Honda Car Forum

I have a 96 prelude with Futura Ultra Z 205/55 r15 tires.

I got it used with these tires, and it also came with a tire road
hazard warranty..

The tires have about 20k on them and by all sign show to be about 1/2
worn..

I caught a nail in one of the tires, and its close to the sidewall..
Pep Boys (they handle the road hazard warranty) said they can't patch
it because its too close to the sidewall, and probably wouldn't
work/hold..

They offered to replace my tire with a lesser tire, Futura Touring
VR.. Tire cost is $65 and they prorate it to $45.. The replacement
is not a directional tire, like the original tire..

I didn't like the idea of having just one new and different type of
tire, so they offered two at that price (45).. Out of pocket total
$90 plus tax..

The original tire (Futura Ultra Z) is being phased out in the stores,
and so that's why they couldn't replace it with the same type.

Now, I went home and called around, and in most of the pep boys, they
didn't have the tire, except one store across town had just two of
them.

The original tire cost is about $90-100, and I would estimate after
they prorate it, my out of pocket expense would be $65 per tire..

Is it ok to just get one tire? Should I try to get it patched/plugged
instead? Or should I get two new tires? What is the safest?

I would prefer to get a single tire of the exact same type as the
originals.. This seems like the safest route and almost the cheapest
route, but I wonder if it will affect performance, or perhaps safety?

I am looking for advice, I'm no tire expert, so any advice is
appreciated..

Randall Fox

On Thu, 08 Jul 2004 19:48:43 -0700, Randall Fox
<fox_no_spam-usenet001@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I have a 96 prelude with Futura Ultra Z 205/55 r15 tires.
>
>I got it used with these tires, and it also came with a tire road
>hazard warranty..
>
>The tires have about 20k on them and by all sign show to be about 1/2
>worn..
>
>I caught a nail in one of the tires, and its close to the sidewall..
>Pep Boys (they handle the road hazard warranty) said they can't patch
>it because its too close to the sidewall, and probably wouldn't
>work/hold..
>
>They offered to replace my tire with a lesser tire, Futura Touring
>VR.. Tire cost is $65 and they prorate it to $45.. The replacement
>is not a directional tire, like the original tire..
>
>I didn't like the idea of having just one new and different type of
>tire, so they offered two at that price (45).. Out of pocket total
>$90 plus tax..

If you're going to have mismatched pairs of tires, which, though usually
not recommended, may not be that bad, I'd think it better to go for a pair
of major brand tires with similar speed rating... until the old Futura
Ultra Zs are worn out. Personally I would not buy PepBoy's tires.

>The original tire (Futura Ultra Z) is being phased out in the stores,
>and so that's why they couldn't replace it with the same type.

It still shows on their Web site and there is no mention of the Futura VR
there.

>Now, I went home and called around, and in most of the pep boys, they
>didn't have the tire, except one store across town had just two of
>them.
>
>The original tire cost is about $90-100, and I would estimate after
>they prorate it, my out of pocket expense would be $65 per tire..
>
>Is it ok to just get one tire? Should I try to get it patched/plugged
>instead? Or should I get two new tires? What is the safest?

I'd go for two new tires.

>I would prefer to get a single tire of the exact same type as the
>originals.. This seems like the safest route and almost the cheapest
>route, but I wonder if it will affect performance, or perhaps safety?
>
>I am looking for advice, I'm no tire expert, so any advice is
>appreciated..

If you like the tires, in that situation, I'd go for a pair of the
scarce(?) Futura Ultra Zs and keep the non-damaged worn one in the
garage... just in case you get another flat. If you're not that keen on
them, get a pair of something you prefer which will not be too bad a
mismatch - talk to a good tire shop.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

Yes, you should get it patched... just get lots of insurance so you can get
another car when the tire blows and you drive off a cliff.




____________________________________

On Fri, 09 Jul 2004 04:06:04 -0400, George Macdonald
<fammacd=!SPAM^nothanks@tellurian.com> wrote:

>If you're going to have mismatched pairs of tires, which, though usually
>not recommended, may not be that bad, I'd think it better to go for a pair
>of major brand tires with similar speed rating... until the old Futura
>Ultra Zs are worn out. Personally I would not buy PepBoy's tires.

I agree, but they came with the car, so I thought I would wear them
out.. Didn't expect this... Plus, price is an issue for me right
now..


>It still shows on their Web site and there is no mention of the Futura VR
>there.

The VR's are there... And they are about $65 full retail. The
originals were about $100, but I found out (read below) that they are
discounted to $39 because they are being phased out..

>I'd go for two new tires.
>
>If you like the tires, in that situation, I'd go for a pair of the
>scarce(?) Futura Ultra Zs and keep the non-damaged worn one in the
>garage... just in case you get another flat. If you're not that keen on
>them, get a pair of something you prefer which will not be too bad a
>mismatch - talk to a good tire shop.


Well, I ended up going to the place across town.. Turns out that they
did have the tire, and it was heavily discounted... They marked it
down to $40.. They also prorated it to less $$, but then, in true
retail fashion, tacked on a billion other charges.

I ended up just replacing one tire with the same make and model for
$44 including tax...

Considering the original owner paid $100 for them, and they were about
1/2 used, I think I did ok.. I just hope that there are no
performance/safety issues..

Now, I just have to go re-torque the lug nuts...

Thanks for your help..

Randall Fox