0% for 12 months on purchases and 0% for 21 m… Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card Calculators How we make money
VOATLAS
How to Pay for Winter Tires and Rims

How to · Auto

How to Pay for Winter Tires and Rims

Get your car ready for the snow by spreading the cost of winter tires and steel rims over eighteen months without paying interest.

VoAtlas editorial Updated · 3 min read
Typical cost $1,400 before anything else
Across the 0% window $77.78/mo 18 months, no interest

How we got that: $1,400 spread evenly across the 18-month introductory window on the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card. Checked · at the bank Carry a balance past the window and the standard APR applies to what is left.

Cars are expensive to keep on the road. Between the registration fees and the oil changes, there is always a bill waiting for you. Buying a second set of wheels for winter saves your nice alloys from road salt and makes the swap faster every year. September is the best time to buy because shops have full stock but no line out the door yet.

Negotiate the price of the tires and rims as a package deal. Ask for a discount on the mounting and balancing if you buy both at once. Once you have the total price, we can look at how to pay for it over time using the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card (Citi).

If you still have a balance after eighteen months, the interest rate jumps to the standard high APR. This is a loan with a ticking clock rather than a gift, so make sure that balance hits zero before the window shuts.

The steps

  1. 01

    Buy in the shoulder season

    Get this done in September. Shops are quiet and they want to move inventory before the October rush starts. You get your pick of brands instead of whatever is left on the shelf when the first frost hits.

  2. 02

    Get the steel rims

    Do not just buy the rubber. Buy cheap steel wheels to go with them. It costs more today but saves you money twice a year because you can swap them in your driveway instead of paying a shop to mount them.

  3. 03

    Use the eighteen-month window

    Put the $1400 purchase on your Citi Simplicity® Credit Card (Citi). You get 0% for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers from date of account opening. This keeps your cash in your savings account while you drive on fresh rubber.

  4. 04

    Set the autopay

    Divide the total by eighteen. For a $1400 set, that is $77.78 a month. Set an automatic payment for that amount so you do not have to think about the bill again until the tires are years old.

  5. 05

    Store your tires properly

    Keep your summer tires in a cool, dry place out of the sun. Stack them sideways or hang them up. Taking care of the rubber you are not using makes the whole investment last several extra seasons.

  6. 06

    Check the card terms before you commit

    Every figure we publish for the Citi Simplicity® Credit Card carries the date a person verified it against Citi and a link to where they checked. Intro windows and APRs change without notice, so confirm the current terms before applying.

    See Citi Simplicity® Credit Card terms →

Common questions

Why do I need steel rims?

They protect your expensive wheels from road salt and potholes. They also make tire swaps a DIY job you can do with a jack.

Is September too early to buy?

No, it is the smartest time. Once the first snowflake falls, every shop will be booked for weeks and prices will go up.

What if I can't pay seventy-seven dollars a month?

Pay as much as you can, but try to find the rest in your budget. Any balance left after eighteen months starts costing you a lot more in interest.

Do winter tires really matter?

Yes, if you live where it stays below freezing. All-season tires turn into hard plastic in the cold, but winter rubber stays soft enough to grip the road.