Is a Second Set of Winter Rims Worth It?

Yes, for most drivers who change tires twice a year. A second set of rims means your winter tires stay mounted, so each changeover is a wheel swap instead of a tire change. That is faster, costs less every season, and the savings compound year after year.

The rims cost money once. The savings arrive twice a year, every year, for as long as you own the vehicle.

How much does a second set of rims actually save?

The saving is the gap between an off-rim tire change and an on-rim wheel swap, paid twice a year. On a small car that gap is $35 per changeover. On an SUV or minivan it is $45. Over a single year that is $70 to $90 back in your pocket.

The two prices side by side

All prices pre-tax. Double the right-hand column to get the annual saving, since most drivers change over in the fall and again in the spring.

A second set of winter rims is worth it, and we tell customers so. If they get another set, they are not paying to have tires changed off the rims every single season. They save money on that, and it is far more convenient, because swapping wheels is faster and easier than changing tires. That is the whole case. It is a simple swap instead of taking four tires off four rims and putting four more on.

Why does an on-rim changeover cost less?

Because it is less work. An off-rim change means breaking the bead on four tires, dismounting them, mounting four more, and machine balancing every one. An on-rim swap means the wheels come off the car and the other set goes on. No dismounting, no balancing.

What each service actually involves

Off the rims

• Break the bead and dismount four tires
• Mount four different tires onto the same wheels
• Machine balance all four
• Inflate to spec, torque to spec
• Package the tires coming off

On the rims

• Remove four wheels
• Install four wheels
• Inflate to spec, torque to spec

The balancing is the part that disappears, and balancing is most of the labour. That is why the price roughly halves.

When does a second set of rims pay for itself?

Divide the cost of the rims by your annual saving. A small car saving $70 a year against a modest steel rim set typically breaks even in a handful of seasons, and everything after that is free money. The bigger your vehicle, the faster it pays back, because the price gap is wider.

It pays back faster if

• You drive a large vehicle or a pickup. The Large+ tier saves $230 a year, which is the fastest payback on the list
• You keep the vehicle several more years
• You buy steel rims rather than alloy, which keeps the up-front cost down
• You value the shorter appointment, especially during the fall rush when everyone books at once. See how long a tire change takes

It pays back slower if

• You are selling the vehicle within a season or two
• You need TPMS sensors on the second set, which adds $50 to $70 per wheel position depending on tier
• You have nowhere to store a second set of wheels, which take more space than loose tires

Do you sell winter rim packages?

We can, but we do not sell many, and it is worth being straight about why. Building a package means fitting the correct rim to your specific vehicle, sourcing a matching tire, and mounting the two together. That is more work than a standard tire order and it takes longer to get right.

<!-- OWNER SLOT: FILLED by Nikolas 2026-08-11. Real shop experience. Do not flag as missing. --> We do sell winter rim packages, but honestly it is rare that we do. We need to fit the rim to the vehicle, then find the right tire, then mount them together. It is a possibility and we are happy to do it, it is just a bit harder to fit to each individual car than a straight tire order. If that is what you want, call us and we will sort out what actually fits your vehicle.

If you are shopping for rims yourself, bring us the specs before you buy. Bolt pattern, offset, centre bore, and diameter all have to match your vehicle, and a rim that is close is not the same as a rim that fits.

What about TPMS on the second set?

If your vehicle has tire pressure monitoring and you want it working on both sets, the second set needs its own sensors. Otherwise the vehicle loses contact with them every time you change over and the light comes on and stays on.

The cost of doing it properly

Our TPMS sensor service covers supply, install, and relearn. Some vehicles relearn automatically after a few kilometres of driving. Others need the procedure run with a tool each time the second set goes on. We handle either as part of the changeover.

Key takeaways

• A second set of rims turns every changeover into a wheel swap, which costs roughly half.
• Small car saves $35 per changeover, medium $45, large $65, Large+ $115.
• Most drivers change over twice a year, so double that for the annual saving.
• On-rim swaps are also faster, which matters during the fall rush.
• Steel rims keep the up-front cost down and pay back sooner.
• Budget for TPMS sensors on the second set if you want the system working year round.

Frequently asked questions

How much less does a changeover cost with winter rims? On a small car, an off-rim full set is $70 and an on-rim full set is $35, both pre-tax. On a medium vehicle it is $90 versus $45. You do that twice a year, so the difference is $70 to $90 a year for most drivers.

Do you sell winter rim packages? We can, though we do not do many. Building one means fitting the right rim to your vehicle, sourcing the tire, and mounting them together, which takes longer than a standard order. If you want one, call us at (506) 248-6006 and we will work out what fits.

Do I need new TPMS sensors for a second set of rims? If your vehicle has TPMS and you want it working on both sets, yes, the second set needs its own sensors. Supply and install is $50 for small and medium vehicles and $70 for large. Some vehicles also need a relearn when the second set goes on.

How long does a changeover take with winter rims on? Less time than an off-rim change, because there is no dismounting or balancing involved. A full off-rim set runs about 30 minutes on most vehicles, and a straight wheel swap is quicker than that.