Tire Conundrum... seasonal advice needed (long)
 

I live in the DC Metro Area- a region with a short and relatively mild winter (thankfully). I bought my Boxster in March 2005 as a daily driver and I am now worried about the coming winter months- as my car is currently set up with Summer Pilot Sport Tires (17inch).

I DO NOT plan to drive the Boxster in snow or freezing rain; however, I would like to drive it through the winter months.

After doing a bit of research it seems I have several options:

1) Keep the Summer Pilot Sports on the car and drive carefully in 45 degree and below weather.

Cost $0, but driver filled with anxiety for a couple of months.

2) Because I DO NOT plan to drive in the snow or freezing rain I could swap out the 17 inch Summer Pilots for 17 inch Ultra High Performance ALL SEASON Kumho ECSTA ASX tires and then switch back to the Pilot Summers in the Spring (I would use the same set of wheels—is this okay?).

Cost $400 plus installation and finding a place to store the Summer Pilots

3) Purchase a whole separate set of 16 inch wheels with 16 inch Ultra High Performance ALL SEASON Kumho ECSTA ASX tires.

Cost Unknown… probably at least $1000…plus I would need to store the wheels and tires currently on the car…

Any thoughts on these options? I would like to do this as cheaply as possible without placing myself, or more importantly anyone else, in danger.

Thanks as always.

03 986