Since we had the first light snowfall in MA this morning , when do you usually put your winter tires on? Please specify where you are located and if you are using a good “rule of thumb” (I heard something about the temperature dropping below a certain level).

Thanks,
Dertef

 

I live in the great white North. And I usually put the winter tires mid-november (or sooner, if there is snow on the ground and I have a long drive)

Winter tires compound will "melt like butter" at temps over 7 degree Celsius. So once the temps keep under the freezing point, it is usually good to go with the winter rubbers

 

Usually I'm able to wait until around Thanksgiving or so in SE PA. I'm actually planning on changing them today however, as it is 39 F and raining currently. It is supposed to be the same tomorrow, and I have lots of driving to do. My summer tires are not happy.

 

I am in Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati,Ohio with a chance of flurries. I am planning to change over Halloween weekend. I am trying to hold out, even though this weekend it is supposed to go below freezing. The summer tires have not been to great these last few days as it has been in the 40's. We have had snow in the past by the end of October.So I hope this is not one of those years. I will put back on Summer wheels/tires around late March or early April depending on the weather.

 

Normally I switch out the weekend of Thanksgiving, however we got a few inches last night on the grass, I wasl almost ready to go in the garage and put them on. But I decided to have a beer instead, the weather is downright nasty here right now, but looks to be nicer during the week and i dont want to run on snows any longer then i have to, takes to much fun out of the off ramps.

 

Usually when the am temps are consistently below 40 or the first actual snow.
Depends on the tires a little, too. My old Bridgestone Pole Position S-03s
got pretty hard by 40 degrees, my current Dunlop Sport Maxxs don't harden
as much as them by 35 degrees, and my wife's car's General Exclaim UHPs
are a bit more cold tolerant yet, even though they're all listed as summer only tires.

 

November 1st, that is the day they are required by the state for driving in the canyons to the ski areas Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude. But you can get surprised in this country anytime from September on, so best be ready on short notice.

 

Thanksgiving or thereabouts here in Chicago. That said, it seems that winter may be arriving sooner than normal in many areas, so this year may be different.

 

I usually put them on after waking up and seeing the snow on the road. Then I take them off the next day and wait for the next snow. Snow only lasts about a day on the roads here, and any other snow is melted in about 2-3 days. Changing the tires only takes 15 minutes.

 

Wow 15 minutes that is pretty quick, I must be getting old cause it take me double that time in my garage and then some J/K

 

Sometimes it takes me more than 15 minutes to find all the tools.

 

Hi all,

Thanks for your responses and suggestions. Here’s the irony of life; while I was contemplating when I should put on the winter tires last week, I found a big nasty screw in my front tire yesterday which forced me to switch to the winter tires. I ended up being the crazy dude on the block changing his tires when it’s pouring and cold. In any case, I felt better once I came back in and saw how it was snowing in Foxboro. We got some snow last night as well. Obviously, the temperature is probably going to be over 60 again now that the winter tires are one.

BTW, I’m pretty happy I got the tire and wheel insurance when I bought the MINI a few months ago. I’ll have to take the punctured tire to the shop and those run flat puppies are not cheap so it was definitely worth it to invest in the extra coverage.

Dertef

 

I plan to switch on the same weekend we change back to standard time, unless the compelling motivation is something in a recent weather forecast.

I drive mostly to my commuter train station 40 miles northwest of Chicago.

I've run Blizzaks briefly at temps above 60°F for a thousand miles & though they didn't seem to suffer, I wouldn't make a practice of it. They're awesome in the rain BTW....

 

Mine go on at Thanksgiving & come of mid to late March.

 

Well, I was going to make a smart a$$ed reply and say I put my winter tires on in the winter, but actually I run all seasons, so I don't.

However, if you're running summer only tires, the temp I've heard is consistantly below 40* it's time to change......

Most people wait for the first snowfall, but I expect most of them that do that have a nice garage to change them in!