Tire Recommendation(s) Requested

Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 132

In reading the posts on the SHLD forum, I understand that several of you work in the automotive repair segment of the retail industry. As such, I hope you can bring your wisdom to my (likely simple) car predicament.

Getting to the point, I drive a 1993 Plymouth Acclaim that is in very good condition and has front-wheel drive. My issue relates to tires. As of today, I am driving without a spare tire. Three of my tires are 1989 models; the fourth tire is a 2004 75,000-80,000 mile Goodyear Regatta (positioned on the passenger front side of the vehicle). Since I do a fair amount of driving annually, and being paranoid, I absolutely must purchase a tire so that I then have a spare. However, I have been brainwashed to believe that when one purchases tires, it must be done in two’s or four’s to maintain a balance in tread wear. So, I am asking this forum (1) how many tires should I purchase, (2) what model tire(s) should I look into, and (3) where should I place the new tires on my vehicle? The tire shop I visited today warned me about using twenty-year-old tires – “They are not safe!” – and specifically recommended Hankook H714 tires. Any thoughts? At present, I am thinking of replacing only the front two tires, resulting in the 2004 Goodyear Regatta becoming my spare.
The official size of the tires needed for my vehicle is (allegedly) P1857014. Thank you, in advance, for your suggestions. Smile

Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 545

I'll bite., and I'm not a tire person. Go to a trusted used tire dealer and put on 4 good used tires, and don't pay alot of money. Don't buy retread's I've done that a few times and regretted it. If your asking this question I'm going to assume you can't really afford to put on new tires. Yes you need a spare. Take the best of the ones you have currently on your car and put it on your spare. Use it only if necessary. Look at the tires that they are trying to sell you that are used and look at the tread. Do the penny trick. I believe if you put a penny in the tread it should go at least 1/2? Maybe I'm wrong about that, I've had so many used cars in my life, but I've tired not to skimp on my tires and brakes.

Now if you can afford new tires, get at least 2 and put them on the front., take the best of the 4 and put them on the back. Then budget and get two more tires. Put one one on the spare. If you end up having to use the spare... your at least gonna be able to get a few miles and hopefully to a used tire shop.

Don't use credit. Use cash.

Also there is a mileage rating on tires that the salesperson won't tell you about. Do a little research on tires. Tire people will always try to sell you their most profitable tire but it's not necessarily the BEST tire. I have the guys in automotive give me good advice and I have a trusted mechanic that works on all my cars at Sears. He's the only one that does anything on my cars, but he's been with the co. a long time and never given me a bad piece of advice. My advice is to start talking to your long time mechanic's and also talk to other long time mechanics at other company's. Knowledge is power.

Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 132

After reading your response, bc5yr, I elected to purchase a set of four tires. My research led to placing Goodyear TripleTred tires on my vehicle and I've been loving them over the 600 miles I have already driven since their installation. My ride is a ton smoother than before. Also, I now have a full-size spar in case of an emergency: the 2004 Goodyear Regatta was placed into my trunk. (After inspecting the four tires that were replaced, the cracks in the lone 2004 Regatta model were the shallowest.) Now, I'm good to go with an 80,000 mile warranty and free tire rotations for the life of my new tires. Can't beat that. Smile

Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 545

Nice. Glad you went that way. Much safer. Tires for your car are like shoes for your feet.

Joined: 13 May 2007 Posts: 41

	Forum Index -> Behind the Banter	All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1