SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – ‘Tis the season to prepare for the season. Like many things on the market, the price tag for winter tires might be steeper this year, and you might need them before you know it.
Cameron Stommel owns Cam’s Automotive in South Burlington. He said car weatherization is not something to procrastinate on.
“Talk to your local shop, whoever you go to, and get on the schedule because once the snow starts to fly, that’s when it gets crazy and you’ll be waiting two to three weeks to get in for tires,” he said.
Stommel said even for them as a business, it is costing more to purchase tires this year. While they try to work with customers’ budgets, some of that increased cost could roll onto you.
“It’s more expensive for us to buy them, to sell them, it’s just all around, prices have gone up,” Stommel said.
I asked if tariffs are playing a role. He said he isn’t sure if that’s the cause as much as availability.
“The only thing we’re seeing is what’s in stock. Normally, we can buy winter tires– as many as we want every day. But it’s starting to be, oh, you have to wait two or three days to get a tire that you maybe got quoted last week but are now not in stock,” Stommel said.
He said some people are trying to stretch the life of their tires to save a few bucks. Others said they don’t bother with tire changeovers and simply limit their time on the road.
Whether you’re switching your tires or sticking with what you’ve got, be aware that winter is on the way.
