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Author Topic: Tiretrends - don't really care about the customer  (Read 6819 times)

Offline brian

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Tiretrends - don't really care about the customer
« Reply #20 on: November 29, 2004, 01:26:02 am »
Valve:

For what it's worth, 3/4" lug nuts ARE pretty much standard supply when you buy aftermarket wheels and get or ask for them.  So really, you're in pretty much the same boat as everyone else who's done this.

I'm not sure most tire shops will even carry larger size lugs (at least the closed end style), because most aftermarket wheels seem to be designed around 3/4" lugs and anything larger might not even physically fit in the holes with a wrench/socket.  A $3000 order sounds like you ordered some aftermarket wheels along with your tires, so you might find out that your stock lugs may or may not work, depending on their design.

I agree with the others that you should buy yourself a crossbar type lug wrench, or a collapsable version regardless.  Canadian Tire sells both a "cheap" folding one, and another one that comes in a nifty case with some sockets and a built-in LED light.  I got one of these myself, since I also experienced going from 21mm to 3/4" with the summer wheels I bought (elsewhere).  I was planning on getting this anyway, since every time I (or my parents) have had a set of wheels installed by some mechanic have always been far too tight for the wrenches that come with the car...  I even cobbled together a cheap 3/4" wrench with a Princess Auto breaker bar and gave it to a friend so he can stop calling BCAA. :-)
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Offline davidm

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Tiretrends - don't really care about the customer
« Reply #21 on: November 29, 2004, 01:28:17 pm »
RE92's are probably far worse in 2*C than the SO-3.  Crappy A/S tires vs worn top-tier summer tires in 2*C.  If the summer's had a chance to heat up they'd of course be better, straight out of the chute, I would have thought it'd be a toss up.

My experiences in the Miata with perf. A/S tires vs summers is that perf. A/S is as close to lying about a tire's abilities as you can do.  A/S tires don't stick in the cold, the hot, or the wet - that's why I call them no-seasons.  The Falkens (451) on the bimmer were getting pretty hard at 4*C when I took them off, but if I had been driving for 15ish minutes at speed they weren't too bad.  The Dunlop M3's are blowing me away with their performance in the wet 2-6*C we've been having here.  Very predictable, remarkably grippy, not too bad turn-in, and nicely quiet.  A winner so far (not that they've seen ice or snow yet).

Back to lug nuts (bolts on German cars).  Went and checked the 4 sets of lug bolts I have - 3 different sizes FYI.
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Offline Snowman

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Tiretrends - don't really care about the customer
« Reply #22 on: November 29, 2004, 02:53:51 pm »
I move to http://test.canadiandriver.com/discus/messages/2479/22487.html?1101757920 for a continuation of the WRX conversation.

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Offline johngenx

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« Reply #23 on: November 29, 2004, 05:49:58 pm »
Even on high-end cars, the stock wrench is a POS.  Every car I've owned I've tossed the thing away.  I have a MOMO unit that is awesome.  It's got a billet handle that contracts so that it can clear and spin even when the wheel is close to the ground and it expands for good leverage.  The end is a 1/2" drive so that you can carry sockets for different lug sizes and it came with 19mm and 21mm units.

I've always delt with having different wheel bolts for different wheels.  They are a unique length and head sizes vary.  (MB's don't have nuts, but bolts, and Saffy, forget it, too easy...)  It's the price you pay for having non-OE stuff.

Go shopping for a real wrench and get a good clicker torque wrench too for installing them yourself.  And don't use the OE jack at home, either.  Get a good (not a $19 special) floor jack and a pair of stands.
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Offline dip

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« Reply #24 on: November 30, 2004, 12:19:10 am »
To echo Snowman. I too have installed my winter rims and tires a few days ago when the first snow hit and was amazed by the lack of grip. The half worn 17" Proxes T1-S performed far better in the near-zero temperatures than brand new 16" Garit HTs. With the Garits, the steering had suddenly become dull, the car felt softer overall, cornering grip and braking got worse, and the front wheels now lose traction in second gear on dry pavement even on moderate acceleration.

As much as I love winter as someone born in Siberia, I want the summer to come back already! (ah, well, I'll have to relax for a few months now...)

Back on topic: a decent torque wrench with a quality socket is a must to have in the trunk.
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Offline davidm

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Tiretrends - don't really care about the customer
« Reply #25 on: November 30, 2004, 01:33:57 pm »
Dip - lets not forget the first 100km or so on any new tire sucks for traction (tire release compound).

Slip-sliding in the frozen rain this morning (with the M3's).  One of my doors was frozen shut.  Anyone who says you don't need winter tires in Vancouver is on crack or lives in White Rock.
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Offline ovr50

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Tiretrends - don't really care about the customer
« Reply #26 on: November 30, 2004, 01:52:06 pm »
Davidm - all you guys at the Coast are on the "crack", except it's the North American Plate and it's slip slidding under the Pacific Plate, which is turn is going to cause the "BigOne" sometime between now and who knows. Then you'll really need snows !!!
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Offline safristi

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« Reply #27 on: November 30, 2004, 02:29:34 pm »
White Rock= Crack...????Snort..snort..chortle..sniff..!!!Do Tire Trends
give ya a free baggie wif a $3,000 order???..
 MORTYfied
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Offline davidm

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« Reply #28 on: November 30, 2004, 07:57:30 pm »
Hmmm, remember to buy some mud tires and a lift kit for the bimmer in case of crack and slide ...
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Offline jeeper

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« Reply #29 on: November 30, 2004, 10:02:00 pm »
look...if u get them free...than why are u complainning?

come on...u've ordered +$3000 in tires and dont wanna spend a few bucks buying a new set of wheel nuts!!!...come on!! you're not making any sense
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