Tires, tires, tires

lmacmil · June 2005

Now that the tires makers are saying tires older than 6 years should be replaced, should we start using the full size spare when rotating? In theory, that should extend the treadwear about 20%, right?

ruking1 · June 2005

Absolutely ! Positively! I'd do it regardless of the new 6 year recommendation. But even more importantly, chances are you have a front engine front, wheel drive car. So the front wears easily 2x faster than the rears. Usually one side or the other wears faster. The spare will spread that (in theory) over more tires. So again in theory your tires should last longer.

tidester · June 2005

Now that the tires makers are saying tires older than 6 years should be replaced, should we start using the full size spare when rotating?

It would seem to make even more sense now to rotate the spare since it would become useless after six years of just sitting in the trunk!

tidester, host

yurakm · June 2005

Thanks for information. My tires wear out every 3-4 years or so. Well before they would rot. Did not realize, though, that it applies to spare too. Hopefully it takes longer for spare to rot, because it is not exposed to elements: no snow, sun, mud, no oil and dirt from roads. However...

Never saw advertisements for doughnut spares. Even on Tire Rack. Are they available, for example at Firestone, and how much would they cost?

pao · June 2005

I would say the spare is expose to less wear and tear..due to no road contact..but still is exposed to the elements....ever look under the car and see all of the contamination?..a simple undercarriage wash isnt going to remove all the road grime.....and unless that spare is in the trunk..it is still exposed.....most SUVs carry the spare under the chassis.....most spares for cars are in the trunks

imidazol97 · June 2005

Are most internal spares in cars the small donut type spare rather than full size? So people aren't going to need to include those in the rotation. AND are the donut spares made of rubber that's longer lasting since they're meant to be spares and unlikely to be replaced during the 15 year life of the car?

kyfdx · June 2005

If I only need the spare in an emergency, all I care is that it holds air for 50 miles or so...

After all, that is all the emergency use that you can get from run-flats, once they lose pressure.

jnm1 · June 2005

I have a Toyota Tundra 2WD SR5 that I would like to put some snow tires on...moving to nebraska...any suggestions for replacements brand name and quality really could use the help it's my first first real wheel drive vehicle in the snow and I know tires can make a big difference...its and 05 and has the dealer tires still on it. Thansk so much! Jen :confuse:

mz6greyghost · June 2005

Unfortunately, it's too early to think snow tires, and manufacturers won't start offering them until September at the earliest. You may find some leftover '04 tires out there, but I'd avoid them and wait.

For winter tires, Bridgestone Blizzaks are available, and are probably your best bet for the price. I'd check with tirerack.com in early fall, they'll help you to pick out a good set of winter tires for your truck.

Also, I've driven both 2WD and 4WD pickups in the winter (I like in upstate NY, a definite snow belt area!), winter tires will help, but you should also buy a few sandbags (about 200-300 lbs. worth) and throw them in the bed, directly above the rear axle. The added weight will help traction in back immensely!

Good luck!

stever · June 2005

throw them in the bed, directly above the rear axle

Just remember that any loose object will become a projectile in the event of an accident. Prudence suggests netting or otherwise securing the sandbags if you go that route.

Steve, Host

dawg_fan · June 2005

I'm wondering if you know what is the largest BFG all-terrain i can run without rubbing on stock suspension with no lift. comes with 265/70/17 bridgestone dueller A/T which is a really good tire in my opinion but i want somehting more aggresive, even though it will cut down on MPG and roughen up the ride a little.

marsha7 · June 2005

Also, Kelly-Springfield and Dunlop are now owned by Goodyear...

stever · June 2005

Yep, if you look at a union made tire list, you may be surprised to see who makes what. (There's about six hundred tire factories around the world making all sorts of brands and private label tires; with the DOT code, you can find out when and where your tires were made - link).

Steve, Host

tntitan · June 2005

I am pretty close to buying a 1991 LS 400 which I believe came with only 15 inch wheels. Would I be able to fit 16 or 17's on this model?

Driftracer if you are hanging around what kind of wheel would you recommend for me on this one. I still don't want chrome and I want spokes that are easy to clean brake dust off on a routine basis.

andys120 · June 2005

I can't answer for Driftracer (he said good bye to TH about 8 weeks ago) but I'd recommend you check w www. tirerack.com. The best way to make it east to clean brake dust is to clean your wheels thouroughly and apply a good wheel polish like Meguiar's.
It's working great for me.

dodgekbad · June 2005

I bought a '98 Explorer recently with unmatched tires. It had 2 Firestones in front, and 2 other off-brands in the back. One of them in the back was toast, and I replaced it with another off-brand I found used for $35.

They're all Radial and the same size, but my issue is with the thread pattern on the one I just bought. It looks different than my others despite they're mixed-and-matched. I think the one I just bought is not all-season or something - the thread pattern looks similiar to this: http://www.michelinman.com/catalog/tires/MichelinLatitudeXIce.html?tiretype=5&tire=13

Does that big part in the middle mean it's a Winter Tire automatically? The tire in question has one as well.

While my others have a thread pattern resembling this: http://www.michelinman.com/catalog/tires/MichelinLTXAT.html?tiretype=5&tire=2

kyfdx · June 2005

If the tire is all-season or a winter tire, it will say M+S somewhere near the tire size or tire model name.. Since you are all mismatched, that is the only thing that really matters.. If it does not say M+S, then you might have problems later when the weather gets bad...

regards,
kyfdx

dodgekbad · June 2005

Please explain. I am not sure what you mean by "since you are all mismatched that is the only thing matters..."

What is the only thing that matters?

Also - why will I have trouble later in nasty weather? I guess for $35 bucks, I can live with driving it until the weather gets bad anyway. Thanks partner.

Oh yeah and just a correction to my prior post: I believe it's called tread - not thread.
Nick

kyfdx · June 2005

The thing that matters is that you have all mud and snow (M+S) tires.. Otherwise, a summer tire will cause you problems once temperatures drop..

If you have three different brands or models of tires on, then tread pattern isn't all that important.. just that they all be M+S tires, so that they react somewhat the same when conditions change..

Personally, I like to have the best tires in the rear, as that contributes to more stable handling..

regards,
kyfdx

pao · June 2005

it appears you may have bought used winter tire ....see if the others are M&S rated...that indicates an all weather tire......the used one you just bought if a true winter tire...will wear fast in every day driving in the summer..

you are referring to the tread pattern and that center groove....dont know the answer to that...generally you should have the same size and same type of tire on the same axle...

the other issue you might want to be concerned about is if the firestones on the front were part of the recall of tires a few years back...dont recall the style of Firestones...ATX.s maybe...they were the OEM tires....that caused all the lawsuits over tire failure.....best bet....replace them all!

andys120 · June 2005

I'd recommend against running mismatched tires on any vehicle even in summer
weather. For example if you are forced to brake hard during a downpour you might have unequal braking and trigger a skid, not a good thing with a vehicle as top-heavy as your Explorer.

dodgekbad · June 2005

I just checked, and they are in fact all M + S or M/S. Andy, you may have a point about the top-heavy, trait of the Explorer. It doesn't seem to corner that well.

While inspecting the tires for the M&S; I noticed one of the sidewalls on the other off-brand one is cracking.

Do you buy used tires? Is this a good idea? I am not buying that I need to pay top dollar for a Michelin, because it's Michelin.

Nick

andys120 · June 2005

I don't buy used tires although I have done it in the past. Trouble is unless you're an expert it might be hard to tell if a second hand tire is any good.

You certainly don't need to buy Michelins just to get the Michelin brand, lots of perfectly good tires come from companies like Toyo, Kumho, Yokohama and Cooper that don't cost what Michelins do. Check the Tire Rack and the specials in your local newspaper.

capriracer · June 2005

ARE YOU CRAZY????

An Explorer - known for its tendancy to rollover - on 3 different types of tires and one of them is a USED tire - that you don't know where it has been or what abuse its been subjected to?

Friend, buy new tires - all the same size and design. Your chances of surviving the ownership of this vehicle will be greatly improved.

dodgekbad · June 2005

I am one step ahead of you. I was actually looking at Ford recalls yesterday to see if the Firestones I had on the front, were oem, and subject to recall and sure enough - THEY WERE.(So for the past 2 weeks I've had 3 different type tires, including one used one, and also including the bad tires with the blow-outs and all.)

The recall expired at Ford, but Firestone is still taking them back. I said what the heck and told them to replace the other mismatched ones too - so I'll get 4 new ones, but only pay for 2. Thanks all.

Nick

16521 · June 2005

Wondering if anyone here has tried the new turanza el400 tire?
Haven't heard much about this tire yet.

drex1 · June 2005

I have noticed a significant variation in my tire pressure based on the outside temperature. At what temperature should I check my tires for the "cold" pressure (max temp in the afternoon or first thing in the morning or something near the daily average)?

Second, I have heard that some tire places are beginning to use Nitrogen to fill tires. Is this correct and what benefits does this bring?

Thx.

sduford · June 2005

Filling tires with nitrogen is basically a scam. First of all, regular air already contains about 80% nitrogen. Secondly, you need wheels with two valves in order to suck the air out one valve and put the pure nitrogen into the other one.

wwusd · June 2005

I have now owned a set of Goodyear Comfortred tires for three months, and they are the worst tires I've ever had. I researched extensively before deciding to spring for these "premium" tires for my '04 Pontiac Vibe. The tires are the correct size for my vehicle. As soon as the speedometer hits 60 + , these tires start to shimmy and shake so badly that I can barely hold the wheel. I've been back to the installing dealer (WalMart) and have also seen a Goodyear Gemini dealer in hopes of resolving the issue. Despite paying for balancing and an alignment, which I suspect I didn't need, the tires are as bad as they were from day one. I contacted Goodyear, but they provided no help at all. Looks like I'm stuck with an expensive set of tires that perform horribly. With all the positive reviews I've seen on these tires, I'm perplexed as to why this is happening. Bear in mind the shaking is not just an annoyance, it is downright hazardous, not to mention the source of much driver fatigue on the highway. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm longing for the cheap OEM tires that were on my vehicle when new. :lemon:

bretfraz · June 2005

Why not take them back and have new ones installed? If the tires are a problem after all the other work they've done, replace them. What is Goodyear's defective replacement policy? It sounds like you special ordered them thru WalMart. What is their defective replacement policy?

For future reference, find the best tire and alignment place in town and use their services. When problems like this arise, the national chains and mass marketers do not hire the best technicians available. You need someone with skill and experience to find out what the problem is. It's prolly the tires but who knows?

Finally, decide what you want and focus on getting that. Do you want the tires replaced? Do you want to get rid of them? Do you want a different Goodyear model? Be specific and you'll have a better chance of getting what you want.

Good luck and keep us posted.

capriracer · June 2005

Yes, tire pressure varies with temperature.

1) Rule of thumb: For every 10 degrees F change in outside temperature, the tire pressure will follow - 1 psi.

2) Because tires generate heat when operating, the inflation pressure will rise.

3) Tires absorb energy from the sun.

When to check? When the tires have been idle for at least an hour and 1/2. Mornings are good.

Nitrogen? It has some real benefits (reduced oxidation, more stable pressure build up), but for street usage it just doesn't make sense - unless they are doing it for free.

Hope this helps.

ruking1 · June 2005

Just to piggie back on Capriracers post.

A lot is made of checking the TP when it is cold. (many definitions and snap shots of what that means) .

So if you need to fill it when it is hot, hot adds app 4-6 psi.

So for example on a 44 psi max sidewall tire,(GIVEN THE SAME AMBIENT TEMPERATURE) , and you take a "hot" reading of say 30 psi., chances are you are really at between 24-26 psi "cold".

So if you want or need to fill it while it is "hot" or at operating temperature then add 4-6#'s for 34-36 psi and check and adjust if necessary when "cold" Given the 4-6 psi operating temperature increase, it should be pretty close to your ideal of 30 psi (in this example).

Another for example, to add to Carpiracers post. On a cross country trip, I have operated in ambient temperatures of 20 degrees to 104 degrees: range of 84 degrees.To give one a feel, Rocky Mountains when cold (20 degrees) in summer?? and at ALTITUDE to -282 feet (Death Valley in summer with a mild 104 degrees)

So according to Capriracers rule of thumb data PSI can vary 8.4 PSI! So as one can see, the unknown is: when you filled and at what temperature did you last fill.

micweb · June 2005

You said:

I have now owned a set of Goodyear Comfortred tires for three months, and they are the worst tires I've ever had. I researched extensively before deciding to spring for these "premium" tires for my '04 Pontiac Vibe. The tires are the correct size for my vehicle. As soon as the speedometer hits 60 + , these tires start to shimmy and shake so badly that I can barely hold the wheel. I've been back to the installing dealer (WalMart) and have also seen a Goodyear Gemini dealer in hopes of resolving the issue. Despite paying for balancing and an alignment, which I suspect I didn't need, the tires are as bad as they were from day one. I contacted Goodyear, but they provided no help at all. Looks like I'm stuck with an expensive set of tires that perform horribly. With all the positive reviews I've seen on these tires, I'm perplexed as to why this is happening. Bear in mind the shaking is not just an annoyance, it is downright hazardous, not to mention the source of much driver fatigue on the highway. Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm longing for the cheap OEM tires that were on my vehicle when new.

I beg to disagree. While Goodyear has some tires that perform better/worse than others, or are better/worse value, they still remain one of the world's best manufacturers and don't make truely horrible tires. The ComforTred is supposed to be pretty good.

I think the problem may be bad balancing at Walmart. I have not had good balancing from them. Try a shop that has the Hunter GSP 9700 "Road Force" balancing machine and get them to rebalance for you. If it solves the problem, talk to customer service at Walmart. While their auto department service is mediocre (not really bad, just not good), their customer service is usually very responsive.

ruking1 · June 2005

Yes, there is a distinct possibility that you may have gotten a lemon or defective tire. However the GSP 9700 will highlight that very fast.

wwusd · June 2005

Micweb-

While I appreciate your response, how can you "disagree" with my experience? I'm not imagining the extreme shaking on the steering wheel at speeds over 60. I wondered if the problem might be on WalMart's end, so I did take the car to an authorized Goodyear dealer (reread my original post) and they could find nothing wrong.

Bottom line: I'm still stuck with four expensive tires that suck!

WWUSD

tireguy · June 2005

Dealing With Wal-Mart 101:

Unless you're hearing thumping sounds at lower speeds, it seems more like a bad balance job than bad tires. Wal-Mart does have more than adequate equipment to properly balance your tires. It's just a question of who is operating it. Take your car back in one more time, not to the same store, but to the next closest Wal-Mart. Go M-F from 10am-4pm, when the "A Team" is working, not an evening or weekend when the part-timers are working, and see if they can correct the balance problem. You might want to pull the weights off with a Channel-Lock pliers beforehand to make sure they actually re-balance them and not just check them out. Don't mention that you did this of course, and act surprised when they tell you there weren't even any weights on the wheels. Rival stores love to laugh at how incompetent the crew across town is.

If it still shakes, after the re-balance, take it back to the original Wal-Mart and raise hell. It's entirely possible that you got some bad Goodyears, as their quality is not what you would expect from such a revered brand. I'm a die-hard "buy American" kind of guy, but I would never waste my hard-earned money on a Goodyear tire. But that's just me. There is little love in my heart for the French, but they make a damn good tire, and when it comes to the safety of my family and performance of my vehicles, that's all I really care about.

If they're still unwilling to replace your tires, take down the names of the team leader and general manager and inform them that you are going to contact the home office in Bentonville, Arkansas, to voice your dissatisfaction. You'll be surprised how quickly their attitude changes.

Hope this helps.
Chris

1racefan · June 2005

"If they're still unwilling to replace your tires, take down the names of the team leader and general manager and inform them that you are going to contact the home office in Bentonville, Arkansas, to voice your dissatisfaction. You'll be surprised how quickly their attitude changes."

It is amazing how many hoops some of these big box store managers will suddenly jump through when you threaten to call the corporate office. As a matter of fact, one of my buddies that was in management for one of these big box stores (won't mention which one) said that it was his company's policy that they would not offer any promotion to any manager that had had a complaint called into the corporate office for 6 months.

marsha7 · June 2005

I am not commenting on your tires, as others have made valid comments...but you noted that your alignment was probably not needed...while I do not believe I waste money on maintenance, I would certainly consider it wise to have alignment checked with ANY new set of tires...since poor alignment is probably the #1 cause of premature tire wear, getting aligned with new tires is like buying a new shirt with a new suit...IMHO...getting alignment checked, even if it is perfect and needs no adjustment, is a wise move at least once yearly...

kcwolfpack59 · June 2005

Just got some last week and love them. I don't have any balance issues. I just wanted a quality quiet tire. So far I am completely satisfied. The quiet is phenomenal and I would like to rave on and on about it. I feel like my 8 year old Monte Carlo is Lexus quiet.
I replaced Michelin X-1s which I thought were noisy from the start but did not get any worse. And I know better than to compare old tires to new tires. The Comfortreds handle about as well as the Michelins did when new. I hope they hold up as well as the Michelins I have had in the past.
A close second to the Comfortred is the Michelin Harmony, currently on my other car since Feb. 05, replacing Avid Tourings. The Yokos were fine new, but after 35K, did not hold a balance well and wore more than expected. The Harmonys take low speed big bumps a little rougher, but everything else is better. Harmony is the best Michelin I have ever owned. I still think they are great. They are probably the 12th set of Michelins I had over the last 25 years with two cars. I would have automatically stuck with the Michelin this time and not considered the Comfortreds had it not been for forums such as this and Tire Rack.
WWUSD... Get someone to check for a bent rim. It is easy to bend them during tire installation. I know first hand. I bent one myself.

pathstar1 · June 2005

Here's a question for the experts.

I have a 1993 Mazda RX-7, "slightly" modified, but with stock wheels. They take 225-50-16 "V" tires. Current tires are Mich. Pilots, but they are almost worn out. These tires worked well on warm dry roads and in rain, but are "ball bearings" when the temp. is below about 5 C (until they warm up), and they are completely useless if there is ANY snow on the road. I like to use the car as long as possible (it hibernates on jackstands all winter), but around here (Edmonton Alberta) you never know what will happen in April and September. I'm always worrying about getting caught in snow!

So, after a friend started using Nokian WRs on his RX-8 all winter, and finding they work so well even now, I'm contemplating putting them on my RX-7.

Of course the tire salesman says they will have "more traction" than the Pilots even on warm dry roads. Does anyone think the 300+HP of my RX-7 will trash these tires? I'm aware they are not "V" rated, but I have never exceeded 200 km/hr (even though the car is capable of closely approaching 300 km/hr) and usually don't operate the vehicle above about 140 km/hr.

kyfdx · June 2005

Those would be a decent choice for a winter tire, but your handling is going to drop way off compared to your Pilots...

Forget speed ratings or top speed... you'll lose a lot of performance just going around corners at 40 MPH..

pathstar1 · June 2005

Perhaps, but my question implies "why?" After all, the salesman says they have "more traction" ;-) . The rubber feels softer and stickier. Am I going to end up with rubber balls on the road? Do the Pilots get even stickier when warm?

Yes, the car goes around corners at least twice as fast as any "normal" car, but what makes the Pilots better for cornering?

kyfdx · June 2005

Your salesman is wrong.. Yes, they'll have more traction in snow.... But, summer tires have the best grip in dry, warm weather (some even grip better in the rain)... Plus, stiffer sidewalls, which contributes to better handling..

I'm all for the Nokians for half the year, considering your location.. But, I'd get some Michelin Pilot Sport PS2s for the rest of the year...

regards,
kyfdx

sduford · June 2005

Agreed, the salesman is full of it.

flytedhy · July 2005

2WD Tucson came with the street tire Hankook H418. I do a lot of off road driving on trails and would like to get something more puncture resistant. I don't care about snow/rain/mud traction as I rarely see those conditions, just want a tire better built for rocky roads. Tread design is not an issue either as the current tires get me everywhere I want to go, so the issue again is just puncture resistance. Also is there some place that will give you credit for tires with only 1000 miles or will I be left to find a buyer on my own? Worse case scenario is that I just use these tires as long as I can and replace them when they fail. Can't find any ratings on the H418 and anyone know how much these things cost? I assume that since its an OEM tire, it lower end, even though they are H speed rated. Thanks

asutherland · July 2005

I totally understand what you are going through! I have a 2004 Honda Accord and I bought 2 new Goodyear tires from Walmart and my car has driven miserably ever since...I, too had them rebalanced as well as got an alignment and it was still driving poorly (shimmying and shaking around 60 mph). SO, I finally took my car to Honda where a friend of mine is a mechanic and turns out the problem IS with the tires. He put all 4 of the tires on this "wheel" and while it was spinning my tire he showed me how the Goodyears "wobbled" from side to side. Bottom line" Defective Goodyears. So, I brought my car back to Walmart and told them I would like different tires because the ones they sold me were defective. First the "technician" suggested that maybe I had bent rims (um, NO) and then they insisted on replacing them with the same type of Goodyear tire, I told them that I would like a Michelin or some other brand instead because the odds were probably high that if 2 Goodyears were already defective then the others were too. They told me they didn't carry any other brand in my size. So, now I have 2 brand new defective Goodyears on my car and I think I might lose my mind.

stickguy · July 2005

bummer. Try a Goodyear authorized store (one with the big Goodyear sign). They should be able to deal with a warranty issue like that, even if you bought them at WallyWorld.

bretfraz · July 2005

If it's a private labeled tire model (like the Goodyear Viva 2), the only place to get them exchanged is WalMart because that tire is made for them.

I'd find out what their defective exchange policy. If the tire is truly a mfr defect (and I believe it), there should be a policy describing what to do. It might be in their tire catalog which is usually found next to their tire display in the automotive dept. I know I've consulted the catalogs and all the WalMart-specific policies are outlined there for all brands.

Why not let them install two new Goodyear tires and see how they do? I mean, how much worse can they be? Out of round tires is not unusual and installing several tires to find two good ones is a reasonable action. Your options beyond that are not too appealing (special order another brand, get a refund, go someplace else and buy another two tires, etc). Let them install a couple of tires and take it from there.

edwardn1 · July 2005

...is posting here again? He's been gone for years, but his posts on tires in the past were excellent. Hope he stays around this time.

asutherland · July 2005

Hey, thanks for your response. I did have them install 2 new Goodyear tires to replace the 2 that I had just purchased and they are just as bad. The Goodyears that I have are called "American Eagles." Is that a private labled model? Maybe I would be better off going to a different Walmart, maybe they carry a different tire for my car. Maybe they have technicians that are nice. Maybe, just maybe.

Tires, tires, tires

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