I had to order snow tires, Michelins traction tires (snowflake on side), from Costco. There were none in stock. They ordered some for me out of Texas via the brown truck.

I had to buy tire chains, cable chains, at an automotive store (Joe's). There were none online @ Costco (EA 1614).

I've never had any problem buying tires or chains thru Costco for any other car before.

Are the tires that unusual (215/70 16)?

Sidebar: The E works great as a mail car even with the stock Goodyear tires in the snow and ice we have here now in the Portland, Oregon area. Luckily, the car is smarter than I am controlling the traction for me.

Sherwood

It's not a standard size, this is the reason that they're more expensive than a 225/70R16 Michelin LTX at Costco (per a different thread). At my costco they had both the Michelins and BFG Long Trails in stock when I purchased.

FYI the BFG handle ok in the snow and such, not as good as the Michelins but the Michelins are ~ 60% more than the BFG. I have a set of each on each one of our Elements.

Awesome, you're one of the E-mail men? :lol: (sorry couldn't help it...)

I believe the tire size on the Element is a quite odd tire size. From what I remember when the E came out there were very very few tires in its stock size. What exact tires are you getting just out of curiosity?

BTW big snow tire shortage this winter because Canadians have jumped on the snow tire bandwagon. ....

Cool, something else we can blame on them crazy Canucks.;-)

It's not so much that they've jumped on the bandwagon, it's that they're being required to be on the bandwagon. From what I read (and heard from my wife, a native Canuckadian), it was some ridiculously large percentage of the winter-related accidents were caused by the very small percentage of people who didn't have winter or snow/severe rated tires. Given the numbers, they decided to just mandate snow tires and call it even. Time will tell if the strategy will work...

E-mail men? :lol: (sorry couldn't help it...)
What exact tires are you getting just out of curiosity?

Email... I like it (typing while smiling).

Michelin traction tires for the road (I always take the recomendation of the vendor and I've never been disappointed that I did). Sorry that I can't be more precise with the tires specification ID but I will report after they arrive, get mounted and I work one of the rural routes. My confidence is aided by the snowflake icon on the sidewall. The law requires these tires or traction devices at times here when the weather turns wintery. Without the snowflake mark you are breaking the law while driving when the Department of Transportation pronounces you must have them.

I drove 105 miles on ice, snow, mountains, 40 mph winds and 20 degree F temperatures yesterday, Monday, as the weather reports made getting off my big white but seem like certain death. I had no problems and my tires were the stock BFG. Didn't put on my cable chains.

I really appreciate the traction maintenance features of the E. Wow! Funny, but I saw several other Es while motoring about the hill country on the route. The word is out.

Sherwood

That's not stock tires then, the stocks are Goodyear Wrangler HP's.

So do you know other E-mail men? :rolleyes:

That's not stock tires then, the stocks are Goodyear Wrangler HP's.

So do you know other E-mail men? :rolleyes:

The tires that came with the E, the ones I'm driving on, are indeed Goodyear Wrangler HP.

No. I'm the only one in this neck of the woods that I know about. Some post offices require the rural carriers to use their (vehicles built and maintained by the post office) cars while other post offices require the rural carriers to furnish and maintain their own cars. Other mail cars: Subaru Outback, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Honda CRV & Chrysler van.

Sherwood

It's not a standard size, this is the reason that they're more expensive than a 225/70R16 Michelin LTX at Costco (per a different thread).

Wouldnt the 225/70R16 work and fit on the rims? I know on my other honda stock rear is 225/50/16 and i'm running 245/45/16 with no problem....

Wouldnt the 225/70R16 work and fit on the rims?

Yup. Very popular here....do a search and you'll find dozens of threads about them.
:)

The only trouble is a lot of places won't install them because they aren't listed in their book/computer as the standard size. I'd love to get the Michelin LTXs at Sam's Club ($99 each)but I can't find one in my area that will install them.

The only trouble is a lot of places won't install them because they aren't listed in their book/computer as the standard size.

In cases like that I recomend going to a tire dealer that uses common sense & a desire for decent customer service, rather than a book or computer to tell him/her how their business should be run. Just sayin' :wink:

You'd be surprised how similar the prices are anyway.

Thanks, I have one and I do give him my business. That $99 is an awesome deal though if Sams would do it for the $10/tire they charge for the mounting, etc.
I do prefer dealing with my own shop though. We take all the family cars there and he treats us well.

Maybe slip the service guy a twenty $ ?

Heard from Costco about the Michelin snow tires.

"4-6 weeks before they are available due to the seasonality of snow tire production."

I thought that it was simply a matter of getting the tires from Texas to my local Costco in Oregon (Wilsonville). Nope. I could go with the all season tires but I don't think that I will because I either need snow tires or I don't and I don't like half measures for the kind of cargo and routes I'm involved with.

Anyone have any experience with retractable studded snow tires due out in 2008-2009? Something new. I'm not sure that I want to be an early adopter. Apparently, you make the studds extend and retract with a switch inside the vehicle. They are called Q Celsius and here is a link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23869393

Sherwood

The tire size is not that unusual. A RAV4 is the same, why not try a Toyota dealer?, they're always cheaper than Honda dealers.

BTW big snow tire shortage this winter because Canadians have jumped on the snow tire bandwagon. It's mandatory in Quebec, snow tire demand has gone up 50% in Quebec but for some reason it's gone up 83% in Ontario. Least that's what I just heard on the International BN channel.


well they started something new with many insurance companies here in ontario..... have winter tires and they give u 5% off insurance premiums