Is a second set of rims worth it for winter tires?

The saving shows up at every changeover. With winter tires on their own rims, a changeover is $60 flat. On shared rims, it is a full swap at $95 flat with balancing. You save $35 each time.

Time is the other saving. A changeover on rims books about half an hour, and a full swap books closer to an hour. In the October rush, the shorter job is easier to fit in. You can pick your week on the changeover planner.

It usually pays off when three things are true. You plan to keep the car for a few more winters. You swap tires twice a year. Your car takes a common wheel size, so rims are easy to find.

It makes less sense if you plan to sell the car soon, or if you run all-weather tires all year. Our guide on mountain snowflake and M+S tires covers the all-weather option.

There is a quieter benefit too. Each full swap means working the tire bead over the rim, twice a year. With a second set of rims, both sets stay mounted, so the tires and rims get handled less. Rims also let you do the swap at home if you like. Torque the wheel nuts to the spec in your owner's manual with a torque wrench.

Many newer cars read tire pressure from a sensor inside each wheel. If yours does, the winter rims need their own set of sensors. Otherwise the warning light stays on all winter. Some sensors also need to be paired to the car with a scan tool after they go on.

Other cars estimate pressure from the wheel speed sensors and need no extra parts. We check which system your car uses before we quote, so the sensor cost is on the estimate from the start. Sensors are billed at cost plus 20 percent.

Steel wheels are the classic winter choice. They usually cost less than alloys. Alloy wheels look sharper and can be lighter. Either works if it fits your car.

Fit takes more than a matching bolt pattern. The center bore, offset and load rating all have to suit your vehicle. The tires should match the size on the label in your door jamb, or another size your vehicle's maker lists. Transport Canada advises the same type, size, speed rating and load index on all four.

Lug nuts matter too. Steel and alloy wheels often need different nuts, because the seat where the nut meets the wheel has a different shape. The wrong nut can work loose. We check the seat before the wheels go on. When you are ready to price a set, ask us for a quote.