Costco Tyres

[EmilysDad]

Michelin's guidelines are that new tyres should go to the rear & Costco hide behind that & won't move. Likewise when I wanted just 2 tyres for my R Class .... they'll only fit 4 because it's 4 wheel drive.

 

[LostKiwi]

I had a similar argument years ago with a tyre fitter. They would only fit new to the rear (on a front wheel drive car. In the end I said fine, do it. Then took it out their bay, jacked it up with my jack and swapped them front to rear myself in front of them. Never went back.

On a front drive car all your braking, acceleration and steering is done with the front wheels. All the rears are there for is to stop the bodywork dragging on the ground.
If you have front grip you have control.

Less clear cut on a rear drive car.
There is always the argument that you managed to drive to them with knackered rear tyres without killing yourself....

 

[EmilysDad]

I had a similar argument years ago with a tyre fitter. They would only fit new to the rear (on a front wheel drive car. In the end I said fine, do it. Then took it out their bay, jacked it up with my jack and swapped them front to rear myself in front of them. Never went back......

Costco kindly said I could take just two wheels in to them ..... lol

 

[Swifters]

Yes the Vaneo is front wheel drive although all my other Mercedes have been rear wheel drive. Either way, I have never lost the back end of a car, to me if you lose the back end its down to poor driving, too fast into a bend etc.

 

[Blobcat]

The argument with fitting the new tyres to the rear is that most peeps can deal with a slight front end slide but when the rear lets go it does big style and comes round on you which most can’t deal with.

 

[Swifters]

The argument with fitting the new tyres to the rear is that most peeps can deal with a slight front end slide but when the rear lets go it does big style and comes round on you which most can’t deal with.

I can understand that but to lose the back end takes some dangerous driving in my books.

 

[Rory]

On a front drive car all your braking, acceleration and steering is done with the front wheels. All the rears are there for is to stop the bodywork dragging on the ground.

The big danger is cars suddenly letting go at the back on fast, wet, bends - doesn't matter if they're front or rear drive. Watch the YouTube videos that show it.

It's fine to do whatever you think best on your own car, that only you drive. But it's a different kettle of fish if someone else drives, or if you're in charge of looking after your kids cars.

ESP etc should cope with this, but there are still plenty of cars around without it.

 

[Blobcat]

I can understand that but to lose the back end takes some dangerous driving in my books.

It doesn’t though and when it goes it goes fast, front end goes with much more notice. Understeer is built in and people are used to the front taking a wider line that they plan when hard on the gas. From the back end following nicely to going backwards through the hedge is a mere nano second

 

[Botus]

it was either ch4 Driven or Fifth gear that did it but I can't find it... it explains (if you can't drive and like to over do it in bad weather) why you put them on the back...

here's a nasty USA version

 

[ajlsl600]

go back. they should at least have given you the option of straightening it FIRST. mind you,frankly ,with hindsight ,next time give yr wheels a good look over BEFORE taking car in. i go and watch,whenever this goes on with my cars.

 

[keefysher]

go back. they should at least have given you the option of straightening it FIRST. mind you,frankly ,with hindsight ,next time give yr wheels a good look over BEFORE taking car in. i go and watch,whenever this goes on with my cars.

Unfortunately elf and safe tea is given as a reason to banish you from watching at our local Costco. So pop off and get a chicken & bacon bake whilst they do the change

 

[Swifters]

go back. they should at least have given you the option of straightening it FIRST. mind you,frankly ,with hindsight ,next time give yr wheels a good look over BEFORE taking car in. i go and watch,whenever this goes on with my cars.

I did, that's why I got two new tyres. I just didn't inspect the spare because it is under the car and not easy to get to

 

[JBell]

I'm still not convinced that fitting the best two tyres to the rear is best though

It is the best way

 

[JBell]

On a front drive car all your braking, acceleration and steering is done with the front wheels. All the rears are there for is to stop the bodywork dragging on the ground.
If you have front grip you have control.

Nothing to do with it, newer tyres on a car with the same size all round is all about stability under braking particularly in the wet.

When you brake the front of the car loads up "pushing" the tyres on to the ground therefore increasing grip, the rears do exactly the opposite and "unload", therefore having more tread on the rear particularly in the wet will increase the available grip and lessen the risk of aquaplaning.

All tyre manufacturers recommend it, Michelin really push it

 

[LostKiwi]

All tyre manufacturers recommend it, Michelin really push it

All manufacturers recommend it because it's the safe option for 90% or more of drivers hence avoids litigation.
Weight transfer when aquaplaning will make virtually no difference. Once the tyres are on the water film it's all done and dusted and all you can do in a FWD car is hang on if you have no grip.
A front drive car in the wet in bends will understeer like a pig if front tyres are worse than rears. Personally I'd prefer a little oversteer and use of throttle to control it.

On an RWD car I'd prefer new on the rear.

 

[ajlsl600]

on my G,s i always put new on rear, mind you i never let fronts get bad. and i had option of 4 wheel drive,remember? the days when it was considered that we were bright enough to "decide" if or not to engage 4x4 also, remember G was sincro transfer and hydraulic activated diff locks not like L/R, ALIAS MF. i remember 1 xmas in amboseli it poured down and i spent a day dragging "sheds" ,sorry L/r ,s out of the mud

 

[LostKiwi]

on my G,s i always put new on rear, mind you i never let fronts get bad. and i had option of 4 wheel drive,remember? the days when it was considered that we were bright enough to "decide" if or not to engage 4x4 also, remember G was sincro transfer and hydraulic activated diff locks not like L/R, ALIAS MF. i remember 1 xmas in amboseli it poured down and i spent a day dragging "sheds" ,sorry L/r ,s out of the mud

90s RR classic was viscous coupled automatic engagement of centre differential. Everything else was manual engagement.

 

[ajlsl600]

90s RR classic was viscous coupled automatic engagement of centre differential. Everything else was manual engagement.

maybe those i was pulling out dont know where levers were ?

 

[LostKiwi]

maybe those i was pulling out dont know where levers were ?

More usually trying to go too far before engaging it. If you're stuck it's too late....

 

[Frontstep]

Can't see Costco bashing it straight but whilst it looks bad its only the edge of a steel wheel.

The tyre needs removing and the wheel straightening.