Recent Costco experience

[dvancleve]

The B-stone Ecopia EP422 are terrible. We bought a set for the Prius on the last day of the $70 discount, since we liked the Ecopia EP100 that needed to be replaced. The handling was abysmal, we exchanged them for Defender XTs. Despite being T rated (the Ecopias are H), the handling is much better. They are more than I planned on spending, but I am hopeful they will last a long time (90K mile warranty)...

Also, my Costco was fine with putting "plus zero" tires on the car (195/60-15 rather than 185/65-15) and inflated them to 44PSI at my request (deflated the rears to 42).

Doug

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Costco is extremely competitive on Michelin tires. They're very good about stocking the Primacy MXV4 and Defender XT tires in most popular sizes. For Bridgestone, they only seem to stock the awful Ecopia EP422s and the relatively decent Dueler H/L Alenzas (for trucks/suvs). Overall, Costco is a very good place to buy tires if you are interested in purchasing high-quality tires. They definitely do not cater to the low-end tire market.

Also - their $15/tire installation package that includes road hazard coverage, lifetime balance and disposal...is unbeatable.

 

[CapriRacer]

Originally Posted By: Falken
If you want a sleek tire balance the orange or yellow dot has to be lined up with the tire valve hole or the dimple on steelies.

Most shop techs don't have the time to do it, or weren't trained to know what it means.

Lining up dots and stems correctly can save some balance weight needed to be hammered on the rim.....


Sorry, but that's not correct - and one of the reasons many shops don't do this.

First, matching dots is about "Roundness" - not balance. Matching the marks is matching the runout high point of the tire with the runout low point of the wheel and that produces a more round assembly. That doesn't relate to how much weight is needed to balance an assembly.

But lots of tire manufacturers don't mark their tires - and lots of wheels aren't marked either (even the valve hole is not reliable.) which is why many tire shops just don't bother.

 

[Falken]

Thanks Capri I won't bother doing it anymore.

When there were no marks I'd feel the inside of the tire to find the belt overlap and mark the location with tire chalk to find the high point of the tire.

If it really doesn't make any difference it will save time for sure to skip the step.

One odd thing I have noticed is we still use lead wheel weights, and I see very few zinc ones coming off tires.

Maybe the States has stricter lead use laws than up here. I have noticed the zinc ones were a bit bigger and painted with enamel.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

For what it's worth, the Defenders I bought late last year look like they balanced fine with only one small weight per wheel side. Nothing out of the ordinary.

 

[Ken2]

Some states prohibit lead tire weights and other states don't. Some retailers may have stopped using lead.

Is Costco still using nitrogen to inflate the tires? Or has that fad passed?

 

[ledslinger]

Originally Posted By: Ken2
Some states prohibit lead tire weights and other states don't. Some retailers may have stopped using lead.

Is Costco still using nitrogen to inflate the tires? Or has that fad passed?


Yes they are using nitrogen at the Costco I go to.

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: ledslinger
They didn't like the anti seize I put on there.


That's funny.

Sam's Club usually puts the copper anti-seize on the lug bolts (and I don't like it). When I buy tires there, or if I have to take the car there for a flat repair or rebalance, I specifically ask that they not use anti-seize on the lug bolts or lug nuts.

I've otherwise been impressed with Sam's Club's practices and service. I've heard similar good things about Costco, as you report. We're getting a new BJs in town, opening next month, so I may try them for tires when we need tires for the Acura next spring.