Tire advice for Corolla?

supton

supton

Joined
Nov 9, 2008
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Location
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Last summer I found that one of my all seasons on my Corolla needed air once/month--most cars I've had, rarely need topping off. In my usual way of doing things, I am only now just finding why: nail in outer treadblock. Looks unrepairable; while I'm tempted to just put glue on the nail and stick back in, it seems not quite advised. [It's a small finishing nail by the looks of it. It would take quite a bit of force I think to drive a reamer in.]

So... these are Toyo Celsius tires, not the 2 version (I don't see a "II" anywhere on them). This bad tire and a mate are 6/32's left while the other pair are 8/32's. Date code of 2322.

Meanwhile, my winters are Dunlop Winter Maxx with a date code of 2219 and showing a pair at 8/32's and a pair at 10/32's. The ones with 10 are on the rear and the one time I drove in snow... traction seemed off. It was a messy day (sleet, maybe sleet on top of ice) so maybe not tires... or maybe tires. It's a Corolla so it's not a snow beast but between it taking offense to me for trying to drive sans traction control and me having to turn it off in the first place, I'm thinking these snow tires are done for. It was only a couple of inches of snow...

I *was* thinking of getting the all seasons on but now I'm thinking, run these winter tires until it gets good and hot out. Then... what? The Toyo Celsius II seem liked as all weather while I was long a fan of RT43's--but the new RT45 are just all season. Are the mpg's similar? tire life? I usually stay home when it snows--ice is always a concern, of course. I drive 25-30k/yr; however 70k rated tires last me 40k as they come off at 4/32's. Years ago I had WRG2's (or maybe first gen WR's) and I was disappointed in them; compromise on all fronts. Are the new all weathers that much better?

Please don't recommend Michelin, I won't use again.

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Last edited by a moderator:
Meant to include, I'm rather open to the idea of buying just 2 tires, preferably Toyo so as to match the not so bad pair. That is a nice low buck option. The snows... not sure what I want to do there.
 
I recently bought some Armstrong Tires called Blu Trac for my Grand Marquis and they are the best tire I have ever driven on so far. I only have 2,000 miles so far so longevity is uncertain but they were rated 85,000 miles. Very smooth rolling, nice ride that I highly recommend.
 
Nessism1 said:
Cracks around that hole suggest the rubber isn't aging particularly well.
Click to expand...
That bugs me a bit too. I bought the car in Aug 23 so the tires were unknown age at that time, but worst case, 1 year old; unknown how much it sat outside. It's been garaged since, but I guess it sits outside when I go into work. Dunno what to make of it.
 
Size?

Those are on their own rims, correct? Picture is dark.

I assume you like the Celcius in case you get some shoulder-season snow or at least black ice in those cold morning commutes.

I'm running Kumho KU27s from WM on my Prius and Starfire Solarus on my wife's Prius. Adequate name brand tires. They're a bit expensive right now-- tarriffs? So I buy before I need then mount them up later. Being normal all seasons they get better MPG than a higher traction tire.

I'd plug that hole BTW. Life has a little risk. Imagine the Pilgrims getting on that rickety Mayflower boat... driving a car with a seat belt on is 100x safer by comparison.
 
eljefino said:
Size?

Those are on their own rims, correct? Picture is dark.

I assume you like the Celcius in case you get some shoulder-season snow or at least black ice in those cold morning commutes.
Click to expand...
205/55/16, on rims, tires came with car. I usually buy RT43's and if I want snows, then something like a Hakka.
 
spk2000 said:
I recently bought some Armstrong Tires called Blu Trac for my Grand Marquis and they are the best tire I have ever driven on so far. I only have 2,000 miles so far so longevity is uncertain but they were rated 85,000 miles. Very smooth rolling, nice ride that I highly recommend.
Click to expand...
Only $55 for the Corolla's tire size. Excellent reviews on Walmart.com of 4.8, 700 AA, and 11/32's tread depth.

Goodyear Reliants are on sale for $80 right now at Walmart for 205/55r16.
 
Plug it with a kit in your driveway. Don't think twice about it. Wait for a sale or replacement on a set. You can do two tires, I have before but I prefer to replace as a set. That really looks like its repairable to me. Drive for about 15-20 minutes after plugging to allow the rubber to vulcanize.

I've done way sketchier things with plugs on a Jeep tire. I plug at home on a regular basis if I can't get to Discount tire for a repair.
 
I had michellin cross climate 19565r15s on my 2016 Ford focus. I got a rebate when I bought them at Costco. But I think I still paid over $600. I had over 50,000 and about 5 years. I was starting to think about replacement. They were starting to show age cracks as well.

I saw some Goodyear Reliant tires on the Wallmart site on Black Friday. I could not resist $53 ea. I had them installed about a month ago. They seem OK. I'm not expecting the snow, or ice traction on them like the Cross Climates. But for half price I can live with that. Plus I have a truck to get up my steep street now........

The tires did have a lot of mold flashing hanging off the tires though. I cut some of it off. They were made in the USA.

Time will tell how they are. The Wally guy helping when I bought them on black friday said the seem pretty decent as far as feedback.
 
Would try to get tire shop to plug it from the inside.
If you plug it yourself, do yourself a favor and get a portable battery driven air pump.
Similar puncture I had leaked when driving but held air when stationary.
 
Just find some Nokian AW01 or AW02's and be done with it. 60k warranty and they are an all-season tire that is snow rated with the TPMSF. No more changing tires every six months(y)
 
I would get 2 new tires and then keep the good one that doesn't have a nail as a cold spare. In case you get another nail later on the older 8/32 pair you have a cold spare to swap into (keep until the 8/32 pair wear out if no nail to repair for).

To me nails come in all at around similar time during local construction boom, then go away for a few years, then come back. If I get 1 nail I will likely get a few more very soon, then none for a few years.
 
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