Better to drive on winter tires in the summer or get inexpensive all seasons?
Posted by lilspicyasmr@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 39 comments
I just put down a deposit for my first car (2014 Subaru Outback) and the dealership is selling it with two sets of winter tires on rims. This struck me as strange, and the salesperson offered to get me wholesale pricing on a set of Greenlander branded tires and put those on the stock rims for me. The Greenlander tires would run about $380 CAD for the set.
Are there any major disadvantages to driving all summer on the winter tires that are currently on the car, and swapping them to the other set of winters for actual winter weather? Or should I go for the new tires that are from a brand that I've never heard of?
And while we're at it, any tips for a guy in his late 30s who has finally got his license?
lilspicyasmr@reddit (OP)
Damn, I didn't think I'd get so much traction on this post. Thanks everyone for the advice and insight.
Based on what everyone has said I'll plan to drive whichever set of tires is in worse shape until I can get them swapped out to a set of decent all-seasons. Then I'll either hold on to both sets of winters or try to unload the worse set to recoup some cost. I'm in an area that can hit the mid 30s celsius in the summer, so with all the wear and tear plus safety and fuel economy factoring in I'm willing to spend a bit extra to make sure I'm doing the right thing.
Monst3r_Live@reddit
Never seen it but heard of winter tires coming apart. I've done it. I'd personally say to get cheap all seasons and save the winters for when you need them, or they are gonna perform like all seasons in the winter.
TheCamoTrooper@reddit
The main thing is they wear faster but you do lose some handling and braking performance as well. Personally whichever is the worse of the two sets I'd run for the summer, swap to the good winters come fall, then replace the other set next year
CarobAffectionate582@reddit
This. Run out the worse set then get all-seasons on those rims.
They can get unpleasant in hot weather, high speeds - likely nothing to worry about in Canada. My dad does this in the PNW running winters on his Equinox and no issues. I tell him not too, but, old people - they know everything. ;)
TheCamoTrooper@reddit
You'll still run into the road noise and worse economy from hot weather and high speeds here lol, we aren't freezing temps year round. Summer where I am, which is a colder area, +30 isn't out of the norm
MysticMarbles@reddit
And for me in a "not hot" area 32-36 is standard through summer.
We are semi-routinely seeing temps north of 45 in some places these days. That's 110? for our southern friends.
CarobAffectionate582@reddit
If he isn’t doing a steady 90mph at 95F, he’s unlikely to run into problems. I have in a mis-spent youth explored the limits of winter tire performance in a higher-performance Audi. ;)
TheCamoTrooper@reddit
Well yea you'd be hitting the speed rating at that point lol
highlanderfil@reddit
There’s nothing to say that you can’t, but you probably shouldn’t. Winter compounds are a lot softer, and you will run them down a lot quicker. If you have a place to store them, I would hang onto the spare set, but install all-seasons. Having a spare set is also handy for a Subaru, because if something happens to one of your winter tires, you’re likely going to have to replace all four of them because of the all-wheel-drive system.
obxhead@reddit
Excellent advice.
Having two sets allows the OP to buy new winter tires in the off season on discount as well. Between two sets they should get through any winter without having to buy at peak pricing.
CCWaterBug@reddit
That would make 3 sets of winter tires, and no all seasons.
Seems... impractical
MysticMarbles@reddit
Yeah like, who doesn't buy their tires end of season when possible?
My winter tires are at 3/32nds right now, so guess what I'm buying when I swap my summers on...
Attapussy@reddit
I can always tell when a vehicle is driving on winter tires beause they make a lot of noise on dry pavement.
Master-File-9866@reddit
Just throwing this out there.... is it two sets of winters? Or is it a dedicated set of winters and an all season with the peak and snowflake logo?
I mean the salesman could just not know and telling you what sounds good.
cakes42@reddit
Buy a set of used oem take offs from another outback. Problem solved and less money spent.
Caaznmnv@reddit
Just run the more work out winter set this summer. They are a soft compound and will wear out quickly depending how much you drive them.
The soft compound in relatively warm weather should actually be very grippy. No passenger tire company would sell such tires because they will wear so quickly. But they would provide more traction, all other things being equal.
When that winter set wears out, then get some all season tires to replace them.
MattTheMechan1c@reddit
The winter tires will wear a lot faster. The compound isn’t designed for higher temps. If you want a fresh set of tires I recommend getting all-weather tires. They perform 90% the same as a real winter tire. I use them all year round on my FWD car in the Canadian prairies with no issues. Almost all major tire brands make all weathers now, I use Nokian branded ones.
Ilikejdmcars@reddit
Sell a set and use the money to buy all seasons for the summer
eoan_an@reddit
You wear out compound pretty quickly. You'll still get years but it's more pollution and more money out of your pocket.
durrtyurr@reddit
It isn't that it is unsafe to drive winters in the summer, it is that because they are a way softer rubber than summer tires or all seasons they wear out super fast.
Ralph_O_nator@reddit
Where in Canada are you located? Yellowknife-meh. Vancouver-might want to change to another set of tires.
op3l@reddit
Inexpensive all seasons. Get some around the 110 to 120 mark. Don't go for cheap Chinese tires.
Winter tires don't last well above 50 degrees due to the soft compound. Will wear away very quickly.
birdbrainedphoenix@reddit
Driving on winter tires in summer will wear them out a lot faster. They're made of material that's meant to be used at colder temps. They'll probably be noisier because of the tread design, too.
You may also get longer stopping distance in hard stops.
Ok-Half8705@reddit
Even at like 45 degrees I noticed that the winter tires make a squealing noise when launching even when I try not to. Also I don't know if it's the tire but my rear end, ended up sliding into the next lane when it was warm and wet while trying to make a turn.
farmerbsd17@reddit
Really depends on your location to get a good answer. Are you in Minnesota or Missouri?
highlanderfil@reddit
Given OP references CAD prices, they’re likely even farther north than either.
CelestialBeing138@reddit
Number 1 driving tip: always assume the worst, and have a plan to deal with it. If you can't see a particular spot, assume it contains children, or a fast-moving car. If you can see a car, assume it is about to swerve. If a car is pulled over on the side of the road, kids are about to jump out of it. If there is a piece of cardboard in the middle of the road, it is covering sharp knives that will pop your tires. Defensive driving always.
EntrancedOrange@reddit
I live in one of the snowiest places in the country and have stopped using snow tires altogether. Just get a set of good all season tires and you’ll be fine. Not even worth dealing with switching them over. Some of the all season tires are rated almost as good as many of the popular snow tires for winter weather.
sondernier@reddit
An outback isn’t a performance car where you would need high speed rated all season tires and as a mature albeit inexperienced driver I doubt you’d be pushing it anyway. Is your car coming with the OEM rims or just two sets of steelies with used winter tires? I would drive on the winters for the summer, put Michelin cross climates or comparable 4 season tire on the Subaru rims if you actually get them and try to sell the other winters and rims. Greenlanders are discount Chinese tires and if the dealership is pushing them likely old stock or not great to begin with.
Dismal-Detective-737@reddit
Fuel economy?
Have you priced how much it would be sell one set of winter tires and buy new tires and rims?
Willing-Remote-2430@reddit
I wonder what insurance company's would think about this should there be an accident
Mr_ZEDs@reddit
Sell one set of those winter tires and buy summer tires. Don’t buy tires through dealership. Go to tire places and look for quotes.
Ok-Anteater-384@reddit
Winter tires in addition to different tread pattern uses softer rubber, they'll wear out quicker in the summer.
Spud8000@reddit
snow tires do poorly in summer heat. You will probably not be able to use them next winter, so there is a cost there to consider
UberPro_2023@reddit
Winter tries are terrible in warm weather, and summer tires are even worse in cold weather. Use the winter tires and get all season or summer tires for the summer.
squirrel9000@reddit
I know a lot of people that run winters all year -this is in Winnipeg where winter tire season is already longer than summer tire season though. They wear very quickly but if you're not a high mileage driver then they may well last long enough that they age out rather than wear out.
Cranks_No_Start@reddit
As it’s been said wear is a factor but to me the bigger factor is the handling. I had good all seasons on my XJ6( Conti DWS 06s) and that thing handles like a champ. But not so good in the snow.
I put a set of direction snow tires on and in the winter they would dig through the snow.
But if we got some warm days before I swapped them out they were like jello above 80 degrees.
foolproofphilosophy@reddit
I would definitely swap a set for all seasons but keep the ones that are being taken off. Keep the better ones mounted. Check the age and tread depth before deciding. Tired dry out with age so it might make more sense to keep a 2yo set with some wear and sell a 10 yo set that has no wear. Google how to look up the date code. Depending on their age and where you live you might end up being able to use both sets. If that seems doubtful I’d sell them.
Nighthawk132@reddit
If you got them for free in the asking price then sure drive them. Especially if you don't want to spring and extra grand for summer tires.
God knows, when I was a teenager I bought all sorts of used tires that weren't old and had good tread and ran them. Drove 2yrs on winter tires. They just wear out faster and are much softer in the heat. Very easy to break traction and start sliding.