So today I noticed a cut in the sidewall of one of the rear tires on the Marauder. Considering my girlfriend was going to drive the car home for thanksgiving on Wednesday, this is bad. It's not leaking, but i imagine it's rather unsafe to drive long distances on. The problem is getting replacements--the OEM rear size is 245/55-18, which is only made in the OEM tire model (BFG g-Force KDWS) and is back ordered on TireRack. I can get away with moving slightly up to a 255/55-18 or slightly down to a 255/50-18, but the problem is they all seem to be either light truck tires or ultra-high-performance summer $$$$$ tires. Anyone know of a place around here that might even stock tires this size, and the chance they'd be reasonable?

Alternately I wonder if sidewall cuts can be repaired. I hate to spend money on a tire that is completely worn out anyway (I was probably going to get new ones with my next paycheck) but if it'll get me by for the time being...

11/24/2008 3:23:01 PM

Quote :

"Alternately I wonder if sidewall cuts can be repaired"

There may be some way to do this, but I don't think a tire shop would do it for you. The tire shop I used to go to back home told me they couldn't patch even a little hole in my sidewall because of some liability concern (never really understood what the deal was, but I guess it affects the structural integrity of the tire?)

11/24/2008 3:47:34 PM

http://www.tirerack.com

[Edited on November 24, 2008 at 5:20 PM. Reason : didn't read post, you may be screwed lolol]

11/24/2008 5:19:44 PM

i'm guessing it doesnt have a full size spare?

11/24/2008 7:49:51 PM

The spare is odd--it's full height (for a front tire) but not full width. I don't know if it's rated for highway speeds/mileage or not, especially given that it's a different diameter than the other back tire (fronts are 235/50-18, rears are 245/55-18).

[Edited on November 24, 2008 at 10:09 PM. Reason : Will have to check the manual.]

11/24/2008 10:08:56 PM

I ran sport truck tires on the old crown vic I had and it rode and handled great. it had the weight and frame of a truck, why not?

11/24/2008 10:41:18 PM

i cant say anything useful to your situation at the moment... but i do feel your pain on the marauder tires. I have an extra pair of new BFG KDWS 235-50-18s for the front stashed away in the garage, and currently have 255-55-18 toyo proxes on the back of mine... i've grown quite fond of the more filled out look and stance it gives it.

damn bastard sized tires

11/24/2008 11:48:34 PM

Thankfully, after looking much more closely at the issue (rather than the cursory "what's that-oh shit" inspection of yesterday) it's not really a cut, just a shallow gouge, and it doesn't come close to going through, not even 1/16" deep at its deepest point. As long as it doesn't start to bulge or bubble, which it's not showing any indication of doing right now, I don't think it's unsafe after all.

Though I'm still left with the decision of whether to replace the tires with the OEM but hard-to-find 245/55-18's (if Tire Rack ever gets them back in stock) or to go with the 255/55-18's (more available, but would probably have to go with performance summer or light truck sport all-season). Sigh. More research is in order.

11/25/2008 3:25:51 PM