I heard the craziest thing today!

"Luc - The Acadian Oppo" (luc5) 09/16/2014 at 20:05 • Filed to: None

0

33

A tire size different than what is listed on the inside of the door is illegal? WTF? This guy is full of shit.

I was at Walmart looking to get some tires for the Miata wheels on my Mazda 323. I went to Walmart because they are the cheapest in town and they offer free installation.

They worked me out a price of $280.00 plus tax for some Nexen 175/65R14's. So I setup an appointment for later in the afternoon.

Later this afternoon I go to drop off the car there and the guy ask me "are these tires the same size and what is listed on the door panel?" I said "no they are not because my car originally came with 13's but I want to upgrade to these 14's".

Then he goes on a rant "we can't do it!I won't touch the car! If the cops pull you over they will impound you car! If your insurance finds out they will cancel your policy! I'm gonna lose my job if someone finds out!" He went on and on and on. I asked "him have you lost your mind? If that was the case all tire manufactures would be shut down, all wheel companies would be shut down. "When's the last time you saw a vehicle come with 24" wheels stock? yet you can buy 24" tires from just about every tire manufacturer." he then calmed down a bit. and finally agreed that if I bring in the wheels separately when they are not on the car then they would do it.

The worst part is that Mazda 323's did come with optional 14's just not on the base model like I have. but the higher trim levels did.

I know what your thinking. Why not just take your business elsewhere if they don't want to serve you? well the Nexen tires installed are over $100.00 cheaper than every other tire shop I called and the other shops where trying to sell me chinese tires I never even heard of. Nexen on the other hand while still very low end tires at least I have heard the name before and they are korean not chinese.

So after work I took off the Miata wheels and I will drop them off tomorrow.

Sweet Trav > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/16/2014 at 20:09

5

He's full of shit.

Most chain run "tire places" have had legal tell them not to install oversized tires on factory wheels. While this may be unsafe on say a 15x7 inch wheel with a 275/55/R15 it is perfect fine for a 15x7 inch wheel to run a 235/60/15.

At least in michigan this is all corporate policy and not law.

Conan > Sweet Trav 09/16/2014 at 20:11

0

Even true in fun/hoon hating Virginia. You'd be fine because the size is available on a different trim level.

The Transporter > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/16/2014 at 20:13

1

Your car's got illegal modz, yo!

Skif6996 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/16/2014 at 20:14

1

Had a guy at PepBoys tell my wife he couldn't mount a 60 series on the back of my Mazda 3 because it had 55 series up front. He told her it would destroy the drivetrain and that she didn't know what she was talking about. Most employees at those places don't know shit. Luckily she was smart enough to call him on it. We then had someone else mount them.

PatBateman > The Transporter 09/16/2014 at 20:15

1

Callz da popo!

dogisbadob > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/16/2014 at 20:18

0

It's only illegal on a Ferrari :p

No really though, it's not actually illegal, but many tire shops won't do it, kind of like installing a non-winter tire with a lower speed rating. Some stores will let you sign something like you know the risk, etc, but some don't. It's up to each store's manager.

Everybody wants to sue WM, so they gotta cover their asses.

Kanaric > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/16/2014 at 20:20

0

lmao maybe if you are in Australia or some place but not in america.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Sweet Trav 09/16/2014 at 20:24

0

I know what you are talking about but the tire size I was after is a stock size on a higher trim Mazda 323 and I was running factory Mazda wheels. the overall diameter and with is the same as stock.

I know he is full of it. I can understand maybe a corporate policy but the illegal part come on who are you trying to fool?

Sweet Trav > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/16/2014 at 20:26

2

Buy the tires cheap, pop em in the hatch and take 'em to mike's hair care and tire center to have them mounted an balanced.

promoted by the color red > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/16/2014 at 20:27

0

FUCK THE POLICE run aftermarket wheels and non stock tires all day every day.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > The Transporter 09/16/2014 at 20:28

2

Yes sir I'm living life on the wild side.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > dogisbadob 09/16/2014 at 20:30

1

I know it's not illegal. the guy could of said it was company policy and I would of been fine with that. but the guy essentially chewed me out that I was a danger to society or something.

if you are gonna yell at me for something make sure you have your facts straight first.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Skif6996 09/16/2014 at 20:32

2

Yeah I can really see having taller tires in the back destroying your transfercase. Mazda 3's have transfer cases right? RIGHT?

I know what you are saying these guy don't know shit.

coqui70 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/16/2014 at 20:35

0

Idiot stealing oxygen from those of us that use our brains.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Kanaric 09/16/2014 at 20:36

0

I'm in this foreign land called Canada. The great white north.

lonestranger > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/16/2014 at 20:37

0

He's likely confused and/or misinformed. It's a corporate policy, put in place in order to protect the company. They don't want to be liable in the case of a legal case that can be pinned on the wheel & tire fitment. Often, with company policies regarding liability, the ins-and-outs and "why"s are too complicated to thoroughly explain to each and every employee and to every customer. This dude's trainer (and that person's trainer, and so forth) probably just explained "it's illegal" for simplicity's sake. "Legal liability" becomes "legal reasons" becomes "illegal".

The misinformation spreads like cancer, and you end up with what you got.

There was a similar circumstance that came up in one of Steve Lehto' awesome articles. He did a better job of explaining what I just did.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Sweet Trav 09/16/2014 at 20:38

0

eh.. they are willing to do it if I bring in the wheels. I have to keep my cost down I don't want to pay someone else to do it is WM will do it for free.

Sweet Trav > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/16/2014 at 20:39

1

So you're saying jack stands in a Wal-mart parking lot? Thank God your wife is a champ.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > promoted by the color red 09/16/2014 at 20:40

1

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > coqui70 09/16/2014 at 20:41

1

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > lonestranger 09/16/2014 at 20:47

0

makes sense! I don't like to demean people that work at walmart because we all need jobs but this guy was a piece of work

AthomSfere > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/16/2014 at 20:48

0

Did you check TireRack prices? You can get price with shipping and install probably cheaper than wal-mart and installed (through TireRacks program) from somewhere that has a clue...

Skif6996 > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/16/2014 at 20:53

1

They must have forgotten mine at the assembly plant. I should sue.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > AthomSfere 09/16/2014 at 20:56

0

I did and the cheapest tire I found was $41.00 USD/each and the shipping was $150.00 then I still need to get them installed some where.

Walmart was $51.00 CAD each. so walmart is still $100 bucks cheaper that the cheapest tire rack tire once installed.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Skif6996 09/16/2014 at 20:57

0

yes you definitely should sue. that is totally unacceptable.

Kanaric > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/16/2014 at 21:08

0

Quebec is pretty car nazi I never heard of things like this elsewhere.

JGrabowMSt > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/16/2014 at 21:11

0

I would have told him "No, I had to replace the door last week. I wrote down all the important numbers though."

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/16/2014 at 21:23

0

He's not full of shit, I only read the first paragraph, but in Maine it is illegal to run tires of a different size than factory.

But I know most chain places will not install tires of a different size onto a car, its a liability thing, he may have just been a moron if you state allows it.

Maybe someone told him it was illegal so that he wouldn't sell tires that were the wrong size.

But bringing him the wheels alone is okay, he has no idea where they're going and stuff.

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT 09/16/2014 at 23:49

0

so your telling me that in Maine you can't have larger aftermarket wheels?

Luc - The Acadian Oppo > Kanaric 09/16/2014 at 23:52

0

It's the first I heard of it and I'm in the land of lifted trucks where maybe 1 out of 5 vehicles run the stock tires and wheels. If he was right we'd all be in jail.

Kanaric > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/17/2014 at 00:49

0

In Australia they actually limit the size of tire you can put on the car so it's not something that doesn't exist. The limit though allows for upgrade but not much.

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > Luc - The Acadian Oppo 09/17/2014 at 07:43

0

state law

its dumb but they dont like modded cars in general

thebigbossyboss > lonestranger 09/23/2014 at 07:01

0

"Legal liability" becomes "legal reasons" becomes "illegal". ....sounds like that game of telephone we used to play as kids.