9SpeedTran

I noticed the TPMS showed a couple pounds low on the LR tire on Saturday and I thought oh no. Sure enough, I found a nice nail in the tire, in the outer edge of the tread, I guess you call that the shoulder. It was a slow leak so I pumped it up and went on my way.

I have really bad luck with nails and so I have the local tire shop on speed dial. Fortunately they had a 245/40 R19 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S-3 in stock. I took it in yesterday and the nail was too close to the edge to patch the tire and so I had the new one put on.

I had over 17K miles on the TLX as it is 11 months old, and I was concerned about the differential in diameter/roll rate etc between the new tire and the existing one, and I had the guy measure the older tire on the RR side. He said it had another 2/32" in tread depth before it went out of the range where I could still use it across from the new one.

I am curious how tolerant these AWD systems are for things like this. I would hate to think, given what these tires cost, that any time I picked up a nail that I would have to get two tires (or worse yet, four)!

WheelMcCoy

I too have read that AWD systems work best when all four tires have similar wear. When one has a fractionally different diameter, it stresses the AWD system and wears out components faster. Also during emergency maneuvers, the safeties won't be optimal, or as one tire expert once told me, handling will be squirrely, especially in the case of Michelins.

But I don't know about modern AWD systems or Acura's system. Maybe it can deal with it. Or maybe you need to just change out just the rear two tires instead of all four. Talk to an Acura mechanic... but I find even dealer personnel don't always get it right.

AZuser

If you have problems with the different tread depth between new and old tires (you shouldn't), you can always have the new tire shaved to match the depth of the others.

mksliao

I had a nail in the front left tire the same day I picked up the car lol

2012wagon

^^
Better a nail present from Acura, than a jerky transmission

spoiler900

One possibility is buying 2 tires as mentioned but saving the 1 good tire incase you get another flat. Lets hope you never need that 1 but doesnt hurt to have in your garage if your tires ware patterns arent bad.

9SpeedTran

I did talk to my service folks, they are really good and they know the car, and they said it shouldn't be a problem. So the only pain now is the price of the tire...

Mr Hyde

Didn't see any mention of this from Acura, but in Audi's and other cars, in order to affect the system, you''d need to mount 1 brand new tire while the other 3 are close to the way out.

I typically maintain my cars better than that, and replace tires before they hit their wear bars, so it will never be an issue for me.

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

9speed, what tires came with your OEM 19" wheels from the factory?