Some questions on dedicated winter/summer tires
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Some questions on dedicated winter/summer tires
So I'm purchasing a new B8 A4 this winter and this is what I'm considering: The car will come with 18" sport package wheels with summer performance tires. I want to get aftermarket 18" rims from Hartmann and put the stock summer tires on those. Then I want to buy 18" Dunlop winter tires to put on my stock rims.
I was wondering how much it costs to have a installer take tires from my stock rims and then fit the two sets to my two sets of rims. Basically one set of unmounting and two sets of mounting.
This will leave me with two sets, one winter and one summer. The other question is how much it costs to change these twice a year. I was hoping not alot since a NASCAR crew can do it in 5 seconds.
Also, how does the TPMS work? Would I need to buy another set of sensors or would I have to have them switched out between my two sets twice a year. How much might that cost?
It all seems complicated to me as I've always had all-seasons. My other option is to put all-seasons on my aftermarket rims and then sell my stock rims and tires (though that's a hassle also).
Any advice would be appreciate. Keep in mind that I'm not mechanically inclined and am not going to change my own tires unless i'm stuck on the side of the road.
Thanks.
I was wondering how much it costs to have a installer take tires from my stock rims and then fit the two sets to my two sets of rims. Basically one set of unmounting and two sets of mounting.
This will leave me with two sets, one winter and one summer. The other question is how much it costs to change these twice a year. I was hoping not alot since a NASCAR crew can do it in 5 seconds.
Also, how does the TPMS work? Would I need to buy another set of sensors or would I have to have them switched out between my two sets twice a year. How much might that cost?
It all seems complicated to me as I've always had all-seasons. My other option is to put all-seasons on my aftermarket rims and then sell my stock rims and tires (though that's a hassle also).
Any advice would be appreciate. Keep in mind that I'm not mechanically inclined and am not going to change my own tires unless i'm stuck on the side of the road.
Thanks.
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Re: Some questions on dedicated winter/summer tires
I would guess most installers would be around $20 per tire to mount and balance each tire. I doubt they would upcharge you much to remove four of them from wheels.
Changing off and on each season and is actually pretty easy. A shop could do the job quickly and it is not very labor intensive since the tires and wheels are already mounted and balanced.
TPMS sensors are mounted inside the wheels and tires and measure live air pressure which is sent back to a recieving unit in the car. Without sensors in your new wheels, you'll have a dash light that will stay on.<ul><li><a href="http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AR8&url=/winter/index.jsp">winter</a></li></ul>
Changing off and on each season and is actually pretty easy. A shop could do the job quickly and it is not very labor intensive since the tires and wheels are already mounted and balanced.
TPMS sensors are mounted inside the wheels and tires and measure live air pressure which is sent back to a recieving unit in the car. Without sensors in your new wheels, you'll have a dash light that will stay on.<ul><li><a href="http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AR8&url=/winter/index.jsp">winter</a></li></ul>
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Re: price and tpms
So probably looking at $160 to mount and balance the 8 tires. I guess I can probably handle that.
So my options on the tpms are to buy new sensors for my extra set or have the light on during the winter season is that right? Anyone know if there is a way to get the light to stay off? How much might it cost to have the tpms sensors moved from my stock wheels to the aftermarket summer wheels and tires I'm putting on. Is that an excessively expensive option? I'd rather not have a light on 12 months a year. I could maybe live with it for 4 months in the winter.
So my options on the tpms are to buy new sensors for my extra set or have the light on during the winter season is that right? Anyone know if there is a way to get the light to stay off? How much might it cost to have the tpms sensors moved from my stock wheels to the aftermarket summer wheels and tires I'm putting on. Is that an excessively expensive option? I'd rather not have a light on 12 months a year. I could maybe live with it for 4 months in the winter.
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buy another set of TPMS's with the new wheels, buy a jack and learn how to change your own wheels.
It takes 30 min's 2x a year. by the time you load the wheels in the car, drive to the shop, have them swap the wheels over, drive home, unload the other wheels, you could have been done and already sipping a frosty beverage.
plus alot of the monkeys at the shops are careless and will scratch/damage your wheels if you are not careful and watch them. They will also adimitely deny they damaged the wheels if you do catch them.
having a dedicated set of summer and winter wheels is great. I would never go without it again.
The TPMS light is more or an annoyance. A second set of TPMS sensors is expensive, but nice to have.
plus alot of the monkeys at the shops are careless and will scratch/damage your wheels if you are not careful and watch them. They will also adimitely deny they damaged the wheels if you do catch them.
having a dedicated set of summer and winter wheels is great. I would never go without it again.
The TPMS light is more or an annoyance. A second set of TPMS sensors is expensive, but nice to have.
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Not every TPMS sensor fits every after-market wheel.
Mine had to be modified to accommodate the angle of the valve stem; actually, the installer ended up drilling a separate hole in the barrel of the wheel for them
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thanks for that info, I'm looking into something similiar
my local tire place offers free balancing and rotation if you purchace the tires there. I guess if I buy my winter tires from them, they may be able to make it worth my while. I'll find out soon.
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A few comments
First, you'd be better off with narrower 17" snows. But if you want the hartmans for the summer, I see what you're doing.
Next, consider that mounting and balancing is sometimes tricky, or you get vibrations. So you can pay as little as $20/ea - and it may be fine, or you may pay more like $40-50 each with road force balancing - or from a high end shop.
You'd really be better off leaving the factory set as is and buying a 17" wheel + tire set for the winter.
As to TPSs - they are radio senders. I dont know much about them - but they will certainly complicate all our lives. I might mount mine on an inner fender some day :-)
Grant
Next, consider that mounting and balancing is sometimes tricky, or you get vibrations. So you can pay as little as $20/ea - and it may be fine, or you may pay more like $40-50 each with road force balancing - or from a high end shop.
You'd really be better off leaving the factory set as is and buying a 17" wheel + tire set for the winter.
As to TPSs - they are radio senders. I dont know much about them - but they will certainly complicate all our lives. I might mount mine on an inner fender some day :-)
Grant
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