Winter tires -- a Camry

You'll love your Blizzaks! Great choice! …and it looks like you got a great deal! My winter wheels went on last week, ready for the New England winter! I bought a set of Blizzak WS-80s two years ago, put them on a set of steel rims, and have never regretted it! (see threads passim about why seperate rims and how I deal with TPMS)

PS: Each winter I tend to wait until at least the third snow-storm before doing any serious driving, as it gives all the other idiots a chance to re-learn how to drive in snow!

 

I also cross the Palouse on my way to parental care duties, which will be frequent again this winter and spring. The Prius might go next week, but the Subaru will get the rest of the winter duty -- not for the Palouse crossing, but instead for ground clearance and occasional AWD needs at the destination.

Blowing snow? Certainly. Ice? Yeah, it can be icy too, but I thought I-84 through the Columbia Gorge gets worse.

My biggest problems revolve around the Washington State University school calendar, particularly the post-Thanksgiving Apple Cup (WSU-UW) football game. Postgame, it doesn't matter which team's traffic is headed home, there are far too many cars on the road.

 

Phew! I don't envy you folks with all that infernal winter weather. Over here, we softies complain about our mild temperate lows... And the persistent wetness!

 

You do not need to shovel or plow "wetness".

 

What were the "have to do" things? Maybe TPMS rebuild kit? I'm on the fence on that.

 

Your TPMS lithium batteries are getting to that "age" on your 2010. Worst case if you don't do them is a dash light until you do the kits.

 

Well, the rebuild kit does nothing for the battery, just replaces the valve stem and a few rubber gaskets I believe. It may or may not be worthwhile: our car's build-date was aug 09, so it's been a while, there may be some value in replacing the rubber bits. Through Costco it's $3.99 per corner. Through Kal Tire it's $14.99!

I'm ok with the dash light, have it every winter with our snows. I'm also ok with a failed tpms: as long as the sensor and valve stem combo continues to perform the function of a regular valve.

Up here tpms is not mandatory. Yet...

 

So true, mama-to-be.

 

I brought it up because paying for a rebuild kit that age would be a waste if you just have to replace the whole TPMS later due to a dead non-replaceable battery.

 

Yeah, I might be getting into replacement tires sooner than later, and all of that's been on my mind. I'm almost thinking to just get regular valves, but I'd suspect the tpms valves have 4~5 years life. Meh, it's $16 extra at Costco ($60 at Kal Tire...).

 

Since your car came with TPMS it is possible Costco may refuse to install non-TPMS.

 

In Canada no, it's not legal requirement. But knowing Costco pig-headedness, I'm not 100% sure on that.

A moot point though, I'll likely let them do their rebuild kit, only $16. @NutzAboutBolts has mentioned replacing tires several times without doing zip to the tpms, and I think he's spot-on. Still, simpler to just not argue with Costco, and my wheels rolled out of the factory over 8 years ago, I can see the rubber gaskets being due for a refurb.

These are the same $%&66!'s who managed to mount 3 rights and 1 left the last time I got some directional snow tires through them, about 3 hours behind schedule, and didn't blink an eye or even say sorry, when I made the return trip to get it fixed, took another hour or two, the sole counterman going on and on with a green customer about the pros and cons of... I'm ranting, something about that place

 

I was always glad when we had a rainy winter in Chicago for that very reason. You don't have to shovel rain, and it's usually not cold enough to freeze.

Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.

 

But you can always try.

 

Isn't that the temperature point at which the snow tires start wearing faster?