When to buy winter tires - sooner, rather than later

Consumer Reports News: December 03, 2008 04:43 PM

We generally purchase our tires in November and December for our annual round of tire testing. That works out fine for all-season and summer tires, but getting our hands on winter tires has always been a challenge. Tire manufacturers only make so many winter tires and they generally build them in the off-season, not all year long like other tires. As a result, tire manufacturers have to gamble and estimate how many tires to make in the models and sizes they offer. Part of that guess work is better defined by marketing knowledge such as what sizes sell. But the winter tire market is influenced by the weather—something the manufacturers can not control and forecast. Severe winter conditions almost guarantee available winter tire supplies will sell out; while a mild winter could result in a lot of unsold tires that won't find a home until the next winter.

Consumers often don't think about purchasing winter tires until the first snow fall, particularly after experiencing the shortcomings of their year-round tires in snow and on ice. In some parts of the country, winter may arrived in October or November and in milder regions perhaps as late as December. For those who wait, tire pickings could be very limited.

Here's our advice: Think of shopping for winter tires sooner rather than later to get the top-rated model that best fits your driving needs.

—Gene Petersen

See our Ratings of car, truck, and winter tires and find the best one for your vehicle. Plus, see how we test tires.