Help! What are some pitfalls to buying winter tires? What mistakes do I need to avoid?

[AmandaYVR]

I'm buying winter tires for the first time. I'm out of my depth here. Why is this so complicated!!
The more I research, the deeper I go, the more decisions there are to be made and pitfalls I see. Whatever decisions I make here, I will be stuck with them for a decade. This is a big investment not only in cost but the shop I'll be attached to for swaps for many years. And apparently where (what temp) they are stored matters to longevity.

About the only thing I know right now for sure is what size I currently have:
255/50R19 Wheels: 18x8.5"
Everything else is still up in the air.


Here's What I Do Know:

• I live in Canada but the winters are mild here where I am (I've still never seen an igloo or polar bear!)
• I have an AWD SUV. It's high-performance but older so I'm looking for a nice mid-range quality, not the cheapest or best. I don't care how the trims look. The current OEM tires are poor and I don't want another bad set. I'd rather be over-prepared than under.
• My car has run-flat all-seasons right now (Dueler 400 HL 107H 255/50-19.) They're in ok condition, the tread is fine, but they are known to have "terrible traction in any type of winter weather, from a trace of snow to freezing rain and ice. There is little in the way of grip." (I nearly slid into a house two winters ago.) They will need to be stored unless I can replace these with a 3-Peaked all-season.
• I'm not worried about mileage. They'll only be on for ~ 3 months of the year.

I Don't Know!:

• I think M+S should be sufficient (?), but they must be 3-Peaked.
• Brands? I read Blizzaks are phenomenal. https://www.4tires.ca/tires/bridgestone-ws80-winter
• Will they need sensors? That could be an extra $75ish/ea.
• I think I will use the same rims if possible. (Tons of salt is not a big issue on the roads here.) But that's dependent on whether I need new wheels or not. I have no idea.
  
  

For my SUV

Updates

+1 y

Getting my snow tires installed tomorrow. Yay!
Thank you, everyone. I appreciate it.

Bring it on, snow!
https://i.imgur.com/2DVebBa.jpg

[Surely]

Canada requires a higher rating on traction for their winter tires than the US.
Since you are not going to run them year round. You could go with a more aggressive tread design. I don’t know if Canada has an age limit on their tires. But the tires are dated. So saying that they will be around for decades. Might not be allowed.
Swapping the tires on the same rims could get costly. With mounting and balancing, twice a year. Maybe look into an extra set of rims?
Snow tires will not handle as well as summer tires. No tires unless studded or with chains on. Do well on ice. Up to the driver to make adjustments for ice!
Wide tires like yours want to ride up on the snow, which usually isn’t good. Also when driving into heavy slush. They will be harder to control at speed.
Find a reputable tire dealer and ask his opinion on a certain brand and or tread pattern.
Also check for tire rebates.
Sorry I couldn’t be any more help.
Good Luck!

[Friendlybro79]

Everything @Surely said is spot on. I'd also recommend a separate set of rims too. One thing I'd add, if you decide to do separate set of rims, is based on what @Surely said regarding your size tires being wide for snow traction. In my opinion, i'd ask if you could go a size down on the rim for the snow tire.

Blizzaks are awesome fyi. Good luck and be safe.

[AmandaYVR]

Surely, thank you those were really great tips.

I think I've chosen (am aiming for) Bridgestone BLIZZAK DM-V2
Size, still not 100% sure. 255/50R19 ?
www.tirereview.com/next-generation-blizzak/

So Friendlybro, you are suggesting I go down from a 19" rim diameter to an 18"? (If that's even possible on my car. I'm not sure.)
And what does that mean for the other numbers?
I still don't fully understand all the numbers.

www.smartmotorist.com/how-to-read-tire-size

[Surely]

@Friendlybro79 I would be hesitant about changing sizes. Since I don't know how her car would handle the change with all of the computers that are on the cars now a days and the size of the brake rotors.

[Friendlybro79]

@Surely I totally understand what you're saying with newer cars it can be tricky. It can be done safely most of the times unless the rim fan clear the brakes. For ex the tirerack. com website will calculate it for you and tell you if you can do it. Just search by vehicle etc. It's called minus one sizing if I'm remembering correctly.

[Friendlybro79]

@AmandaYVR The numbers are the measurements of the tire in millimeters, aspect ratio of sidewall and rim size. The letter to the right is a speed rating meaning how fast a tire can handle safely in mph.

This web link explains well. This company can also tell you if you can minus one size. Sometimes it's better for traction in snow.

m.tirerack.com/.../techpage.jsp

"The second pair of numbers (225/45R17) is the tire's aspect ratio or profile. This percentage represents the ratio of the sidewall's section height to the tire's section width. The section height can be calculated by multiplying the section width by the aspect ratio percentage. The answer will be the height of one sidewall."

[AmandaYVR]

Yeah so my car was sold with the Premium Package. Which is 19" wheels.
But if I select Basic Model (on tirerack, but I think other sites too) then it gives me the 18" wheel option.
So what does that mean? Either are possibilities, or my car will not actually accommodate the 18" (because, say, the brake rotors won't fit right)?
We've decided we like the look of big tires (cause it's an SUV, especially, and low-profile is not really appropriate for this type of vehicle). It might feel a bit [odd?] to go down in size. But I'm trying to focus on just snow/ice performance here. Aesthetics should not be important. It's only for about three months of the year.

[Redstang88]

No such thing as all seasons. If you want something that will perform well in snow and ice you need dedicated winter tires like you’re doing.
If you can fit 18” wheels you’ll have a lot more options. Generally for winters you want a narrower tire than you’d run on pavement.
Blizzaks are very good, best winters I’ve ever owned were Michelin X-Ice but I don’t if they still make them. Perelli makes some quality winters but never used them personally
You’ll need new rims as well unless you want to be re mounting and balancing every season (bad idea)
You’ll need sensors if you want your pressure monitor to work, but that’s not really necessary

[jennifer_bloom]

All I know is they are extremely heavy and you need either a very muscular friend or some money to buy labourers to change the tires for you, you can’t do it yourself, my dad is full of muscle and he can’t even do it himself.

[ohshee]

What kind of car do you have is it front wheel drive or four-wheel drive how much does you car weigh does it snow where you are at.
There are a lot of good tires out there 4 me I live in the mountains and it snows rains I get all four seasons and for me and my vehicle I absolutely love Cooper discoverers

[AmandaYVR]

It's all-wheel drive. Pretty heavy. Mild Canada.

[exitseven]

I was going to tell you to just research them on he web. I bought some closeouts for a really low price. There were several websites that said they had fantastic traction, good in snow and ice but also said they were noisy on the highway. All these things were true.

[DaveToo]

How do you have 18" wheels with 19" tires?

With the size you have given me, about your only option for winter tires is Blizzak's.
Walmart can order them for you if they have an auto service center.

[AmandaYVR]

Yeah I made a mistake there. I currently definitely have Bridgestone Dueler 400 HL 107H 255/50-19.
A tire seller online seemed to be recommending the 18x8.5" wheels but now I'm not sure whether that's the wrong version of my car's specific specs, or it is an option as a wheel size.

[Friendlybro79]

@AmandaYVR i think the person who recommended the 18 inch wheel is possiblly suggesting the minus one sizing I referred to in w different reply. I would double check to make sure that's what he or she is suggesting and they can explain why that is possibly better than 19s traction wise. That would imply a separate set of rims too which is not a bad idea either because it's easier each year to mount on and off.

[AmandaYVR]

@Friendlybro79 I'm leaning towards new rims now. The cost to swap tires without rims would add up a lot over several years.

[AmandaYVR]

@Friendlybro79 I bought my car (certified used from dealer several years ago) with Premium package. But what I haven't been able to figure out all day (omg I'm going insane) is if the non-premium specs also work on my car.
I think that's the difference between the 18" vs. the 19".

This is going to cost a lot.
But my husband is getting somewhat enthusiastic now if we can get new black rims. Much cooler than our aluminum brushed worn ones right now. (But of course the new rims would only be associated with the snow tires. Or is it the other way around...)