MK5 Golf GTI

General => Random Chat => Topic started by: Jussa on May 24, 2012, 05:50:17 pm

Title: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Jussa on May 24, 2012, 05:50:17 pm
Anybody have any experience buying from Costco??

Called them up today to find out whether their tyre sale will start next month, and they said it probably would but were not sure yet.

They then proceeded to tell me that if I wanted 2 tyres per car (want to buy the missus car a set as well - minimum purchase 4 tyres) they could only fit them on the rear - something to do with preventing accidents ?????  :confused:
I only need 2 at the moment, the other 2 are good.

Even worse, they then told me I couldn't just buy 2 tyres for my car, because it's Quattro I have to buy all 4 WTF???   :mad:
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: sub39h on May 24, 2012, 05:52:55 pm
apparently it's good practice to put new tyres on the rear for reasons i can't quite figure out (possibly due to reduced braking efficiency whilst the tyres are bedding in as most of the braking is done by the front brakes)

so when they say they'd only change the rears i'm assuming that means they'll put your good rear tyres on the front

that business about quattro is rubbish, but it would be advisable on a quattro to have the same make/type of tyre on all 4 corners (tho that holds true for any car), and Haldex cars need the same rolling radius on all 4 corners (give or take 4% apparently)
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Nodz on May 24, 2012, 05:54:39 pm
I know they recommend having the tyres with the most tread on the rear of the car for FWD. There's a vid on YouTube of vikki butler-Henderson explaining why and is posted on here somewhere.

As for 4wd I don't know what they are on about
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: jedi-knight83 on May 24, 2012, 05:59:01 pm
can you not just buy the tyres only and get them fitted elsewhere?

I need 4 235/35/19s and was hoping to get involved in a bit of costco action but was hoping to pick them up in the van and fit them at a later date.
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Jussa on May 24, 2012, 06:05:32 pm
They told me it was some sort of proven safety test, but only valid if a car doesn't have ABS  :mad:
I mean if your car has ABS u should have the choice where u want your tyres.

can you not just buy the tyres only and get them fitted elsewhere?

I need 4 235/35/19s and was hoping to get involved in a bit of costco action but was hoping to pick them up in the van and fit them at a later date.

You can buy them and get them fitted for free at Costco whenever u want  :happy2:
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Viking on May 24, 2012, 06:23:51 pm
It's Costco policy to fit new tyres to the rear. Arguing with them won't get you anywhere as they're not allowed to deviate from their policy. Unless you have a special reason why. Someone one let them argue about the tyres needing to be rotated etc. and he let them blather on for a couple of minutes before telling them his rear tyres were larger than the fronts. They fitted the ones he wanted to the front.

Also, they won't fit tyres less than the manufacturers spec either, so if you go in and ask for H speed rated tyres on a GTI they won't fit them. Again, complany policy.

Being a stickler for the rules isn't a bad thing really, as so many people will try anything to get all sorts of tyres fitted, and if they're copped by their insurance then Costco will end up in the frame for fitting them. Easiest way with the rears - front thing is just let them do it, then swap 'em back on your driveway when you get home. As for the Quattro needing all 4, that's gonna be a hard one to pull them over on.
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: jedi-knight83 on May 24, 2012, 06:49:14 pm
ive never actually bought anything rom costco before. is it easy to set up an account?

Do they do all sizes?

If someone can give a heads up when the sale starts it would be great
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Jussa on May 24, 2012, 06:52:26 pm
It's easy to setup an account but it depends on where u or your partner work.
I work at a bank, so I can get normal membership, and my missus is self employed so her membership is better.  Read the membership options  -  http://www.costco.co.uk/membership/
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: jedi-knight83 on May 24, 2012, 06:54:17 pm
It's easy to setup an account but it depends on where u or your partner work.
I work at a bank, so I can get normal membership, and my missus is self employed so her membership is better.  Read the membership options  -  http://www.costco.co.uk/membership/

im a self employed car detailer
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: jedi-knight83 on May 24, 2012, 07:00:47 pm
i dont get why i couldnt just buy the tyres and take them away to fit elsewhere. Having them fitted there seems a ball ache from reading various posts
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: ktlstar on May 24, 2012, 07:11:49 pm
Justin,  pm me tyre detail nd make you want, ill get them and at a  discounted price.
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: jedi-knight83 on May 24, 2012, 07:13:16 pm
Justin,  pm me tyres and make you want, ill get them discounted for ya

is that an open offer? :)
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: RedRobin on May 24, 2012, 07:17:36 pm
.
I'm not going to explain yet again, along with many others on this forum, why you should ALWAYS put a pair of new tyres on the rear whether FWD or RWD - Use the feckin' Search button, guys!

It is also considered good safe practice to fit 4 new tyres at once to a 4WD/AWD car, but perhaps that a proper 4WD car rather than a Haldex.

FFS don't save or muck about thinking you know better than the experts about tyres - It's the only point of contact you have with the road.
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: ktlstar on May 24, 2012, 07:18:44 pm
Justin,  pm me tyres and make you want, ill get them discounted for ya

is that an open offer? :)

If you can pick them up from Croydon/Bromley in Kent yeah sure :).
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Viking on May 24, 2012, 08:04:56 pm
From a purist point of view, swapping tyres rear to front (or otherwise) is not a good idea. Tyres wear to a specific pattern of wear over their life, and moving them from one place to another on the car will disturb their wear pattern and cause issues with poor wear patterns. For this reason, when changing wheels (as a set, for example) the position on the car is noted for each wheel, and they can then be returned to the same corner when refitted. Rally drivers, F1, even karting drivers will keep the same tyres on each corner.

Having said that, most drivers are not purists, and simply get in and drive to their limits  :laugh: For these drivers, fitting new tyres to the rear is safest for all.
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Mk5 GTian on May 24, 2012, 08:15:13 pm
I know they recommend having the tyres with the most tread on the rear of the car for FWD. There's a vid on YouTube of vikki butler-Henderson explaining why and is posted on here somewhere.

As for 4wd I don't know what they are on about

mmmmmmmmmm............... VBH...........................mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: chungster on May 24, 2012, 08:35:49 pm
Changing all 4 tyres on a 4WD car is good practice to prevent damage to the diffs and drive train due to different grip levels /' tread depth of the tyres on the 2 axles.  :happy2:
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Andy on May 24, 2012, 09:09:04 pm
when we fit tyres to electronic 4 wheel drive ie scoobys, rexton, discoverys, the tyre has to be within 2mm front to back or it can wind the diffs up--yes seen it done
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: mvb12 on May 24, 2012, 09:14:10 pm
Might have to jump on the wagon Eric as i'm in the market for some 19s  :happy2:
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: RedRobin on May 24, 2012, 09:23:29 pm
.
http://www.etyres.co.uk/flashmovies/new-tyres-on-rear-800.html
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Jussa on May 24, 2012, 09:58:59 pm
.
http://www.etyres.co.uk/flashmovies/new-tyres-on-rear-800.html

Doesn't work on the IPad Robin  :chicken:
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Andy on May 24, 2012, 10:11:19 pm
does on my £50 lap top :grin:
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Frodo-anni on May 24, 2012, 10:38:27 pm
.
http://www.etyres.co.uk/flashmovies/new-tyres-on-rear-800.html

RR thank you for posting that, very sound advice. Shame that VW fitted the new ditch finders to the front of my ed30 on collection and put the old fronts on the back!!  :fighting:
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: no golf clubs at all on May 24, 2012, 10:51:44 pm
The shocker I had at Costco was not that they insisted on putting new on both rears but that when they had done the job all four were at different pressures, alloys marked and two had wrong size valve caps on. Lazy barstewards, watch em like a hawk and go round all four with the manager before allowing these monkeys near your precious metal. He will think you are a d1ck but better that than rolling around the car park hitting him over the head with an army sized box of soap powder.  :wink:
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: R32UK on May 24, 2012, 11:27:58 pm
I use costco alot so know many of them on first name terms at my local place. plus they send me a cheque for £400 every year  :drinking:

I know they use nitrogen for inflation and mainly sell michellin, although I have never used them for tyres though... but probably will when the 25% discount offer is on  :innocent:
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Viking on May 25, 2012, 08:07:23 am
Costco only stock Michelin and  Continental.
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Horatio on May 25, 2012, 08:26:58 am
I know they recommend having the tyres with the most tread on the rear of the car for FWD. There's a vid on YouTube of vikki butler-Henderson explaining why and is posted on here somewhere.

As for 4wd I don't know what they are on about

mmmmmmmmmm............... VBH...........................mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool: :drool:

VBH and suszi perry  :confused: always look like they need a good scrub...couple of soap dodgers
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Tamiyoman on May 25, 2012, 09:03:36 am
I would gladly give them a good "scrub"  :signLOL:
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Jussa on May 25, 2012, 09:13:24 am
What do people recommend regarding tyre ratings, Y or Z???
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Eccie on May 25, 2012, 10:16:55 am
Anybody have any experience buying from Costco??

Called them up today to find out whether their tyre sale will start next month, and they said it probably would but were not sure yet.

They then proceeded to tell me that if I wanted 2 tyres per car (want to buy the missus car a set as well - minimum purchase 4 tyres) they could only fit them on the rear - something to do with preventing accidents ?????  :confused:
I only need 2 at the moment, the other 2 are good.

Even worse, they then told me I couldn't just buy 2 tyres for my car, because it's Quattro I have to buy all 4 WTF???   :mad:

I've always had good service and price from Costco with tyres over the years. I've only ever bought when they've run an offer.

If you want the 25% discount as you say you need to buy a set of 4. That said they would fit just 2 and let you take the other 2 away and fit them for free if you brought them back with your receipt at a later date.

So stick them in the back of the garage or shed, photocopy the receipt 4 times and file them away until you've worn down the old tyres that are on your car. I would think that Costco should be applauded  :congrats: for the policy they set, maybe because they are an American company they are more strict than many independents
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: jedi-knight83 on May 25, 2012, 10:44:02 am
so I'll ask again... can I just buy 4 with the 25% discount and take them away with me to fit myself?
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Beddie on May 25, 2012, 11:12:00 am
so I'll ask again... can I just buy 4 with the 25% discount and take them away with me to fit myself?

The Costco deal has only ever been 20% discount, but yes you can  :happy2:
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: jedi-knight83 on May 25, 2012, 11:15:26 am
so I'll ask again... can I just buy 4 with the 25% discount and take them away with me to fit myself?

The Costco deal has only ever been 20% discount, but yes you can  :happy2:

cool... just got 25% by what people were saying on here...
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: perky85 on May 25, 2012, 11:39:34 am
.
I'm not going to explain yet again, along with many others on this forum, why you should ALWAYS put a pair of new tyres on the rear whether FWD or RWD - Use the feckin' Search button, guys!


It's not necessarily the safest on a RWD. I have seen new tyres fitted to the rear of BMW's & causing the front end to be light & lack of feedback through steering  :laugh:
Title: Re: Costco tyres SHOCKER!!
Post by: Hedge on May 25, 2012, 12:24:17 pm
so I'll ask again... can I just buy 4 with the 25% discount and take them away with me to fit myself?

The Costco deal has only ever been 20% discount, but yes you can  :happy2:

That's what I have been known to do in the past.  :happy2: