Discount Tire rules drama with 205/50R16

[DJKuehn]

I just got this car a few months ago and it is almost perfect. The handling is absolutely incredible. However, it came from the hot south and has R888Rs on the front. I'm in Indiana and while I have zero intention of taking the car out in snow and salt, I would like to drive it over the winter when it's nice. These tires are really slippery when it's cool.

No problem I thought, I'll just get some aggressive all season tires for the winter. Settled on some Nitto NeoGens, same size I have now, ordered a pair with Discount Tire. I also have a TPMS sensor that's dead in front so I can do that all at the same time.

Well, Discount Tire refuses to touch them at all because the wheels are 16x8 and basically nothing that will fit is technically approved for more than 7.5 wide. They're trying to talk me into getting new wheels or bigger size tires. I have almost zero clearance and if I start adjusting coilovers then that snowballs into all kinds of screwing up my currently perfect setup. They've already rubbed at some point.

Anyone else run into this problem? They said I could just take them to another shop for installation, but I don't want to be running all over from shop to shop begging someone to install my tires. I'm guessing this is only an issue with the big chains and the little shops won't care but it's only a guess.

 

[SrsBsns]

I've run into issues like this with big chains too. Take it to a small independent place and you should have no troubles.

 

[anticon]

I've run into issues like this with big chains too. Take it to a small independent place and you should have no troubles.

Yup, me too. I went to an independent shop for mounting my 205/50/15 neo gens on my 15x8s

 

[Dpro]

I would not have a large chain install my tires anyways. I want someone that knows what they are doing . I go to a performance tire shop mounting place that are serious track guys. They don’t bat an eye at anything and make sure the tires are put on right i.e. red circle aligned with valve stem etc..

p..s. it looks like from the pics you need some negative camber up front that would definitely help with possible rubbing. Oh and ya might want to consider getting your alignment done anyways, If you bought the car second hand.

 

[dhminer]

A small shop won't care at all. I'm surprised discount tire did

 

[Magnetic]

Not hating and everyone has their taste but I could never stand looking at (IMO) god awful ballons when you guys fit smaller tires on wider rims LoL

Like they could almost ride on water and float haha

Good luck finding a shop to hook you up!

 

[M-Sport fan]

I had this same exact problem when I bought a set of the same size Neo Gens from DTD online/over the phone.
I had to make two separate orders because they refused to even ship me the 16x8 Dekagrams and the 205/50-16 Neo Gens on the same order, apart, and NOT EVEN MOUNTED.

Then every single shop around here, including the small indie, and not chain ones refused to put those tires on an 8" wide wheel.

Finally, the fairly close local tuner shop had no problem mounting and balancing that setup, but for almost $230.00!! (Yes, it was with the Hunter Road Force balancing, so yeah, it should be some extra $$, but still.)

 

[Magnetic]

I had this same exact problem when I bought a set of the same size Neo Gens from DTD online/over the phone.
I had to make two separate orders because they refused to even ship me the 16x8 Dekagrams and the 205/50-16 Neo Gens on the same order, apart, and NOT EVEN MOUNTED.

Then every single shop around here, including the small indie, and not chain ones refused to put those tires on an 8" wide wheel.

Finally, the fairly close local tuner shop had no problem mounting and balancing that setup, but for almost $230.00!! (Yes, it was with the Hunter Road Force balancing, so yeah, it should be some extra $$, but still.)

What's hunter road force balancing? I've never heard of that but feel like I might be missing out on something.

 

[M-Sport fan]

What's hunter road force balancing? I've never heard of that but feel like I might be missing out on something.

Some claim it is useless, and does nothing at all except lighten one's wallet, but it is this;

https://www.hunter.com/wheel-balancers/road-force-elite/

 

[Capri to ST]

I also go to an independent performance-oriented tire shop to get my tires mounted and balanced. They are more likely to do the big stuff right, like having higher quality equipment, and will also do the little things that are sometimes overlooked, like tightening your lug nuts with a torque wrench instead of an impact gun.

 

[Magnetic]

Some claim it is useless, and does nothing at all except lighten one's wallet, but it is this;

https://www.hunter.com/wheel-balancers/road-force-elite/

It makes logical sense and physics can prove it. I don't know anyone that has that machine/setup but def a must for those that have access to a shop.

Thanks!

 

[Old Mike Emerson]

Some claim it is useless, and does nothing at all except lighten one's wallet, but it is this;

https://www.hunter.com/wheel-balancers/road-force-elite/

Damn fancy machine, I watched the vids, impressive. Worth $230, I would need to ride before and after a car to see if I felt a difference.

 

[Ford ST]

If you order a set of tires and wheels from tire rack they mount and road force balance for free.

I personally like discount tire but they are safety first and follow the specs of the tire. Not a problem for me. I have no problem being blunt I think that the stretched tire look is awful. I have seen them on my personal vehicles clean the hub of rust before they reinstall the wheel assembly, and they also torque with a torque wrench.

Sent from my LG-LS997 using Tapatalk

 

[M-Sport fan]

I personally did not put a 205 section tire on an 8" wheel for the stancer 'stretch', but only because almost NO ONE offers an all season tire in a 215/45-16, which is the size I really wanted (which would not be stretched, and there would be no arguments about mounting it on an 8" wide wheel).

I am also NOT enamored of that type of stretch, aesthetically, 'functional' or not.

But NONE of the manufacturers had the kindness to provide anything not pure summer, or gumball open tracker sticky in that size, let alone anything wider (save for that one single 215/45-16, all weather, Vredestein Quatrac 5).

 

[Old Mike Emerson]

I personally did not put a 205 section tire on an 8" wheel for the stancer 'stretch', but only because almost NO ONE offers an all season tire in a 215/45-16, which is the size I really wanted (which would not be stretched, and there would be no arguments about mounting it on an 8" wide wheel).

But NONE of the manufacturers had the kindness to provide anything not pure summer, or gumball open tracker sticky in that size, let alone anything wider (save for that one single Vredestein Quatrac 5).

I love my Vredestein Sprinter + 205/50-15, they were on the car when I bought it.

 

[CarGuy]

I use Discount Tire all the time and have since my Motor Trend days 20 years ago. That being said they won't go against anything that isn't recommended by the tire manufacturers. Likely something to do with safety as far as load ratings, speed ratings etc. all in the name of safety and not getting sued. They install more tires in a day than a small shop does in a week so they are much more experienced despite what some of the commenters have said. I used them for all makes of vehicles including some very high and and they always did a great job. They torque the lug nuts to spec and any issues were taken care of professionally. After testing vehicles weekly on a track I appreciate a company that cares more about safety than the almighty buck.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[Intuit]

.............. make sure the tires are put on right i.e. red circle aligned with valve stem etc.. ...............

That's what those are for. Just checked mine. Is one out of four tires considered bad? 😄
https://www.tires-easy.com/blog/what-are-the-red-and-yellow-dots-on-my-tires/#:~:text=If the valve stem is located at the,machine that will locate any lighter weight areas.

BTW I can never remember whether it's Discount Tire or Tire Discounters. I've dealt with both before. One of the two mounted these. 😏

 

[scooter123]

First off, if you driving in snow you want SKINNY tires, NOT wide tires. I grew up in the snow belt surrounding Cleaveland, Ohio and when the Lake Erie Snow Machine gets cranked up seeing 18 inches of snow it 12 hours is not unusual. BTW, best winter car I ever drove was a 1970 VW Beetle with 145 series tires. If the snow was under the running boards that car would go thru it like it was nothing. On my FiST I run 185/60-15 Bridgestone Blizzaks and they word wonderfully. BTW, the rims are 15 X 6 Steelies. Summer tires are 205/50-16 on 16 x 7 rims which is the correct width for 205-235 tire widths. Why you want 8 inch rims does NOT compute, because that setup is an invitation for curb rash.

 

[Business6]

First off, if you driving in snow you want SKINNY tires, NOT wide tires. I grew up in the snow belt surrounding Cleaveland, Ohio and when the Lake Erie Snow Machine gets cranked up seeing 18 inches of snow it 12 hours is not unusual. BTW, best winter car I ever drove was a 1970 VW Beetle with 145 series tires. If the snow was under the running boards that car would go thru it like it was nothing. On my FiST I run 185/60-15 Bridgestone Blizzaks and they word wonderfully. BTW, the rims are 15 X 6 Steelies. Summer tires are 205/50-16 on 16 x 7 rims which is the correct width for 205-235 tire widths. Why you want 8 inch rims does NOT compute, because that setup is an invitation for curb rash.

I really would love to see a comparison between 205 and 185 section width tires in the snow on the same car in a few inches of snow, rain and dry. I get the idea behind it but I have serious doubts that it makes anywhere near enough of an impact for people to be so adamant about it.

I've gone to skinnier tires for my winter set up before with prior vehicles and decided both times it was a mistake and not worth sacrificing non-snow grip for what, to me, was an indistinguishable benefit.

Also, the 1970 beetle might have been the best car you've driven in the snow not exclusively because it had 145 section width (winter?) tires but because it weighs almost 1,000lbs less than the FiST and better weight distribution with you driving it. My Miatas were fantastic to drive in the snow with winter tires on.

 

[M-Sport fan]

First off, if you driving in snow you want SKINNY tires, NOT wide tires. I grew up in the snow belt surrounding Cleaveland, Ohio and when the Lake Erie Snow Machine gets cranked up seeing 18 inches of snow it 12 hours is not unusual. BTW, best winter car I ever drove was a 1970 VW Beetle with 145 series tires. If the snow was under the running boards that car would go thru it like it was nothing. On my FiST I run 185/60-15 Bridgestone Blizzaks and they work wonderfully. BTW, the rims are 15 X 6 Steelies. Summer tires are 205/50-16 on 16 x 7 rims which is the correct width for 205-235 tire widths. Why you want 8 inch rims does NOT compute, because that setup is an invitation for curb rash.

AGREED, and ALL true, but we usually do not get that steady, constantly on the road snow and ice of your area, or upper New England/upstate N.Y. here, but we do have steady cold temps during a 'normal' winter, albeit usually a DRY cold.

The Neo Gens, contrary to what their tread wear rating, and tread pattern seems to dictate, will get you through VERY VERY shallow snow (like less than a quarter inch deep) in a pinch, but that is NOT why they are on the car (I have my rally working/winter setup of 195/60-15 Arctic 12s on 15x7 Method wheels, IF we ever get BLASTED with a constant, steady period of midwestern/NE type DEEP snow).

I agree on the 16x7 for 205s, but the only 16x7s I wanted (Braid Fullrace As, or Speedline Corse Turini 2120s) were OVER 3 TIMES the co$t of the 16x8 Dekagrams, and were heavier, albeit likely stronger, so Konig it was.

The 205/50 Neo Gens are so wide in section width that the 8" Dekagrams actually appear to be inset and the tire 'pinched' a bit and NOT stretched at all.
I expect that if I ever went to a 205/45 Neo Gen, yes, the wheel lip/bead edge would be VERY susceptible to curb rash/etc.

What I do not like, aesthetically, about the Dekagrams is exactly what most on here LOVE them for, and that is the 'poke' towards a 'flush' fitment due to their 40ET.
I would like them much more, visually if they were like a 45ET or so.