Hi all,
I know it's early but since I got the hail damage ($3000) fixed at my local autobody and repair shop, I decided to get a quote for snow tires. The shop is almost walkable from my home and they offered to store a set of tires for each season if we go forward. I told the manager that this forum suggests steel wheels for snow tires (if you can afford them) and I also brought up the issue of the tire pressure readings. I sent him an email requesting the quote and he came back with the quote (almost $2,000) along with very detailed answers to my two questions: 1) why steel tires and 2) I needed assurance that my tire pressure readings would be accurate. Here is his comprehensive reply, and I thought I would post it in its entirety for those that may have similar questions.
I would also appreciate hearing your thoughts on the quote cost and choice of tires. I like to shop locally and won't be ordering them via an online discount store and then carrying them in for installation. This guy is great -- did a great job on two autobody jobs and loves our Volt almost as much as we do. He teaches a DVM driving training class at the local high school and the school bought a Volt for that course. So we have the only 2 Volts ever seen around here!
Thanks in advance for your thoughts. Below is the text of the email.
Karen
Karen & Pat,
Good morning, and thank you for the compliments. We work hard to achieve
that level of satisfaction every day, with all of our customers. In an
effort to continue that appreciation, I've put together an entire quote for
a complete winter traction package. But first, I feel it would be best to
answer your questions, and it will explain the items on the quote as well.
Making the decision to purchase a separate set of wheels that are dedicated
for winter use is a great idea in many ways. The most obvious reasons are
ease of installation and to maintain the condition of the original equipment
aluminum wheels. Having winter tires mounted on their own wheels makes
preparing your car for winter that much easier. If you have swapped from
tire-to-tire on the same wheel in years past, you understand the waiting
that takes place at the shop. This also invites the opportunity for damage
to the wheel as it is handled several times. Steel wheels are also more
resistant to the heavy corrosion that occurs during winter driving. The most
difficult area to clean is the tight area between the tire and the wheel,
where the seal is made. In areas of heavy salt use, the salt decays the
clear coat on the wheel, and later the wheel itself, making a good tire seal
difficult when you switch back to summer tires. This is typically remedied
by scuffing the wheel to reveal a clean edge for adequate tire sealing.
After just a few seasons, this begins to wear away at the wheel, often times
requiring replacement. Swapping from tire-to-tire also warrants the need to
balance the tire/wheel assembly. Conventional hammer-on weights are designed
to dig into the rim of the wheel to remain attached. This easily gouges the
paint on the wheel, inducing salt corrosion. Stick on weights apply to the
inside of the wheel for better balancing and also provide a cleaner look.
Leaving your original wheels for non-winter use will allow you to keep your
Volt looking great during the warm seasons.
The second question you had was regarding the tire pressure monitors. The
Chevy Volt uses a system that includes a pressure sensor at each wheel. As
we have experienced often times in the past, these sensors are not re-usable
when attempting to swap them from wheel-to-wheel. My recommendation is to
use a new, separate set of sensors for the winter wheels. While this may
increase the initial price of a winter tire package, but remember this is a
one-time cost. These sensors are affixed to the wheel via the valve stem,
and stay with the wheel. If you should choose not purchase a set of sensors
upon the decision of separate winter wheels, a warning indicator will be
illuminated on your dash. While this poses no real threat to the car, this
simply means you will have to manually check the tire's pressure. New
sensors also require recalibration which we can take care of at no extra
cost, and takes just a couple minutes to verify.
The tire vendor we deal with that sells Nokian brand tires recommends the
model "WRG3", which is engineered for Hybrid cars as it offers low rolling
resistance to ensure expected fuel mileage. The same tire retailer also
offers 17" steel wheels for the Chevy Volt, and are as easily available. The
tire pressure sensors would be direct from General Motors, as some
aftermarket sensors have communication issues with the on-board computers,
and the outcome is similar to that of no sensors in place, giving you
warnings on your dash, and is money wasted. Below is a list of the items,
their costs, and necessary procedures and costs, with all taxes included.
4 Nokian WRG3 Tires-----$203.99 ea.
4 17"x7" Steel Wheels----$148.75 ea.
4 GM TPMS Sensors------$69.94 ea.
4 Tire Mount & Balance--$10.00 ea.
4 NYS Tire Disposal Fee---$2.50 ea.
-------------------------------------------
Sub Total $1740.72
Tax $139.25
Total $1879.97
I know it's early but since I got the hail damage ($3000) fixed at my local autobody and repair shop, I decided to get a quote for snow tires. The shop is almost walkable from my home and they offered to store a set of tires for each season if we go forward. I told the manager that this forum suggests steel wheels for snow tires (if you can afford them) and I also brought up the issue of the tire pressure readings. I sent him an email requesting the quote and he came back with the quote (almost $2,000) along with very detailed answers to my two questions: 1) why steel tires and 2) I needed assurance that my tire pressure readings would be accurate. Here is his comprehensive reply, and I thought I would post it in its entirety for those that may have similar questions.
I would also appreciate hearing your thoughts on the quote cost and choice of tires. I like to shop locally and won't be ordering them via an online discount store and then carrying them in for installation. This guy is great -- did a great job on two autobody jobs and loves our Volt almost as much as we do. He teaches a DVM driving training class at the local high school and the school bought a Volt for that course. So we have the only 2 Volts ever seen around here!
Thanks in advance for your thoughts. Below is the text of the email.
Karen
Karen & Pat,
Good morning, and thank you for the compliments. We work hard to achieve
that level of satisfaction every day, with all of our customers. In an
effort to continue that appreciation, I've put together an entire quote for
a complete winter traction package. But first, I feel it would be best to
answer your questions, and it will explain the items on the quote as well.
Making the decision to purchase a separate set of wheels that are dedicated
for winter use is a great idea in many ways. The most obvious reasons are
ease of installation and to maintain the condition of the original equipment
aluminum wheels. Having winter tires mounted on their own wheels makes
preparing your car for winter that much easier. If you have swapped from
tire-to-tire on the same wheel in years past, you understand the waiting
that takes place at the shop. This also invites the opportunity for damage
to the wheel as it is handled several times. Steel wheels are also more
resistant to the heavy corrosion that occurs during winter driving. The most
difficult area to clean is the tight area between the tire and the wheel,
where the seal is made. In areas of heavy salt use, the salt decays the
clear coat on the wheel, and later the wheel itself, making a good tire seal
difficult when you switch back to summer tires. This is typically remedied
by scuffing the wheel to reveal a clean edge for adequate tire sealing.
After just a few seasons, this begins to wear away at the wheel, often times
requiring replacement. Swapping from tire-to-tire also warrants the need to
balance the tire/wheel assembly. Conventional hammer-on weights are designed
to dig into the rim of the wheel to remain attached. This easily gouges the
paint on the wheel, inducing salt corrosion. Stick on weights apply to the
inside of the wheel for better balancing and also provide a cleaner look.
Leaving your original wheels for non-winter use will allow you to keep your
Volt looking great during the warm seasons.
The second question you had was regarding the tire pressure monitors. The
Chevy Volt uses a system that includes a pressure sensor at each wheel. As
we have experienced often times in the past, these sensors are not re-usable
when attempting to swap them from wheel-to-wheel. My recommendation is to
use a new, separate set of sensors for the winter wheels. While this may
increase the initial price of a winter tire package, but remember this is a
one-time cost. These sensors are affixed to the wheel via the valve stem,
and stay with the wheel. If you should choose not purchase a set of sensors
upon the decision of separate winter wheels, a warning indicator will be
illuminated on your dash. While this poses no real threat to the car, this
simply means you will have to manually check the tire's pressure. New
sensors also require recalibration which we can take care of at no extra
cost, and takes just a couple minutes to verify.
The tire vendor we deal with that sells Nokian brand tires recommends the
model "WRG3", which is engineered for Hybrid cars as it offers low rolling
resistance to ensure expected fuel mileage. The same tire retailer also
offers 17" steel wheels for the Chevy Volt, and are as easily available. The
tire pressure sensors would be direct from General Motors, as some
aftermarket sensors have communication issues with the on-board computers,
and the outcome is similar to that of no sensors in place, giving you
warnings on your dash, and is money wasted. Below is a list of the items,
their costs, and necessary procedures and costs, with all taxes included.
4 Nokian WRG3 Tires-----$203.99 ea.
4 17"x7" Steel Wheels----$148.75 ea.
4 GM TPMS Sensors------$69.94 ea.
4 Tire Mount & Balance--$10.00 ea.
4 NYS Tire Disposal Fee---$2.50 ea.
-------------------------------------------
Sub Total $1740.72
Tax $139.25
Total $1879.97