Is it better to mount/dismount summer/winter tires twice a year, including the TPMS rebuild (or whatever it's called), or is it smarter to just bite the bullet and get a second set of wheels, TPMS & tires, and just change them yourself?

Forget about the hassle with getting into the shop to mount/dismount the tires, I'm interested in what will save me the most money and problems in the long run. I realize I could forget about the TPMS in the second set, but when you're already spending $$$ for a second set of rims, why not go all out!

I know this is a noob question, but I've always run all-seasons on previous vehicles. If I was made of money and had unlimited storage space, there'd be no question...alas!

 

two sets get winter in like 16'/17' and then summers should be 17' or 18'

 

I'm guessing since he's asking about winter tires and not all seasons that he has an SS, and if he also has TPMS, then he has an 08+ SS, which means he has Brembos. SOME 17s will work, but 16s are out of the question.

OP, get a second set of wheels, monitors, etc. Just not worth the hassle and I've always been told that it's not good for tires to be repeatedly mounted/dismounted/remounted.

 

I have 18's for summer and picked up a set of 16's for winter. I did the changover myself this spring and when I put my winters on in the fall I will have saved what I payed for my steelies. I also saved when I bought my winters by downsizing two sizes. The way I look at it is that I am making money everytime I changover.

 

It's a lot different if he has a SS/TC. Can't get steelies, and be damned to be able to buy a second set for cheap.

 

Yeah, sorry I didn't get specific. It's a 2008 SS/TC. There are winter tires on the stock rims right now (18" Hankook Icebears, lol? Guess the guy just kept getting them popped off/on the stock wheels), and they look almost brand new, so I'm trying to find the best 18" combo of wheels & summer tires that I can. Looking good is important, but I don't need anything TOO flashy. I've pretty much already decided on the tires I want, just trying to find good, inexpensive wheels now.

I've read the "Official Wheels" thread so I know about the issues with the Brembos. That's something Tirerack doesn't seem to take into account, even though it'd be great to be able to order the rims, tires, new TPMS, and have them shipped mounted & balanced to my door!

I'm starting to realize that I might have to get everything from separate places if I want to save the most money, and then have a local installer mount & balance.

Thanks for the advice; I kinda already knew the answers, but it seems like the previous owner of the car went the other way and only had one set of wheels, so I wanted to make sure.

So, anybody got suggestions for a decent, not-too-expensive set of 18" wheels that will fit over the Brembos? I'm looking at the MSR 045s right now, but mostly because of the fella on here who sells them direct, not because I like the look (haven't found a pic of them on the SS/TC yet). Thanks again!

 

the only thing that gets to be a pain in the butt is balancing. ive got my stock 15" steelies with hankook winter ipike tires plus my 17" rims with bfg g force tires for summer. i love having 2 sets but it kinda sux paying for 2 sets of tires plus the balancing every time i change em out. the traction gains tho amazing so its worth it in the long run. and i dont have the tpms sensors in my wheels. theyre like 53 bux each, $200 for sensors doesnt make sense to me lol