is there such thing as tires too big for your car?

[puffff]

i got a 1997 toyota camry.. got a flat tire the other day and brought it to get patched. turns out my tire can't be patched, i have to get a new tire. so anyways, the guy at firestone also noted that my tires were way too big for my car.. i have 235/60s on right now, the recommended for camrys is 195/70 or 205/65s.. they said they'd be glad to sell me another one matching the other 3 (235/60) to replace the flat, but really recommended me dropping down to a 205/65, saying it'd be safer and i'd get better performance.

is that true? can a tire really be too big? i know there are some car fanatics around ATOT, hoping someone could enlighten me on this.

 

[EyeMWing]

Yes.

 

[FoBoT]

you should use the size recommended by the car manufacturer
why would you use larger tires than the ones that are supposed to be on it?

 

[puffff]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
you should use the size recommended by the car manufacturer
why would you use larger tires than the ones that are supposed to be on it?

i bought the car used a few years ago, the tires came with the car. to replace the one tire is gonna be $80. getting a new set of 4 would cost $300. if it really is a big safety thing, i could pay the $300, but i've been driving a few years with these tires already and it's been ok so far. looking for justification to spend the extra couple hundred bucks.

 

[TitanDiddly]

$300 for tires? Am I the only one who think that's a bit much for a 97 Camry?

 

[oogabooga]

i though that the tire could only be too big if it was too large to fit in your wheelwell.... i'm not a gearhead so i'm not 100% sure. If they've been what you've been using, and you have them at safe inflation pressures, then sure?

 

[puffff]

Originally posted by: PhasmatisNox
$300 for tires? Am I the only one who think that's a bit much for a 97 Camry?

the quote they gave me broke it down to $190 for the tires itself, but then $40 for wheel balance labor, $25 for warranty, a few dollars here and there for disposal, etc, for a grand total of 278... not exactly $300, but i was rounding.

 

[dman]

They aren't lying, that 235 is too big for the rim, if you were makeing a hard turn and/or the tires aren't inflated properly it could come off the rim. I doubt it's giving you much better performance than the 195/205 versions do/did for us/ours (96 camry). Most reputable shops wouldn't even mount the tire, because if something does happen they'd be potentially liable (who knows).

That said, I'd be tempted not to spend $220 more to replace them, especially if they're willing to go ahead and re-do it. Odds are if it stayed on all this time, it'd probably be ok for a while longer.

Keep in mind, you (usually) aren't supposed to replace just one tire, the difference in tread wear and patterns from one side to the other could cause the car to handle oddly.

Not a bad price on the replacement tires, how much wear do the existing ones have, may be worth it to just go ahead and replace 'em al, or not.

 

[Evadman]

Do not replace just one tire. At MINIMUM replace both tires on the same axle.

 

[PCMarine]

Man two new front tires for my Taurus were $207 for everything installed, talk about fricken expensive!

then again, they are 215 or 225 fit for a 16" rim.

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: PCMarine
Man two new front tires for my Taurus were $207 for everything installed, talk about fricken expensive!

then again, they are 215 or 225 fit for a 16" rim.

Hmmmm...Michelins?

For passenger car tires I'd say Costco is stop #1. Anything out of the ordinary needs to come from a real tire shop.