How much does it cost to swap winter tires


Winter Tire Cost: What Can You Can Expect to Pay?

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Whether your region requires you to install snow-rated tires during the cold months or you simply want to sport them for added safety, you should know how much a winter tire costs. Many car owners just don’t install winter tires because they believe they’re unaffordable.

While winter tires are typically known to be more expensive, affordable options from growing tire brands like Sailun Tire don’t compromise on the quality and performance drivers expect on the icy roads.

But even the pricer ones are more affordable than your rising insurance premium, likely medical bills, and automotive repairs (not covered in the insurance policy) that you must endure due to an accident in harsh winter conditions. 

Here, we will explain the cost of different winter tires and the additional expenses associated with them. If you’re in the market for new winter tires — from value-based to premium — check out our full buying guide here.

So, how much do winter tires cost & what should you expect to pay?

Many factors affect the price of winter tires, including brand, type, quality, and size. Since every brand has its own criteria to evaluate the price for its rubber, we would avoid commenting on it. However, we will specifically discuss type, quality and size to give you a fair idea of winter or snow tires.

For a compact car with a famous 205/55R16 size, below are approximate prices.

Type and Size

The three main types of winters you find in the market include studless, studded, and winter performance.

Studdless Tires

For most people, studdless winter tires are a perfect companion in cold conditions. These incorporate biting edges and soft rubber compounds, making them flexible for winter. A standard studdless tire will cost you anywhere between $60 and $550, each.

On average, for a typical compact car, expect to pay around $100-$150 per tire or $400-$600 for all four. For an SUV or light-duty pickup, the price goes up to $200-$400 each or $800-$1,200 for a set of four.

Studded Tires

For extreme weather conditions like freezing rain, sleet and wet ice, studded tires are ideal for a safe driving experience. The metal studs fixed on these tires bite into ice, giving you improved grip and handling. A studded rubber would cost you around $75-$550 or more per tire. For two pairs, you can expect to pay between $300 and $2,200.

There are also studdable options, like the Sailun Iceblazer WST1 studdable performance winter tire trusted by over 1-million drivers in Canada alone, which won’t break the bank yet designed for drivers that demand maximum traction in severe weather conditions.

Sailun IceBlazer WST1 studdable winter tireSailun IceBlazer WST1 studdable winter tire

Winter Performance Tires

For guys who do not want to leave their sports cars or performance sedans in their garage in winters, they should put on winter performance tires. They are designed to offer excellent traction at high speeds on wet and dry roads. However, they are not your perfect companion for ice or snow-packed roads. A regular high performer is available at around $100-$500 each or $400-$2,000 for all four. 

What factors affect the price of winters?

For all the prices we mentioned above, the smaller the size, the lower the cost. However, the price variation also depends on the tire brand, with American tires selling higher than Chinese-made tires.  

Other Expenses associated with winter tires

The prices we shared above are purely for snow tires; they do not include installation charges. For installation, you have two choices. You can either mount the winter rubber on the existing wheels or buy a new set of wheels for all tires. 

  • If you go for a semi-annual tire change on your existing wheels, it will generally cost you around $40-$80 for all tires. The cost includes re-mounting and re-balancing. On the other hand, you can buy new wheels for all tires, making it effortless to put on winters when the snow, ice, and slush appear. The four new wheels will set you back $120-$500 or more. You can always try secondhand wheels; they may cost as low as $40-$80.
  • In the U.S., federal law demands new vehicles to come with Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). According to the news by Consumer Reports, the cars with disabled TPMS can’t have the winter tires installed. So, to install the TPMS sensors, you have to additionally pay $50-$125 for each tire, according to your vehicle’s brand and model. 
  • If you are going to use studdable winter tires, the optional metal studs will cost you an additional $15-$25 per tire.

Tips for shopping winter tires

  • Before you shop for winter tires, you should know the recommended size, speed rating and load rating for your vehicles. You can find these details in the doorjamb, glove compartment, trunk lid, fuel-filler door, in addition to the car’s manual.  
  • Nearly all tire manufacturers create winter and snow tires, so it is entirely up to you to pick a tire that suits your needs and budget. It is wise to compare prices of different tires, keeping in view “out the door” and “all in” costs. The latter comprises everything from the valve stem, tire installation, and wheel balancing. However, some workshops ask for an extra $2-$25 per tire for these services. 
  • If you have to buy under a tight budget, you can consider used winter tires. However, you need to be very careful with certain things like tread depth. It is prudent to measure the tread depth and make sure not to buy a tire with less than 5/32″ (4 mm) depth. Furthermore, if you find any cuts or ruptures in the sidewall, swells, blisters or tread distortion, do not buy them. Last but not least, do not buy tires that have extensive exposure to the sun, rain or high temperature.
  • Many tire manufacturers offer discounts throughout the year. Some retailers provide direct discounts, while others may give you mail-in rebates. You may find them in the shape of gift cards or prepaid cards. The discount amount may vary as per size and model. 
  • Ensure you buy new snow tires for all the wheels. For a two-wheel-drive car, if you think two new tires would be enough, you can’t be more wrong. With only two wheels gripping properly, the vehicle can simply pinwheel out of control.
  • Do not buy studded tires unless your state or province allows them.

Takeaway

Consumer Reports says that winters tires increase the snow traction by 34%, thus making it easy for you to stop and maneuver the vehicle. These tires actually cut the braking distance by around six feet. That six feet distance is often the gap between you rear-ending a car or drifting into a crossing against carefully coming to a halt without causing a mishap. 

Buying the snow tires also enables you to enjoy insurance savings as well as better fuel mileage (if you maintain them well).    

Of note, 76% of all Canadians change their all-season tires with snow tires to enjoy better traction and control. Most car owners say that these tires have saved them a possibly dangerous condition.

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Cost to Change Winter Tires

When temperatures drop below 7°C in Canada at the end of fall, it is time to switch to winter tires. When it rises above 7°C in the spring, it’s time to switch them back to the regular, typically all-season tires.

While this gives you the best gives you the best traction and control year-round, the cost of changing winter tires twice a year adds up.

Changing tires that are on rims (basic swap) costs $40 to $60 for a set of 4 – or about $10 per tire.

For tires that are not on rims, it costs an average of $80 to $120 for a set of 4 – or about $20 to $30 per tire.

In this short guide we’ll summarize how much service providers are charging and how much people are paying to change, mount, balance and store tires and outline how keeping your winter tires on a separate set of steel rims can save you an average of $150 over their lifetime.

Contents

Cost of changing tires mounted on rims

Changing a set of 4 tires that are already mounted on rims (basic swap) costs an average of $40 to $60 or about $10 to $15 per wheel, not including balancing.

Balancing costs an extra $32 to $48 per set of 4 or $8 to $12 per wheel and should be done every 1 to 2 years or if you notice signs such as vibration at high speeds, increased fuel consumption or uneven treadwear.

Pricing from service providers:

Service ProviderCost
Canadian Tire$75
Tirecraft$55
Kal Tire$52
Mr Lube$55
Jiffy Lube$55
Costco$40
CAA Mobile$80 to $120
Tire Changers$60
SimplyTire$60 to $100
1010Tires$50
BMW dealership$85

Prices reported by vehicle owners across Canada:

Service ProviderLocationPrice Paid
IndependentMarkham, ON$45
IndependentCannifton, ON$45
IndependentBelleville, ON$40

Cost of mounting and balancing tires without rims

Having a set of 4 winter tires mounted on rims, balanced and installed costs an average of $80 to $120 or about $20 to $30 per wheel, based on prices we collected from service providers:

Service ProviderCost
Canadian Tire$150
Tirecraft$105
Kal Tire$152
JoyCity Tires$75 to $105
Genuine Auto$125
Fountain Tire$139
Tires23$80
1010Tires$160
Costco$80
SimplyTire$140 to $240

Prices reported by vehicle owners across Canada:

LocationPrice Paid
Vancouver, BC$120
Winnipeg, MB$140

Factors that affect the cost

  • By appointment (faster, more expensive – eg. Tirecraft) or first-come-first-served while you wait (longer wait, cheaper – eg. independent shop)
  • Longer wait times (cheaper – eg. Costco) or shorter wait times (more expensive – eg. Jiffy Lube)
  • Whether you go before the first snowfall (quieter, cheaper) or after (busy, more expensive)
  • Dealerships and large chains will typically charge more than independent tire shops, with the exception of Costco
  • Experienced mechanics (careful, more expensive – eg. Kal Tire) or minimum wage employees (careless, less expensive – eg. Canadian Tire)
  • Smaller passenger car tires are sometimes cheaper than larger truck and suv tires

Cost of tire storage

If you live in an apartment or condo, you may not have space to store the set of tires that aren’t on your vehicle. The average cost to store your tires is $60 to $100 per season (6 to 9 months). Fall/winter counts as 1 season, spring/summer is another.

ProviderLocationCost
Kal TireWinnipeg, MB$90 to $100
JoyCity TiresMarkham, ON$75
Dealerships$100
#10 StorageBrampton, ON$40
Genuine AutoNepean, ON$60
Canadian TireOttawa, ON$70
Waterloo, ON$80

Factors that affect the cost

  • Tires stored in a climate-controlled environment (more expensive) or in a shipping container left outside (cheaper)
  • Tires insured for damage or theft (more expensive) or not insured (cheaper)
  • Dealerships and large chains will typically charge more than independent tire shops and storage unit companies

Change cost breakdown

Changing tires with 1 set of rims (re-mounting every time)

$100 per change x 2 changes per year x 5 years = $1000

To have the tires removed and swapped onto the same rims twice a year for an average of a 5 year tire lifespan, costs $60 to $80. This comes out to $160 a year on average just on the swap. If you consider that price over the span of 5 years, it amounts to a stunning $800.

Changing tires with

2 sets of rims (each with its own set)

$240 for 4 steel rims ($50 to $80 per rim)
+ $80 to have winter tires mounted onto the new rims and balanced
+ $80 to have summer tires mounted onto existing rims and balanced
+ $50 per change x 2 swaps per year x next 4 years = $400

= $800

The average cost to have the wheel (tire and rim) switched is half as much ($50 vs $100), but if you factor in a couple of tire balances ($50) over 5 years your maintenance costs are from about equal to $100 less.

However, using a second set of rims means it takes much less time to change tires, you can change them yourself, you own 2 sets of rims instead of 1 and limiting the number of times a tire is removed and mounted to a rim reduces the chances of damaging the bead.

Save money by changing them yourself

If the tires have already been mounted and balanced and you are able, have the space available and can stay warm enough while changing tires, you can save $80+tax or more per year on the labour costs by doing the swap yourself. You also save the hassle of booking an appointment, dropping it off, waiting or having to go back.

All you need are a few tools and the time and money savings will make up for their initial cost in 3 years or so:

  • Floor jack (~$150)
  • Jack stands (~$40)
  • Lug wrench (~$30) or torque wrench (~$60)
  • Wheel chocks or blocks (~$25)

Total startup costs: ~$250

How to change your tires

Should you get steel rims for your winter tires?

It is highly recommended that you mount one set of tires onto a set of steel rims and keep your main set of tires on its own set.

With aluminum rims, the road salt used to melt snow and ice will eat away at the metal and significantly decrease their stability, structure, and lifespan.

In addition, the process of mounting and unmounting tires onto a set of rims requires applying a considerable amount of stress on the bead and sidewall. Doing this twice annually year after year increases the risk of distorting the sidewall or tearing the bead.

Opting for steel rims will help to preserve your tires and rims and keep them in good condition longer.

Rims can be a selling feature

Plus, if and when you plan on reselling the vehicle you have an added set of rims and tires that will add to the overall value of the vehicle. If needed you can sell the rim separately, as rims in good condition hold value.

Storing winter tires

During the summer when you are not using the tires, store them in a clean, dry (away from solvents, lubricants, fuels, chemicals), dark (in tire bags to limit their exposure to UV radiation) and cool (below 15ºC). Basements and temperature-controlled garages are ideal. The temperature and humidity in most garages, sheds and attics fluctuate considerably, which you want to avoid.

Maintain the vehicle manufacturer recommended air pressure and if they are on rims, stack them on each other, no more than 4 high. If they are not on rims, stand them on end and turn them a bit once a month. Maintain the vehicle manufacturer recommended air pressure.

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Victoria Umanets

26, 2020

November 26, 2020

, Since there are no legal norms at what time to do this. And although we are not promised snow yet, I would not recommend waiting for it in order to change the shoes of your car. It is a bad idea. After all, on a slippery road it is very easy to lose control of the car. And then you have to go to the service station not only to replace tires, but also to repair the body.

Everyone knows that it's time to change tires when the average daily temperature has reached 7 degrees. It was then that summer tires no longer “work”. It is very dangerous to ride them. So how much does it cost to change a car in 2020? How much will you have to pay for replacing summer tires with winter ones in Kyiv, Dnipro, Lvov, Vinnitsa, Zaporozhye and other cities of our country. From this article you will find out the prices in each region.

Pick up tires and rims for car

Usually, car owners turn to tire fitting when they have one set of wheels and two sets of tires. That is, the tires need to be reboarded. This procedure implies that the tire fitting worker will remove the summer kit and put on the winter one. It also needs to be balanced. This is standard procedure. It happens that even the disks need some kind of repair or cleaning. You will have to pay extra for this separately. If you only stopped by to “change shoes”, be prepared to spend about 40 minutes of your time. True, if you come by appointment. On a first-come, first-served basis, time can stretch for several hours.

Is there a price difference depending on the tire diameter?

Yes. I will give statistics on the example of Vinnitsa car services. Having taken an interest in prices, I can say that on average it turns out like this:

  • 13-14 sizes - 320 UAH,
  • 15-17 sizes - 360 UAH,
  • 18-19 sizes - 460 UAH,
  • 20-22 sizes - 520 UAH.

Statistics given for passenger cars - tire change on light alloy wheels (R16) plus balancing.

By the way, the price also depends on the class of the car. For SUVs, SUVs, minivans will be more expensive. It turns out that the larger the car and the size of the wheels itself, the more expensive. But from the type of disks - casting or steel - the price practically does not change. If your tires are on steel rims, the price remains either the same, or the difference fluctuates around minus 20-50 hryvnia.

Below on the chart you will see the prices in the regional centers of Ukraine. They are average for passenger cars on alloy wheels (R16). That is, you need to understand what can be a little cheaper or a little more expensive. There are cities that stand out with the highest prices. But in principle, plus or minus is the same throughout Ukraine.

Somehow, unexpectedly for me, it turned out to be the most expensive thing to wear a winter set in Lviv and Zhytomyr - 500 UAH and 490 UAH, respectively. Khmelnitsky also stood out - 460 UAH, Kyiv - 450 UAH, Dnipro - 430 UAH. The cheapest is in Chernihiv - 340 UAH and Sumy - 350 UAH. However, see for yourself:

City Price (UAH)
Vinnitsa 380
Dnipro 430
Zhitomir 490
Uzhgorod 360
Zaporozhye 370
Ivano-Frankivsk 380
Kyiv 450
Kropivnitsky 360
Lviv 500
Lutsk 360
Nikolaev 370
Odessa 410
Poltava 360
Rivne 400
Sumy 350
Ternopil 370
Kharkiv 400
Kherson 380
Khmelnitsky 460
Cherkasy 370
Chernivtsi 400
Chernihiv 340

When calling service stations, some immediately offered discounts or some related services. For example - a 20% discount on air conditioning maintenance in the spring, if they have their tires rebuilt now. And several tire shops said they could keep the winter tires for storage. In Vinnitsa, it costs about 100 UAH per month for 4 wheels without discs. Very handy if you have nowhere to store them at home. Because storage conditions are very important. It must be dry and clean. Tires must be laid in the correct position so that they do not experience uneven pressure and do not deform during downtime. And before that, they need to be washed and dried.

Pick up tires and rims for car

Well, friends, I hope the information was useful for you. If so, please like. I would like to know how much it costs to replace tires on wheels in your city. After all, I really hope that you have already done this. Share with us in the comments.

I liked the article - put "like", if you have any questions - write in the comments and we will answer them. Share the article with your friends and subscribe to the email newsletter from AUTOMARKET.

With best wishes, AUTOMARKET - convenient for the motorist

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How long does it take to change the wheels of a car at a tire shop from summer to winter tires

The procedure for servicing cars at tire change stations can take a different amount of time. The exact figure depends on the equipment present and the professionalism of the master. On average, changing the wheels of a car at a tire fitting stretches for 20-30 minutes, in the absence of a serious workload of personnel.

Contents

  • 1 How long does it take to change tires for winter
  • 2 How long does it take to change tires for summer
  • 3 Life hack to speed up the procedure for changing tires

In some cases, the installation procedure can take an hour or more. The exact figure will depend on the type of work performed.

  1. Simple reversal of complete wheels. The lightest version for a mechanic. Experienced specialists take no more than 5-10 minutes for the entire car.
  2. Re-shoeing of new skates without balancing. In standard mode, changing tires takes up to 10 minutes / piece.
  3. A full range of services, including balancing, takes 10-15 minutes per wheel.

If you put new skates on the discs, you need to count on at least an hour of time. The usual replacement of finished wheels is faster. A savvy craftsman can change all discs in a few minutes.
The need for repairs also affects the efficiency of work. In some situations (vulcanization is required), the procedure may take a day.

How long does it take to change winter tires


Service stations and tire shops in Russia always try to work as quickly as possible. The salary of the master directly depends on the number of clients. Usually the procedure for changing a set of tires from summer to winter does not take more than one hour.

Waiting time can be increased by factors that do not affect the immediate speed of the specialist - this is the queue and customer requirements.

How long does it take to change summer tires


Installation of summer tires is more difficult for the master than winter models. This is argued by the increased rigidity of the rubber. Dense sidewalls are difficult to put on discs, which requires great physical effort.

This difference will not be noticeable to the user. Experienced technicians know how to properly place a product on the machine for fast assembly.

Life hack to speed up the tire change procedure


To facilitate the process of changing tires and speed up service, you can foresee a few points in advance and not wait in a huge queue.

  1. Arrange in advance with the foremen about the time of arrival and the amount of work. If the mechanic is warned about the visit, a window prepared for a specific car is formed at the service station. For complete confidence, you can give the mechanics an advance payment of 30-50% of the total cost of service.
  2. Surcharge for urgency. If you need to change tires immediately, specialists may charge double the rate for high speed work.

    Learn more