Replacing front tires

Hi.
I have an '89 Olds car with 4 Goodyear Aquatred tires on it.
I need to replace the front pair of tires as the car will not pass
state inspection because of tread depth. I want to just replace the
front tires as the rear tires are still in good shape, tread-wise.
Question I have is that the tread toward the inside of the tire on both
the front tires is worn down more than the outside part of the tread.
What does this signify and what do I need to have adjusted when I bring
the car in to replace the tires?
Also, I do not want to spend the extra $ on new Aquatreds so what is a
decent tire/brand that I can put on the front axle given the rear axle
still has Aquatreds?

Thanks.
Walter

In article .com>, Wally wrote:
> Hi.
> I have an '89 Olds car with 4 Goodyear Aquatred tires on it.
> I need to replace the front pair of tires as the car will not pass
> state inspection because of tread depth. I want to just replace the
> front tires as the rear tires are still in good shape, tread-wise.
> Question I have is that the tread toward the inside of the tire on both
> the front tires is worn down more than the outside part of the tread.
> What does this signify and what do I need to have adjusted when I bring
> the car in to replace the tires?

It depends on how much it's uneven. If the whole tire is worn out and
the inside is just a little further along, then it's probably normal. If
the inside is worn down and the rest of the tire is like new, big problem.

Wally wrote: <brevity snip>

> Question I have is that the tread toward the inside of the tire on both
> the front tires is worn down more than the outside part of the tread.
> What does this signify and what do I need to have adjusted when I bring
> the car in to replace the tires?

This is a FWD vehicle, I assume...

It probably signifies you need an alignment, at least, and new steering
and/or suspension parts, at worst. Check out this page on alignment
http://www.ozebiz.com.au/racetech/theory/align.html

If you don't know what all that means, or what needs adjusting, you're
best off having a reputable facility tell you.

> Also, I do not want to spend the extra $ on new Aquatreds so what is a
> decent tire/brand that I can put on the front axle given the rear axle
> still has Aquatreds?

Probably any same size/compound (mileage rated) tire will work fine.
Go to the local GY dealer and ask them, is what I would do.
-----

- gpsman

Wally wrote:
> Hi.
> I have an '89 Olds car with 4 Goodyear Aquatred tires on it.
> I need to replace the front pair of tires as the car will not pass
> state inspection because of tread depth. I want to just replace the
> front tires as the rear tires are still in good shape, tread-wise.
> Question I have is that the tread toward the inside of the tire on both
> the front tires is worn down more than the outside part of the tread.
> What does this signify and what do I need to have adjusted when I bring
> the car in to replace the tires?
> Also, I do not want to spend the extra $ on new Aquatreds so what is a
> decent tire/brand that I can put on the front axle given the rear axle
> still has Aquatreds?
>
> Thanks.
> Walter
>

First of all, you need an alignment at a minimum, and the alignment tech
may very well find some other issues with the front end that need to be
rectified (tie rods, strut bearings, ball joints, etc.) to make the car
safe. But if they didn't appear on your inspection report, make sure
you really need them.

Secondly, if you get new tires, you should rotate the tires so that the
newest ones are on the rear of the car, to keep the vehicle stable in
bad weather conditions.

good luck,

nate

--
replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

Most likely you need to have an alignment done.
It is probably the toe that needs to be adjusted.
It's possible your tie rod ends are worn out and need to be replaced
(extra $$).
It is also possible that the camber isn't set right.
These things can be off just a little bit and cause quite a lot of tire
wear over many thousands of miles.

You don't say what kind of Oldsmobile it is, but I have a 90 Ciera and
I got new tires at Sears for about $45 a tire last fall. They were on
sale. You might check there for what they have on sale.

I didn't need an alignment done (which usually costs about $65 more)
and I didn't get the road hazard warranty and all that. But of course
by the time you add in new valve stems, wheel balancing, tire disposal,
and tax, you're still looking at about $170 for 2 new tires. That's
pretty good though- and it's worth the money when you consider it's for
your safety on wet or icy pavement.

The name of the tire was Goodyear Weatherhandler. This model of tire
you can only get at Sears- Goodyear makes it for Sears and does not
sell them through their own tire stores. I think treadwear was about
60,000 miles.

One good thing about getting tires for American cars is that they seem
to be a lot less expensive than getting tires for foreign cars. Why
this is I'm not sure.

Anyway, hope this helps you.


Nate Nagel wrote:
> Wally wrote:
> > Hi.
> > I have an '89 Olds car with 4 Goodyear Aquatred tires on it.
> > I need to replace the front pair of tires as the car will not pass
> > state inspection because of tread depth. I want to just replace the
> > front tires as the rear tires are still in good shape, tread-wise.
> > Question I have is that the tread toward the inside of the tire on both
> > the front tires is worn down more than the outside part of the tread.
> > What does this signify and what do I need to have adjusted when I bring
> > the car in to replace the tires?
> > Also, I do not want to spend the extra $ on new Aquatreds so what is a
> > decent tire/brand that I can put on the front axle given the rear axle
> > still has Aquatreds?
> >
> > Thanks.
> > Walter
> >
>
> First of all, you need an alignment at a minimum, and the alignment tech
> may very well find some other issues with the front end that need to be
> rectified (tie rods, strut bearings, ball joints, etc.) to make the car
> safe. But if they didn't appear on your inspection report, make sure
> you really need them.
>
> Secondly, if you get new tires, you should rotate the tires so that the
> newest ones are on the rear of the car, to keep the vehicle stable in
> bad weather conditions.
>
> good luck,
>
> nate
>
> --
> replace "fly" with "com" to reply.
> http://home.comcast.net/~njnagel

Wally wrote:
> Hi.
> I have an '89 Olds car with 4 Goodyear Aquatred tires on it.
> I need to replace the front pair of tires as the car will not pass
> state inspection because of tread depth. I want to just replace the
> front tires as the rear tires are still in good shape, tread-wise.


It is dangerous and foolish to replace only two tires on any front
wheel drive car.

Spend the money and buy four good standard tires.

On 9/2/06 8:06 PM, in article
, "SP Cook"
> wrote:

>
> Wally wrote:
>> Hi.
>> I have an '89 Olds car with 4 Goodyear Aquatred tires on it.
>> I need to replace the front pair of tires as the car will not pass
>> state inspection because of tread depth. I want to just replace the
>> front tires as the rear tires are still in good shape, tread-wise.
>
>
> It is dangerous and foolish to replace only two tires on any front
> wheel drive car.

That's ridiculous. You must own stock in a tire company.

>
> Spend the money and buy four good standard tires.
>

SP Cook > wrote in article
. com>...
>
>
>
> It is dangerous and foolish to replace only two tires on any front
> wheel drive car.
>

Don't you just love guys who make a statement such as the one above, but
give absolutely no rational reason or reasonable support for it?

Musta' been the guys at the local Elks club told him that over a few
beers......

Or, maybe his Grampa' told him that on the same day he recommended carrying
around a chamois to strain the water out of the gasoline.......just like he
did with his brand-new Model T Ford....

"Don't EVER put two tires on a FWD, and ALWAYS strain your gasoline through
a chamois to remove the water..."

SP Cook wrote:

> Wally wrote:
> > Hi.
> > I have an '89 Olds car with 4 Goodyear Aquatred tires on it.
> > I need to replace the front pair of tires as the car will not pass
> > state inspection because of tread depth. I want to just replace the
> > front tires as the rear tires are still in good shape, tread-wise.
>
> It is dangerous and foolish to replace only two tires on any front
> wheel drive car.

What utter rubbish !

Graham

On 2 Sep 2006 18:06:41 -0700, "SP Cook" > wrote:

>
>Wally wrote:
>> Hi.
>> I have an '89 Olds car with 4 Goodyear Aquatred tires on it.
>> I need to replace the front pair of tires as the car will not pass
>> state inspection because of tread depth. I want to just replace the
>> front tires as the rear tires are still in good shape, tread-wise.
>
>
>It is dangerous and foolish to replace only two tires on any front
>wheel drive car.
>
>Spend the money and buy four good standard tires.

On a FWD car, the rears simply follow the front. They don't even
provide power, as they do on a RWD car.
There's no need to replace good tires on the rear.
--
Bill Funk
replace "g" with "a"