Recent Costco experience

[ledslinger]

Put Michelin Defenders on my wife's 2001 Accord 4 cyl, prior to my son taking it on a 5K mile trip out west. I watched them install them and I was impressed with the professionalism and care given to the process. The hubs and wheel studs were inspected and cleaned by two guys, using spray solvent and a wire brush. Probably ten minutes total were spent prepping the hubs. They didn't like the anti seize I put on there.

I was disappointed with the size of the balance weights required, I don't know how heavy, but If the weight is about 1/2" long I like it, but one tire took two weights over about 1-1/4" long. I asked the tech if that is a concern and if he ever breaks the tire down and rotates it on the rim, he said it wasn't excessive, but he would install it on the rear axle anyway. Michelin tires often take small balance weights so I hoped these would. The Hydroedges removed used smaller balance weights than the new Defenders required. The tires are made in Canada.

The car has 240K on it and it has gotten 80K out of the OEM Michelin's, and two sets of Hydroedge. I'm not sure the Defenders are noticeably better tires than the Hydroedges, but even though they have a slightly greater load capacity, they don't seem to be as substantial tires as the Hydroedges. The sidewall seems thinner and more flexible, Probably more modern design trend for lower rolling resistance. They Defenders seem a bet less performance oriented although could have better grip but more sway or slower turning responsiveness. Maybe a little smoother and quieter over bumps.

Costco was unwilling to fill the tires beyond the door placard 30 PSI, so I filled them to 33 PSI when I got home. I have several tire gauges that I have compared and feel mine is pretty good, and the Costco fill was as low as 28 PSI. I checked my Silverado that they said had 35 PSI and it read lower also. I thought I could let them do a pressure check and nitrogen fill when I go there to shop, but it looks like I will have to inflate myself.

 

[Cold_Canuk]

I've always heard never to apply anti seize on wheel studs, never. Maybe that's wrong?

I consider myself pretty picky and I've always been pretty happy with the Costco experience other than the [censored] line ups.

You should go somewhere else next time, sounds like they made you unhappy?

 

[ledslinger]

Originally Posted By: Cold_Canuk
I've always heard never to apply anti seize on wheel studs, never. Maybe that's wrong?

I consider myself pretty picky and I've always been pretty happy with the Costco experience other than the [censored] line ups.

You should go somewhere else next time, sounds like they made you unhappy?


What made you think I was unhappy? I said I was impressed with their professionalism. I'm not happy the tires took so many weights, Michelin's problem, not Costco's, and I'd prefer they'd fill the tires to my wishes, but I understand why they won't.

I don't know how much weight a manufacturer would consider excessive, they probably allow quite a bit since they don't want to reject many tires. Balance weight required is to me an indicator of construction quality and Michelin has been reputed to require low amounts of weight to balance.

If you construed my comparison of the Defenders with the Hydroedges as being disappointed with the Defenders, I'm not. The Hydroedges are excellent tires, and I am not surprised if it is difficult to improve on them dramatically.

 

[Doog]

I bought a set of tires at Walmart and the guys there did an excellent job. $11 per wheel for lifetime balance and installing my TPMS service kits along with tire install. They cleaned all of the hubs and rims as well.

 

[Dave Hess]

I'm surprised they wouldn't fill to 33 PSI.

 

[JavierG]

I like Costco too, but it does sound like you were unhappy with them. Words like "disappointed" and "unwilling" just seem to stand out in your post. Glad to see you cleared that up though.

 

[jimbrewer]

I'm just a little leery of name brand tires sold through high volume outlets. I know that some big manufacturers sell specially made schlock tires through Discount Tires that they would never sell elsewhere.

There's so much volume through the big boxes and such pressure to sell at a low price, I wonder sometimes if they don't make a special quick and dirty production run for that distribution channel. Its hard to believe they would do that for their carefully promoted name brand tires, though.

 

[dishdude]

If you don't have a Discount Tire around, Costco is the next best place for tires.

 

[Donald]

Most of the stores like that have rules from corp. about tires and size and pressure are two of them.

 

[Boomer]

I think tire shops don't like anti-sieze on the studs as the torque settings change when you do this. Then you might hold them responsible if a stud braks.

 

[Fleetmon]

yep......almost all wheel stud manufacturers will tell you anti-seize is a no-no. in the HD world, it is strictly forbidden.

 

[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.

This is why I always do my own tires as I know how to finesse a tire job to be very balanced without using excessive weights.

Also, it is nice to paint bead sealer onto brand new rims in the Rust Belt and let it completely dry before mounting the tire.

As saltwater rests on the bead-rim mounting area and rusts and corrodes the rim, the rubber bead sealer protects the rim from corrosion. It is basically rubber paint.

I too, personally believe that volume sellers get tires that barely pass QC standards.

The lowest bidder probably gets the lowest quality, would make sense.

http://www.bridgestonetrucktires.com/us_eng/real/magazines/ra_v13_i1/PDF/ra_v13i1 ask doc.pdf

 

[Gabe]

It sounds like Costco handled everything perfectly. A shop that puts that much attention into details and safety is a rare thing; I would give them my business.

 

[andyd]

I dont use use never seize. I'm too cheap. I use regular chassis lube on the lug bolts and the hub faces. I want to be able to change a tire if I have to.

 

[Falken]

You can use high temp grease around the hub sparingly so it doesn't rust and trap the wheel to the hub, but don't use anti-seize on wheel studs.

The torque angle increases stretching the stud leading to breakage.

And, if you reduce torque to compensate for the greater torque angle, you run the risk of the lug nut backing off.

Keep the studs polished with a rope brush or a wire brush if they are getting slightly rusty. Torque them on dry with a torque wrench.

 

[rfeir]

Do take note that lead can no longer be used for wheel balance weights. Thus larger steel weights are now used. This is one reason why the new tires needed larger weights.

 

[ledslinger]

Originally Posted By: rfeir
Do take note that lead can no longer be used for wheel balance weights. Thus larger steel weights are now used. This is one reason why the new tires needed larger weights.


Yes, a zinc weight will be bigger than a lead one. Maybe that's why the tech had no concern.

 

[shDK]

A verry slight dash of high temp anti corrosive grease like copper grease or cheramic paste on wheel nuts/bolts will never hurt anything. It is true that you move the torque value and will increase stress on the bolts/nuts. But theese things on a car is made with a really big play.

If data calls for a wheelbolt to be tightened 100 nm. You can probertly tighten them 160-180 many times without problems. Many people don.t even use a torque wrench. On the other hand a dry bolt/nut migh click to early. And if you don.t grease them. In some climates. They can easely corrode and get stuck over winther.

I Allways use a verry little bit of coppergrease on the bolts/nuts. And tighten them to correct torque according to data. And have never had problems.

 

[SLCraig]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
If you don't have a Discount Tire around, Costco is the next best place for tires.


God not here.
They only sell expensive brands and at full price.
It is almost the last place I would go for tires.
(I bought my recent set from Discount)

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: SLCraig
Originally Posted By: dishdude
If you don't have a Discount Tire around, Costco is the next best place for tires.


God not here.
They only sell expensive brands and at full price.
It is almost the last place I would go for tires.
(I bought my recent set from Discount)


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.