Winter tire/wheel choice predicament

Well I have a choice to make. I have an extension on my fire season this year, meaning that I will be changing stations to one that gets regular snow and ice in the winter months, and is about a 1.5 hour drive in ideal conditions.

Here are what seem to be the logical choices;

1. I'll be working through February of next year and this could be the only time I need winter tires. I can just buy tires, and pay for them to be swapped and balanced each time I need them (roughly $130 to swap the winter ones on and then go back to my normal tires), and pay that $130 again if I need to use them a second winter.

2. At the same time, it could be nice to be able to just put them on when I go the mountains in winter(not often) and swap back when I'm home and it's warmer. I could buy tires and wheels, and just change them as I need to. Steel 16" wheels are looking to be around $80 each, so this would be much more expensive if I don't need the tires more than once.

Either way, I'll be working about 2.5 months up there, and a set of 265 Bridgestone Blizzaks is just shy of a week's worth of earnings for me at around $650. So roughly 1/10th of my base pay earnings would be spent on simply getting to work, not including gas.

No matter what, an accident would be more costly than either of those options, so I don't know if I should try to use my half worn mud tires on ice or not.

What do you guys recommend? Thanks for the help.

 

I'd look for a good set of used winter tires, and a used set of OEM wheels.
Prices are low for used stock wheels and you might luck out with some good used winter tires. I'd skip the TPM sensors.
I have the Blizzack DMVs and they are really good tires in winter conditions. Makes driving in bad weather fun. Michelin and Nokian have good winters as well.

 

Buy them loose and sell them next year if not needed.

Also run 245/75R16 (stock sr5 size) they are cheaper, and skinnier so they have slightly better winter traction.

A cheap non-studable winter tire is a fine choice, the first year is always good, just look for lots of squiggly siping lines. Westlake has a cost effective tire that performs well for 2-3 years.

 

To build on the 2 previous post you can broaden your searches a little. Current 17” 4Runner SR5 wheels can usually be had for about $200 set around here. Older versions for even cheaper. I’ve seen them for as low as $100 set for good condition wheels.

For tires look for any size in that same diameter ballpark. It’s surprising sometimes how a specific size can have nearly identical specs as another and be way cheaper.

 

You answered your own question. Sounds like a good plan. BTW, you can probably find some OE alloy wheels pretty cheap as well.

Check your local Craigslist.

And here too

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/wheels-tires-marketplace.146/