Clint08TLNAV

Ok so here's what happened to me today.... ok well starting about 6 months ago when I bought 2 new tires.
I had a giant rock in one of my rear tires and they were pretty worn so I got 2 new Michelin pilot sport A/S 3 tires. I wanted to get them from Costco based on their tire finder recommendation (and price) but they didn't have them in stock and I needed them right away. I went to another shop nearby, paid a lot more, and got the same times.

Fast forward and I have front tires that need to be replaced so I order 2 new Michelin pilot sport A/S 3+ tires from Costco and go today to have them put on. Once they get started they tell me they can't touch my rear tires (their policy is to put new tires on the rear if you get only 2) because they are not the proper speed rating. It turns out the first set of Michelins I bought were V rated tires, and Costco says they should have not been put on my car at all, and that we will not move them to the front. I didn't even realize at the time I requested the tires from the local shop that they were only V rated and that this would ever be an issue. The Costco tech seemed like he knew what he was doing and I don't think he was trying to screw me or anything. He said normally Michelin allows you to drop 1 speed rating, but not when they are Z rated tires, and of course W and Y are both technically Z rated because they are over 149MPH.

Is this crazy to anyone else? Should I go to the shop that put V rated tires on my car and try to get my money back?

Thanks for any advice!

Clint

Costco

thoiboi

Get 4 new tires from Costco


Thread closed.

csmeance

sounds like a bunch of baloney...

If it was a load rating I could understand, but the speed rating is worthless for 98% of drivers. Are you planning on going near 140MPH in the near future with these tires? If not, you will have no worries or issues.

For the future, you can buy tires from discount tire direct on ebay (beats tirerack prices most of time) and get them installed at a local discount tire. Much better service, nearly tax free and you get the right product without being upsold.

Adobeman

Costco's pretty strict about that stuff for sure. But I wound't bad mouth them that much since for the tires they sell they are very competitive. I always see my local Costco hand torquing lug nuts rather than running fully on with an impact wrenches. They also once dinged one of my rims and told me before I even got the car back. They payed in full for a new wheel from the dealer and actually gave me the old one back saying "...just in case you ever need it" Other shops that have hacked wheels always respond with "we didn't do that, it was like that when you got here!"

thoiboi

I'm Notnsure if he's bad mouthing Costco so much as misplacing the blame.


Shitty shop did you wrong, Costco won't fix said wrong (they are in the right to do so ) . I doubt you have any recourse with the old shop now so just get 4 new tires (from a proper shop no less) and call it a day

Clint08TLNAV

Yeah guys I'm not badmouthing Costco at all. I actually learned something from them today. Although I do believe their tire selector gave me the option of a V rated tire for my car at some point ultimately the blame falls on me and I believe the other shop as well because they should know better than anyone what tires can go on my car.

i don't plan on going 140mph (or 186mph) any time soon but I like to go with what the manufacturer intended to have on the car when it comes to tires. I guess I'm just a little shocked that I just spent $400 on tires and now I'm spending $650 more.

I'm getting 4 new tires from Costco and going to the other shop to complain and see what I can get out of them since I still need an alignment and I have 2 barely used tires to trade.

VisualEchos

iTrader: (1)

Dude, you're buying TIRES at Costco? What do you expect, someone that knows what they are doing?

1. Buy TIRES from tirerack. Period.
2. Have said tires shipped to a reputable installer, and installed.
3. Win.

thoiboi

What's wrong with buying tires at Costco?

alexb92

Speed ratings aren't just for "top speed" - they also factor load capacities, and uniformity under stress.

While not illegal, it is improper and not recommended to put lower speed rating tires than what the OEM calls for.

The more you know: AGCO Automotive Repair Service - Baton Rouge, LA - Detailed Auto Topics - Can I Substitute A Lower Speed Rated Tire

DavidPooh

i want these rims but not sure if they will fit due to the hub bore..

RIM SIZE:18x9.5
OFFSET: +30
BOLT PATTERN: 5x114.3
HUB BORE: 73.1 or 57.1

VisualEchos

iTrader: (1)

Nothing, if you already know everything you need to know before you walk in, and they won't be installed there. Costco/Wal Mart/Sears, those places are for people that drive Ford Tartus' cars. At least, that's my elitist tire/shopping/installation opinion.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

thoiboi

You're honest and you own up to it, and that's why I like you


They're fine for the lower 99%er's for people with stock specs stock wheels and tires.


I went in asking for non-OEM specs on tires, they hesitated for a bit , but after busting out the old tire calculator online, they realized what was asking for was within a few percentage of the original diameter tire and gave in.

Oh Sickest TL

iTrader: (3)

Oh Sickest TL

iTrader: (3)

dude who are you? You already got your answer many times, no?

Buy hub centric rings

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

There is no law that dictates the same speed rating tire be installed on the car.
There isn't even a law dictating that speed ratings be on tires.
Speed rating and load rating do not go hand in hand.
235/45-17-One can have a W speed rated tire with a load rating 97 (XL), or as low 93.

You'll find that these, shall we say discount stores, have wording:
The tire must meet all vehicle manufacturer’s safety standards and specifications.
Not a bad choice for the majority, lifetime rotation, balancing, repair along with free road hazard,
and comparable pricing, but as they provide no leeway from OEM specs, accept their guidelines or go elsewhere.

DMZ

I have no doubt Tire Rack is a reputable company, but tires are one of those items that should be purchased from whomever installs them. That way, you'll have only ONE entity to deal with in case you ever have a problem down the line.

My 2¢
.
.

VisualEchos

iTrader: (1)

This is no problem, if you like buying trash tires and getting raped, because that's what most local tire shops have to offer. Specialized is the way to go.

1. Buy the tires from a tire specialist.
2. Have them installed at an installation specialist.

If you're worried about having a problem with the tires, buy the warranty. But it has always been my experience that you won't have a problem if you buy good tires, and treat them with respect (monitor the tire pressure, and rotate properly).

Will Y.

Costco is the only place I know of that won't sell off-brand tires or install tires that don't meet vehicle OEM specs.
Tire Rack carries Nexen and some other no name tires I wouldn't want to use even for puttering around town.

The Costco installer also used a torque wrench installing the wheels on my TL after mounting and balancing the Pilot SS.
Costco is bad if an enthusiast wants to upsize the tires slightly or has non-OEM sized wheels, but good for most of the non-enthusiast public.

How do you define or differentiate between a "tire specialist" and a "local tire shop"?

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

Must disagree as there are tire shops that meet or beat the Tire Rack price and give outstanding service along with name brand tires.
There's a shop in Bordentown that the owner attended the modified events when they were run in Flemington, still in business and when I purchased the Yokohama's years ago they were actually less than the Tire Rack price.
Tire Rack installers are not I would call specialists, at least some of the installers listed in my area as I'm very familiar with their operation and some leave a lot to be desired.

VisualEchos

iTrader: (1)

And a full range of reviews for you to compare them to other tires.

Good play.

​Race shop.

There are exceptions, of course, I just have never known local shops, like Auto Tire and Parts, Purcell Tire, Plaza Tire, etc., to do a good job. Most often they are trying to sell tires that are sub-par at a premium price, all the while using an impact on your aluminum wheels.

​I have all of my tires installed by a local race shop, and they have never failed at any part of it even once. No scars on my wheels, no failed balances, no impact on my expensive wheels, nada.

​I certainly didn't mean Tire Rack installers, TR is just for the tires . People should seek out local race shops that do tire installations instead of trying to get the cheapest price.

DMZ

If you're dumb enough to buy trash tires to begin with like Fuzions which is the off-shoot garbage brand of Bullshitstone, then you deserved to get raped. I buy from a REPUTABLE regional tire chain that does sell everything, but I also get the road hazard warranty, which is something everyone should buy no matter how good your tires are if you live in area like NYC. Regardless of which make or model of tire I put on, given the condition of the roads here in the NYC/NJ area, it likely won't be long before you hit that pothole or road debris that NO TIRE will be immune to. I always buy 1st rate tires, and the road hazard warranty has saved me some serious $$$.
.
.

VisualEchos

iTrader: (1)

I don't buy the road hazard warranty, but the roads in my town are pretty much glass smooth in most places. Pretty average road around here.



Tail Happy. by Andrew Thompson, on Flickr

DMZ

And just where is here?
.

NetGnome

I check the torque on all my lug nuts after I leave Costco and for the past several years they have always been wrong, way wrong.
I have been buying tires from them for over ten years. They are convenient for me.
But they will over tighten lug nuts with their impact wrench and then check with a torque wrench to make sure that the lugs nut are at least over specified torque.
They will say to me that since their air pressure is set to 90psi that their torque wrenches can't go higher in torque than that.
But most 1/2" torque wrenches do about 150 ft-lbs of torque on 90psi.
I use my torque wrench to measure what Costco did and I usually find it close to 150 ft-lbs.
And I have checked the calibration of my torque wrench, and it is accurate.
So I just loosen and properly torque all my lug nuts.

Jakes_tl

Yes please share where the glass smooth roads are!

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

I'd say he lives in Missouri

VisualEchos

iTrader: (1)

Yes, Missouri.

A common back-road I drive weekly. Please note the slicks on the car, they're my Summer tires, and have been for years without issue .



In Places of Light. by Andrew Thompson, on Flickr

eastcoastguy

Where in Missouri? I am in good ol Springfield! :-)

VisualEchos

iTrader: (1)

I'm in Cape Girardeau, about 100 miles South of St Louis, and 250 miles East of you. Springfield is a fantastic area.

Another favorite road, just for fun.



The Golden Fleece. by Andrew Thompson, on Flickr

TacoBello

Not necessarily true. What you do is bring 4 wheels in, even if they have tires on, and ask them to put whatever you want on. Obviously they won't stretch tires, but I hope no reputable shop would. As for beefier tires... In the past, I just took my wheels in, without the car. No questions asked.

TacoBello

Road Hazard warranty isn't just for bad roads. I've used it twice with Costco, for the wife's car, after she picked up a nail in the sidewall (once), or a shard of jagged metal (once).

VisualEchos

iTrader: (1)

Never had an issue in 30 years of driving. I guess it depends, again, on the roads you drive on.

csmeance

With that said, we all will encounter roads which we have never been on and find a pothole or something that ruins our day. Had many tire replacements under road hazard in NYC when I lived there. BQE was my nightmare!

In FL I've had to use it on my 7-series more often than any car I've had here, maybe due to the XL load rating and lower profile tires 6 new tires through Discount Tire. Either way, an extra $60 now to save $60-$800 dollars over the next 40-50K miles, sign me up! The plan has paid off more for me than I've invested in it already by nearly a factor of 10! I'm a believer in it.

Also the nice thing about the insurance/warranty/certificates is that discount tire really will work with you on credits. Michelin offered me a paltry $200 towards a 2K set of PS2's for my 760 after the Pilot Sport A/S Plus 2 wore out in 12K miles and had a 40K mile warranty on them. Discount tire refunded me under the road hazard and got me into a new set of Continental DW for under $600 for all 4.