extended mobility tires
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 419
Likes: 1
From: Kelso WA
extended mobility tires
Had a flat this morning with run flats. Costco says they can't replace two run flats with non run flats, that they need to replace all 4 due to issues with handling. I think it's BS. Anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,528
Likes: 752
From: South Dakota
There is a difference in handling, so I think it is not recommended.
However, even with the difference in handling, a C5 will out handle most cars on the road, just not as good as it could be. I ran different fronts/rears a couple of times (for short periods)when I was sorting out my cars and it worked even though it may not have been the best.
They may have company rules about mixing them and not be able to do it for you, so it may not be the local dealer's BS to sell more tires.
In short, it is not the best condition and your car will not handle as well, but whether it is unsafe is questionable. In normal driving there should be no problems, but in emergency conditions what level of handling is considered safe?
Good luck.
However, even with the difference in handling, a C5 will out handle most cars on the road, just not as good as it could be. I ran different fronts/rears a couple of times (for short periods)when I was sorting out my cars and it worked even though it may not have been the best.
They may have company rules about mixing them and not be able to do it for you, so it may not be the local dealer's BS to sell more tires.
In short, it is not the best condition and your car will not handle as well, but whether it is unsafe is questionable. In normal driving there should be no problems, but in emergency conditions what level of handling is considered safe?
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 419
Likes: 1
From: Kelso WA
My rear tires wore out before the front (still trying to understand why that happens on Vettes 
) and I wanted to switch to non run flats but did not have the coin for all 4 tires. I ran the fronts as run flats and the rears as non run flats for nearly a year until I replaced the fronts with non run flats. No handling issues at all and that included some track time.
Not surprised that a tire shop doesn't want to let you drive away with a mixed setup due to liability concerns on their part but others on the Forum have reported the same results as I.
) and I wanted to switch to non run flats but did not have the coin for all 4 tires. I ran the fronts as run flats and the rears as non run flats for nearly a year until I replaced the fronts with non run flats. No handling issues at all and that included some track time.Not surprised that a tire shop doesn't want to let you drive away with a mixed setup due to liability concerns on their part but others on the Forum have reported the same results as I.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 419
Likes: 1
From: Kelso WA
Yeah, I've used them a few times. The last time my favorite local tire shop charged me like $50 to put the fronts on with me bringing them the rims. Then they charged me $80 to do the rears a couple of months later with me bringing them the rims. They lost their position as my favorite shop after that one. Last set I bought at Walmart shipped to store free with free mounting and balancing and the price was about the same as Tire Rack with shipping.
Last edited by bsmutz; Sep 11, 2014 at 06:00 PM.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 372
Likes: 2
From: Richmond BC
I had a similar experience with Costco and my son's Focus. He just needed new rears and they insisted I change all 4 tires because the date codes on the front were more than 4 years old and they would not let it out of the shop like that. The fronts looked near new at the time. I understand that keeping the same tire on either end of the same axle would be a good idea but that seemed overly cautious. I don't remember where I went that time, but it wasn't Costco
