This sounds Like BS to me......

[speed6r]

So I went to Town fair Tire to get a new set of tires for my speed6. The potenzas Suck!!! by the way. In any event, I asked the Manager If i could get a price on 225 50 18's He said he would price them for me but he could not put them on the car. HUH? He went on to tell me that In the event i get a flat tire i run the risk of damaging the Transmission. HUH? He continued on by saying because the tires are all-wheel drive "run Flat" Tires that i could damage the transfer case if i get a flat. So basically the only tires i could swap them out for are the same size tires. not just run flats but only 215 45 18's. Is there any truth to this? It sounds like a load of BS and the Manager was a total asshole. I'm considering calling there home office to blast him due to some other practices that i thought were questionable. I am by no means a rat or a whistle blower but this guy was a total D-Bag. Please advise Guys!!!!
And what are considered to be the best tires for our particular ride?
Thanks,
Murder

 

[shane02pro5]

If it was only replacing 2 since it's a larger tire I could understand with the awd system.

 

[justanothermp5]

nvr heard that before....could be some truth in it tho

 

[Killer]

Well I did get a flat once..thru on the donut and drove home. The AWD Idiot light came on. There may be SOME truth in what he says...but I went up a size when I got my new tires.

 

[jred321]

if all of your tires are the same size you'll be fine. if you run a run flat, get a flat and drive on it then all of your tires aren't the same size anymore so you could screw up your transfer case. it's the same reason you should always replace all 4 tires on an awd car. your car wants all 4 wheels to spin at the same speed. that's what it's designed to do. if there is a tire that's a different size it will be spinning at a different speed so your car will fight to try to make it spin at the same speed which is impossible and will eventually wear itself out. i wouldn't put a run flat on an awd car as you're paying for a feature you can't use.

btw why do you want to run a 225/50?

 

[BlackCherry06]

Considering the difference in overall diameter of stock vs. the size you're contemplating, if you do get a flat, the difference in rotation speed between the flat tire and the other three tires could be significant. Not good for a car that is designed to keep all 4 wheels moving at the same speed. If you drove for any length of time with a low or flat tire, the transfer case and rear differential could take a beating.

I think he may be acting as a bit of an alarmist, but there's truth at the heart of what he's saying. The lower profile tire you have, the smaller the difference if you get a flat.

 

[speed6r]

Wow! good Intel guys! Thanks! I think the D-Bag's point was If you get a flat with the "run flat's" you can still drive the car a safe distance in order to get the tire repaired. However, if I install non- "run flat" tire package you have to get the car towed. You cant use the spare without causing damage to the transfer case. This makes sense to me. Again, what is considered to be the best tire set up for our car?
Thanks again for the Intel!

 

[mdogg]

The "best tire set up" involves choosing the correct size for one thing, which you clearly are not doing. If you don't know how to figure out other tire sizes that you can use, then stick with the stock 215/45/18s....

And do you really think the stock Potenzas suck? They are great, high performance summer tires. They are pricy, but they are great.

 

[mdogg]

Oh, and there are no such things as AWD run-flat tires....

 

[FORZDA 1]

]......In the event i get a flat tire i run the risk of damaging the Transmission. HUH? He continued on by saying because the tires are all-wheel drive "run Flat" Tires that i could damage the transfer case if i get a flat.

If you have run-flats or other tire of ANY size on your car, you run a risk of damaging the REAR DRIVE COUPLING and/or the REAR LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL if you continue to drive on it flat or the smaller spare donut tire. Please note that there is no "transfer case" on a Speed6. There is a Power-Take-Off (PTO) that is a direct drive from the transaxle with a drive shaft to the rear COUPLING UNIT with electromechanical clutches that is attached to the rear differential to engage the rear drive. If you check you owners manual for any car with run-flats from the OEM, the run-flat tire should be driven on ONLY far enough to get it to a repair facitlity and/or less than 50 miles at no more than 50 mph. A short distance at less than 50 mph will cause some extra wear, but will not "damage" the AWD system.

Anyway, I'm sure you're aware you MUST run all 4 tires of the same size on your Speed6. IF you have a flat on your Speed6 with ANY tire, you must make sure the smaller tire/spare is placed on the front axle and turn the DSC OFF. The front has an open differential and is not affected by the difference in circumference. If the flat is on a rear tire, you must move it (hopefully the spare) to the front to continue driving without damage.

.............And what are considered to be the best tires for our particular ride?

Recommend a 225/45x18 (it will fit the OEM wheel) NON run-flat in whatever High Performance Summer tire brand you choose.

As for the tire store guy, he's just covering his ass because most people are idiots and don't have a clue about the details of their car other than it takes gas to make it go...