Hello all, long time. So as winter approaches, winter tires are needed...

Assuming I like my stock 18" Cayman wheels (just like the look/feel etc.), so I don't need to get new set of rims. It actually works out well, just need 4 new winter tires, slap em on the same rims - sounds simple enough. The other option is to get another set of the same rims for winter tires, which seems like a bit of a waste.

Any downside to this wheel swap? As always, thanks for the input.

Sorry, in re-reading, I think my question is unclear above. What I meant to say is: Is there any downside to swapping tires and keeping just one set of rims? Thanks

I no longer live in snow country, but when I did I had to have snow tires like you. If you only have one set of rims you have to bring your car, and another car/truck with your 4 tires every time you want to change from summer to winter tires and again from winter to summer to the tire place and have them balanced every time. The cost asociated with this exercise, mounting and balancing tires 2 times a year, and your time, will soon pay for a set of aftermarket rims, (not Porsche).


In my case that exercise became old hat in a hurry. So, I cave in and bought a set of winter wheels. Now I do not have that problem. It is sunny year round in Puerto Rico. I only see snow when I travel, and when I go skiing.


Good luck

__________________
Having fun in Puerto Rico

Winter tires have been discussed several times already, please use he search to find the prior topics. Additionally, Tire Rack has worked up info on winter tires for the Cayman for us so if you order please click the following ad when you buy your tires to help support this site:

__________________

My Gallery | My Articles | My Blog |My Classifieds
K-Man S

K-Man S: sorry, didn't catch any thread talking about the merrits of swapping tires in my search, just discussions of what tires/what fits certain rim sizes etc. Was not looking for a consumer tip on what tires, just practical thoughts on the benefits/issues of swapping tires with one set of rims and looking for good feedback like jaica's. Apologies.

I actually do both right now. On our Audi I actually go switch tires on the factory rim every winter and spring. There weren't any inexpensive rims that I liked to fit the Audi, so I just kept swapping them. In the long run it will probably end up costing me same to have bought a set of rims, but I'm not sure I'll keep the car long enough for those two to equal out. Like someone else said it is a pain having to go twice a year to have tires swapped. The place I go to has been really good about not damaging rims,etc. while swapping the tires. On my G35 I have a second set of rims and tires for winter. It is certainly more convienent. Part of the reason I chose to do a second set of rims is because the car came with 19' rims and there were a lot more snow tire choices in 17' and it was a better application and a lot cheaper to go that route.

First, Porsce lists the recommended winter tire sizes for the car. Unchanged up front and 255 instead of 265 in the rear. If you have 19' wheels you should downsize to 18'. For true winter tires, going wider decreases their ability in snow.


As noted, the cost of changes tires twice a year pretty much is a trade-off with the cost of wheels by about the third winter. The advantages of buying the wheel/tire package is: 1) you preserve you summer wheels as the winter typically does a job on wheels, 2) if you ride on 19' for the summer you should go to 18' for the winter, and 3) once the wheel/tire are mounted you can do the swap yourself. I do not know about you, but lugging 4 winter tires to a place with the proper equipment and then lugging the removed tires back (twice a year) is a PITA. I find it much easier to do myself.

For me on the Audi it worked out to be the break even point was just over seven winters and I'm not sure I'm going to keep the car that long. A cheap wheel was $169 and each tire swap was about $8-12, or $20-24 per year. Of course this doesn't factor in anything for the pain in the butt of having to go to the tire place twice a year. Really one of the main factors iin my decision at the time was there really wasn't anything out there that I liked that I felt was reasonably priced.

Does anyone have any experience with using tire chains on their Porsche? If so, I'd like to hear about it...


Thanks

Jeff