This is not your normal tire question
12-27-2018, 06:26 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
This is not your normal tire question
Most tire posts are about what brand of tire should be purchased. This post asks, should I replace my existing tires.
We plan to take a long roadtrip this summer traveling around 7500+ miles. I currently have 17,344 on the original tires but will have around 19,500 by time we hit the road. Even though I have plenty of tread now I am somewhat hesitant to take such a long roadtrip on lower tread Summer Only Tires especially given that I am sure we will hit plenty of heavy rain storms while driving on the northern U.S. highways.
So this is my dilemma, I estimate I will have a total of 27,000 on the tires before we arrive back home. By then especially the return leg of the trip I could be below 4mm (62% worn) or maybe even 3mm (78% worn) of tread left. Not the best for rain soaked roads.
If you were in my shoes would you replace the tires with new Pilot Sport All Season ZP Tires BEFORE hitting the road rather then squeezing every mile out of the original OEM tires?
We plan to take a long roadtrip this summer traveling around 7500+ miles. I currently have 17,344 on the original tires but will have around 19,500 by time we hit the road. Even though I have plenty of tread now I am somewhat hesitant to take such a long roadtrip on lower tread Summer Only Tires especially given that I am sure we will hit plenty of heavy rain storms while driving on the northern U.S. highways.
So this is my dilemma, I estimate I will have a total of 27,000 on the tires before we arrive back home. By then especially the return leg of the trip I could be below 4mm (62% worn) or maybe even 3mm (78% worn) of tread left. Not the best for rain soaked roads.
If you were in my shoes would you replace the tires with new Pilot Sport All Season ZP Tires BEFORE hitting the road rather then squeezing every mile out of the original OEM tires?
12-27-2018, 06:41 PM
#2
I would put a new set of tires on the car and call it a day. No need to concern yourself with tire safety on a vacation. Just one less thing to worry about.
Have a great time!
Have a great time!
12-27-2018, 06:43 PM
#3
I only got about 30k out of my fronts.
The following users liked this post:
Maxie2U (12-27-2018)
12-27-2018, 06:44 PM
#4
You're not going to burn off as much tread on 7,500 highway miles as you would 7,500 miles stop and go. Check them before you leave and if they're still good to go swap them when you get back,
The following 3 users liked this post by FLEXjs:
12-27-2018, 06:48 PM
#5
Team Owner
I would replace them after the trip, but you really seem concerned with driving in the rain with worn tires so I guess for piece of mind change them prior to leaving.
The following 2 users liked this post by dvilin:
jimmie jam (12-28-2018),
Maxie2U (12-27-2018)
12-27-2018, 07:12 PM
#7
Team Owner
Member Since: Aug 2007
Location: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
Posts: 136,148
Received 2,402 Likes
on
1,366 Posts
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Seems a slam dunk to me
Blow a tire out in the middle of nowhere and have to wait (for possibly days) for replacement(s).
Change 'em BEFORE you go (greater chance of a worn tire going flat or blowing out than a newer one)
Blow a tire out in the middle of nowhere and have to wait (for possibly days) for replacement(s).
Change 'em BEFORE you go (greater chance of a worn tire going flat or blowing out than a newer one)
Last edited by KenHorse; 12-27-2018 at 07:16 PM.
The following users liked this post:
Maxie2U (12-27-2018)
12-27-2018, 07:24 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Jan 2006
Location: Down south in Dixie
Posts: 6,801
Received 2,639 Likes
on
1,702 Posts
That's where I was going Maxie. If they're on your mind now, there's no need to be worried about your tires while you're trying to enjoy your road trip.
12-27-2018, 07:42 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Oct 2005
Location: Left Coast, San Diego
Posts: 6,654
Received 2,093 Likes
on
1,207 Posts
12-27-2018, 08:10 PM
#11
Safety Car
Since "worn out tires" are already causing concern for @Maxie2U, I'd recommend replacing them before the trip for peace of mind. Driving 7500 miles and worrying about every little shower or rain storm doesn't sound fun. Neither does hydroplaning on worn out tires. The wear on a new set will be negligible, and full tread depth in an unexpected downpour would give some reassuring grip in the wet.
The following users liked this post:
Maxie2U (12-27-2018)
12-27-2018, 08:14 PM
#12
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Apr 2001
Location: Ex-SF Bay Area; now happily Denver area
Posts: 8,133
Received 144 Likes
on
93 Posts
A third option might be, depending on your vacation schedule, having Tire Rack ship new tires to a place where you could have them mounted along the way. You could have them shipped ahead of time and it shouldn't take much time to get you up and running.
12-27-2018, 08:46 PM
#13
Melting Slicks
Forget Tire Rack!
Discount Tire or DiscountTireDirect.com will send your tires to any one of their stores nation wide.
And your lifetime balancing is good anywhere you go. If you do road hazard, DTC can get tire next day delivery to the store.
You decide... Tire Rack? Why?
Discount Tire is the best tire company to deal with!
Try the AS3+.
Discount Tire or DiscountTireDirect.com will send your tires to any one of their stores nation wide.
And your lifetime balancing is good anywhere you go. If you do road hazard, DTC can get tire next day delivery to the store.
You decide... Tire Rack? Why?
Discount Tire is the best tire company to deal with!
Try the AS3+.
Last edited by MikeERWNC; 12-27-2018 at 08:47 PM.
The following 2 users liked this post by MikeERWNC:
Maxie2U (12-28-2018),
Rebel Yell (12-28-2018)
12-27-2018, 08:48 PM
#14
Melting Slicks
You can always tell a Jarhead, You just can't tell them much.
12-27-2018, 10:34 PM
#15
Moderator
4/32" (0.125" or ~3.2mm) is considered the minimum tread depth for maintaining wet traction. By your estimates, you'll be at that or better. So, if the thought really bothers you, replace them before you go. I probably would wait until I got back.
12-28-2018, 08:27 AM
#16
Administrator
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
Posts: 342,980
Received 19,299 Likes
on
13,972 Posts
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Why worry about it while trying to enjoy your vacation - go ahead and get them replaced before you leave and have a good time on the trip.
The following users liked this post:
Maxie2U (12-28-2018)
12-28-2018, 08:40 AM
#17
Race Director
How about putting on a set of fresh tires now, but keeping the old ones to sell to someone else to recoup some of the cost?
The following users liked this post:
Maxie2U (12-28-2018)
The following users liked this post:
Maxie2U (12-28-2018)
12-28-2018, 12:10 PM
#19
Team Owner
Member Since: Sep 2000
Location: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
Posts: 23,938
Received 2,051 Likes
on
1,362 Posts
St. Jude Donor '13
Maxie-
We have the A/S ZP on a second set of wheels/sensors, and swap out each Spring/Fall with the PSS. Since I'm an occasional autocrosser and track rat, that works well for me.
We have used the A/S as our touring tire because it's usually cold weather (below 40'F, or snow) somewhere along our trips, they have worked fine for temps up to 90'.
If you think you might be using your car like ours, then the cost of the extra wheels/sensors is worthwhile and you can install the A/S before your trip.
If not, then I'd just put on the A/S before and be done with it. As others have mentioned, the peace of mind and actual safety of the new tires are worth something.
Assuming you couldn't sell or swap your used tires for something, you will be losing something around $250 worth of life from the PSS. With hotels/food/gas/misc/wear, we spend almost that much per day on a trip.
We have the A/S ZP on a second set of wheels/sensors, and swap out each Spring/Fall with the PSS. Since I'm an occasional autocrosser and track rat, that works well for me.
We have used the A/S as our touring tire because it's usually cold weather (below 40'F, or snow) somewhere along our trips, they have worked fine for temps up to 90'.
If you think you might be using your car like ours, then the cost of the extra wheels/sensors is worthwhile and you can install the A/S before your trip.
If not, then I'd just put on the A/S before and be done with it. As others have mentioned, the peace of mind and actual safety of the new tires are worth something.
Assuming you couldn't sell or swap your used tires for something, you will be losing something around $250 worth of life from the PSS. With hotels/food/gas/misc/wear, we spend almost that much per day on a trip.
The following users liked this post:
Maxie2U (12-28-2018)
12-28-2018, 12:23 PM
#20