I have tried searching...when do you switch to winter wheels?

[itsnotacrisis]

If you're going to tell me to search...with all due respect...just move on please...I did search, and the results were so numerous and varied. I don't see the harm in asking for a focused response.

I drive a 2013 2LT RS, so we're heading into my first winter with the car. It's a year round DD. I have purchased a set of winter tires and wheels from Tire Rack, so I am all set to go. My question, for all the similarly experienced owners is; When do you make the switch? I'm on Long Island , NY, Suffolk County. Low temps have been in the 30's and 40's recently, but that's in the wee hours of the night. It's still in the mid 40's and above during the hours that I drive.

I'm concerned not so much about snow; but about safety of driving in cooler temps. I was planning on running the winter wheels from December 1 thru March 1.

What do you experienced owners have to say?

Thanks,
Steve

[POWERFREAK]

When temps drop to around 45 degrees on average. Any higher then that and your winter tires will wear quickly.

[midnighter]

When this...

[DocMartens]

Originally Posted by midnighter

When this...

Attachment 576091

[oldfriend]

Well , if this guy knocks on your door asking for help , you know it's time

[SRFnSNO]

Put mine on beginning of Oct.

[ichriscamaro]

I have the same exact car you have and I had just put winter tires on my RS wheels last week. they are Pirelli Scorpion Winter(new for this year) and let me tell you...these tires don't even feel like winter tires, handling is awesome dry and wet roads, I live in NJ and lately the temp has been crazy , like it was high 50s low 60s the last few days but like I said these tires are great. But going back to your post I was set to make the switch mid Nov but had it done last week, little bit earlier, since I had an oil change scheduled at the dealer already. Either way depending of the type of winter tires you should be fine on dry and/or cooler temps. After all it is better to be safe than sorry and we may get early snow so it's better if you have them on already. My two cents..Good luck.

[Norm Peterson]

Originally Posted by POWERFREAK

When temps drop to around 45 degrees on average.

Generally this.

It's about when max-performance summer tires have already lost a significant amount of grip.


Norm

[Pro Stock John]

Since I run drag radials in back when I am not running winter tires, I put mine one about 2 weeks ago when we had a little snow. I have Pirelli Scorpions in stock sizes on my car:

[Rudy@Tirerack]

Depending on your local temps and weather Nov 15 th is a good date. Obviously if it gets really cold or snows earlier adjust accordingly. Don't wait till it snows to put them on. You need winter tires for cold weather driving.

[Mean Green Z28]

after we had a few sub 45°F days, I swapped

[Micawber]

I swapped mine on early in October, but we had snow here in mid October too. The snow hasn't been sticking until just lately though. I'd rather put them on a bit early and drive easy to save the tires for a few weeks if it stays warm, than get caught sliding around and possibly bending stuff.

[smarbrit]

I put mine on once the night temps were consistently down around freezing - mid Oct. For us, was about a week before we got our first snow, its now sticking to the ground so winter has now set in. Last year our first snow was Oct 19, this year was Oct 28, previous years, could be Sept.

I would base it on current temps, forecasts and when the snow typically flies around you. Hard to get a specific answer simply because everyone lives in such different regions. If you are doing it yourself, then you have no problems switching out - if you have to take them in to get done, don't wait until the snow hits to call, you'll be waiting a while for an appointment.

[Pro Stock John]

Had mine on for about a week, but I had drag radials on there before so I was worried about getting caught in a storm, this made me nervous:

Note the NT05R drag radials:




Three hours later...