Michelin Tire Warranty halved with staggered set-up

[Marc Collins]

From the Michelin Canada warranty info:

Some vehicles come from the vehicle manufacturer with “split fitments”– meaning different size tires on the front and rear axles. Because these tires cannot be rotated as recommended by Michelin, the mileage warranty on each rear tire will cover half the number of kilometres as the standard mileage warranty for that particular tire design.

I assume, but am not sure this is likely the case in other countries, too.

The Pilot Sport 4 is not even listed (the Pilot® Sport A/S 3+ is and that's what I was looking up), perhaps because it is an OEM-only tire.

Tire Rack says the warranty on both the PS 4 and PS 4S is 15,000 miles (half of 30,000).

The PS A/S 3+ is 35,000 km (half of 70,000) or according to Tire Rack half of 45,000 miles, which is about the same.

 

[baabootoo]

Too bad since these will probably go further.

 

[Marc Collins]

Too bad since these will probably go further.

Is there a tire life warranty from KIA that's part of the roadside assistance? I have never had a staggered set-up before, so this surprised me. I also don't think about it all because I only drive AWD...no burnouts ruining the rear tires possible!! Irony is the fronts will wear faster than the rears under normal (non-track) driving conditions.

 

[Silverghost]

I know nothing about tire sizes.
I just checked my car and I have Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires sized 225/40ZR19 on the front with 255/35ZR19 on the rear.
When these are due for replacement, can I go with 4 identically sized tires (that fit on the rims) and then do the rotations with no problems?
What other options should I consider in terms of standard sizes?
Thx in advance.

 

[donbachinsky]

I know nothing about tire sizes.
I just checked my car and I have Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires sized 225/40ZR19 on the front with 255/35ZR19 on the rear.
When these are due for replacement, can I go with 4 identically sized tires (that fit on the rims) and then do the rotations with no problems?
What other options should I consider in terms of standard sizes?
Thx in advance.

No rim sizes are different front and rear as well

 

[Clearly Canadian]

I know nothing about tire sizes.
I just checked my car and I have Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires sized 225/40ZR19 on the front with 255/35ZR19 on the rear.
When these are due for replacement, can I go with 4 identically sized tires (that fit on the rims) and then do the rotations with no problems?
What other options should I consider in terms of standard sizes?
Thx in advance.

Yes, either on 19s or 18 inch rims (but you’ll have to buy rims).

 

[Silverghost]

Yes, either on 19s or 18 inch rims (but you’ll have to buy rims).

Are you saying we have 2 different sized rims front to back?
Why would we want something like this?
What are the advantages?
I can see the disadvantages of lack of rotation and halved warranties to start with ...

 

[donbachinsky]

Yes 19 x8 front and 19 x9 on the rear.
1 reason appearance
2 better handling
Cost more and can't rotate front to rear but you can rotate side to side. Help keep some of the wear under control. I already have 4500 miles on mine and have rotate then at 3k side to side.

 

[Marc Collins]

Most ultra high performance tires, especially all seasons, are unidirectional and cannot be rotated side to side, either. Not sure about the PS 4's--not even Tire Rack includes symmetry in their standard list of specs.

 

[donbachinsky]

They are asymmetrical tires
they can go side to side.

 

[Robs]

Very common with rear wheeled drive cars like BMWs and Mercs. Some high end Porches go over 300 rear widths! Probably for added traction as power goes through the rears and fronts have to be skinnier for more precision for turns.

 

[Aquadog]

They are asymmetrical tires
they can go side to side.

If you keep rotating them from side to side sooner or later the side walls will break down . They are used to going in one direction turn them around and they go in the opposite direction it's like taking a wire and bending it back-and-forth sooner or later it's going to break . The majority of high-performance cars have staggered wheels . So if you have an AWD like I Do no rotating just drive it . So when you see someone on the fourm wanting to sell their 19s jump on it because they're going to put 20s on or getting a different wheels that the tires won't fit on . I saw someone on the forum selling our 19's for $400 I believe they said they only had a few hundred miles on them that's a deal .

 

[Marc Collins]

They are asymmetrical tires
they can go side to side.

Asymmetrical, meaning different tread pattern on the right versus the left half of the tire, usually means they cannot be rotated side to side (without remounting). Some unidirectional tread patterns are also very clearly "pointed" in a forward motion, so it's obvious that putting them on "backwards" would not work.

Are there asymmetrical tires out there that can be flipped backwards and still work as intended? They usually have outer tread for cornering and inner tread for grip in rain/snow and will have markings for "Outside" on that side of the tire. The fancy ones even use different compound mixtures for the different sections of the tire. I have only rotated front to back for 15 or 20 years, because I always use ultra high performance tires on my cars and they have all been asymmetrical and/or unidirectional. Staggered Stinger tires will not be able to be rotated at all as @Aquadog points out.

This link is about the older Pilot Sport, but informative nevertheless:

https://blog.tirerack.com/blog/colintirerackcom/tire-tread-direction

All the "standard" ultra high performance Michelin's (the PS 4's and the superior PS 4S and the all season PS A/S 3+) look asymmetrical and have markings for "Outside" on them.

 

[donbachinsky]

If you keep rotating them from side to side sooner or later the side walls will break down . They are used to going in one direction turn them around and they go in the opposite direction it's like taking a wire and bending it back-and-forth sooner or later it's going to break . The majority of high-performance cars have staggered wheels . So if you have an AWD like I Do no rotating just drive it . So when you see someone on the fourm wanting to sell their 19s jump on it because they're going to put 20s on or getting a different wheels that the tires won't fit on . I saw someone on the forum selling our 19's for $400 I believe they said they only had a few hundred miles on them that's a deal .

That is not true in today's world of tires. I have worked for Goodyear for 20 years. Today's tires can be cross rotated, if you look in most owners manuals it shows cross rotation in the book.

 

[donbachinsky]

Asymmetrical, meaning different tread pattern on the right versus the left half of the tire, usually means they cannot be rotated side to side (without remounting). Some unidirectional tread patterns are also very clearly "pointed" in a forward motion, so it's obvious that putting them on "backwards" would not work.

Are there asymmetrical tires out there that can be flipped backwards and still work as intended? They usually have outer tread for cornering and inner tread for grip in rain/snow and will have markings for "Outside" on that side of the tire. The fancy ones even use different compound mixtures for the different sections of the tire. I have only rotated front to back for 15 or 20 years, because I always use ultra high performance tires on my cars and they have all been asymmetrical and/or unidirectional. Staggered Stinger tires will not be able to be rotated at all as @Aquadog points out.

This link is about the older Pilot Sport, but informative nevertheless:

https://blog.tirerack.com/blog/colintirerackcom/tire-tread-direction

All the "standard" ultra high performance Michelin's (the PS 4's and the superior PS 4S and the all season PS A/S 3+) look asymmetrical and have markings for "Outside" on them.

While you are correct about asymmetrical tires having tread left and right .
So one side of the tire is designed for wet handling, while the other side of the tread is designed for dry handling ,so now you have a tire that can many things. If you look at the sidewalk you will see the words This side out on one side and this side in on the other.so you can cross rotate asymmetrical tires with out having to dismount the tires. As the words on the tire will always say this side out not matter which side they are on.