Tires dilemma - what to do?

I would replace all 4 but that's up to you...

some people really like the 422's but I only have experience with my Goodyear assurance.

I like them, they aren't really that quite or smooth, but I get 52mpg consistently without using any hypermilling techniques. I think they are squeelly but I havent felt unsafe yet...

If it were me, I would not get the hydroedge, but thats just me. I would stick with the goodyear, bridgestone, or maybe* the continental dws.

tirerack.com lets you see all the reviews and I always find this helpful. you can additionally screen for vehicle make and by doing this, you might see what prius reviewers have to say. but then again, there is always priuschat for that...

 

How much tread (in 32nds of an inch) do you have left on your tires. New tires are usually 10/32 or 11/32, legal minimum is 2/32, most of us replace them at 4/32 or even 6/32.

If your tires are down to 7/32 or 8/32 definitely go for new ones, more than that it's a judgment call.

Personally in your situation I would go for 4 new Michelins from either Costco or Tire Rack. Tire Rack will have a tire to match your other 3 if you choose to go that way.

 

$80 rebate on goodyear
$100 rebate on kuhmo (prepaid card)
$60 rebate on hankook (prepaid card)
$70 rebate michelin (prepaid card)
$50 rebate on general

honestly, this might sound crazy. but i did have hankook optimo h727's and they were amazing as far as ride quality goes. additionally, they were very well rated in consumer reports last edition.

these are not low rolling resistance, BUT with the 60 dollar card, you can buy ALOT of gas and have great tires at the same time. they also have an 80,000mi warranty.

 

No sense replacing all 4 if not needed--I'd only replace the 2 rears.

Tirerack.com has the best prices, based on my experience buying from them a few times. You can have them drop shipped to your installer of choice, or you can use one of their local recommended installers.

 

this is a deal: Kumho Ecsta LE Sport

100 dollar rebate...wow.

this is the only kumho rebated right now...

 

Hankook optimo h727' would be my choice or just replace one.
its not awd car, you ll be fine.
c

p.s.
bring the car to tire place that will fix it from inside with the patch.
you ll be fine.
no need for new tire.

 

These are too heavy.
find ones that weight max 20lbs.
yocahama's that came on 15'' wheels are only 18lbs.

 

Tirerack.com has a warehouse in NV. I also live in the bay area, and received them in 1 day one time, and 2 days another time (think it depends on time of day I ordered).

 

I would not bother buying any tires. There's no damage to your sidewall so your life isn't in danger. Pay $15-20 to patch it up (Les Schwab or America's Tire actually may do it for free) and be done with it. This is common, happens all the time to people. Happened to me just yesterday, in fact. If everybody bought a set of tires when a nail punctured their tread, then I'd want to be in the tire business.

BTW - a plug might've made your situation worse than if you had left the nail in there. What happens is you took a small hole and made it larger with a plug. The nail could've been sealing in the air for all that matter. Still, just get it patched or "plugged and patched."

 

Admittedly, a plug is not a viable permanant solution because of the potential for a slow leak. A patch, however, is very safe. The patch and tire essentially become one piece, rendering the tire good as new. A patched tire won't blow out on you.

The assumption that you'll get stuck in the mountains or die is a bit absurd. What's to stop you from hitting another nail? It won't matter if you got new tires or a patched tire.

People here like to talk about their favorite tires so they'll tell you which to buy and from where, but I'm giving you the practical answer. You don't need new tires.

 

assuming you are going to keep the car for a while, just buy a pair for the rear, you'll be wasting money buying four now, or if you match the existing tires buy only one.

 

Based on the location of the hole (looks like right on the edge where the bottom & sidewall meet, on the sidewall side), no reputable shop would repair that, even with an interior patch/plug; and even if you could find a shop that would, I wouldn't risk my or others safety for it.

 

Now we're digging deep into the anatomy of a tire. It's close but it's still not part of the sidewall. Anyways, when the mechanics take the tire off, they'll be able to determine if it's safe to patch.

 

The repairable area ends some distance inside the outer edges of the tread:


The puncture looks like it's in a bad place to me, and I personally would not be comfortable putting my safety in the hands of some tire jockey. Honestly, is your safety worth it?

 

I had a similar non-repairable tire at 15k. I just bought 2 tires for the rear and ran the other two on the front until they were worn out - I got another 14k out of the ones on the front.