If you find a friendly dealer, you can probably get the Gislaved 16" and wheel package for less than $1000. Invoice is around $800 or so I think. Acutally, negotiate them into your deal when you purchase. The dealer is NOT going to kill the sale of an Aero over the fact that they make only $50 on the winter tires.

Changing a tire is hardly a difficult task. Go buy a floor jack for another $100 and use that. It takes me 30-45 minutes to do the entire swap, tops. AND, you should be rotating your tires anyway so that makes it easy. I know, I should rotate more often than just twice a year but I get away with it. Incidentally, I swap winter/summer tires on 2 cars - not a big deal.

Regarding the cost... Well, the Michelin tires are not going to last too long for me (I'll get 20,000 miles out of them I think) so their tread life is not great. Frankly, I'm looking forward to replacing them (had 3 flats in 12000 miles now). Generally, snow tires do not have as long a tread life as an all-season. Nonetheless, those are miles you are not putting onto the Michelins. In any case, it really isn't costing you any significant money except the upfront cost.

Finally, with a low profile 17" tire and snow/ice packed roads, it's pretty easy to bend a wheel or possibly slide into a curb or something. Getting a wheel fixed or replaced is not cheap either. The 16" wheels with a higher profile tire will reduce the liklihood of damaging wheels.

All in all, my conclusion, snows are safer for me in winter. Summers are safer (and more fun) in summer. Changing the set takes me 1-1.5 hours a YEAR (I spend more time watching the Simpsons every month than that). The cost, other than the initial outlay, is negligible at best and may actually be cheaper in the long run.

So - go buy a winter tire/wheel package and do it yourself. In my opinion, no reason not to.

Check out my review of the Gislaved's from last winter:

http://www.saabnet.com/tsn/bb/9-5/index.html?bID=1532

Bryce

• Aero - NorthEast & Summer Tires, RF, Fri, 11 May 2001 07:41:01
  • Just a picture, Joe , Sun, 13 May 2001 07:21:51
  • Picture of Saab Snow Wheels, Joe , Sun, 13 May 2001 07:19:43
  • Even if the Aero had all-season tires, the only responsible thing, AdamB , Sat, 12 May 2001 12:18:47
  • Re: Aero - NorthEast & Summer Tires, saw, Fri, 11 May 2001 19:04:41
  • Re: Aero - NorthEast & Summer Tires, Manumad, Fri, 11 May 2001 12:24:17
  • You don't want all seasons on an Aero, Coolknight, Fri, 11 May 2001 10:34:36
  • Get the Gislaved package and swap 'em yourself!, Bryce, Fri, 11 May 2001 08:28:11 <-- Viewing This Message
    • Re: Get the Gislaved package and swap 'em yourself!, RF, Fri, 11 May 2001 10:14:41
      • Re: Get the Gislaved package and swap 'em yourself!, TAB, Fri, 11 May 2001 11:54:13
      • Re: Get the Gislaved package and swap 'em yourself!, Bryce, Fri, 11 May 2001 11:15:16
    • Couldn't agree more ..., Caspar, Fri, 11 May 2001 09:16:32
    • Re: Get the Gislaved package and swap 'em yourself!, TAB, Fri, 11 May 2001 09:14:10

No Site Registration is Required to Post - Site Membership is optional (Member Features List), but helps to keep the site online
for all Saabers. If the site helps you, please consider helping the site by becoming a member.

• Prev by Date: (none)
• Next by Date: (none)
• Main 9⁵ Bulletin Board

StateOfNine.com

SaabClub.com

Jak Stoll Performance

M Car Covers

Ad Available

The content on this site may not be republished without permission. Copyright © 1988-2024 - The Saab Network - saabnet.com.
For usage guidelines, see the Mission & Privacy Notice.
[Contact | Site Map | Saabnet.com on Facebook | Saabnet.com on Twitter | Shop Amazon via TSN | Site Donations]

Random Saabnet.com Member Gallery Photos (Click Image)