Suggestions for tire storage in MA this winter

I'm sending my daughter to school this fall in Amherst, MA. She has a 2014 Toyota 4Runner Limited 4x4. Truck has about 5000 miles.

I want to get snow tires for her this winter. Doesn't seem like a good idea to buy them in SoFla and have her drive up on them and drive them all fall. Ideally, I'd like to buy her the tires up there in the late fall, but I don't want to throw away her summer tires.

Since she will be in school, she won't have room to store the tires. Would a tire place up there store your summer tires for you over the winter? I don't want her to have to rent a storage unit for the tires, too expensive, too sketchy.

Options?

Call a few local tire places in Amherst to find a shop who will hold the other set of tires if you buy from them. There is a good small chain in the Boston area that does this (direct tire), but that is a bit of a drive from Amherst just for tires.

Sonic stole my answer. You may try Jack's in Northfield he's a small shop 25-35 minutes north of u-mass. i'll pm you info. He's my oldest brother.

This is a stretch, but the dorms dont have any long term storage? I know that would vary based on schools. I love snow tires and this goes against everything i believe in, but maybe she would be ok with all seasons? Amherst is pretty good about plowing the main roads, dining halls dont close, and as long as you dont decide to drive to the holyoke mall during a storm. she should be ok.

Thanks for the info.

I don't know about the dorm storage, but she'd have a hard time lugging around 20" tires.

I thought about leaving on the all season tires, but she doesn't have any experience driving in snow and ice. She's a safe driver, but I want to give her every advantage.

44Dwarf wrote: Sonic stole my answer. You may try Jack's in Northfield he's a small shop 25-35 minutes north of u-mass. i'll pm you info. He's my oldest brother.

I will keep that for future reference. Googled but can't find a Jack's tire in Northfield, MA. Got a number or website? Thanks

your daughter has a 2014 4runner? Will you adopt me? My suggestion is send her to a street survival class in addition to the snows. Also make sure she knows the capabilities of her truck - when it's better to turn off the nannies and how it reacts...

She's done a DE at Sebring in my FRS, does that count? ;)

did she do skidpad work at sebring?

Creativity is your friend! Every student needs a table to play beer pong on.

If she is anything like my daughter, the only thing her car will be used for once she gets to school, is keeping the sun off a parking spot. I don't think she has put 5000 miles on her car in 4 years of college. Send her with the all seasons and tell her to stay at the dorm when it's snowing.

If you were closer I'd tell you I had space in my basement.

Just have her run normal truck tires. She's not going to be going out with her truck in the snow, she's going to be too busy being drunk at a snow day party. She is at zoomass.

Leafy wrote: Just have her run normal truck tires. She's not going to be going out with her truck in the snow, she's going to be too busy being drunk at a snow day party. She is at zoomass.

I agree with Leafy. I am surprised that they are even allowing a vehicle for your daughter whom I'm assuming will be a freshman? I wouldn't think anyone would need a vehicle on that campus.

I went to Umass Amherst for a couple of years and drove a FWD Subi wagon on regular all seasons. Honestly, snow tires would be overkill for her. The 4Runner on whatever all seasons it has will MORE than suffice for use there.

The only converse would be if she was a car person and hung out with the umass motorsports people, then snow drifting > snow drinking.

They are Bridgestone Dueler 245/60R20.

I'm not assuming she will be doing much campus driving, but she will be driving back to Florida in December and then back to Zoomass in January. That's what I'm most concerned about.

Plan ahead. It doesnt snow every day.

Like Leafy said, just plan ahead. I had a room mate drive down to nj and another one go to south carolina during the feburary snow store we got. One left early and sleft for the night when the store hit and the other just waited for the storm to pass. RT9 is plowed well, so is I-91 and I-95 and im pretty sure thats all you need to get to FL.

Be careful driving around tho. The stateies don't have much to do besides bust parties and write tickets.