The Oldsmobile Connection

[The Pirate Bob]

Just joined and have a 94 OLDS 98 Regency. Maybe someone who has a similar car and knows tires could help me with my one question and main reason for joining the group.

I am retired, partly disabled, and hardly ever drive my car. I love it though, more comfortable than my relatives $40,000 Cadi and BMW. I only paid $2500 for it a year ago and need new tires even though I only put about 4000 miles tops on it each year.

The cheapest set of 4 I have found are an off brand from Discount Tires they say Goodyear or Goodrich, one or the other, makes for them called the Mohave. Anyone ever heard of them or tried putting cheap 50 dollar per tires on their car.

Also the salesman is trying to tell me that it doesnt matter that instead of the 205/70/15 tires that are on the car and is recommended, he wants to put 205/75/15 which would save me $50 out the door. I can't find anywhere that says it is alright much less a good idea to change tire sizes. And a tire salesman at Costco said he could not legally sell and put on that size on my Olds.

Who should I believe? Save the 50-100 dollars over everyone else and follow the Discount Tire advice, or play it safe and spend the extra? Or do I really need to forget those cheaper tires and go with a 70-100 Goodrich or Michelon? By the way, I live in Arizona, so the heat, dryness, and sun will rot any tires long before I put 20,000 miles on them. So buying a 80,000 mile tire seems irrelevant to me.

Thanks for any replies. And thanks for having me aboard! I will go look around the site now and read some of the other posts.

[88 Coupe]

Hi The Pirate Bob, hello everyone,

Welcome to TOC.

Quote: ........ an off brand from Discount Tires ........
"House" brand is the correct term. The quality is as good as (possibly better than) the "Name" brands. For more money, all you get is the "bells and whistles" you don't need.

Quote: ........ Mohave. Anyone ever heard of them ........
Made by Kelley/Springfield. Same manufacturing and materials standards as the rest of their lines. Only real difference is the name.

The difference in price? Discount tires/Americas Tires buys large quantities for less, then prices them at a lower margin, and sells large volume. Cannot be done with the "Name Brands".

Quote: ........ or tried putting cheap ........ tires on their car ........
Yes, anytime they will do the job.

Quote: ........ salesman is trying to tell me that it doesnt matter that instead of the 205/70/15 tires that are on the car and is recommended, he wants to put 205/75/15 ........
He's right.

Quote: ........ I can't find anywhere that says it is alright much less a good idea to change tire sizes ........
Not surprising.

Quote: ........a tire salesman at Costco said he could not legally sell and put on that size on my Olds .........
He's right.

Quote: ........ Who should I believe? ........
Me. 8-)

Regards, Norm

[Brando]

Yea, go ahead with those 75s, a little wider won't hurt none... :D

I have some "House" brand tires from Discount Tire on my 87 Delta 88...tires have lasted quite a while....work really well in the snow even, and they were the $50 per tire deal.

TOC Admin
Brando

[88 Coupe]

The Pirate Bob:
I believe much more can be learned from reasoning out the solution to a problem than by just reading it. If you need that answer now, I'll send everything you'll need to make your decision, via PM.

Everyone:
Although it doesn't answer his question, this link might be of interest. I skimmed over the whole page and found some errors, but it does contain lots good information.

The Pirate Bob wrote: ........205/70/15 tires that are on the car and is recommended ........
In this context, "specified" is the accurate term,"recommended" is not.

Brando wrote: ........ a llittle wider won't hurt none ........
One 205 cannot be wider than another unless it's mounted on a wheel with a wider rim.

So, if his 15" dia. wheels are unchanged, the 70 vs 75 aspect ratio would be only difference.

What problems might the taller tire cause?

Norm