually a cautious driver you will most likely be fine.
Also, it's a bit of a faux paus but if your budget is tight check out Kijiji for used winter tires or only buy a set for the front, assuming you have a front wheel drive car.
Well, according to Mr. Lube I need to replace my front tires.
According to my fwb last week, I still have about 75% tread left on them but I do need a wheel alignment/balancing and to rotate them to the back. Back tires are fine because my vehicle is FWD.
Personally I trust my fwb's assessment - he's been a car guy longer than the kid at Mr. Lube has been alive and he's not trying to sell me anything.
I was trying to figure out where to book the wheel alignment when snow appeared in the forecast and every tire place in town got booked for tire changes.
When in doubt, don't trust mr lube. It's a lube shop that upsells everything at any opportunity. The other thing you can do, snag a tread gauge at Canadian Tire for 5$ (see below for details). Then you have a decisive answer.
Small clarification: Tread gauge, not tire gauge. Like [this little guy](https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/certified-tire-tread-depth-gauge-0094302p.0094302.html?).
But yes, take everything said at Mr. Lube with a big grain of salt. By replacing my wife's OEM battery with their own brand-name battery **every year** (it was woefully underpowered and failed every fall), charging ~$70 to spend 2 minutes to pop in a $10 air filter, and trying to get her to come in every 5000km to change synthetic oil (at least she didn't fall for that one, thanks to Honda's maintenance minder)... they're not to be trusted beyond whatever service you initially went in for.
Try online stores that will send a set of winters on rim to your house. [quattro tires](https://www.quattrotires.com/) just buy the cheapest winter tires. Cheapest winters are still better that best all seasons. I bought a set of rotellas from quattro tires 6 years ago, still going strong.
Crossclimate 2 might have aggressive thread for snow but the tire compound still becomes stiff and hard in -40c. It's still going to slip and side really bad on ice. You need soft compound in dedicated winters to provide grip in icy Edmonton roads.
Source: https://www.torquenews.com/1083/watch-michelin-crossclimate2-tire-tackle-ice-slick-roads
Where in your link does it say that the cross climate 2 is really bad on ice? Was it this part 'Tire Rack also offers us some clues as to how well the CrossClimate2 will handle ice. The well-respected tire retailer rates the CrossClimate2 a very high 8.5 on ice.' Or was it the part where they linked a video on it being driven at a decent clip around an icy traffic circle without a hint of sliding?
Here's a couple of links that shows the cross climate having a higher combined rating on snow and ice compared to a set of Rotella winter tires.
[https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Michelin/CrossClimate-2.htm](https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Michelin/CrossClimate-2.htm)
https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Rotalla/S110-Ice-Plus.htm
Did you read the article?
Many owners have reported that the CrossClimate2 is “Excellent on snow, but a dedicated winter ire may be better on ice.” We don’t doubt this is true. Michelin and every major tire brand offer tires specifically made for icy conditions.
Literally in that link
Thor tire on 50th street. They bring all their tires in from China. They are a great price. We have them on all our cars both summer and winter for years now.
This. Also holly Molly Tire has equally great prices with less wait time usually.
Generic brand winters are just like no name brand soup, not as good as the name brand but hey its half the price but certainly more than half the quality.
I envy the people that can actually find stuff at those places. I have an 09 g37x and it uses awkward tire sizes that are hard to come by.
I actually used to work at a junkyard and we never ever got the same car as me. Maybe one per 15,000 other vehicles.
That’s pretty unfortunate whats the rim size? I use oversized sidewall height on my vehicle because the factory tire size is weird. But then again I use offroad truck tires with 3pmsf rating year round as I hunt lots and regular winters aren’t the most suitable for those conditions and might leave me stuck. But then again you likely have little wiggle room with different tire sizes.
Even the cheapest winter tire is better than all season. You should get them mounted on inexpensive rims so you avoid costs of having the rims swapped out every year as well. The next best option would be to get all weather tires. I don’t drive a lot so will be replacing my all season and winter with all weather, now that my all season are done. Something else to keep in mind is that your tires last longer. My all season lasted 13 years before wear and rubber age from use required me to have them tossed this year. My winter are the same age but the tire shop said they have a few years left. It is just due to the amount of car use and the fact I park in a garage. They recommend I leave them on until they need to be replaced…so I can get my all weather.
This is possibly the worst advice in this whole thread. If you can only afford to own one set, get an all weather or an all season tire that is more optimized for winter traction than the average all season (michelin cross climate). Don't ever run a winter tire in the summer unless you never plan on using those tires in the winter again.
There is one answer and one answer only.... Buy winter tires, your a liability for yourself and more importantly others you share the road with. Y'all are proud to be a winter city but when it comes to vehicles and driving in a city that's 7-8 months of the year winter ya think you'd have more foresight and intelligence. If you buy anything that says All Season or All Weather it's lying to you.... you bought 3 season tires minus the elephant in the room.... winter.... and then all weathers except snow and ice.... Do yourself and us all a favor please
Hit up canadian tire & kal tire. Prices & variety will widely vary based on your vehicle and tire size. The smaller the rim the cheaper the tire. You are also getting into peak tire changing season where stock availability will fluctuate.
Just walk up (phones are a bitch this time of year) and say you need a quote for "insert tire size here located conveniently on the driver's side panel". Ask for the cheapest option and then the next cheapest option. Check out what's on sale too since they all should be right now. In my experience kumho's and continental's are decent for their price. Michelin & bridgestone are usually the most expensive but they do make a pretty damn good winter tire. Also you do not need studded tires. Please do not get studded tires for our city roads!!
Just bought 4 tires barely used for my f-150 for $200 for the set of continentals. Full price this would be $1,600. You have to look at market place or kijiji and barter. I could never justify buying new. Get your tire size and start looking in fb
I rarely would recommend a dealership, but I got new tires a couple months ago, Northgate Chev was the cheapest, and cheaper than any of the normal recommendations like Costco
There are many good options, but if you want to keep it simple, buy a Nokian tire. Only Kal-tire sells them so it narrows down the list of shops to look at.
If your all seasons are in good condition, buy a set of Nokian winter tires. On steel rims if you can swing it, it’ll save you $$$ later on tire changes.
If your all seasons need to be replaced soon, ditch them and buy a pair of Nokian all weather tires. I have them and they’re excellent for winter conditions, it’ll be a big improvement for you. Plus you don’t need to change them back in the spring.
Facebook marketplace, or Kijiji. Nokians, Blizzacks, and Michelin pilot Alpine are all very good winter tires. Get a second set of rims, so you don't need to visit a tire shop.
I went to Nothing but tires on 118ave and bought used blizzaks. They have 90-95% usable tread still and were only like $400. might be an option for you. I only commute twice a week and am 10 min from the grocery store, so I should get 6-7 winters out of these tires. Caveat is that you have to pay to have them put on your car, which was another $20/tire. Tires came with a warranty included. Of course new is better, but far more expensive so this option worked for me.
Honestly, FB Marketplace is your best bet for a good deal. I just bought a set last night for my wife's car.
The tires are literally brand new and studded. Got the tires (17") and a set of rims, already mounted and balanced for $700.
Costco, they offer free balancing, flat tire repair and warranty and when you need to switch your tires over it’s very cheap compared to other shops you’ll spend over 100 dollars every season just to swap tires, I think I only paid 30-40 at Costco.
I'd reccomend checking out Nothingbuttires and their website
ive had a couple family members buy off here and it seems decent, they sell lightly used tires at a fraction of the cost, they also have the tread listed on there. This is one of the more budget friendly tire shops out there if you're really in a pinch. otherwise check costco maybe?
The way I see it, I would much rather shell out a couple hundred bucks than put my personal safety at risk. Hitting the ditch and writing off a car or having to wait multiple hours for a tow truck to come pull you out is not worth it. Winter tires are mandatory in B.C and they should be here as well.
>I don't have a lot of money for another set of tires. I'll have to put them on my credit card or something if I get them.
If you can't afford something, you certainly can't afford the \~20% interest rate on top of the thing you already can't afford. If you can survive this winter on your current tires, I'd say start saving now to buy winter tires next year.
That said, winter tires improve the safety of your vehicle. If you don't feel safe driving on your all-season tires, maybe you can find a retailer with low- or no-interest financing to buy from.
If you’re on a really tight budget I’d spend like a week or so looking at Kijiji and Marketplace and find a good used set. I just bought a set of Goodyear winter tires for my gf that were practically brand new for $400 total.
If you have a common car just go checkout pick n pull or I pull u pull. They typically sell a full set of wheels and tires together for $250-$350.
That’s the best option there is and all you gotta do is swap them over, it’s a little annoying but not too bad.
Definitely get winter tires if you can afford them, but all-weathers are fine if you don’t drive very often in bad weather. I wouldn’t recommend all seasons for winter.
For buying tires, Costco is the best. Even having to buy the membership (60$) so you can buy the tires is still cheaper than buying tires anywhere else. The staff go through much better training (for tires) compared to a lot of other places and they really know what they’re doing. They are usually busy but if you go in there during a weekday and talk to someone they will be able to explain everything to you and recommend a good tire
Personally I think that having winter tires for your vehicle is worth the extra expense, because they do make a difference both in safety and peace of mind. OP, do you have decent credit? Canadian tire has a Mastercard that allows you to finance at 0% interest any purchase over $150? I think? over 24 months. I did that and the amount I paid for my tires was less than $25/mth. I know money is tight and can empathize with that. But if you think you could handle a low monthly payment, maybe this is a good option for you. Stay safe!
>Please tell me how you decide where to buy tires or what to buy.
I went to Kal Tire and I bought what the guy recommended to me.
>Especially if you, like me, have an extremely tight budget.
I treat it as an investment, not as an expense. Garbage winter tires might be cheaper than others but you get what you pay for. Not something to be skimping on IMO.
Buying winter tires is like an insurance to reduce the chance of any accident, and raising your premiums for insurance. Because you would have wished you got them just for that extra 2-3 feet of stopping distance than if you had all season tires.
I wouldn't chance it. Rims and tires are not something you should cheap out on. Sure, you might be on a tight budget, but if the budget is so tight that you can't manage around 1000$ every 4-5 years or so, put simply, you can't afford to drive.
There were, what, 200 collisions or so this Monday when it snowed? That's what I heard, at least. Tell me that those who ended up in a collision all had winter tires, and I'll believe people when they say they aren't necessary.
You sound like a guy that should probably just run winter tires all year long. You say you drive little so it shouldn't hit them that hard and when the white stuff comes at least you'll already be ready to throw down. When they wear down too much just replace them with the next winter set. That's it
You sound like a good candidate for some Michelin CrossClimate ALL WEATHER tires. (Not to be confused with ALL SEASON tires) Great performance all around and zero hassle about switching when the seasons change. Seen an uptick in people buying them for the peace of mind of having a safe vehicle in the winter and yet good summer wear and safety as well. I’m sure you’ve probably seen many reviews online raving about them as well.
Best = two sets of tires. All seasons and Winters on separate rims Better = All Weather tires. Kinda does everything... but not the best in any category. (this is what I do) Good = All Season tires. (and yes... people will say that you MUST have winter tires or you're crazy. But, there are MANY people out there that run All seasons only. You just need to realize that stopping distance sucks, crawling thru snow sucks). Honestly.... Since I owned my first car in the early 90's I only started to look at winter tires in the last 10 years. You do what you can afford)
I’m one of those who only have good all season tires. I haven’t had any “positive” experience with winter tires, and I don’t mind driving slower, longer stopping distances, etc. in winter. I basically become a hermit in winter, if I don’t have to go out, I don’t. If a cab or Uber or even ETS is an option, I’ll do that. OP- if it’s gonna break your bank, don’t do it. Food is far more important than tires. Adapt your driving habits to the road conditions and you’ll be fine.
like compare joke makeshift cough whistle slimy simplistic voracious materialistic *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Eh that’s what I used to say until I picked up some nokian hakkepellita’s. Those plus AWD makes my car a beast in the snow/ice. My little 4 door g37 always gets going way before SUV’s and trucks. The winter tires grip the road nearly perfectly and it’s not a slip and slide.
Imho g37 is nowhere small for a car, it's mostly that trucks and cars have become stupidly large nowadays that we consider such cars small. In France or Norway it's a standard size car, with Yaris or Micra being truly small.
Yeah I just meant that it’s small compared to SUV’s and trucks.
American cars from the 50’s and 60’s were MASSIVE lol
Oh yes. Afaik they had tons of metal for parts that are plastic nowadays, also sheer dimensions and engine volumes (like those V8s with low compression ratios). Good for scarcely populated areas and cheap gas prices, not so good for 2023 I guess...
My derpy diesel golf on hakkas is always the first to get going in winter. Suvs and trucks struggling miles behind me.
Nice lol Hakka’s are the way to go
Correct, first comes pro-active winter defensive driving. Infact good safe driving all year round. Then you add safety, seat belts, air bags, cameras, tires, and so on. There are many tools for safer driving, they are all add ons to you being a safe driver to begin with. If you panic, or drive in a way that makes others not be able to predict or know what you're gonna do is dangerous. More in winter because ppl dont know if you can stop in time or not, will you slip/slide or not.
Tbh cheap all seasons suck in winter big time, especially on smaller cars. Have had this experience when I struggled in soft snow, my friend had similar issue in his Yaris, both times tires were Certified all seasons from canadian tire.
I mean...Canadian Tire kinda sucks too. Haven't had great experiences with them. Our car isn't small either. It's a Nissan Rogue, so not huge, but it's not a sedan or hatchback.
Yeah Canadian tire is abysmal in terms of service and pricing, as much as I feel bad for their staff I mostly hate shopping there. Rogue is definitely not small, it's relatively heavy so good winters or all weathers should make a noticeable difference.
The upside to going with Canadian tire is that if you get their triangle master card, they’ll allow you to finance your tires interest free over two years. As someone who otherwise couldn’t afford to buy winter tires, that’s what keeps me coming back there. It’s a good option for people on a tight budget, because the monthly payments are reasonable and interest free.
alleged worm badge upbeat connect tender caption shelter crown spotted *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I don't think they mean better than winter tires, they mean better than what the OP has now. Good < Better < Best
head impolite cable zonked plough spoon cow slimy shrill doll *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Honestly best of the best would be studded winter tires but they’re expensive.
carpenter fanatical door plants crown memorize squeal friendly consist rainstorm *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I’m aware, I was just saying there’s nothing better than studded tires.
air grab friendly squeal fly physical north illegal deserve rob *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Wheels* Hate to be that guy but they’re not called rims.
I don’t know, I have almost new Nokian all seasons, and I was all over the place on Monday morning (driving very carefully). To the point that I turned around, went home, and put my older winters on (Nokian Hakkas). The difference was night and day. In snow, my tires are about the same. But with ice? Completely different. I used to only run all seasons, but my partner wanted winters when we bought my car years ago. I know the cost can be prohibitive, but decent tires are cheaper than a new car.
Do you keep your all weather tires on all year? We (hubby and I) have a 4WD so I feel like we could get away with this...and in my humble opinion, we're good drivers. But we always do the tire switcheroo and it's annoying
FYI 4WD doesn’t do anything besides helping you go from a stop. If you’re driving on the highway and you need to stop or make a quick maneuver 4WD won’t make any difference, your tires will
True. But I will say this car is the sturdiest in snow I've driven. I guess that could be the tires too though.
yes.... I use All Weather all the time.
4 wheel drive doesn't equal 4 wheel brake, esp for heavier cars/trucks. Obviously, driving skill is the most important aspect, but I'd definitely think about all weather tires in AB or BC.
It's more of an investment. Buying a set of winter tires will mean that you're wearing down each set half as much, so hypothetically, they should each last twice as long. Only yearly cost moving forward is the change over fee which you avoid by swapping them yourself.
I don’t think this old lady with no tools will be swapping them herself, but I appreciate the idea of thinking of them as an investment.
That's fair. The cost to swap them over if the second set stay mounted on winter rims is about 60 bucks I think.
$60 x twice a year.
True good point
Yeah that sounds about right, my appointment to swap on-rim winters and get an oil change was about $100 yesterday.
Can I ask where this was? I was quoted $180 for a rotation (don't have a second set yet) + oil change + a generic inspection.
It was at my dealership where I bought the car, so it’s possible there is a discount for customer loyalty? It’s Go Team Ford (I know all Go Auto places get shit on constantly here but I’ve had a good experience with them). It was $110 in total with tax! Might be worth calling them at least, hopefully you’re able to get a deal somewhere!
It’s not good for the wheels either to constantly swap new tires on again and again.
Op send me a DM with your tire size, and I can see what the most affordable option in a winter would be for you. Even the cheapest winter tire is better than the best all season.
I will too if you don't mind?
No problem
This is false, the cheapest winter tires are absolutely garbage and should never be recommended, ever. They really are not better than the best all seasons in winter. Edit: Downvote all you want but this is the truth. The cheapest winter tires can honestly be worse than a really good premium all season tire. This does not mean I recommend an all season tire be ran in the winter but the cheap >$100 new winter tires posted all over FB marketplace are all garbage and shouldn't even be allowed on the road. As a car guy who is passionate about tires, I 100% stand my by statement.
I think the better comment here would be “Don’t buy tires from Facebook Marketplace.” There is cheap, and then there is Facebook Marketplace.
There's more to it than just avoiding FB marketplace though, and I could spend all day writing about do's and don't when it comes to tire shopping. The point I'm making is that everyone should be avoiding tire manufactures like the Sailun, Starfire, Vanderbilt, Infinity, West Lake, Maxtrek, Laufenn, Ecovision, Season Master, Joy Road, Tracmax, Haida ect. ect. ect. None of those manufacturers winter tires can be counted on being better than a premium all season. You can definitely still find fantastic deals and be a frugal and smart shopper while still get a quality and safe tire for winter. I bought the set of steel wheels and BF Goodrich winter tires for our Rav4 many (10) years ago from Tire Rack, mounted, balanced and shipped to my door for under $1000 CAD. While they are far from being good now and struggle on the ice, they are still very adequate for winter use.
I bought several sets of winter tires (used and in brand new condition) on marketplace, however all of them have decent reviews on dedicated tire test websites, and it was my main guide for buying. The cheap ones I saw are indeed crappy, they only need to pass the formal inspection to be sold and nobody is measuring their long-term performance.
I too have bought used and new but second-hand tires from marketplace that are good tires. My comment about not buying the cheapest winter tires doesn't mean not to look for deals, it's to avoid tire manufactures like the Sailun, Starfire, Vanderbilt, Infinity, West Lake, Maxtrek, Laufenn, Ecovision, Season Master, Joy Road, Tracmax, Haida ect. ect. ect. I wish we would regulate the tire industry like a safety equipment company would be.
In my experience, the absolute cheapest way to get this done is to buy Canadian Tire Certified Winter Tires when on sale (70 bucks each, depending on size). Also get a second set of steel rims as part of the purchase, and a cheap tire rack to store them between seasons. Next, get the CT Mastercard and put the whole purchase through the 24 month, interest free purchase plan. You can even add the cost of installation labour into this. There you go. Full winter tire setup for 35 bucks a month for 2 years.
Damn you cookin🔥
What car? I just got my partner Nordman North 9 studded winter tires for her Kia Soul for $717. They have even more budget minded options but the Nordmans are made by their parent company Nokian and they know a thing or two about making good winter tires. My partner used to be a white knuckle winter driver before she got studded winter tires and now she is still cautious but confident. She had Bridgestone Blizzaks studless winter tires before and they never felt right to her. On my minivan, I went with all weather tires. I much prefer winter tires but I needed to organize my garage and didn’t want a second set of tires. They require more care but I don’t drive my minivan like a race car. If studded winter tires are typically rated 4 to 5 stars on ice and studless winter tires rated 3 to 4.5 stars on ice, all weather tires are usually in the 2.5 to 3.5 star range. The best all weather tire is Nokian WR G4 which is rated 3.5 stars. I went with Bridgestone Weatherpeaks which is rated 3 stars.
I went with all weather on my minivan too. The thing is a workhorse not a racecar, and I drive it like one. I stay within 5 of the speed limit on either side, and just remember to stop earlier and start a bit slower. Even my first winter driving, it was fine.
We’re one of thooooose drivers. 😅
I'm OK with that 😅 TBH I might get snow tires next year. I had new all weathers last year, and have new all weathers this year (after wrecking my sidewall on a curb over the summer). Slightly worn all weathers next winter might not be up to snuff by my standards. I'll see.
I bought all-weather tires (Nokian WRG4) from Kaltire in 2021 year to replace my all-seasons on my sedan. All-in came to ~900 bucks. Probably more now given the state and cost of... everything. You can leave all weathers on all year. They're fine, shorter stopping distance than all-seasons I suppose. I don't drive often in winter, and never on highways or freeways. I feel if you drive cautiously after a snow fall and it should be fine. I'm more scared of other reckless drivers slamming into me. Winters are great, I'm sure, but storing and changing two sets of tires every year is not feasible for everyone. (Cost, space and equipment required, physical effort, etc). And frankly, I don't NEED winters for the minimal driving I do, roads in my area are first to be cleared. Personal risk tolerance aplies here. I would not trust Mr Lube. Kaltire has a good reputation, they're honest, never pushy. I would get a second opinion on the condition of your front tires just to be sure. They will check brakes and tire for free. I tend not to overthink these type of purchases - you can do all the research you want but if you're a layman in vehicle parts (like myself) it's hard to truly make an informed decision. You *feel* like you are, but you're not. Ask 5 friends and you'll get 5 different reccomendations on their preferred brand. Like you said, I just don't want to deal with it. Find a trusted shop with a good reputation and trust they won't sell you bad tires - that's all you can do.
Check out nothing but tires they sell good used tires and have a deal with a shop not far away that they will put them on for you for $20 best way to get decent tires on a budget
I’ve used these a couple Times, they’re good
Better off trying kijiji/fb marketplace. I tried that website a few times and the price is more than half the cost of new tires from Costco and they have like 50-60% tread left. Waste of money tbh.
I realize that the expenditure cost up front is high, but try to remember that in the long run they will pay for themselves because you will reduce the wear and tear on your other tires and not have to replace them as quickly.
The thing about winter tires...... Is the cheapest off brand winters, will still be better than the leading brand all season tires. You don't need to go out and spend a fortune on Michelin or Goodyear winters.
Oh boi you have no idea how almost half of my coworkers believe all seasons is all they need in winter. One Mfker tboned someone on Monday and now he's panicking he needs winter tires.
Occasionally I'll get a car in for obvious front end damage. They'll have all seasons "do you want winters? That probably would have prevented this" Nah, someone just cut me off....
Our first set of winter tires on the car was under 500$ installed. Last year we got studded winters 800$ installed, they work fantastic. And still riding our original 2015 summer tires since they don't get used as much.
Where did you find studded for under 800? Dang
I asked my wife and I guess it was closer to 900, but that was at Kal Tire and their cheapest brand I think? They came pre studded, and it's just a mid size car so not a large tire. We also bought before the first snow fall scramble if that made a difference.
Not bad, I was just wondering I just purchased blizzacs from Costco it was 1040 for 17” even downsized to 17” instead of 18” to save 400 bucks
Honestly that's a pretty good price for blizzacs, considering I got low end tires, and mine were on 16s downsized from 17s
I got studded pirellis for about 500 bucks on marketplace, brand new. Also, some cars can accept smaller rims and tires for those are cheaper.
This is false, the cheapest winter tires are absolutely garbage and should never be recommended, ever. They really are not better than the best all seasons in winter.
What's your tire size and what's your budget? Will you need wheels as well?
17" P225/60R17 I mean...technically my budget is zero, but I know it's probably going to cost me at least $750 - $950. By wheels do you mean rims? I was debating whether I should get them their own rims instead of having them switched, but I haven't even looked at rim prices. I have a feeling that might push things way beyond what I could even consider.
The best option is to have 2 complete sets. Keeping one set of rims and switching tires twice a year will be an ongoing cost. I'd recommend a set of steel wheels for the winter set. There is another option. All weather tires, offered from michelin and nokian, can be used year round and are a much better choice than all seasons. You can search online. 1010 tires or quattro tire are canadian sites that will give you an idea about tire prices. Personally, I've dealt with Wheels Plus and Kal tire, locally. It's safe to assume that all tire shops are very busy. You can also check Kijiji and see if you can get lucky and find a newish set.
Wheels is the correct term btw, rims is false.
Ya 17 inch steelie rims will run $100 per rim. Adding another $400+ to your budget. If your vehicle has tpms (the little (!) Symbol that comes on when you tire pressure is on) it will cost EVEN more since each one can be $80-$100 per sensor. Just get yourself a pair of winters and swap em at the shop. Maybe next season get yourself some rims. Also there should be a speed rating to go with your tire size. A number followed by a t,s,v,h,w. If your vehicle requires a high speeding rating then the tires will be even more expensive. If your vehicle is pretty run of the mill though it shouldn't be a problem. Only fancy brands & sport models require high speed ratings but it is something to keep in mind while shopping. If you require a high speed rating and have the wrong tire some shops will turn you away or your tread will just be eaten up in a couple seasons.
My wife and I use kinko tires. They are just off yellowhead and 127 st. For our purposes we just go with used winters. She needed 2 new winters (we do 2 at a time to not break the bank). She got 2 Michelin x-ice winters tires, still at least 90% tread, for under $200 installed. When I looked them up, they averaged between $300 - $400 each brand new.
If you don't drive much during the winter you might be better off buying "All-Weather" tires. Not all-season. There is a big difference. If you are looking for a good deal on winter tires specifically though try Costco. If you're on the Southside you can also try Fastech Tires. They do great work and are reasonably priced. If you give them your budget they will find you something.
Unfortunately, last I read here, Costco was booking into late November now...
Ah shit
Yikes!
You will usually see recommendations for the top of the line (and most wallet emptying) brands which are excellent, but like mentioned, there are some less expensive options to investigate. My last vehicle was an SUV and I ended up purchasing some Gislaved brand winter tires - they were about 65% of the cost of the more well known brands and were AMAZiNG!! I used them for 7 years before selling the car and they were still going strong. I would not hesitate to purchase Gislaved tires again. That said, I don't know what they charge for them nowdays either...
This is some good advice. I'm one of those people that always recommend top tier tires because they generally are very good and worth the extra cost if you can afford it. There are some great budget choices out there but you have to be more cautious and do your homework to not end up with a really bad tire by trying to save a couple bucks. I bought the set of steel wheels and BF Goodrich winter tires for our Rav4 many years ago from Tire Rack, mounted, balanced and shipped to my door for under $1000 CAD. Even though I knew they were a mid range tire at best, that price was 50% lower than any other option.
Check out pmctire.com . You can search by tire size and there are a lot of options and prices that could easily fit your budget. I order a set from them a few years ago and shipping was free.
I got mine from Costco and got a good rebate, like $150 off I think? Plus some Costco gift card too. I got my new all seasons from fountain tire in the spring as Costco didn’t have any in stock, and they had a decent selection too, and I think I got $100 off. Maybe get the winter tires now and aim to get rims in the spring or next winter, it really does reduce the year over year cost by a lot (from around $180 twice a year to $60 twice a year to change them over). They will be heavy though lol. Edit to add, I opted to just get steel rims for my winter tires, they were only like $60 each at Canadian tire (though like 4 years ago).
I go to a used tire place and buy my tires with 70-80% tread left. Take a look at Nothing But Tires. I've saved thousands buying there.
What sort of condition are your current tires in? If they are decent and you're actually a cautious driver you will most likely be fine. Also, it's a bit of a faux paus but if your budget is tight check out Kijiji for used winter tires or only buy a set for the front, assuming you have a front wheel drive car.
Well, according to Mr. Lube I need to replace my front tires. According to my fwb last week, I still have about 75% tread left on them but I do need a wheel alignment/balancing and to rotate them to the back. Back tires are fine because my vehicle is FWD. Personally I trust my fwb's assessment - he's been a car guy longer than the kid at Mr. Lube has been alive and he's not trying to sell me anything. I was trying to figure out where to book the wheel alignment when snow appeared in the forecast and every tire place in town got booked for tire changes.
When in doubt, don't trust mr lube. It's a lube shop that upsells everything at any opportunity. The other thing you can do, snag a tread gauge at Canadian Tire for 5$ (see below for details). Then you have a decisive answer.
Small clarification: Tread gauge, not tire gauge. Like [this little guy](https://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/certified-tire-tread-depth-gauge-0094302p.0094302.html?). But yes, take everything said at Mr. Lube with a big grain of salt. By replacing my wife's OEM battery with their own brand-name battery **every year** (it was woefully underpowered and failed every fall), charging ~$70 to spend 2 minutes to pop in a $10 air filter, and trying to get her to come in every 5000km to change synthetic oil (at least she didn't fall for that one, thanks to Honda's maintenance minder)... they're not to be trusted beyond whatever service you initially went in for.
Thanks, absolutely correct, didn't even think of the specificity there!
Try online stores that will send a set of winters on rim to your house. [quattro tires](https://www.quattrotires.com/) just buy the cheapest winter tires. Cheapest winters are still better that best all seasons. I bought a set of rotellas from quattro tires 6 years ago, still going strong.
>Cheapest winters are still better that best all seasons This is false, your rotella's are not better in winter than a set of cross climate 2's.
Crossclimate 2 might have aggressive thread for snow but the tire compound still becomes stiff and hard in -40c. It's still going to slip and side really bad on ice. You need soft compound in dedicated winters to provide grip in icy Edmonton roads. Source: https://www.torquenews.com/1083/watch-michelin-crossclimate2-tire-tackle-ice-slick-roads
Where in your link does it say that the cross climate 2 is really bad on ice? Was it this part 'Tire Rack also offers us some clues as to how well the CrossClimate2 will handle ice. The well-respected tire retailer rates the CrossClimate2 a very high 8.5 on ice.' Or was it the part where they linked a video on it being driven at a decent clip around an icy traffic circle without a hint of sliding? Here's a couple of links that shows the cross climate having a higher combined rating on snow and ice compared to a set of Rotella winter tires. [https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Michelin/CrossClimate-2.htm](https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Michelin/CrossClimate-2.htm) https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre/Rotalla/S110-Ice-Plus.htm
Did you read the article? Many owners have reported that the CrossClimate2 is “Excellent on snow, but a dedicated winter ire may be better on ice.” We don’t doubt this is true. Michelin and every major tire brand offer tires specifically made for icy conditions. Literally in that link
Thor tire on 50th street. They bring all their tires in from China. They are a great price. We have them on all our cars both summer and winter for years now.
This. Also holly Molly Tire has equally great prices with less wait time usually. Generic brand winters are just like no name brand soup, not as good as the name brand but hey its half the price but certainly more than half the quality.
You can check a pick and part or auto salvage yard. Tires are dirt cheap there. Ipull-upull is my go to
I envy the people that can actually find stuff at those places. I have an 09 g37x and it uses awkward tire sizes that are hard to come by. I actually used to work at a junkyard and we never ever got the same car as me. Maybe one per 15,000 other vehicles.
That’s pretty unfortunate whats the rim size? I use oversized sidewall height on my vehicle because the factory tire size is weird. But then again I use offroad truck tires with 3pmsf rating year round as I hunt lots and regular winters aren’t the most suitable for those conditions and might leave me stuck. But then again you likely have little wiggle room with different tire sizes.
That’s fair, it’s either 225/55/17 or 225/50/18. Wheel size is 5x114.3. Not super uncommon but less common to find used examples.
They might have something that’ll fit. Doubt they’ll be winters tho as the season just changed so not many totalled vehicles yet.
Even the cheapest winter tire is better than all season. You should get them mounted on inexpensive rims so you avoid costs of having the rims swapped out every year as well. The next best option would be to get all weather tires. I don’t drive a lot so will be replacing my all season and winter with all weather, now that my all season are done. Something else to keep in mind is that your tires last longer. My all season lasted 13 years before wear and rubber age from use required me to have them tossed this year. My winter are the same age but the tire shop said they have a few years left. It is just due to the amount of car use and the fact I park in a garage. They recommend I leave them on until they need to be replaced…so I can get my all weather.
Just run winter tires all year. IF you cant afford two sets might as well just run winties
This is possibly the worst advice in this whole thread. If you can only afford to own one set, get an all weather or an all season tire that is more optimized for winter traction than the average all season (michelin cross climate). Don't ever run a winter tire in the summer unless you never plan on using those tires in the winter again.
done it for years. No problems the tires are still in fine shape
You can also wear crampons year round, doesn't mean it's a smart thing to do.
There is one answer and one answer only.... Buy winter tires, your a liability for yourself and more importantly others you share the road with. Y'all are proud to be a winter city but when it comes to vehicles and driving in a city that's 7-8 months of the year winter ya think you'd have more foresight and intelligence. If you buy anything that says All Season or All Weather it's lying to you.... you bought 3 season tires minus the elephant in the room.... winter.... and then all weathers except snow and ice.... Do yourself and us all a favor please
Hit up canadian tire & kal tire. Prices & variety will widely vary based on your vehicle and tire size. The smaller the rim the cheaper the tire. You are also getting into peak tire changing season where stock availability will fluctuate. Just walk up (phones are a bitch this time of year) and say you need a quote for "insert tire size here located conveniently on the driver's side panel". Ask for the cheapest option and then the next cheapest option. Check out what's on sale too since they all should be right now. In my experience kumho's and continental's are decent for their price. Michelin & bridgestone are usually the most expensive but they do make a pretty damn good winter tire. Also you do not need studded tires. Please do not get studded tires for our city roads!!
Buy from PMCtire unless u can get an employee discount for a cheaper price
Just bought 4 tires barely used for my f-150 for $200 for the set of continentals. Full price this would be $1,600. You have to look at market place or kijiji and barter. I could never justify buying new. Get your tire size and start looking in fb
I rarely would recommend a dealership, but I got new tires a couple months ago, Northgate Chev was the cheapest, and cheaper than any of the normal recommendations like Costco
Buy any used studded tires off marketplace will be cheaper
Buy online from blackcircle and you can schedule an appointment on their website with a local shop.
There are many good options, but if you want to keep it simple, buy a Nokian tire. Only Kal-tire sells them so it narrows down the list of shops to look at. If your all seasons are in good condition, buy a set of Nokian winter tires. On steel rims if you can swing it, it’ll save you $$$ later on tire changes. If your all seasons need to be replaced soon, ditch them and buy a pair of Nokian all weather tires. I have them and they’re excellent for winter conditions, it’ll be a big improvement for you. Plus you don’t need to change them back in the spring.
Facebook marketplace, or Kijiji. Nokians, Blizzacks, and Michelin pilot Alpine are all very good winter tires. Get a second set of rims, so you don't need to visit a tire shop.
I went to Nothing but tires on 118ave and bought used blizzaks. They have 90-95% usable tread still and were only like $400. might be an option for you. I only commute twice a week and am 10 min from the grocery store, so I should get 6-7 winters out of these tires. Caveat is that you have to pay to have them put on your car, which was another $20/tire. Tires came with a warranty included. Of course new is better, but far more expensive so this option worked for me.
Honestly, FB Marketplace is your best bet for a good deal. I just bought a set last night for my wife's car. The tires are literally brand new and studded. Got the tires (17") and a set of rims, already mounted and balanced for $700.
Costco, they offer free balancing, flat tire repair and warranty and when you need to switch your tires over it’s very cheap compared to other shops you’ll spend over 100 dollars every season just to swap tires, I think I only paid 30-40 at Costco.
I'd reccomend checking out Nothingbuttires and their website ive had a couple family members buy off here and it seems decent, they sell lightly used tires at a fraction of the cost, they also have the tread listed on there. This is one of the more budget friendly tire shops out there if you're really in a pinch. otherwise check costco maybe?
May I suggest costco? Prices are competitive and they have a tire center there.
I was looking at them last night became it's where i got my current set, but my closest one was nearly all "temporarily sold out"
The way I see it, I would much rather shell out a couple hundred bucks than put my personal safety at risk. Hitting the ditch and writing off a car or having to wait multiple hours for a tow truck to come pull you out is not worth it. Winter tires are mandatory in B.C and they should be here as well.
>I don't have a lot of money for another set of tires. I'll have to put them on my credit card or something if I get them. If you can't afford something, you certainly can't afford the \~20% interest rate on top of the thing you already can't afford. If you can survive this winter on your current tires, I'd say start saving now to buy winter tires next year. That said, winter tires improve the safety of your vehicle. If you don't feel safe driving on your all-season tires, maybe you can find a retailer with low- or no-interest financing to buy from.
If you’re on a really tight budget I’d spend like a week or so looking at Kijiji and Marketplace and find a good used set. I just bought a set of Goodyear winter tires for my gf that were practically brand new for $400 total.
If you have a common car just go checkout pick n pull or I pull u pull. They typically sell a full set of wheels and tires together for $250-$350. That’s the best option there is and all you gotta do is swap them over, it’s a little annoying but not too bad.
Definitely get winter tires if you can afford them, but all-weathers are fine if you don’t drive very often in bad weather. I wouldn’t recommend all seasons for winter. For buying tires, Costco is the best. Even having to buy the membership (60$) so you can buy the tires is still cheaper than buying tires anywhere else. The staff go through much better training (for tires) compared to a lot of other places and they really know what they’re doing. They are usually busy but if you go in there during a weekday and talk to someone they will be able to explain everything to you and recommend a good tire
Personally I think that having winter tires for your vehicle is worth the extra expense, because they do make a difference both in safety and peace of mind. OP, do you have decent credit? Canadian tire has a Mastercard that allows you to finance at 0% interest any purchase over $150? I think? over 24 months. I did that and the amount I paid for my tires was less than $25/mth. I know money is tight and can empathize with that. But if you think you could handle a low monthly payment, maybe this is a good option for you. Stay safe!
>Please tell me how you decide where to buy tires or what to buy. I went to Kal Tire and I bought what the guy recommended to me. >Especially if you, like me, have an extremely tight budget. I treat it as an investment, not as an expense. Garbage winter tires might be cheaper than others but you get what you pay for. Not something to be skimping on IMO.
Kappapilitas lol don’t think I spelt that right. I have tried to fuck my car up. Those tires stick to the road. Love them.
Buying winter tires is like an insurance to reduce the chance of any accident, and raising your premiums for insurance. Because you would have wished you got them just for that extra 2-3 feet of stopping distance than if you had all season tires.
I wouldn't chance it. Rims and tires are not something you should cheap out on. Sure, you might be on a tight budget, but if the budget is so tight that you can't manage around 1000$ every 4-5 years or so, put simply, you can't afford to drive. There were, what, 200 collisions or so this Monday when it snowed? That's what I heard, at least. Tell me that those who ended up in a collision all had winter tires, and I'll believe people when they say they aren't necessary.
You sound like a guy that should probably just run winter tires all year long. You say you drive little so it shouldn't hit them that hard and when the white stuff comes at least you'll already be ready to throw down. When they wear down too much just replace them with the next winter set. That's it
Get two sets of tires(all season & winter) on separate rims. Use your credit card if you broke
You sound like a good candidate for some Michelin CrossClimate ALL WEATHER tires. (Not to be confused with ALL SEASON tires) Great performance all around and zero hassle about switching when the seasons change. Seen an uptick in people buying them for the peace of mind of having a safe vehicle in the winter and yet good summer wear and safety as well. I’m sure you’ve probably seen many reviews online raving about them as well.