Winter Tires & All-Wheel Drive ... Need ‘Em Both?

[moinmoin]

It’s that time of year when more than a few people start saying, usually loudly, that they don’t need winter tires because they have an all-wheel drive vehicle.


Make no mistake on what I am about to say: This. Is. Wrong.

Read more:

https://www.wheels.ca/news/winter-tires-awd/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=referral

 

[seanmccubb]

So I'm from Texas and I'll be moving to Michigan in January... (I'm going to freeze) and judging by the article I need winter and A/S tires.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Should I have two sets of rims? One for summer and one for winter?

 

[moinmoin]

One for summer and one for winter?

Yes, Yes & Yes

You are going to be cold...
You should have A/S or Winter tires. Winter is preferred.
You should have two sets of rims (Canadian use steel rims, but they look shitty IMO. But you get away with it if you buy some wheel covers...)
Winter tires should not be as wide as you summer tires, i.e 225/45/18 on all 4.

Take your car to Krown or RustCheck (or whatever the US equivalent) to get it protected from rust caused by salt & brine. Get it renewed every year. Sould be around $100 per.
IT WORKS! Hope it works out for you

 

[Chris]

So I'm from Texas and I'll be moving to Michigan in January... (I'm going to freeze) and judging by the article I need winter and A/S tires.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Should I have two sets of rims? One for summer and one for winter?

Meh, I live in MN and I get by with all season tires year round on my fwd optima. Are winter tires a better option? Yep.
Worth the money and hassle? Not in my mind. Maybe if I had a super long commute.
If you do end up with winter tires, yes, get separate wheels, it's hard on wheels and and tires to swap new tires on the same wheels twice a year, plus you have to rebalance the tires each time. Also be super careful driving winter tires for any kind of distance when the temp is above around 45 will eat them up quick..

 

[seanmccubb]

Oh okay yeah, that's good to hear I'll be moving to Ann Arbor so the southern part so hopefully it won't be that bad. Good tip on it eating up your tires! Thanks!