Where do you store winter tyres for driving in Europe?

PaulMike

Hey all, so winter tyres sound like a really good idea for driving in winter even in France. (France "recommends", Austria "requires" winter tyres).

There are two constraints though. Firstly, cost. Second, and even bigger for me, is storage of a spare set of tyres. Living in a flat.

I'm sure a lot of people are facing the same constraints. Appreciate if you can share your thoughts.

Did you end up driving across the channel on summer tyres with a set of snow chains in the boot? Bought a set of 2/4 winter tyres? Where do you store them if so?

Franz_Ferdinand

Are you actually going to a country that requires them or do you want them for uk use?

BeenThroughItAll

Two pairs, two piles, one piece of glass. Hey presto! A practical and attractive alternative coffee table!

AdrianC

I keep my winter tyres in my shed - and, when they're on the car, I keep the summer tyres there instead. I use them in the winter months in ALL European countries - including the UK.

Does your block have any common area available for storage?

As for cost - well, while they're on the car and wearing, you aren't wearing the summer tyres - so the cost per mile is roughly even. The only extra cost is a second set of wheels - I normally pay about £25-40 for a set of four.

Iceweasel

I keep mine in the garage, but I have a mate who stores them under the bed.

In Lidl stores (across the Channel) they sell a 'tyre tree' for stacking Winter tyres and wheels.

http://www.lidl-service.com/cps/rde/SID-4BBECC92-353A4CF0/lsp/hs.xsl/product.html?id=6149821&title=STOJAN

Never seen them in the UK though.

neilmcl

Some main dealers and tyre fitters offer a storage service, at a price.

agrinnall

In the long term cost isn't really a factor as you're only ever using one set of tyres so the others will last longer. Are you looking at just tyres or wheels/tyres? If you had storage I would recommend wheels/tyres as you can just swap them yourself, but without it tyres may be a better option and find a local independent tyre fitter who will offer you a decent price for purchase, storage and swapping when needed.

I'd also suggest that you consider using the winter tyres over the winter in the UK rather than just swap them for a European trip.

PaulMike

AdrianC wrote: »

Does your block have any common area available for storage?

Unfortunately, no.

AdrianC wrote: »

As for cost - well, while they're on the car and wearing, you aren't wearing the summer tyres - so the cost per mile is roughly even. The only extra cost is a second set of wheels - I normally pay about £25-40 for a set of four.

I have (old) alloy wheels, and assumed it would be not cheap to get another set of 4 alloys. Having said that, the cost of replacing and re-balancing the tyres on the existing alloys is £40 for a set of 4. New winter tyres start at £60 per tyre.

Should I be looking at "pre-owned" winter tyres at all?

Gloomendoom

I keep the set for my wife's car in the garage when not in use. I haven't bothered fitting them this year as the car is now shod with all-season tyres.

Perhaps a better compromise if space is restricted.

AdrianC

PaulMike wrote: »

I have (old) alloy wheels, and assumed it would be not cheap to get another set of 4 alloys.

For what car?
I bought a second set of standard-fit alloys for my current car for £25. For a previous car, I paid £40.

Should I be looking at "pre-owned" winter tyres at all?

Would you normally buy part-worn tyres...? Remember, the reason many part-worn winters are on sale is that they cease to legally count as winters in many countries once they get below 4mm tread.

agrinnall

Gloomendoom wrote: »

Perhaps a better compromise if space is restricted.

But only if the countries that the OP may be travelling to accept them in lieu of proper winter tyres, and I'm not sure whether they will.