1999-2009 [Subscribe to Daily Digest] |
Comments on your questions about tire replacement
1.) Michelin changed the design so soon- How soon is soon? Do you know how long that particular tire was in production, and why they made a change? Without that information, it is hard to blame them for coming out with a new model. In particular, if the manufacturer and Saab both state that this new model can properly be used as a replacement,let them carry the liability if something is wrong with that. Guaranteed that Michelin would not make that statement without data to back it up, particularly in light of the public concern over tires.
2.) Saab should have stocked it. So they could help keep their warehouse from blowing away in a storm! Since the tire replacement market is so heavilly dominated by large consumer whosalers and mail order firms, why would you as a manufacturer( Saab), keep a lot of tires in stock that your dealers would never be able to sell due to price considerations? How many people would order their replacement tires from their dealer? Look at the way people search far and wide to find the dealer who will sell them a 40,000 car for 50 bucks less, and you will see why dealers do not want to invest in low margin business deals like replacement tires.
3.) Put em on the rear.- You made the smart move. As long as they are speced out by Michelin as being the proper replacement, you will not see one bit of difference by doing this.
4.) The small doughnut- Has been around for about 20 years now, and if you look in the trunk of just about anything out there, that is what you will find. But you better look quick, because mot manufacturers are gearing up to get away from spares altogether. Tir pressure monitoring systems are gaining momentum, and will likely be on the next car you buy in the next few years. The space,weight, and cost involved in keeping a spare onboard is being chalenged by making sure that your primary tires are in good order. Some will criticize this( and I have some reservations as well), but overall, this will be of more benefit to most people than the spare that they never touch over the life of the car.
Bottom line: Buying four equally matched tires would have been an expensive thing to do just so the labels all read the same.
By the way, the Michelin that you got as the OEM Saab tire when new has been widely criticized for it's noise level. That MIGHT be the reason they made some changes.
posted by 24.128.2...
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