Alloy wheels in the winter

[autoteleology]

I bought a set of TSW Vales this spring, and I've been enjoying them all summer and fall. However, I am wondering if it is worthwhile to put my OEM wheels on for the winter, considering that it costs $200 to put them on and another $200 to take them off each year. If you have alloys, what's your strategy for dealing with the winter? Is it likely, given that I live in the Midwest where the roads are salted, that the winter will damage my aftermarket alloys?

EDIT: Oh, also, wheel tax, obviously. I love how they look with the new 255/45 Pilot Sport 4 All Seasons I just put on. I haven't even washed off the new tire... baby powder... (?) yet.

 

[SHOthyme]

MN kid here, just buy a set of winters like I did, not having to move your tires back and forth between the wheels will pay for itself pretty quickly at $200 x 2 times per year. Plus dedicated winter tires work better in the snow and ice.

 

[luigisho]

X2 above

 

[jman1200]

On all my vehicles I have a second set of rims and tires for Winter/Summer.
I always buy a used set of aluminum wheels of Kijiji (like Craigslist) for the Winter set, in the $200-300 range. I get concentric wheel rings if needed.
Swapping just the tires adds up and a set of used rims pays itself after 1-1.5 swaps. I also get aluminum instead of the common black steel rims which look like crap (IMO). This also gives my vehicles a different look for the time they are on.
I swap them myself and lubricate the calipers every time I do this. Never had a seized caliper since I started doing it myself.

 

[luigisho]

If you have stockers, just use those and save $ on buying a set of wheels. If something happens to the one of the wheels you don't have to worry about finidng a used single replacement. There will be a bunch out there. I used to have aftermarket out of production wheels. Cracked one in a big pothole and had 3 wheels and difficult to source a replacement. Expensive lesson

 

[rubydist]

imho, if it costs you $200 to get your tires swapped out, you need to find a new tire shop. Discount Tire is $22 each for mounting and balancing in this part of the world, for example.

 

[Ta2dResqr]

imho, if it costs you $200 to get your tires swapped out, you need to find a new tire shop. Discount Tire is $22 each for mounting and balancing in this part of the world, for example.

$22 x 4 =$88, add in shop fees, and taxes. Then they start nickel and diming you with things like TPMS rebuild kits and such and it can vary easily creep up to ~$200.

The best answers I've seen are to invest that money in some snow tires. Then swap them yourself every season.