My TÜV is due in November and I'm wondering if I should buy winter tires on sale already now. With all the discount promotions in August, I could save some money. Does that make sense or should I wait until September?
I'd actually advise against buying them now - the August discounts on winter tires are really minimal. The right time comes once fall gets closer and people start panicking because the first snow is threatening. Specifically: September through October are the best months to really save money, and you'll still have time before your November TÜV inspection. Does it make a difference for your planning how long you need the tires beforehand - like, whether you want to drive them before having them mounted?
I'd advise against buying them right now 🙂 August discounts on winter tires aren't really that impressive - the really good deals don't come until September/October, when demand picks up and dealers want to attract customers. You've got until November anyway, and storing them at home takes up space too. If your TÜV inspection isn't until November, you can comfortably wait until mid-September - you'll find better deals and your tires will be fresher.
How much do you actually drive in fall and winter, or is your car mostly for city driving?
In my case, it went like this: I bought the tires once in August because there was a sale going on, and then they sat in my basement for three months. A pain when you don't have much storage space. Plus, in August you just don't know yet how much your driving habits might change by November - maybe you'll suddenly do more long-distance driving and need a different tire type.
The others are right that the real deals come later. But that's not even the main point. September and October is when things get really competitive with the offers, because everyone starts to panic and tire shops offer deals accordingly. If your TÜV inspection isn't until November, you've still got a nice window of time. My tip: buy sometime between mid-September and October, then you save more and don't have to store the tires for so long.
I see it differently - August purchases have definitely paid off for me because I had the tires mounted right away instead of storing them somewhere. The three months of storage that others mention are only a problem if they're sitting around somewhere; when a professional mounts them, they last just as long.
What really matters more is how much you're driving. If you're regularly covering longer distances starting in September/October and not just puttering around town, I'd grab them as soon as you see a good price - whether that's in August or September doesn't really matter. Your TÜV appointment in November gives you plenty of time to have them mounted beforehand anyway.
Don't buy the tires in August yet - the price advantage is minimal and you'll just be dragging them around for three months unnecessarily. That's what happened to me: I bought them in August because I wanted to save money, and they ended up sitting in my garage until October. The really good deals don't come until September, when fall gets closer and the pressure builds. Just wait another four weeks.
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