Winter tires?

I think you'd want to come in with loose rims, which likely means waiving the road hazard and tread-life stuff; Costco are sticklers for only installing car manufacturers' spec'd tires.

That reminds me: the two times I got X-Ice at Costco, they managed to screw up the directional thing. Basically, batting average ZERO. Pretty pathetic.

First time I was a few miles down the road, putting a little more air in them, when I caught it. They had 3 mounted clockwise, one the other way. Or vice versa.

Second time, just last august, I was cagey: they'd mounted them, wrapped them in plastic, and brought them out to the car. I asked them to peel off the plastic 'cus I was relying on the friction, tire stacked on tire, to help restrain them in a panic stop. So I got them loaded, drove a bit away from the loading area, then thought "lets see what they've done for direction". This time all four were mounted the same direction. Another fail.

 

Hmm, that’s interesting. I have had at least 3 sets of X-Ice tires installed on my own rims at Costco (on three vehicles), and have never had any issues with honouring warranties, or screwing up directional installation. I suspect this could vary highly from one location to another. The only complaint I have is that one of the Costco locations nearby one left my 2-year old PiP idling in the parking lot after installing the tires in Ready mode, not realizing they didn’t shut it off. Who knows how long it was sitting there for anyone to jump in and drive away.. And that was at the busiest Costco in Canada - Heartland location in Mississauga, ON. I usually prefer going to the Laird Rd location for the tire shop (also Mississauga), I have always had good experience there, including some all season tires and tire repairs. (For anyone in the GTA…)

 

Costco is ok installing tires, do it all the time, as long as they’re specd size for the vehicle. That’s why I’m thinking you may need to come in with loose rims, to dodge this, if you go for non spec 16” rims. And then they don’t tie the sale to a specific vehicle (odo reading and VIN), and you lose warranty.

sometimes worthwhile to go with a local, more flexible place, even if a bit more expensive.

 

In my experience, Costco would measure the tread depth and give a % pro-rated discount vs a new tire, if it is not repairable. That is what they did for me last summer when I had a puncture that was unrepairable. The tires were about 4 years old and I think I got about 50%, which was somewhat generous. I had to buy one matching tire and they were installed in the rear, per their safety policy.

 

Getting sticker shock looking at winter tires and rims
Toyo Observe G3-Ice Studdable Tires 205/50R17 89T
DAI Replica ELEMENT (Gloss Black) Wheels 17" x 7.0" 5/114.3 35 66.10
TPMS ITM UNI-Sensor for Japanese Cars
Sub-Total CAD$1,838.00
Shipping CAD$167.33
Shipping Discount CAD$120.00
Shipping Total CAD$47.33
Tax CAD$245.09
Total CAD$2,130.42

I haven't pulled the trigger yet, I'm not even sure that's the correct TPMS and I'm waiting to hear back from other places.

 

Considered hitting a wrecker up for some 2016 17" alloy Camry wheels, they appear to want as much for a wheel as a brand new wheel.

 

A good strategy might be to resign to making it through first winter on the stock all-seasons, research rims (compatible Toyota in particular) and just watch for reasonable priced by owner rims.

 

I was actually considering this approach. I likely won't have my Prius for another month or two. It won't be used for regular commuting and it will sit in the garage when it snows. I've driven many winters on nothing but all seasons, so I was thinking of doing that this year and maybe trying to score some take-off rims next spring/summer and then grab some winter tires for next year.

 

I bought 4 wheels and winter tires from TireRack for right around $1k USD

 

4 costco C- wheels 16" diam,<400 on sale.

A local tire shop will do Michelin X ice for about $800 all in.

No Tpms though.

 

I just hate the idea of those pretty alloy wheels in slush and salt and snow...

 

I was looking at the 17" not sure if there's any benefit to going to 16" wheels

 

It's a cost thing. 16" should cost less than 17". And it seems like there are more tire choices available.

As an aside, for 17", there is a Pirelli winter tire that's that same size as the SE OEM tire. Costco shows it but doesn't have it in stock yet.

Except for the Pirelli, it seems like all the choices are WIDER than the stock tire, whether SE or XSE. Shouldn't be enough to cause a clearance problem in the wheelwells, but the usual theory for winter tire is that it's better to go NARROWER, as that supposedly compresses the snow, rather than you floating on top of it.

Such is the theory, anyway.

 

With a 16" wheel you would have more rubber, question is, which is heavier overall?

 

Details, but rubber is less dense than metal. Even if the weights are the same, the smaller wheel will have more of the weight closer inside, which means less rotational momentum to deal with. Less energy to spin them up.

 

Ok so I'm convinced. Going to price out winter tires on 16" wheels. Cheaper wheels and tires, better winter fuel economy/range, sounds like a win/win

 

More tire choices as well with 16". I'm completely stoked with my winter set up. Already have snow here in CO

 

Michelin goes on sale tomorrow... in case i haven't mentioned it enough already. ;p

 

Curious- tpms? Can't remember if you said you'd bought the sensors. Thanks!

 

@Nntw if you’ve got your (16”?) rims I’d definitely trial fit them, front and rear, just the bare rim.