Keep a winter set? We swap it at your home or workplace, rebalance as needed, and check TPMS on both sets. There's no shop to wait at, and no four tires to wrestle into the back seat.
The calendar
There are two changeovers a year, and they tend to land when everyone else is booking too. Here's how the year lays out for most drivers in Snohomish County.
The visit
The job is different if you keep your second set on its own wheels. Tell us which you have when you book, and we'll quote the right one.
| Your setup | What we do | Balancing |
|---|---|---|
| Two sets, each on its own wheels | We swap the wheels and torque them to spec | Checked, and rebalanced as needed |
| Two sets of tires, one set of wheels | We take one set off the wheels and mount the other | Balanced after mounting |
| One set of all-weather tires | No swap needed. Rotate them to keep the wear even | Rebalanced as needed |
Either way, the lug nuts are torqued to your manufacturer's spec with a torque wrench, and you get photos of the finished work. Since the wheels are already off, it's also a good time for a rotation and a look at your brakes. If a tire on the way out has picked up a nail, we can look at a flat repair too.
The tires
The label that matters for snow is the three-peak mountain snowflake, which means a tire has passed a snow traction test. Here's how the three types compare.
| Type | What it is | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| All-season | Most do not carry the snowflake symbol. Many carry M+S, which is based on tread design, not a performance test. | Mild, wet winters, staying off the passes |
| All-weather | Year-round tires that carry the snowflake symbol. | One set all year, with occasional snow |
| Winter | Rubber made to stay flexible in the cold, and a tread made for snow and ice. | Sustained snow and ice, and regular mountain trips |
Not sure which fits how you drive? Tell us what you drive and where you go, and we'll recommend a few options with prices. We can source the set and install it, or install a set you've already bought.
Stevens Pass
US-2 runs from Everett through Snohomish and Monroe up to Stevens Pass, and the rules at the top are not suggestions. Here's what WSDOT's signs mean.
| The sign says | What it means |
|---|---|
| Traction tires required | Passenger vehicles need approved traction tires. Vehicles over 10,000 lb GVWR need chains. |
| Chains required | Chains or an approved alternative on all vehicles except all-wheel drive with all wheels in gear. All-wheel-drive drivers must still carry chains. |
| Chains required, all vehicles | In extreme weather, WSDOT can require chains on every vehicle, including all-wheel drive. |
Approved traction tires are generally marked M+S or carry the mountain snowflake symbol, and need at least 1/8 inch of tread. Not every M+S tire qualifies, and studded tires don't count as chains. Ignoring a posted requirement can bring a $500 penalty.
Conditions change quickly and these rules are WSDOT's to set, so check before you leave: Stevens Pass conditions and the WSDOT winter driving guide.
Tire makers including Michelin and Nokian use about 45°F as a rule of thumb, since that's around where all-season rubber starts to stiffen and winter rubber stays flexible. It's a guideline, not a law. If you're driving over Stevens Pass, book before the first snow rather than waiting for the temperature to settle.
Washington allows studded tires from November 1 through March 31. WSDOT can extend the period if conditions warrant it, but individual drivers don't get exceptions.
We stack the set that comes off wherever you'd like it at your home, in the garage or a shed. Keeping them somewhere cool and dry, away from sunlight, helps them last.
If your second set is on its own wheels, it may have its own sensors, and your car may need a relearn when they go on. We check TPMS on both sets at the changeover and quote any sensor work before doing it.
Yes. We check the tread on every tire. Washington's rules for approved traction tires call for at least 1/8 inch of tread, so it's worth knowing where yours stand before the pass does it for you.
Book service
Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. We reply with a price and the next open window.