[Fish2SS]

Hi all, sorry for the possible stupid question but I can't seem to find a clear answer anywhere.

I have a 2017 2SS with the OEM summer run flats. Live in VA and winter is coming... My work is about 15 minutes drive away from home and I was planning on just loading up the trunk and babying the car to work and back, but pretty much everywhere I'm seeing has told me summer tires is just a no go in winter, and it's not just because of snow and ice.

So I'm looking into getting winter tires. Now here's where I'm confused. Can I just order tires and have a shop install them on my wheels or will I need to get completely new wheels too (since the OEM ones I guess are meant for run flats?)

Thanks, much appreciated.

[dpevans]

In the long run it's cheaper to buy rims and have a dedicated set. after doing this swap at $60 a season or $120 a year it would have been cheaper to buy rims and swap them in the garage. Even if you only keep the car a couple years you have value in rims and tires.

[Fish2SS]

Yeah if I have to get wheels also I may just get all-seasons like the Continental DWS 06 and sell my run flats.

[Ryephile]

Are winters in VA bad enough to actually need winter tires? You have consistently snow-covered roads for the bulk of winter?

Otherwise, an all-season would be better suited. The Conti DWS's are very good.

[Fish2SS]

Nah, I could telecommute if/when it's really bad out anyway.

Yeah I'm now leaning towards getting the all seasons and just selling the run flats on craigslist or something.

[Ryephile]

Telecommute, that settles it then. All-seasons are a better solution. You won't hate the car when the roads are dry like you would with winter tires.

[Mr. Wyndham]

All seasons will do....but winter tires will change your understanding of what this car can do in the cold temps/snow forever. All-seasons is just a real nice way to market a compromised tire. There's no way around it. They're not great in anything...but they work in everything.

With that said, realize you'll be giving up performance in the summertime by switching to an all-season, all the time.

So in my opinion: if you're willing to get a separate set of wheels for the season - get a performance winter tire, like a Pirelli Sottozero or Scorpion. I have been running those for the past four winters...nothing can stop the car. It's brilliant!

[Fish2SS]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wyndham

All seasons will do....but winter tires will change your understanding of what this car can do in the cold temps/snow forever. All-seasons is just a real nice way to market a compromised tire. There's no way around it. They're not great in anything...but they work in everything.

With that said, realize you'll be giving up performance in the summertime by switching to an all-season, all the time.

So in my opinion: if you're willing to get a separate set of wheels for the season - get a performance winter tire, like a Pirelli Sottozero or Scorpion. I have been running those for the past four winters...nothing can stop the car. It's brilliant!

My original plan was to get winter tires and keep my summer ones too. I didn't realize I'd also need new rims though. I thought I could just change the tires out, but apparently that's not possible with the OEM because they are made for the run flats. At least that's what I'm understanding.

So money is an issue. Winter tires + wheels would cost me a good grand over all season + wheels.

[Fish2SS]

Now I'm seeing a thread where people are saying you can put all seasons on the stock black rims, not just run flats. This would be best case scenario since then I wouldn't need new rims.

[ChevyRules]

Be on the look out here in the sales section. I got my winter set( the LT's 18" rims and tires plus the relearn tool) for $550 total from a user here. No need to go out and spend a lot of money on new rims.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Fish2SS

My original plan was to get winter tires and keep my summer ones too. I didn't realize I'd also need new rims though. I thought I could just change the tires out, but apparently that's not possible with the OEM because they are made for the run flats. At least that's what I'm understanding.

So money is an issue. Winter tires + wheels would cost me a good grand over all season + wheels.

True - it does require an investment...The way I see it: there are only four points of contact between the entire car, passengers, and the road. These points control acceleration, steering, and braking inputs...I don't believe that's an area to try to be frugal. And if you plan to drive through snow or over ice...you'll appreciate the confidence winter tires provide. But I understand if there are budgetary limits. All-seasons are certainly going to better than summer tires.

Originally Posted by Fish2SS

Now I'm seeing a thread where people are saying you can put all seasons on the stock black rims, not just run flats. This would be best case scenario since then I wouldn't need new rims.

Yes, wheels are wheels are wheels. They're not run-flat specific.

But - it will be cheaper in the long run to have a separate set of wheels so you don't need to constantly pay to remount and balance a set of tires twice per year. You can find a set of factory take-offs for cheap fairly easily.

Originally Posted by ChevyRules

Be on the look out here in the sales section. I got my winter set( the LT's 18" rims and tires plus the relearn tool) for $550 total from a user here. No need to go out and spend a lot of money on new rims.

[JT58]

Get winter snow tires and a cheap set of aluminum or steel wheels. Winter snow tires have different rubber compound and tread pattern to grip in snow. Summer tires are plain awful in the snow- you won't even get out out of your drive way without slipping everywhere- especially with RWD. I had a Mustang GT and even a Subaru WRX with summer tires and tried each in the winter. The Mustang had no traction what so everr even in just barely snow covered roads. The WRX would get going with AWD but braking down hill, I almost went head on into a tree. I also had a Sentra Spec V, front wheel drive and limited slip with summer tires. Same result, would not go anywhere. One the Spec V I got Blizzak snows on steel wheels. the car went from not being able to get out of my drive way to being almost as good as a 4 X 4. I could stop on snow covered hills and it would get going no problem- absolutely amazing difference. So if it were me I'd get winter snows- way better than even all season.

[Fish2SS]

Originally Posted by Mr. Wyndham

But - it will be cheaper in the long run to have a separate set of wheels so you don't need to constantly pay to remount and balance a set of tires twice per year. You can find a set of factory take-offs for cheap fairly easily.

Yeah, I agree. I'm probably going to get a set of continental DWS tires to put on my stock wheels and hold onto my run flats and put a different set of wheels on those in the future.

Money is tight right now because I have a housing change coming up in about 4 months and a trip to Japan in about 6 months. Otherwise I'd just get a set of winter tires with wheels.

[Blazin383]

Get on Tirerack.com and put in your info on the car. They’ll list up all of your options for direct fit wheel/tire packages including dropping a size or two in rim diameter, and have test results for almost every winter tire! Their prices are pretty much always better than you could do at any local shop and they’ll drop them on your door step in only a couple days. I run Blizzak winter tires almost exclusively and they make a huge difference even over good all seasons. Only problem is if you run them on dry roads when it’s warm, you’ll wear them out quickly!