Best places in Anchorage to get winter tires swapped to summer

[tigre79]

Originally Posted by RedJacket

The cheapest way is to not own snow tires. I've lived in many snowy and hilly areas and never had them, the snowiest being upstate NY where we got 150-200 inches each winter.

Of course, if you happen to live in Yee-haw!, Valdez, then you should probably buy some.

Some people feel like six solid months of winter justifies having tires that are made for those conditions. My summer tires (BFG T/A Terrains) would probably do fine in unplowed snow, but I switch them over to studs before it starts snowing, because the main reason to have winter tires here is for ice. And if you do it yourself it doesn't hardly cost any more to have two sets of tires, since you're only wearing out one set at a time. You always have extra spares too, if you're going somewhere where you might need more than one. Just get a cheap set of wheels for your studs, find a corner to store them in, and don't worry about it. Switch them yourself and you'll know it was done right. I can't imagine paying someone to do something that simple.

[dmills]

Originally Posted by tigre79

Get your winter tires their own set of wheels. Then you can change them out yourself for free in your driveway.

Agreed. If you are going to be here more than two seasons, they pay for themselves. Go to the junk yard and get a second set of rims. Have your tires mounted and balanced, then change them over yourself.

[wcgornto]

Originally Posted by dmills

Agreed. If you are going to be here more than two seasons, they pay for themselves. Go to the junk yard and get a second set of rims. Have your tires mounted and balanced, then change them over yourself.

When I purchased stud tires, I looked into putting them on a second set of rims. I was told I would need a second set of TPMS sensors and it would cost an extra $50 to reprogram the TPMS sensors every time I swapped tires. For this reason, I did not purchase a second set of rims.

Was I misled?

[dmills]

Originally Posted by wcgornto

When I purchased stud tires, I looked into putting them on a second set of rims. I was told I would need a second set of TPMS sensors and it would cost an extra $50 to reprogram the TPMS sensors every time I swapped tires. For this reason, I did not purchase a second set of rims.

Was I misled?

Never heard of a TPMS Sensor. Is that To determine whether your tires are experiencing symptoms of PMS? Sorry, couldn't resist. Lol. All I know is that I bought my rims from the junk yard for about $150 eight years ago or so. I've been swapping them in my garage every season since then. That means, I have saved in the neighborhood of $750 over the years in changeover fees. Well worth it in my opinion - not to mention not having to fight the changeover rush when it first snows.

I have rims for both my cars, so that actually is closer to a $1500 saving.

[stiffnecked]

I'd suggest the DIY tire changers take them in and get them balanced at the start of every season. It'll improve tire life and gas mileage.

[wcgornto]

Originally Posted by dmills

Never heard of a TPMS Sensor. Is that To determine whether your tires are experiencing symptoms of PMS? Sorry, couldn't resist. Lol. All I know is that I bought my rims from the junk yard for about $150 eight years ago or so. I've been swapping them in my garage every season since then. That means, I have saved in the neighborhood of $750 over the years in changeover fees. Well worth it in my opinion - not to mention not having to fight the changeover rush when it first snows.

I have rims for both my cars, so that actually is closer to a $1500 saving.

TPMS = Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Mandatory feature in all vehicles under 10,000 pounds sold in the US after September 1, 2007.