2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Michelin tires

[JMetzger]

When they put Nitrogen in my RV tires they let all the air out of the tires before they installed the Nitrogen in as I watched them do it. That was at Costco in Carson City, NV

 

[HBarlow]

Jack,

Did the nitrogen installer dismount the wheel from the vehicle to avoid having the tire separate from the beads under load? I'd bet not. How much ordinary air remains when someone "let all the air out?" The tire is still full of air at ambient pressure and perhaps inflated sufficiently to keep the tire beads seated against the rim.

The only way to remove all the air would be to evacuate it similar to evacuating all the air before filling an air conditioning system with freon or R-134. I'm certain tire retailers and auto detailers are not doing that.

I don't have any objection to anyone who wants to use nitrogen in his tires. I'm just pointing out the fallacy of believing that a tire dealer has actually filled the tire with nitrogen. I believe that's a lot of sales hype.

 

[EBolgiano]

303 Aerospace Protectant

Thanks for your replies everybody. I heard that Armorall is a NO-NO on Michelins, is this true? Is what causes the weather checking the UV'S, or has this been diagnosed yet?

So far what I have found the best price is Sams club so this might be where I'll get them.

303 Aerospace Protectant is one of the best products around to protect tires against UV degradation. Michelins came on all of my vehicles and we have had great service out of them. As someone stated earlier why change it if it isn't broke? Ed B

 

[rrl989]

I've had enough bad experiences with Costco Tire centers that I'll never go back. Seems like I've been buying nothing but Michelins. I have the XPS's now for 100K miles, I'll go back to the LTX's soon.

 

[MChrist]

I've had enough bad experiences with Costco Tire centers that I'll never go back. Seems like I've been buying nothing but Michelins. I have the XPS's now for 100K miles, I'll go back to the LTX's soon.

Those Michelin XPS tires are heavy duty tires!! I believe they have 3 steel belts, and I know they are good candidates for recaps. These tires aren't supposed to be great in snow, but they could be siped or grooved for winter traction, if you wanted to. I think they are also about $300/ tire, but like you said, you got 100,000 miles on them and I'm guessing no blowouts... quality tires cost up front, but pay back dividends in the long run.

 

[JMetzger]

Harvey, They jacked the trailer up & pulled the valve stems out then filled with nitrogen at no cost. You are correct there is still residual air in the tire & the only way to get all the air out would be to evacuate the tire but I have had no problems with nitrogen in the tires & with a thermal gun I have found that the tires run about 15-20 degrees cooler then with air & since using nitrogen my tire problems have disappeared, knock on wood. Just my experience, to each his own.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Simnce the air we breathe is already 78% nitrogen I doubt that any great advantage is obtained by getting that percantage a little higher. bg

 

[jray]

I had a bad experience with Costco as well (sold me some very bad Michelins for my BMW). Not saying it was their fault, I just hate a hard tire which doesn't handle. I usually use TireRack so I can get what I want but recently have been really pleased with a local shop Lloyd's Tire Service (did my front end as well). They filled all 6 tires with 80-lbs of nitrogen. They get their nitrogen from tanks whereas Costco put in their own nitrogen generators.



We can always settle Costco disputes by contacting ex-member willyslover as he was a Costco executive--he even helped out TDR members who had problems at Costco.

I had a problem with Costco too when purchasing Michelins. Paid for the tires in advance because the size I needed wasn't in stock. Arrived and waited four hours only to learn my tires had been installed on another customers vehicle and they had driven home. Other person called to complain because they had undersized tires (my tires) on their F250.



My vehicle was now on the rack with no tires at all on it and their fix was to put me into a tire that I really didn't want. Although the tires that were installed cost more they had a tread wear rating of 420. The tires I had paid for had a tread wear rating of 700. I feel like I was worked by them. I understand mistakes, but this really ticked me off.

 

[HBarlow]

jray,

Your Costco may or may not employ fools and may or may not provide lousy customer service but isn't that a separate issue? Stupid employees don't really have a bearing on Michelin tires or whether SAM's Club or Costco sells standard retail versions of Michelin tires.

My local SAM's Club required training. They didn't know how to properly balance large heavy 16" light truck tires like XPS Ribs when I first started buying from them around 1996. We had several sets of expensive tires returned for full credit, had SAM's Club reimbursing me for taking my tires out to a local retailer for balance, a few heated discussions, a few hurt feelings, and several phone calls to senior VPs over tire operations in Bentonville, AR. Ultimately the tire guys at my SAM's Club received company training, all new tire mounting and balance equipment, learned how to use it properly, learned that I was correct and a great customer, and we became good friends. I won't buy any tires but Michelins and nowhere but my local SAM's Club. They know tires, stock what should be in stock, and provide exceptional customer service.

Sometimes you have to work with or get rid of the tire team to get good service. I am a faithful, loyal customer who has bought probably twenty or twenty-five sets of Michelins from SAM's and lots of batteries as well. I've never had a bad Michelin.

 

[HBarlow]

Simnce the air we breathe is already 78% nitrogen I doubt that any great advantage is obtained by getting that percantage a little higher. bg

I was searching my feeble brain for that figure earlier but couldn't recall what it was. Someone, probably you, posted that information recently in another thread discussing nitrogen inflation in consumer tires.

Increasing the percentage of nitrogen from 78% to 80 or 90% doesn't seem like a huge advantage.

 

[jray]

jray,

Your Costco may or may not employ fools and may or may not provide lousy customer service but isn't that a separate issue? Stupid employees don't really have a bearing on Michelin tires or whether SAM's Club or Costco sells standard retail versions of Michelin tires.

Hi Harvey,

I posted earlier that I was on my third set of Michelins. I have no complaints regarding the tires. Reading someone else's post regarding tires at Costco reminded me of the five hours of my life that I wasted while they attempted to fix their mistake. Just thinking about it again gives me chest pain.

 

[HBarlow]

jray,

I know that feeling. Customer service provided by younger people today is just not there. I would hate to be a small business owner today trying to hire employees to represent my company. Many of them feel entitled to a paycheck but have no sense of obligation to work or take care of customers.

 

[Joe Mc]

I'm loving my Michelins. Although I haven't placed many miles on them thus far maybe 2k I can tell the difference. I've had 1 - set of Firestone Steeltex's (285s) that were on the truck when I got it, 1 - set of Cooper's (305s, they only lasted about 45k and started showing cords between the tire lugs = ekk!) then I went to Nittos both of which were 305s - 1 set Terra Grapplers the other set Dune Grapplers (flame pattern on the tread and sidewall look cool). The Nittos wore well and would have exceeded the 50k I expected "if" I could've not done so many smoky burnouts . . .



There won't be any burnouts with the $$$ Michelins. I got mine 285/75/16from LTX M/S2 - OnlineTires.com



They gave the best price "total out of pocket" (means with shipping to my door) that I could find, even tho I'm in East Pennsylvania and they're in California, they beat Tire Rack, Tires Direct and any local tire place. Shipping wasn't that bad actually was less that the cost of one tire. If that tells you anything about the other on line tire places, even if the shipping was free on the other places the "total our of pocket comparrison" onlinetires beat everyone. Suggest giving them a try, or at least a look at.



On Edit: I did a "calculate shipping" to my 19047, PA location, it was $89. 98 total out of pocket $905. 98 to your door. Sounds like alot, and it is, but as most of the other guys said "you get what you pay for". Oh, I put Michelin "Hydroedges" on my wife's 2001 Volvo XC-70, these tires have a 90k warranty and are absolutly sweet. From this point forward, if at all possible, I'm a "Michelin Man" for life.



Good luck with your new michelins.

 

[JMetzger]

Harvey, A BIG AMEN to what you said in post #32. You must be around my age.

 

[Joe Mc]

Harvey & Jack (guessing we're all around "50 something"?) I agree, "most" youngsters now day all want to be millionaires, but don't want to do what it takes (flip burgers or whatever) to get there.



Note on the "most" comment, we are all products of our environment . . . and there are "some" youngsters that just amaze the heck out of me with their dilligence and zeal. OK I'm showing my age now with the "dilligence and zeal" words, not used much anymore and with good reason . . . to hell in a hand basket . . .

 

[HBarlow]

I wish I was still 50 something! I'm 69 which is provably older than dirt! Where did the years go?

Actually I'm not feeling bad about my age. I am certainly not as strong or capable as I was when younger but I still feel good, am active, able to do the things I want to do, and am enjoying life. I rode my new Goldwing 33,000 miles last year all over the United States and around Lake Superior through Ontario Canada.

Joe, you're correct. Once in awhile I run across a younger person who was fortunate to have real parents who prepared him or her to be a successful, fully functioning adult American instead of a parasite and loser and I feel encouraged and gratified. There are many of them out there but they are doctors, engineers, lawyers, business managers, etc. so we don't encounter them in customer service roles.

Some on TDR hate Wal-Mart and SAM's Clubs but I am a huge admirer of them. One of the things that is most impressive about the Sam Walton empire is they hire and train and routinely promote young 20 somethings to general manager positions and pay them several hundred thousand dollars a year in salary and bonuses to run their huge retail stores. Those young people are a cut above their peers.

 

[JMetzger]

Harvey, you are just a kid. I wish I was 69, try 75 almost 76.

 

[HBarlow]

Jack,

Its nice to not be the oldest guy in the room occasionally.

 

[MLee]

Harvey, you are just a kid. I wish I was 69, try 75 almost 76.

Metzger--your in my group age. And dust does happen

I appreciate all your come back and info. The tire I was refereing to is made for Sams club, but backed through Michelins owner satisfaction program and handled by Sams. Went to Michelins web site, tires 101 to inquire about the protective coatings/UV stuff, "do not use any Petroleum based products on the tires. " From what I know and have read 303 would be good stuff to use.

So now I need to make the finale decision on which tire and from who to purchase. I'm torn between the Michelin and the BFG TA's.

 

[HBarlow]

MLee,

The BFG is also a good tire and depending on how your truck will be used, miles driven, etc. may be fine for your needs. Michelin owns BFG but I don't know whether there is any Michelin influence on product design or manufacturing process.

When I was transporting and running well over 100k miles each year I found Michelins to be cheaper than other brands because of the trouble-free long service life they provided. I don't know if a BFG will provide the same service life a Michelin does.