Crap.

[SirRangeALot]

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/sirrangealot/W8/0130091509.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/sirrangealot/W8/0130091507b.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/sirrangealot/W8/0130091507a.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h63/sirrangealot/W8/0130091507.jpg

Blew out one of my Blizzaks on a pothole (I think) during lunch time. I'm thinking, "well, this isn't all bad, I did buy the road hazard coverage for them..." Alas, these particular Blizzaks (Revo 1) are no longer produced. Sweet. So my options are either (a) try to find one on eBay -- no such luck. No Revos in sight (215/55/16). Option (b) is having two different style Blizzaks on the car. I'm not sure if the Road Hazard program will cover replacing two tires when only one is damaged. I'm probably going to have to wait until Monday to call them. TireRack already told me no dice on the Revo 1 and told me the only suitable replacement is the WS-60 (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+WS-60&partnum=155R6BZWS60&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes&place=4). But I can't have 1 brand new tire with a different tread installed with 3 other different tires...or can I? Can I override my OCD in this case?

If anyone has a heads-up on a Blizzak Revo 1 in the size above, even 2 (I think I'm going to buy a full size spare, donuts are FTL) please let me know.

This is what I get for trying to find a great deal on winter tires (cost me $300 w/ shipping for 4 new Blizzaks, you try finding a better deal!)

Any suggestions, advice, or leads are welcomed. Thanks boys and girls!

[lenny]

I would go with Tire Rack's reccomendation.

Even if you could get your hands on a different tire in the same dimension, the rollout may be different.

Good luck finding an exact replacement, but I dont think it'll happen. :(

[Mk4Gasm]

Sorry to hear that man...I don't think it's gonna matter too much if you have one tire with slightly different tread...I've got the WS-60 and not sure how much the tread pattern differs...but i wouldn't put too much thought into it either way. Ask Jordan about different style tires on different wheels thats how his neon is rollin and he has no problems..or at least it was this summer.

[OrangeDUB]

Damn that sucks. Do all winter tires have thin sidewalls? My nokians on the rabbit were VERY thin...

[Saab900CE]

I would go with what Tire Rack recommends for the replacement. One different tire will be better then rolling around on the spare. BTW if that isn't a full size spare I wouldn't be driving like that for long because if could **** up your differential over time.

I was driving the Neon when I first bought it with 2 similar tires up front and 2 completely different tires in back (back is just along for the ride anyway and all tires were all season) and I never once had a problem with stopping, starting, or traction in the curves. It might be more critical on your car though with the AWD system that you have 4 of the same tires. :confused:

[Kelso]

Damn man! I bet I could get a better deal!! I get employee discounts. :) But i dont know if I can just use it all the time. :hide: Otherwise I would love to help you/PKG out....hmmmmm ideas brewing.

[SirRangeALot]

I would go with what Tire Rack recommends for the replacement. One different tire will be better then rolling around on the spare. BTW if that isn't a full size spare I wouldn't be driving like that for long because if could **** up your differential over time.

Great. I wonder if I should wait it out and have them ship me 1 (or more tires), or just do some local shopping at tire shops to see if they have any type of Blizzak in stock.

[SirRangeALot]

Damn man! I bet I could get a better deal!! I get employee discounts. :) But i dont know if I can just use it all the time. :hide: Otherwise I would love to help you/PKG out....hmmmmm ideas brewing.

Really?! Let me know Kai, I would like to get this taken care of ASAP. I might even give you some cash on the side if it would work out...I just HATE this friggin' donut. It looks so dinky on my car. :(

[sic_A4]

Jordan is right. Your all wheel drive system needs the same rolling dia. If that spare says only go 50mi. I would listen. If it were me I'd get all new ones. How much life is on the other 3?

[turboA4]

yeah jeremy that blows....;)


but i know with the AWD the rolling diameter needs to be within like 3% or so, so if you can see how much tread you have lost on the others, you may still be ok will a new one

[SirRangeALot]

Jordan is right. Your all wheel drive system needs the same rolling dia. If that spare says only go 50mi. I would listen. If it were me I'd get all new ones. How much life is on the other 3?

Just put the set on in October, and I don't put very many miles on my car. So I'd say 90% tread life remaining on the other 3.

[SirRangeALot]

Ok, I just stumbled across another set of Blizzaks with only 3k miles on them for $180. But the size is 225/50/16. So that means these tires are one step up in width, and the profile is one step down from what I have, correct? If the shipping isn't hrorrible I might get these.

http://www.audizine.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=7901&cat=45

[Saab900CE]

Ok, I just stumbled across another set of Blizzaks with only 3k miles on them for $180. But the size is 225/50/16. So that means these tires are one step up in width, and the profile is one step down from what I have, correct? If the shipping isn't hrorrible I might get these.

http://www.audizine.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=7901&cat=45

Those sound like they would be just fine. On a side note with those 225/50/16's your speedometer will be off. It will 1.849% faster.

[A2Dub]

hmm why would audi's engineers not think of putting a bigger rim and tire diameter to make it safe to drive with a spare on the car without putting wear on the differential? i don't think you need to worry about ur differential


but no ideas on the tire besides possible ebay gl with that though

[SirRangeALot]

hmm why would audi's engineers not think of putting a bigger rim and tire diameter to make it safe to drive with a spare on the car without putting wear on the differential? i don't think you need to worry about ur differential

That's what I was thinking, if there's so much emphasis put on the importance of rolling diameters and the AWD system, why not have a full size spare? The W8 was a ~$40k car when it first came out, you'd think they could afford to throw in a decent spare? :sly:

In any event, I didn't drive it at all today (had to go to work -- took the gf's car) and I'm going to the shop in the AM to dismount the tire and see if the rim is bent. I hope to God it isn't. TireRack should be getting back to me tomorrow sometime.

[CadburyRabbit]

just wondering, but what was the temperature that day when the tire blew out?

[SirRangeALot]

just wondering, but what was the temperature that day when the tire blew out?

~ 13*...looked it up on weather.com. It sounds about right, it was a bit cold.

[SirRangeALot]

Welllllllllll...

There's some good news out of all this. The rim isn't bent at all, VERY good news. But one mechanic told me just to get one tire, it's not going to make much difference since the remaining tires have most of their tread left. The owner of the shop told me that he doesn't recommend replacing just one or even two tires, to replace all four. The concensus though was I shouldn't be driving the Passat until I get a new tire put on there.

Looks like I have my work cut out for me, and I have a big decision. I don't want to mess with the AWD system, so I think in this case it's better to be safe than sorry.

[CadburyRabbit]

~ 13*...looked it up on weather.com. It sounds about right, it was a bit cold.

Okay, just checkin, cause I heard you're not supposed to drive snow tires in weather above 40 degrees cause the rubber gets too soft then.

Sh!tty luck then :(

[SirRangeALot]

Okay, just checkin, cause I heard you're not supposed to drive snow tires in weather above 40 degrees cause the rubber gets too soft then.

Good to know. :tu:

I heard back from the guy with the used set of Blizzaks...he wants $40 PER tire to ship. Screw that noise. There is a set of Fat 5's with a good set of tires that are semi-local I could pick up. I was going to wait until summer, but hell...

I never got around to calling TireRack today either, I was pretty busy at work. I want to get this resolved by the end of the week.

[uu8]

Whoa....

Looks like you lost a knife fight! :hoff:

[dub1.8t]

why don't you just put your other set of wheels and tires back on? Worry about getting new snow tires next fall.

[SirRangeALot]

why don't you just put your other set of wheels and tires back on? Worry about getting new snow tires next fall.

I sold them last fall.

[Kelso]

hey sorry fell of the boat on this one. After work Ill call my dad and see if he can find the tire you need...maybe they have some somewhere throughout brindgstone. Or maybe he will know where to look or call to find one.

[SirRangeALot]

Ah -- I forgot about you Kai! But no matter, I finally got the ball rolling on this "situation." Thanks though!! :)

I have the last two WS-60's in the country coming to me via 2-day FedEx from TireRack's Nevada warehouse. Paid through the nose to get them here in 2 days ($65) but I just want to get this over with. I hate not driving my baby. :(