When do you normally decide to put your winter wheel/tire set on?

[Apex Everything]

When do you normally decide to put your winter wheel/tire set on?

When you get warning of first snow?
When you get consistent below 40 degree temps?
When a certain month hits? November? December?

I live in MD near PA, so most of Nov-Jan is 20-30 degree mornings and 40 degree highs and I am trying to decide when it would be best to switch my set. This is the first time I had an alternate set of wheels/tires.

[decaturdad]

When I am forced to move back north. -Sorry, I could not help myself. I spent most of my life in Massachusetts and never plan to shovel snow again.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Apex Everything

When do you normally decide to put your winter wheel/tire set on?

When you get warning of first snow?
When you get consistent below 40 degree temps?
When a certain month hits? November? December?

I live in MD near PA, so most of Nov-Jan is 20-30 degree mornings and 40 degree highs and I am trying to decide when it would be best to switch my set. This is the first time I had an alternate set of wheels/tires.

The tire manufacturers all say that it should be done when the pavement is consistently below 45 degrees F. When this happens depends on your climate and the year's weather (i.e. is it a later or warmer winter). In Chicago, for example, snow tire season is typically November 1-April 1, but some years you can almost go to Thanksgiving if it's a warm fall. We have also gotten snow in early April, however.

I have noticed that summer tires start to get skittish well before that 45 F mark, however.

You will feel the summer tires suddenly have much less traction: axle hop, random DSC light flashes, excessive ABS engagement, etc. When that happens, swap the winter tires on.

[///Motown]

first snow fall or xmas break in December

[M3 Esq]

When the first significant snow appears in the forecast. I live in CT and I didn't but my winters on until after xmas!

[audioMeth]

first week that has steady temps in the low 50's during the day will force the change over for me. last year it was early November, but i typically like to hold out for thanksgiving weekend as it gives me something to do when in a food coma.

[pbonsalb]

Around December 15, but earlier or later depending on when it first snows. My PSS go nowhere in snow. The temperature thing does not concern me. I do put my R compounds in my heated basement in winter but not my regular summer tires.

[WingZeroX5]

The day before a 3+ in snowfall. Other wise I leave my all seasons

[dparm]

If you guys are waiting until the first snow, that's probably too late. Summer tires will wear a lot faster on cold pavement. Traction suffers greatly, too.

[swartzentruber]

Originally Posted by dparm

The tire manufacturers all say that it should be done when the pavement is consistently below 45 degrees F. When this happens depends on your climate and the year's weather (i.e. is it a later or warmer winter). In Chicago, for example, snow tire season is typically November 1-April 1, but some years you can almost go to Thanksgiving if it's a warm fall. We have also gotten snow in early April, however.

I have noticed that summer tires start to get skittish well before that 45 F mark, however.

What he said, although I've been surprised by the amount of traction the Michelin PSS has in colder temps. It has to be one of the better summer tires for colder pavement, as long as the pavement is dry. I've driven in the 30s (very occasionally, cold snap) and got decent traction.

[swartzentruber]

Originally Posted by dparm

Summer tires will wear a lot faster on cold pavement.

Not sure this is true -- link? source? Wear comes from tires being warm/soft. Hard tires (from cold) don't wear that fast. In fact, from a wear perspective, I've heard and would think it's worse for wear if winters are on in warmer temps, than summers in colder temps.

Traction is definitely an issue for summers, that much is true, particularly combined with any any form of precip in cold temps.

Also, don't make the mistake of assuming other climates are like Chicago (not saying you are). Here, we'll almost always start seeing fairly cold temps late Nov/early Dec before we see first snow, at least my recollection over the 15+ years I've been living here. Living out east where I grew up, I don't recall it being that unusual for the first cold temps to bring the first snow.

[12mpgm3]

I live in PA, north of Philly (outstanding place to own an M3!). I used to change over probably late Nov and then back early April when I drove my M in winter on snows. I decided I didn't want to do that anymore so bought a Volvo XC60 for the winter (anyone need a winter setup with decent snows by the way??). Now though, I drive my M right up to the last minute before putting it away for the winter with a charger etc etc. I usually lock things down right before Christmas (maybe Dec 20th or so) and will bring it out of storage as soon as things look reasonable in the Spring (March 15th if I am lucky). Even if I bring the M out of hibernation a little early I can always just leave it in the garage through a late snow storm for a few days and go back to driving when the roads are clean again.

Of course you need to be careful when the roads temps are in the 20s and 30s but it is not a huge deal typically. Yes tires may wear more but since I pretty much change my rears yearly in the Spring, I don't really care. Every extra minute I can get in the M is worth it all...