Winter Tire Tread... When to change?

[MrJWU]

Seeing as most people run their all seasons or summer tires till their bald...

When do people change their winter tires? What tread depth is considred not safe anymore?

Is looking at the tread wear bars all I need to know or look at?

[Sparcas]

All seasons and summer tires during the summer i usually let go down to the wear bar. Winters however, i think i'm going to change 1mm above the bar. I don't like the idea of running my winters bald, especially when i need the traction in the winter. My two cents...

[Takumi616]

1mm or less you should make the change.... your winters should last you about 4 years or so if you run it well....


Seeing as most people run their all seasons or summer tires till their bald...

When do people change their winter tires? What tread depth is considred not safe anymore?

Is looking at the tread wear bars all I need to know or look at?

[stevenma188]

^What the OP means is when do you need to throw out your current winter tires and replace them with new ones.

[sube]

I had a P5 I bought used, came with snow tires two were about half worn, and two I bought new. Anyways I put the half worn on the back and the new on the front. swapped out the back for new in less than a week. The back end slid all over the place, just could get no grip with the half worn tires. I think from previous experience snows are pretty much done at anything less than half tread.

Pat.

[Sochi]

It is not only the thread what matters - age plays huge role too. Winter tires are similar to motorcycle tires - needs to be very soft - if old and dry = no traction no mater how much thread you have. I wouldn't risk using winters older then 4 years even if they have half thread left...

[peterm15]

It is not only the thread what matters - age plays huge role too. Winter tires are similar to motorcycle tires - needs to be very soft - if old and dry = no traction no mater how much thread you have. I wouldn't risk using winters older then 4 years even if they have half thread left...

Agreed. The main thing with winters is the softness. I generally put winters on a little early and take them off a little late, just to be safe ( i drive about 150000 KM a year less in the winter so tires dont last me long to begin with). Id keep checking for signes of drying out. I have no idea about this but there has got to be a way to condition the rubber.

[kevcol74]

I had a P5 I bought used, came with snow tires two were about half worn, and two I bought new. Anyways I put the half worn on the back and the new on the front. swapped out the back for new in less than a week. The back end slid all over the place, just could get no grip with the half worn tires. I think from previous experience snows are pretty much done at anything less than half tread.

Pat.

You never put the lower tread on the back. Always the new/better tread on the back. And anything less than 5-6/32s of tread is useless for snow. Most new winter tires have a tread wear bar AND a snow wear bar. Once they pass the snow wear, might as well run them well into summer until they are toast. (save your summers!)
As far as age, 6 years is the magic number, although it also depends on how they are stored and treated. Some only 4, some can last longer than 6.

[SonicBoy]

I believe Tire rack was stating that 6/32 was about the bare minimum and as for tire age, it's usually 6 years from date of manufacture normally determined in the DOT code stamped into the tires.

Tire Rack Link (http://www.tirerack.com/winter/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=157&)

[MrJWU]

Thank you all for your input! My tires are about 2 mm from the wear bar so I guess I should be buying soon.

Thanks again.

[biggiesmalls]

after thanksgiving is the best time just as it starts to hit its coldest temp. or if snow falls early.

[FlashEngineer]

5 years maximum for me, I don't trust any tire beyond that, and by then it should be well worn if you drive often enough.

I would change as soon as temps are averaging around 15, meaning lows from 7-8 to high of 18-19. Plus I don't like changing stuff when it's freezing. YMMV