Dealership wouldn't install my snow tires!

[Mr.Tan]

So yeah, like the title says.... Got a text from my SA this morning that the dealership won't install my snow tires because of the size i got. They said that anything under a STOCK tire size they wont install -__- . I purchased 225/45/18 WS80's from TireRack which had them listed as the alternate tire size for the car... which one would think would mean (since it was either 245/40 or 225/45) that its SAFE TO RUN THIS SIZE ON THE CAR.... well, dealership says its NOT and they wont put them on... I know in here a bunch of you mentioned in my last thread that i would be fine with a 225/45 and that it was what most of you run for snow tires.

Has anyone run into this? I've never heard anything like it before.... I only went to the dealership because they give me a loaner car, my long time friend is my SA (which didn't seem to help at all) and because someone at a VW dealership told me only the Audi dealership can do an alignment because it requires a special tool (i tried getting an alignment there because its closer and i know people who work at that specific place)... IS THIS TRUE too? i'm just totally blown away at the moment at all of this

[hyetiko]

So yeah, like the title says.... Got a text from my SA this morning that the dealership won't install my snow tires because of the size i got. They said that anything under a STOCK tire size they wont install -__- . I purchased 225/45/18 WS80's from TireRack which had them listed as the alternate tire size for the car... which one would think would mean (since it was either 245/40 or 225/45) that its SAFE TO RUN THIS SIZE ON THE CAR.... well, dealership says its NOT and they wont put them on... I know in here a bunch of you mentioned in my last thread that i would be fine with a 225/45 and that it was what most of you run for snow tires.

Has anyone run into this? I've never heard anything like it before.... I only went to the dealership because they give me a loaner car, my long time friend is my SA (which didn't seem to help at all) and because someone at a VW dealership told me only the Audi dealership can do an alignment because it requires a special tool (i tried getting an alignment there because its closer and i know people who work at that specific place)... IS THIS TRUE too? i'm just totally blown away at the moment at all of this

Take an hour drive and come to Audi Devon, my friends a mechanic there will mount and do alignment no problem.


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[EurozoneTuning]

Just find another place to put them on.

I had to go to about 10 places before finding someone that would stretch tires on my last car's wheels (225 35's on a 19")

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[hotleadsingergu]

1) Why would the dealership deny it? Were you expecting to have it done for free?
2) You're getting an alignment for the new tires?
3) I run 225/45 with my snow tires and it's the perfect size. Then again, I put them on aftermarket wheels so I don't have to mess with the dealership in the winter.

[BlownOne]

Just got to any les Schwab and they will mount/balance them in about an hour while you wait. Audi isn't the only place that can align your car either.

[BostonMedic]

They are probably trying to scam you into buying tires from them

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[grovlet]

Yup - I'd just walk away from that dealer.... and you can get the tire installed at any tire shop - alignment should be possible as well - but that requires a little more skill - so research prior to just dropping into to an unknown shop.

[Mr.Tan]

1) Why would the dealership deny it? Were you expecting to have it done for free?
2) You're getting an alignment for the new tires?
3) I run 225/45 with my snow tires and it's the perfect size. Then again, I put them on aftermarket wheels so I don't have to mess with the dealership in the winter.

They said it is "illegal" for them to install tires smaller than what came on car. Why would they do it for free? i was 100% paying for the job to be done.
I'm getting an alignment because it is off and tracking to the one side. I wouldn't get it done otherwise just for new tires

[moose_head]

Is the load rating appropriate? I've heard of places being strict about that.

[AudBoost]

Is the load rating appropriate? I've heard of places being strict about that.

That was my thought too. What is the load rating on the tires? Spec for our cars is 96Y if they are 92Y they probably won't install them.

[Mr.Tan]

they didn't say anything about load rating. They specifically stated its because they were a 225/45 and not a 245/40 . All tirerack has listed for load index at an XL tire 95H 1521lbs max per tire.

[jprice]

Why are you going to a dealership? You got the right size for winter. Go to a good tire shop. The dealership is wrong.

[db12]

They said it is "illegal" for them to install tires smaller than what came on car. Why would they do it for free? i was 100% paying for the job to be done.
I'm getting an alignment because it is off and tracking to the one side. I wouldn't get it done otherwise just for new tires

My only guess would be either a load rating issue or potentially and AWD issue but not sure how that would damage the AWD if all tires are the same size.

[LYKUNO]

they didn't say anything about load rating. They specifically stated its because they were a 225/45 and not a 245/40 . All tirerack has listed for load index at an XL tire 95H 1521lbs max per tire.

Oddly, the Tire Rack spec page has a comment that states: "Sizes that fit your 2012 Audi S4 Sedan Premium Plus are marked with a red dot." The 245 size has the red dot, although as you mention, the 225 is listed by TR as an alternative size. I assume you're running OEM wheels so the rim width range of the tire (7-8.5) is not an issue.

[SwankP3RF3ct10n]

Nothing special required for alignment unless you have adaptive cruise control.

[Mr.Tan]

Why are you going to a dealership? You got the right size for winter. Go to a good tire shop. The dealership is wrong.

besides my long time friend being my service advisor there and him giving me a loaner car- someone at the local VW dealership i tried to get the car aligned at told me they it can only be done by the audi dealership because the car needs a "special tool", which i never heard of before... The car's alignment is off from how bad the roads have been around here lately so I wanted to get it done at the same time as new tires. I would normally just go to the local preferred tire shop to have it all done.

Oddly, the Tire Rack spec page has a comment that states: "Sizes that fit your 2012 Audi S4 Sedan Premium Plus are marked with a red dot." The 245 size has the red dot, although as you mention, the 225 is listed by TR as an alternative size. I assume you're running OEM wheels so the rim width range of the tire (7-8.5) is not an issue.

yep, running the OEM 18" wheel. I didn't even originally plan on getting a 225/45 tire, but when it came up as the choice for alternative tire size (it was the only alternative LOL) i decided to get it

- - - Updated - - -

Nothing special required for alignment unless you have adaptive cruise control.

no adaptive cruise. The only option the car has is the sports dif. which i can't imagine would have anything to do with an alignment being done.

[brianc21]

Why are you going to a dealership? You got the right size for winter. Go to a good tire shop. The dealership is wrong.

What tire shops would you recommend in the East metro? I've been going to bobbys on 494 but they kinda pissed me off last year.

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[eurotic]

I started to write a response saying "That sounds like dealer BS, not saying your friend is lying to you but might be the BS he was told and consequently feeds everyone else. My understanding of tires in terms of safety is the load rating and index, and maybe speed index depending on how fast you intend to run the tire." It was at that point that I went out and checked my car and realized something that I never noticed before. The load index of the WS80 in the 225 is lower than the load index specified on car, 95 vs 96. I never realized that before. TireRack doesn't validate the load index just the fact that a tire is XL or SL.

So the dealer might very well be saying they are unsafe as the load index is lower than what they specify for the car...which is only a real requirement when the car is fully loaded with passengers and cargo. I have had issue with Costco in the past where they insisted that any tire I bought also had to match the speed rating which on their system shows (Y) yet on the car was only specified as Y.

For my winter setup I ordered through 1010tire and they never mentioned anything either. Interestingly though, I wonder if Costco would give me grief for the winter tire not being the proper speed rating?


Shawn

[DBL R]

Either hit up les Schwab or get a separate set of wheels for winter.

[Acejam]

Audi isn't the only place that can align your car either.

It's my understanding that the newer B8.5+ models require special equipment due to the electric steering needed to be calibrated during alignment. So if you have a B8.5, "any place" won't do anymore.

[SwankP3RF3ct10n]

It's my understanding that the newer B8.5+ models require special equipment due to the electric steering needed to be calibrated during alignment. So if you have a B8.5, "any place" won't do anymore.

OP has a B8.

[adsnorri]

I started to write a response saying "That sounds like dealer BS, not saying your friend is lying to you but might be the BS he was told and consequently feeds everyone else. My understanding of tires in terms of safety is the load rating and index, and maybe speed index depending on how fast you intend to run the tire." It was at that point that I went out and checked my car and realized something that I never noticed before. The load index of the WS80 in the 225 is lower than the load index specified on car, 95 vs 96. I never realized that before. TireRack doesn't validate the load index just the fact that a tire is XL or SL.

So the dealer might very well be saying they are unsafe as the load index is lower than what they specify for the car...which is only a real requirement when the car is fully loaded with passengers and cargo. I have had issue with Costco in the past where they insisted that any tire I bought also had to match the speed rating which on their system shows (Y) yet on the car was only specified as Y.

For my winter setup I ordered through 1010tire and they never mentioned anything either. Interestingly though, I wonder if Costco would give me grief for the winter tire not being the proper speed rating?


Shawn

This guy has it- They most likely wont do the research to verify that the tire will actually carry the load. 1521lbs max per tire is more than enough. The GAWR is 2,634 in the front and 2,623 in the rear.

They are probably just looking at 95 compared to 96 load rating. 42 psi in each tire will carry the full load.

[jprice]

What tire shops would you recommend in the East metro? I've been going to bobbys on 494 but they kinda pissed me off last year.

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Holy crap MN! :)

The local indy shops can help you out... Nur Technik, Stellar Autoworks, Imola Motorsports. Also Samaritan Tire will take care of it for you as well. If you're a Costco member, they'll even mount/balance if you ask nicely for $15/tire (couple co-workers have done that)

[jprice]

This guy has it- They most likely wont do the research to verify that the tire will actually carry the load. 1521lbs max per tire is more than enough. The GAWR is 2,634 in the front and 2,623 in the rear.

They are probably just looking at 95 compared to 96 load rating. 42 psi in each tire will carry the full load.

Well hi there! Nice to see someone else understands load ratings! :)

Most people just blindly say "This car must have XL!" or "Can't go lower than the load index on the tire that came with the car" (both of which are not true)

[Acejam]

OP has a B8.

So if you have a B8.5

[Mr.Tan]

so basically the dealership just didn't want to do it...... Called a local well known and reputable tire shop (nello if anyone is familiar) and they will do it, they are also the first shop i used to get stretched tires installed on my VW and didn't give an issue as mostly every other place in town doesnt and wont do, i really should have just called them first, cheaper too.

Second, i checked the sticker inside the door, the stock load rating in rated at 93 since my car came with the factory 18" wheels (i think i mentioned the blizzak ws80 is a 95?)

Third- thanks for the info on the alignment. Hopefully once i get to the tire place on monday they don't give me an issue with doing it, i really dont want to have to go back to dealership and have it done after all of this. and yes, its a B8 as someone clarified

[brianc21]

Holy crap MN! :)

The local indy shops can help you out... Nur Technik, Stellar Autoworks, Imola Motorsports. Also Samaritan Tire will take care of it for you as well. If you're a Costco member, they'll even mount/balance if you ask nicely for $15/tire (couple co-workers have done that)

Sounds good. Thanks.

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[Jv218]

Didn't know the b8.5 needed that due to the electric steering


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[Mr.Tan]

todays the day, dropped the car off at a local & reputable tire shop to get the snows installed and an alignment done. I noticed someone here mentioned running more PSI in the tires since i'm running a smaller size (225/45 compare to a stock 245/40).... is this true?

[AudiTFSI3o3]

So yeah, like the title says.... Got a text from my SA this morning that the dealership won't install my snow tires because of the size i got. They said that anything under a STOCK tire size they wont install -__- . I purchased 225/45/18 WS80's from TireRack which had them listed as the alternate tire size for the car... which one would think would mean (since it was either 245/40 or 225/45) that its SAFE TO RUN THIS SIZE ON THE CAR.... well, dealership says its NOT and they wont put them on... I know in here a bunch of you mentioned in my last thread that i would be fine with a 225/45 and that it was what most of you run for snow tires.

Has anyone run into this? I've never heard anything like it before.... I only went to the dealership because they give me a loaner car, my long time friend is my SA (which didn't seem to help at all) and because someone at a VW dealership told me only the Audi dealership can do an alignment because it requires a special tool (i tried getting an alignment there because its closer and i know people who work at that specific place)... IS THIS TRUE too? i'm just totally blown away at the moment at all of this

1) the more important question is how wide are your tires? are they OEM?

2) if it's 8.0"- 8.5"" wide wheel, going down from a 245 to a 225 is barely a difference, even with the taller 45 sidewall.

3) why are you taking your car to the speakership to swap tires? any indy shop will do it, swap and balance, for less than $70 for a set of 4.

[whiped]

Just throwing this out as a point of reference.

I had my snow tires put on last weekend.

Specs are 8.0J x 19 ET26 with 235/45 R19 99V Continental WinterContact™ TS 830P tires

Car is still on stock suspension and I rub a bit on big dips likely do the the tire height.

I took it to an Indy shop, 4 tires balanced, swapped and alignment for ~$80

They had no issues doing my alignment although they did mention it took longer than usual and the machine told them to charge extra labor hours.

[MrFunk]

I'm late to the game here...
Do you not have a second set of rims you are mounting them to? If yes then just drop them off and have them mount them on the rims and then bolt them on the car yourself. That way they have no liability as they are only mounting tires to a rim which could be going onto any vehicle.
If you don't have a second set of rims for winter and swapping rubber each season you may want to consider changing that and getting the extra set - it's hard on the tires and will end up costing you more paying for mount and balance 2x a year - not to mention to time spent hauling tires to the shop. You could swap wheel yourself in your driveway in 30 minutes.

[Rex Wilkinson]

It's my understanding that the newer B8.5+ models require special equipment due to the electric steering needed to be calibrated during alignment. So if you have a B8.5, "any place" won't do anymore.

That is absolute bullshit whoever told you that. Ive had a couple alignments done on my B8.5 at my local garage around the corner and at AWE. Now my local garage does specialize in German cars but you absolutely do not need to take the car to the dealership to have this done.