Costco wants to replace just two of my tires

[eflat]

So we found a nail in my tire and took it to Costco (where we bought the tires).

They want to just replace the front ones.

I would think that if you at all care about how your car handles it would be more securely and safer with identical tires with about the same amount of wear on them all.

What would you do? Replace two or just do all four? The two good ones have about 50% of their tread and are about 3 years old.

 

[Rike]

Meh, people do that all the time. It's not the best idea for maximum performance, but unless you check the air in your tires weekly and rotate and align with every 3000 mile oil change, you've likely been driving with uneven wear for a long time. And even if you did all of that, most people don't and it doesn't cause accidents all the time.

That said, if I had the money to burn, I'd get four new ones. However, I never have money to burn so I'd be pleased with two new tires.

 

[redgtxdi]

Well...........if they're replacing under warranty, kinda' cool that you're getting TWO tires outta' the deal. (Heck, I'd buy the other 2 myself)

Check me on this one............when you get the 2 new tires, they WILL (come hell or high water) put them on the rear. If you dare ask why, you'll get the 5 minute disertation on how it is mandatory Costco policy. They won't put them on the front even at gunpoint.

 

[eflat]

Originally posted by: Rike
Meh, people do that all the time. It's not the best idea for maximum performance, but unless you check the air in your tires weekly and rotate and align with every 3000 mile oil change, you've likely been driving with uneven wear for a long time. And even if you did all of that, most people don't and it doesn't cause accidents all the time.

That said, if I had the money to burn, I'd get four new ones. However, I never have money to burn so I'd be pleased with two new tires.

heh that was my dad's opinion: "man when I was poor and your age I would wear the tires down to the metal. they look fine to me the hell if i'm getting you new ones."

fast forward three months and one accident where i fishtailed in the rain for about 300 feet until i front ended someone and did $7000 damage to my (and probably their car).


has dad learned anything (remember this is a guy who managed to total two cars (one brand new) in two months?

... "who cares if they are uneven it will be fine"

so i'm in the four camp.

 

[eflat]

Originally posted by: eflat

Originally posted by: Rike
Meh, people do that all the time. It's not the best idea for maximum performance, but unless you check the air in your tires weekly and rotate and align with every 3000 mile oil change, you've likely been driving with uneven wear for a long time. And even if you did all of that, most people don't and it doesn't cause accidents all the time.

That said, if I had the money to burn, I'd get four new ones. However, I never have money to burn so I'd be pleased with two new tires.

heh that was my dad's opinion: "man when I was poor and your age I would wear the tires down to the metal. they look fine to me the hell if i'm getting you new ones."

fast forward three months and one accident where i fishtailed in the rain for about 300 feet until i front ended someone and did $7000 damage to my (and probably their car).


has dad learned anything (remember this is a guy who managed to total two cars (one brand new) in two months?

... "who cares if they are uneven it will be fine"

so i'm in the four camp.

and nope insurance won't pay for it. front tires wore unevenly because of bad alignment.

(conversation six months prior):

(dad): what the hell do you need your car aligned for i haven't had mine aligned since I bought it and it drives fine!


God I can't wait to enter the work force.

 

[Rike]

Originally posted by: eflat
God I can't wait to enter the work force.

Just choose a field that pays well. It's very expensive to have everything "right" all the time.

 

[Throckmorton]

You need the alignment or your new tires will wear fast. If you go to Firestone you can get lifetime alignment for like $100

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: eflat

Originally posted by: eflat

Originally posted by: Rike
Meh, people do that all the time. It's not the best idea for maximum performance, but unless you check the air in your tires weekly and rotate and align with every 3000 mile oil change, you've likely been driving with uneven wear for a long time. And even if you did all of that, most people don't and it doesn't cause accidents all the time.

That said, if I had the money to burn, I'd get four new ones. However, I never have money to burn so I'd be pleased with two new tires.

heh that was my dad's opinion: "man when I was poor and your age I would wear the tires down to the metal. they look fine to me the hell if i'm getting you new ones."

fast forward three months and one accident where i fishtailed in the rain for about 300 feet until i front ended someone and did $7000 damage to my (and probably their car).


has dad learned anything (remember this is a guy who managed to total two cars (one brand new) in two months?

... "who cares if they are uneven it will be fine"

so i'm in the four camp.

and nope insurance won't pay for it. front tires wore unevenly because of bad alignment.

(conversation six months prior):

(dad): what the hell do you need your car aligned for i haven't had mine aligned since I bought it and it drives fine!


God I can't wait to enter the work force.

So why not have (dad) write the check for this one?

 

[thedarkwolf]

I'd just have them plug/patch the one with a nail in it and replace none. If they can't then 2 is fine.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: thedarkwolf
I'd just have them plug/patch the one with a nail in it and replace none. If they can't then 2 is fine.

If OP is paying definitely just plug it...if Costco is paying take whatever they will give you.

 

[theeedude]

Keep the new tires on your driving wheels, and you'll be fine.

 

[moks78]

Originally posted by: eflat
So we found a nail in my tire and took it to Costco (where we bought the tires).

They want to just replace the front ones.

Yep, you can replace just two tires. The new tires will actually go to the back and they'll put the old ones in the front.

Had several tires replaced at Costco and they usually put the new pair at the back.

 

[summit]

costco has lifetime rotate and balance if you buy the tires from costco. why is everybody's panties in a bunch.

 

[eflat]

Originally posted by: moks78

Originally posted by: eflat
So we found a nail in my tire and took it to Costco (where we bought the tires).

They want to just replace the front ones.

Yep, you can replace just two tires. The new tires will actually go to the back and they'll put the old ones in the front.

Had several tires replaced at Costco and they usually put the new pair at the back.

yeah guess why they do that? because if the front tires were newer you would get oversteer because the back tires would be older and have less traction.

That's great for Joe Schmow who does not know how to drive and would shit his pants if he were to encounter any oversteer.

Those of us that have a little fun swinging our cars around windy roads will have to deal with terrible understeer.

 

[eflat]

Originally posted by: Throckmorton
You need the alignment or your new tires will wear fast. If you go to Firestone you can get lifetime alignment for like $100

They will not even put new tires on your car if it is out of alignment.

 

[bruceb]

Two tires is fine. If it is a front wheel drive car, you will find
the fronts wear out a lot quicker than the rears. Rears will
get about twice the life of the fronts since they are not used
to generate traction & do very little work under braking.
Now if it is a rear wheel drive car, then all four wear somewhat
the same & you can minimize it by rotating the tires. Only other
advantage to all new ones, is maybe a bit better rain performance
and possibly a slightly better ride. Depends on how far worn the
other two tires are.

 

[thomsbrain]

AWD cars must have tires replaced in quads or risk extra wear or damage to the differentials. For other cars, I'd say that short of a track-day-only car, you'll be unlikely to notice much difference by replacing in pairs. Even if you change brands, the difference will not be anything approaching a safety risk, even if you drive fast.

 

[thecritic]

On a FWD vehicle, the new tires should be installed in the REAR. As long as the two old tires were serviceable (4/32" or greater), you should install them in the front. It is not mandatory to replace all four if the aforementioned conditions were met:

More info here regarding installing the new tires in the rear: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/...techpage.jsp?techid=52