GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Thanks for voting, but I found an awesome tire deal on Craigslist here in Minneapolis. I couldn't pass it up.I bough a set of (4) almost new Firestone Affinity LH30: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/...+LH30for only $90. I couldn't pass that deal up. Size is 215/60/16 and they fill in the wheel well nicely. They aren't a performance tire per se, but they are pretty damn nice all seasons. Very quiet, smooth driving and take the corners well enough for me.Had them mounted & balanced for $100 at a Goodyear Gemini service shop. Also had them do a 4 wheel alignment for $70 since my camber was positive after I raised my Vibe back up on the oem springs.So total ended up being $260 for the tires, mounting & balancing and a 4 wheel alignment. I'm good to go!

Quote, originally posted by BlueCrush »(my speedo is off so this would bring closer to being accurate)Speedo you say, off you say? hmm... (is it blue?)

Quote, originally posted by VforVIBE »Speedo you say, off you say? hmm... (is it blue?) It's multi colored. I can take a pic if you want with it on or off? SilverAWDsilverawd26 - I have a set of blizzaks so snow wouldn't matter, but everything else would hold true.

why is your speed out in the first place?I want to vote for the 225's but need more of the storyCAN-AWD-VIBE

Quote, originally posted by CAN-AWD-VIBE »why is your speed out in the first place?I want to vote for the 225's but need more of the storyCAN-AWD-VIBEIt has always been off since I have had it.

are those prices per tire , or for a set of four tires?I say go with the cheaper tire that has double the treadwear warranty.

Quote, originally posted by joatmon »are those prices per tire , or for a set of four tires?Per set of 4, obviously. No way in hell I would pay that much per tire.

I wouldn't go with a "taller than stock" tire just to correct the speedo but that's just me. The larger diameter will place even more load on an already underpowered engine and drivetrain. My vote is for the correct diameter (225/50/16) and that is what I have on the Vibe. Discount Tire shows 205/55/16 (OE stock) is availabe in the Falken Ziex ZE-512, so why not consider it also.

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 »3% is nothing at all. I'm just going by what the experts at TireRack say, and they say, a 3% increase in diameter is the absolute max vs 3% being nothing at all. I'm just saying, if the correct size (diameter) is available, why not consider it.

I'm running 205/60-16 Good Year Comfort Treds on an 05 base W/Auto. After 2,000 miles with the new tires I see no noticable difference other than a better ride over the stock tire.Mileage "per the odomoter" is the same after the switch. FWIW 90% of my driving is in mostly flat areas.

Now BlueCrush has some facts and opinions to consider.

205/55/16 OE stock base fwd - '05 anyhow.

Thanks for the replies, guys. The 205/60/16 are within the 3% over/under guidelines so that is not my concern. The Falken Ziex ZE-512 60/65 series tires are 60,000 mile warranty, anything 55 and under are only 30,000-40,000 mile warranty. I know that the stock tire size is 205/55/16 and that they offer them in that size. But the cost would be $350+ and only a 30,000 mile warranty. If I can get a 60,000 mile warranty for less money and stay within the 3% guidelines. To me that would seem to be the obvious route to go. Anyone else have a thought on this?If I were to not go with the 60 series tire then I would opt to go with the 225/50/16 over the 205/55/16. It would give the exact same overall diameter and a 1" wider footprint for better handling (more tire on hte road.). Again not worried about snow since I have an AWD and blizzaks.Comfort Treads are a great tire but there again you going to pay over $400 for a 80,000 mile tire when I could be paying $265 for a 60,000 mile tire (less cost per rated mile).

Personally I think the mileage warranty is useless. It is pro-rated. They don't give you a new tire if yours wears out before the warranty period. They base their rebate on how many miles they did last compared to what they were rated to last. You then pay a percentage of the full replacement cost, normally 75% or more so big deal. The 225/50/16 will offer vastly superior handling over a 60 series tire and is built with stronger sidewalls etc., that's why they cost more. There is more put into the construction of the tire and this is reflected in the price.

Very good points, Sunny. Thank you!

if its been out since new then you're used to it.I voted 225's- more meat.

Sense these are going to be your summer tires, I voted for the 225's.I hope to be getting some 17's with 225's for next summer.

but what does the 60k or 30k warranty actually guarantee?

It guarantees that the tire will go the warranted distance before it wears down to the wear markers. It must however wear evenly or the alignment or balance of your car or tires will be blamed and they will not guarantee them. If the balance and alignment is good, they will calculate the percentage of the warranted mileage that you achieved. If they were guaranteed for 60K and they last 45K, they will give you a 25% discount on a new tire of the same brand. If they only last 30K, they will give you a 50% discount.

ah ok, good to know

Thanks for the Warranty refresher, Sunny.

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 »A prorated warranty is better than no warrnty at all. Also, the higher mileage warranty is better off just incase something happens to the side wall of the tire, Discount Tire around here has always rated a tire of me atleast if there is sidewall damage, they gave me like $50 bucks last time But if I were to buy these from an ebay reseller, how is the warranty handled if there ends up being some damage or early wear? Do a take it to a local Falken reseller along with my ebay receipt? I am going to contact the ebay seller also.

I got an e-mail back from the Ebay reseller for the tires I was looking at getting and he said that:"all tires bought over the internet , mileage warranties are not covered BUT defect and workmanship warranty is covered"Anyone know if this is true?

Got New Tires(not Falkens) - Awesome Deal!!!See first post for update.

Just to make you aware. The Vibe speedo is very optimistic. So the 205/60 will put you closer to reality. I have been through enough radar guns to know. & Don't believe the tire guides on the Web. Most tires are actually have less height than their # on the sidewall states.

Yeah, I have found that out. The new tires I have now are 215/60/16 not the 205/60/16 like I mistated in my first post. I have gone by several radars and my speedo is now dead on. I love the ride. These are the size tires that the Vibe should have came with originally. they fill the wheel gap nicely too. I'll be definitely getting this size from now on.