I have a 1998 3.0 CL that needs new tires. OEM wheels are beat up so I want to replace them. While looking at tires on Costco.com I saw that you can also order Velox wheels through Costco. Prices were great so I took a chance and ordered wheels - 16 inch, 7 inches wide. They use the same size tires as stock - 205-55-16. Wheels arrived at my house, tires arrived at Costco so I went in today to get them mounted and installed. The Costco tire center wouldn't do it because the new wheels are wider than the OEM 6 inchers, citing safety/handling reasons.

I know wider wheels and larger diameter wheels are put on cars all the time. This change appears to me to be quite minor - only changing the width, not the diameter and using the same tires as OEM. Is there really any reason to be concerned or is this just Costco tire center being very careful for liability reasons?

Since it's a Sunday the guys in the shop have to wait until tomorrow to talk to Velox and to their manager and perhaps Costco corporate to see what they can do. At the worst, I can just take in the wheels, have the tires mounted and balanced, bring them home and put them on the car myself.

I'm active on a couple of Corvette forums but this is the first time I have posted on this forum. The Acura is the car that my college student daughter drives and probably will still drive for a while after she graduates and starts working. Once she is ready to move on to something newer, I will probably take this car and enjoy it as an alternative to my 'Vette and mini-pickup. It was purchased new by my mother who gave it to us for my daughter's use a couple of years ago. It only has 81K miles on it and is a great car and looks almost brand new.

Thanks for any wisdom this board can impart.

K9Leader
Red cars are faster. They did a study on it.

 

Costco tire center talked to Velox and now says no problem on installation.

Yeah, I know. You don't care.

 

No, it's not a safety concern putting the tires on an inch wider wheel. That will be a really slight stretch, from what I've heard Costco is just really anal about installing tires that aren't exactly OEM size. I've heard of them denying installation before a few times.

When it's unsafe is when you see stupid stretch like this:

 

Yes they do deny.
I had the same issue with them, when i was buying the tires from them they were all fine with me using wider wheels and spacers, i asked them a few times just to make sure there was no issue.
But when the actual tires came in, they didn't want to touch the car... seemed like a jackass move if you ask me... But i do have a garage and a jack, so i was able to do it myself, still i come from the perspective of taking someone on their word so this still gave me a sour taste in my mouth.

 

Mitch

Long time no see bro