fas2000

Hi All,

So unfortunately the crappy NJ roads took its toll on my only 2 week old 2013 4GS AWD non F-sport . Went over a nasty pothole and caught a flat on the front passenger side tire. Had to use the yet unused donut to limp her back home . Now I need advice on what to do .

It has 235/45R18 Continental ContiProContact . I would say the tread is about 75% on them. 7 -8 / 32 if I had to guess. The car was sold CPO 4 months ago, so you can imagine that the tires are in relatively good condition. So I have 4 options, would love your guys opinions on which way to go:

1. Get one brand new Tire. I would think this is not wise on any car let alone an AWD, I dont like the idea of getting one tire only as it will throw the car off balance. Cost about $180 installed.

2. Get one used Tire: I would get a meter, measure the left driver side tire, and get another ContiProContact off of ebay with the same tread depth. Cost about $110 installed

3. Get Two used Tires: I would buy off of ebay two used tires in a set with the same tread depth at the same depth as the rear tires are. I would make sure they come from the same car. Cost about $225 installed.

4. Get Two new Tires: Buy two new tires. Not sure if I like this idea to much. It makes me committed to the ContiProContact. While I dont hate them, I have not drawn a conclusion yet to how they are. If I buy two new, then i feel i will keep replacing tires in sets of 2. Cost about $360 installed .


I feel option 3 might be the way for me to go. But I am not sure, I have heard people say to not put on tires that have been worn by another car, however I have not had many issues in the past with lesser cars.

Suggestions?

Thanks

SC300Es

Is the flat tire not fixable?

fas2000

Unfortunately it does not seem so. The Puncture, from what it seem to me, was done on the side of the tire. I believe that makes it not possible to be fixed correct?

faifai83

I would do Option 2. Have you checked eBay?

fas2000

Yep. eBay seems to have at least a dozen of this exact tire in different conditions. I think I can find one that will be the same. I was just worried how sensitive these cars can be to even the slightest of uneven tread wear. Has anybody tried option 2 in their GS?

er34

It's not what you want to hear but for AWD replacing 4 tires is ideal, 2 tires is next best.

If you absolutely want to do 1, I would use the TireRack shaving service.
http://blog.tirerack.com/blog/docs-a...-shave-as-well

GregCanada

I'm running Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 and so far i love them, more than the OEM Michelin MXM4's. They are excellent.

er34

Greg, you plan on keeping those on through our Canadian winter? I'm still shopping for winter tires. Currently down to Pilot Alpin PA4, Continental TS830P, or Pirelli Ice Zero FR.

I heard good things about DWS06, but at the end of the day, it's still an all-season tire even if it performs relatively better than others in snow. Also, my research showed the DWS is designed so that once the "S" tread wears out(which seems to be about 8/32" tread), it's then only good for DW - so that's like 1-1.5year if using them all year round.

GregCanada

I've got Blizzak WS80's that i will throw on for November - April. I like that i can keep these on longer, and put them back on sooner (at least for the first few years). Don't know if i will risk keeping these on until it snows, but if we get an early snowfall i will definitely give them a review.

er34

I might go for the DWS06 for the summer set next year, either that the Pilot Sport A/S 3, we'll see.. The DWS06 price is pretty tempting though, 245/40R19's for about 1000 CAD all-in installed.

GregCanada

I was on the same fence. What got me on the DWS06's, is the tread life is 20k more.

Mine cost just under 900 all-in with road force balancing. 235/50/18. Jensen tire price matched a guy i found on kijiji. MXM4's would have cost me atleast $1,300

fas2000

Thanks everybody for the responses.


So I decided to roll the dice and take option #2 from above. I like the idea of the shaved tire also, and was heavily leaning towards that until i looked at ebay and saw there were many options. So the first thing which was a word of caution for others is that many of the tires ebay has can be plugged or patched. I was not looking for a plugged or patched tire, even if it suppose to be good as new, i didnt wish to take the chance. And it had to be the same tread wear as the others (8/32). So i asked about half a dozen good rated tire vendors. Many of them came back with honest answers that they were plugged or patched and i passed on them.

I came across a vendor who assured me the tire had no plugs or patches, and like the others, had a 90 day return policy. 100% positive feedback 11k plus sales. 8/32 tread wear. $79 (vs about $200 for a shaved new one). So while I would of been out shipping, it was a reasonable risk to take. The tire came in one day early,, i ordered it to my local independent. I left the car there this morning. I told him that when the tire comes in to confirm that all is well.

He took a look at the tire and called me and said it was good to go. When I picked up the car the tire was as i expected to be.

Here is a pic of the tread dept of this tire vs the tire on the other side.





so i would say that is about .3/32 to .5/32 of a variance. . Car is driving perfect from what i can tell as of now. Total cost of repair was about $105. I think that the .3 difference is reasonable if not ideal. Ill report back if i come across any issues.

Thanks again for all your guys help.

FAS

jtrue28

That's not a variance at all. You should be good to go.

iJDMTOY

iTrader: (5)

Cost effective good choice!