Costco warns about replacing OEM tires

So their other option was to leave the old tires on until you get a blowout?

 

Actually, that just goes to show how conscientious Costco is with their members . . . not just treating you like a number by selling you a product and kicking you out the door.

Costco has very liberal return policies.

 

I agree. This is good to hear. Kudos to Costco!

 

Their other option would be to use Goodyear Integrity tires.

Tom

 

And just let them know that any new tire will drop your MPGs for the first few K miles.

 

The GY Integrity tires available as replacements are not the same as the ones that came with your Prius (Made in US vs Made in Japan). I have seen reports of lower MPG with those as well.

There are true LRR tires available that match MPG with the GYs in the summer and get better MPG, but still less, in the winter. My favorite at this time is the Nokian WR or WRg2 (some of their summer tires are LRR as well).

JeffD

 

Frankly, I think it is irresponsible for any tire retailer, or anyone else, to plant a negative "seed" without explaining & showing plausible evidence to substaniate the reasons for their opinion. Oversize tires can increase the rolling resistance which could result in slightly lower gas mileage. My guess is that low or high tire pressure has a more significant effect.

 

I would have considered Costco for my recent tire replacement, but read that they refuse to install anything other than the original size. Having found the Integrities to be sadly lacking in grip, I wanted a different tire in a larger size, and was more than willing to give up a bit of mileage for improved safety. Now they're not even willing to change tires, let alone sizes? I'm not sure insisting on installing such a poorly rated tire is in their customer's best interests.

 

I had Costco replace the stock Integrities with Michelin X Radials just about a year ago and really didn't see any hit in mileage at all. At the time the tires were replaced I was averaging 56.6 mpg over the life of the car. As winter came the mileage went down as usual but now 1 year later my lifetime average is right back up to 56.6 mpg.

 

Hi Tom,

Actually Costco does not sell Goodyear brand tires (at least in my area) so the alternative to Michelin would be BF Goodrich - Traction T/A or BF Goodrich - Premier Touring.
Costco Tire Center - Error

The pricing is better than Michelin X. I'm not sure that either of those choices would be better than the Michelin X tire with respect to rolling resistance.

Regarding the original post, I think that it is good that the Costco staff tried to make the OP aware that there may be an mpg hit with new tires.

Regarding hyo silver's comment, given our litigious society, it is quite reasonable for Costco to refuse to install a tire that does not comply with the auto manufacturer's spec. I've used Continental, Bridgestone, and now Pirelli 185/65R15 tires on my 2004; all have provided excellent traction and met my needs (and were all better than the original equipment Goodyear Integrity tires).

Classic requires special XL-load rated tires. Costco was one of the first major retailers to recognize this, while other tire retailers had no problem selling their customers standard SL-load rated tires of the same tread width. After Costco stopped selling the correct Potenza tire, they refused to sell replacement tires for that car. I respect that decision.

 

I did have a loss of mileage for about 1000 mi. I can't tell any difference now. I got Michelin Primacy MXV. I got the same 185 size

 

Hi Ian,

Is it possible that the warning resulted from Costco tire center managers receiving numerous complaints from Prius owners who noticed that their mpg with new tires was ~5% worse, compared to almost-bald Goodyear Integrity tires?

 

How about Big O tires? I asked the tech there to inflate my stock GY's to 40 front 38 rear, he said that he wouldnt do it because it would hurt my mileage.

 

If you are satisfied with the Integritys, you can probably get a better price for them than other "premium" replacement tires which might last longer. But 42K miles is plenty good. Integritys are relatively low price--probably because they are an OE tire in many new cars, and Goodyear makes a lot of them.

 

You must have read a different original post to the one I read. I read they told a customer there would be a reduction in mileage after new non standard (read non low rolling resistance) tyres are fitted. Can't fault that.

I read another post which implied Costco won't go into the realm of the unknown by fitting oversize tyres that a car was never designed to have fitted. If only there were more responsible corporate citizens like this.

 

I got good news for you (all). First, finding a tires rolling resistance rating is like finding out secrets at area 51. Search long and hard (as I once did) and evenually, via enough google searches they (tire rolling resistance charts) will turn up. Why are manufacturers so secretive about it? Simple! Once you see that the ones that get the best mpg's are not necessarily the ones you'd buy, a lot of brands would dry up .... especially with gas prices spiralling ever upward.

The michelin hydroedge (also available during the costco sales) has one of the lowest rolling resistance (that's a GOOD thing) rating. Their rating is certainly better then the stock goodyears. And as far as wear? Forgetaboutit !! The integrities? we had to dump then in under 15K miles. Meanwhile, somewhere between 70K & 80K on the odometer ... you can hardly tell they've worn at all.

So costco says beware? Woooo let me give costco a hint:
I didn't get THIS kind of mpg's driving on goodyear's ~



Oh btw, Costco will ALSO tell you it's Baaaaahhd to run your tire pressures in the 40 psi range. But hey, if you prefer Costco's advice ... be my guest!