I just got a flat on one of my rear tires. I was ready to replace the 2 rears with a new set, but then realized that winter will be coming soon and I'll be switching to a set of 17in winter tires. I was thinking to just switch out to my winter tires now and drive on those until the winter is over. Is that a bad a idea?

Then I was thinking, to help wear out my fronts, I would just swtich the rears with winter tires. That way I can replace all four of my tires when the winter is over. is that a even worse idea?

 

I dont know how true it is but when i was looking for winter tires i was told to wait as long as possible to put them on because they wear really fast if their is nothing on the road.

so i took that if i wanted them to last for then one winter i should wait. then again this is all just what the service guy told me.

 

i've heard winter tires last quite a long time compared to the normal summer tires.

Also I wouldn't mismatch summer/winter tires, I bet that would lead to some unpredictable traction issues. For example if you run summer fronts and winter rears, you would have good straight line traction but probably mad push when trying to turn, especially in poor weather

 

after reading your post i tried to google some information and most of what i found said that they wear pretty fast because they are softer (but so are summer tires but they give you gip when dry, while winter tires do not because of the way they are made, soft and sort of squishy for the cold winters and snow)

Most everything i found says all seasons are the best but that seems like the ovious thing for them to say because its better alround.

edit - found this, may help http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/2008/0...questions_ans/

If it is colder then they do not wear fast, so i guess it depends what the temp is up to when it starts snowing alot

 

Do not run winter rears and summer fronts. U will crash taking a turn somewhere.

 

Thanks for the info everyone. So I have a slow leak near the sidewall of the tire. Since it's near the sidewall, they say it's not repairable. I don't want to buy a new set of tires just to store them away in a couple months Now the question is, would it be too dangerous to continue to drive on the tire? I don't plan on driving it much (10miles/day) and will take local roads as much as possible