csj0952

They were out of blizzak TSX tires so they put on TL tires. They said they ran them through thier computer and the difference was so miniscule that there would be no problem. Can anyone confirm or deny this so I can have some piece of mind?

Thanks,
Chris

cibs

... hold on so they gave you TL snow tires? or TL all-seasons??

As long as the tire size is close to the same you'll be fine... i don't know offhand what the TL tire size is... but i would imagine seeing as they're both 17's it wouldn't be a HUGE difference...

csj0952

TL snow tires they gave me.

I told them I wasn't buyin the car with regular tires on them. I got a new TSX last week and it's December up here in Rochester, NY and I'm anticipating snow. Figured I'd go with the snow tires instead of the regular all seasons that everyone seems to hate on these forums. I only had to pay to have them changed which ended up being 120 in labor.

mg7726

just look at the sidewall and make sure it's snow tires and not all seasons. post the model # here and we'll tell you...

Reach

Go look at the tires and figure out exactly what they put on. Stock TSX and TL wheels are the same size, so fitment won't be an issue, but TSXs and TLs come with the same all-season tires (Michellin MXM4) so if that's whats on your car, your dealer just pulled a fast one on you.

Either way, I'd call them up and say "On second thought, you order some Blizzaks and let me know when they come in. I'll drop off the car so you can change them out."

I like your thinking by the way, good call getting solid winter tires on the oem wheels. Gonna look for some different rims with summer tires when the spring time comes?

csj0952

Yeah, I want 18" possibly when summer comes.

They put on
Blizzak LM-25s 235/45R17 94H
Tubeless Steel Belted Radial (if that matters)

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

A 235 wide tire on a 7-inch wide wheel might not be the best of ideas...

DuckDodgers

OK, off TireRack.com, the Michelin 215/50VR17's show 819 revs per mile, the Bridgestone 235/45R17's show 820 revs per mile. The difference is, indeed, insignificant.

However, I'm not thrilled about the 235/45 issue. The recommended Blizzak WS-50 215/50QR17 shows 811 revs per mile and a lighter load rating. The problem I see is that you have a wider tire in the winter, when you really want a narrower tire for traction. I'd always consider a minus size for the winter...perhaps a high sidewall (55 or 60) 16" tire.

Also, as noted, the 235 LM-25 calls for at least a 7.5" rim. If you still have a 7" rim on there, head on back to the dealer as you have a safety issue.

In sum, their choice will work (if yiou have 7.5" rims), but possibly not quite as well as the stock size Blizzak. I'll have to leave it to one of the snow area owners who have driven with the Blizzak's to evaluate their performance. I'd also suggest hitting the TL forum to look at their comments on their size Blizzaks.

csj0952

what is the risk i'm running?

csj0952

Is this worth badgering the dealer about to get them changed out, they could charge me labor? if this is really worth it, what is the bridgestone model of Blizzak that I need?

DuckDodgers

The geometry of the tire is not within the manufacturers specifications. By using a small width rim, you are compromising the intergrity of the tire and it's design. It is being torqued in a manner it was not designed for, and the sidewalls are beyond their design specifications. Te result, in terms of the tires, is a probable early failure and a possible tire exiting the rim...

curls

That are VERY wide tires for winter. Typically you want a narrower tire for winter, to cut through the snow instead of float/ski on top of it. This would be my problem with the tires they gave you -- they're WIDE...2cm wider than stock tires, and about 3cm wider than proper winter tires for your car.

The diameter is nearly identical (0.5% off, basically nil). That's good.

The Blizzak LM-25 tire in 235-45-17 s rated quite well on TireRack.com. Blizzak isn't my choice for winter tires but its not a bad choice.

curls

Yes, the risk of a wider tire than optimal for a given rim is that the sidewalls aren't vertical, they're more "mushroom" shaped, which can cause problems with any kind of moderate or agressive cornering. ie: the sidewall isn't aligned properly to support the forces of cornering, which can easily break down the sidewall and cause a blowout, or the bead to come unseated, and also definately some sloppy, mushy handling.

I'd go back to the dealer and tell them you want to wait for the 215-50-17 winter tires and they will put them on for free, because currently, they have you driving around on UNSAFE tires for the rims.

curls

Damnt, past the 'edit window'.

Just checked the Bridgestone website and for that specific tire in 235-45-17, the MINIMUM rim width is 7.5", with an 8.0" recommended width.

For the 225-45-17 size, minimum is 7.0".

So, they are technically putting you at risk by installing the 235 tire on that 7" wide OEM rim. Take action!

TECHNICAL DATA FROM BRIDGESTONE: http://www.bridgestonetire.com/tires...productid=1096

csj0952

Thanks so much for your help. I just called them and I'm replacing them at 5pm today. Just to confirm. What is the optimum size I need? 215-50-17 Correct?

Reach

sound advice. Make sure they get you 215-50-17 sized tires.

Don't let the dealer make you pay any more either. If they want to, a quick call to Honda of America should be warranted. That $120 you already paid is over twice what a tire/muffler shop would charge to mount/balance/install your tires, and they'd probably guarantee the work, unlike Acura service.

curls

I agree on all counts.

loulinjai

my opinion:
winter tires on TL : 215/50/17
winter tires on TSX : 215/55/16 or 205/60/16

You have a higher ratio on the sidewall, and narrower tread width so u plow through the snow instead of "float" across it.

cibs

^^ he's going with the stock rims so he doesn't have the option for 16" tires..

DuckDodgers

csj0952, what did they do? We're kinda interested as to their response to your pointing out they mounted a tire on a rim in violation of the tire manufacters specs?

Da Duck

EuRTSX

I hope he didn't spend another penny to do this.

black label

The current generation of TL uses a larger tire, that would be an issue. I hope they gave you a TL tire from the previous generation, that is actually the same as the TSX.

curls

He already specified what size they gave him, and it was from the current-gen TL, so definately TOO BIG for the car (more specifically, too big for the RIM).

mjp3475

The <sarcasm>AWESOME</sarcasm> John Holtz Acura service department strikes again! I really wish we had a 2nd Acura dealer in town...

csj0952

heya mjp, what has Holtz done to you? Have you done any modifications to your car at all?

mjp3475

Nope no mods. My main beef with Holtz is that they actively try to play on potential ignorance by strongly suggesting you get this service & that, and more often than you really need it. (Typical shady service practices) I thought the service advisor was going to try to give me a lecture for bringing in the car in for the first oil change when the Maintenance Minder told me to, not at 3,750 miles like they wanted me to. I then had to give them a lesson on the Maintenance Minder.

Last time they wanted me to get this $300 "preventative maintenance" service, which over & above the normal oil change, rotate & balance (only 2 tires, mind you) that I pay $70 for, everything was just inspect this, top this off, etc. The only real service they were going to do was "clean the brakes" which definitely isnt worth $230 to me.

I also have to keep reminding them to readjust the tire pressure after rotating the tires. Nothing irks me more than coming home and having to release 2psi from the rear & add 2psi to the front. Also, never let them wash the car--only vacuum--they love to install swirls. Upon delivery they put a lovely glaze on the car so I couldn't see the swirls. It was a snowstorm the day I took delivery, so it wasn't the easiest to look for paint defects, etc. After the first wash, the glaze was gone & the swirls were there.

</rant>