Remember last week when we had a tire pressure problem we kinda/sorta attributed to, perhaps, faulty inititial settings by the 'zuk techs? Well, looks like there may have been more going on that just a low setting.
Yesterday, one of our staffers came into the office complaining that all of the tires had gone low forcing a gas station air-up. He didn't trust the gauge there and grabbed one from the office to find that, miraculously, all of the tires were now--- back to cold after a few hours sitting-- at the proper spec, excpt one. The one, right front, was already down to 24 psi.
Off to Stokes Tire Pros in Santa Monica we went.
Turns out that the offending tire had a small hole in it where the sidewall meets the tread. D'oh! We've got exceptional aim sometimes.
They didn't have a new P235/45R18 94V Dunlop SP Sport 7000 in stock, but a vendor did and they could have it early next day (today). It was already past 3 so we asked them to hang onto the Suzuki-- they offered to throw the spare on for us if we needed it for the evening-- and call us when it was done.
Just before noon today we got the call stating that, for the princely sum of $228.75 we could have our Suzuki back. Concerned about the other problems we'd told them about, our man there hooked us up and had his techs check all of the tires and re-tighten the TPMS dongle which is often the cause of slow leaks.
We'll let you know if they stay full this time 'round.
Mike Magrath, Associate Editor, Inside Line @ 10,144 miles
dscain says:
03:37 PM, 08/27/10
$228.75 for 1 tire and a check on the others? For a tire on a family sedan that "regular people" are going to buy? Woof!
feloniousmonk says:
03:40 PM, 08/27/10
I hate it when I have to replace one tire partially through the set's life-cycle. It just sits wrong with me. Like replacing only one sneaker or buying a new crotch for your Levis or sticking one new shingle on your roof.
bodyblue says:
04:23 PM, 08/27/10
$228.75 for one freaking tire on a 4 banger family car? woof and turbo gag! Why does a family car need P235/45R18 v rated tires anyway? Just like the stupid 160 MPH speedo on cars why does a car need a V speed rated tire when it cant even get close to the rated speed? What a waste of money. My Stratus has a 112 MPH speed limiter and it came with T rated tires (thank you Dodge) I have Falken 205/65R15 T rated tires on it. One size up from stock. They cost about $280 for four tires installed with free road hazard from Americas tires. They are a touring tire with 50K wear warranty. They are perfect for a compact V6 family sedan. This car is not a BMW or Caddy....it is a small Japanese family car......the young lady who bought it because she like the color and it was cheap with a lot of nice features will crap her pants when she goes to replace even one tire! An inexpensive family sedan needs decent, family car touring rubber, not V rated performance ones. This is like asking for premium gas.....a Vette owner does not mind paying for it but an economy car owner will be pissed that it needs it.
blueguydotcom says:
04:25 PM, 08/27/10
Egad, 228 bucks for a cruddy car like that?
ralphhightower says:
04:32 PM, 08/27/10
The more unpronounceable the name of the car, the higher the price of the tires.
zcalvert says:
05:10 PM, 08/27/10
Wow. I agree with everyone above... that is a TON of $ for a low priced family sedan tire.
DBM89 says:
05:42 PM, 08/27/10
It cost the same price of one tire of mi seat ibiza 2007
http://www.autos-usados.autoplaza.com.mx/autos/seat-ibiza-2007~idA13845128.asp
same color, same wheel, 205/45 R16
bimmerjay says:
05:59 PM, 08/27/10
If you don't want to pay to play don't get friggen' 18" wheels.
hybris says:
07:43 PM, 08/27/10
$228.75...
For $235.00 I can get off of Tire Rack 285/75R16 Pro-Grade Wrangler Silent Armors (My current tire).
33 inch off/on road tires and Suzuki puts on a far smaller tire that costs almost as much!
This is MADNESS!
vt8919 says:
10:30 PM, 08/27/10
Low air pressure and skyrocketing tire prices... in both situations, inflation is apparently involved.
bodyblue says:
05:07 AM, 08/28/10
"If you don't want to pay to play don't get friggen' 18" wheels."
That is not the point, Jay......the point is that it should not need that expensive rubber at all for a car at that price point.
"in both situations, inflation is apparently involved."
That cracked me up, thanks.
zcalvert says:
09:43 AM, 08/28/10
@bimmerjay -
on your bmw (hell, or even my GTI), I have absolutely no problem spending $ for good rubber.
BUT - for an inexpensive family sedan or commuter, this is insanely expensive... it's just a matter of reasonable expectations.
and for comparison I know that both Dunlop SP Sport 01 and Bridgestone RE960's in 225/40-18 size can be bought for well under $200. i have to imagine that the average Kizashi owner is going to be floored when they hear the replacement cost for one of these...
ptcdawg says:
10:56 AM, 08/28/10
I've been saying, HUGE wheels, HUGE tire prices. No reason for this car to have a tire costing anywhere near that.
firstwagon says:
01:14 PM, 08/28/10
I'd image if it had a nice reasonable affordable 15 inch 65 series set of tires on it everyone would be complaing about the wimpy little whees and crappy all seasons on the Suzuki. Instead they putting a premium set of rubber on their premium car and everyone whines about the price.
Has no one ever bought replacement tires for the premium cars they "claim" to own on this board? (not directed at you bodyblue)
feloniousmonk says:
02:25 PM, 08/28/10
firstwagon says:
01:14 PM, 08/28/10
"I'd image if it had a nice reasonable affordable 15 inch 65 series set of tires on it everyone would be complaing about the wimpy little whees and crappy all seasons on the Suzuki. Instead they putting a premium set of rubber on their premium car and everyone whines about the price.
Has no one ever bought replacement tires for the premium cars they "claim" to own on this board? (not directed at you bodyblue)"
Exactly! Besides, most customers will not have to replace just one tire at a time. They'll replace the full set when the originals wear out and, chances are, they'll opt for a less expensive tire. That's usually how these things work, with any car.
vvk says:
06:14 PM, 08/28/10
Crazy size for a car like this. 195/60-15 would be perfect, 205/55-16 would be the most I would agree to.
majin_ssj_eric says:
07:19 PM, 08/28/10
You put 15's on that car and it'll look retarded. Guaranteed.
v84n8 says:
09:04 PM, 08/28/10
Looks like a set of 4 Kumho tires 235/45R18 will set you back $516 on Tire rack for the Kizashi. For comparison, a set of similar (Sumitomo) 215/60R16 tires for a Nissan Altima are $292.
So a ~ $225 dollar difference.
bodyblue says:
04:45 AM, 08/29/10
"I'd image if it had a nice reasonable affordable 15 inch 65 series set of tires on it everyone would be complaing about the wimpy little whees and crappy all seasons on the Suzuki. "
The editors would be complaining...but not normal folks that understand what a family car is would not be. There are indeed many on here that think even a family car should have V rated rubber and handle like a Vette. That is a stupid way to look at a car. I agree with the above posters and the 215/60R16 size for this car.
Its not a BMW (even though it looks better than a 3 series hands down) and it does not need high performance rubber.
northsparrow says:
05:28 AM, 08/29/10
FINALLY the tire debate can begin in earnest.
Ten years ago it was not uncommon to see BMWs on 16 inch wheels and their owners seemed quite happy. The legendary BMW 2002 rode on 13 inch wheels.
Today even boring family vehicles are routinely on 18 - 20 wheels.
A thousand bucks for a set of tires on car classified as "affordable" is nonsense.
Try finding a high mileage tire for 18+ inch wheels. They are mostly soft rubber compounds that will
last less than 40,000 miles.
z479 says:
10:09 AM, 08/29/10
You guys will be surprised to know that America's best-selling mid-size sedan had some pricey tires as well.
The 2007 Camry my parents bought brand new 4 years ago (in '06) got a unrepairable flat after only a month of owning it. The factory Michelin tire set us back $180! For a 16'' tire on a steel rim, that's a lot!
Since then Toyota has changed to Bridgestone Turanazs, probably for that reason or who knows what else.
Point is, family sedan or not, tires that are 18'' in diamter, when being compared Apples to Apples, will always be more expensive than a smaller size. This has nothing to do with Suzuki and everything to do with the media and people who've showed that they WANT bigger. Suzuki simply follows to meet customer WANTS.
z479 says:
10:11 AM, 08/29/10
This is also why people need to do a full analysis when purchasing the car. Driving AND maintaining it. That's why this long-term test blog is AWESOME!
rsholland says:
05:25 PM, 08/29/10
I suspect one of the reasons the Kizashi is getting such rave reviews, here and elsewhere, is because it has 235/45x18 tires. Sure, you can put on lesser tires, but expect the reviews to reflect the downgrade in rubber.
BTW, Suzuki is billing this car as a sport sedan, not a plain vanilla sedan; hence the tires.
rsholland says:
05:41 PM, 08/29/10
^ Having said that, I just purchased a set of four 225/45x17 Continental ExtremeContact DWS (Dry, Wet, Snow) for my '09 WRX at TireRack.com this past week. Each tire was $121 each. If I were to go to a larger 235/45x17, they would have been $125 each. Now moving up to an 18" tire, the same size as the Kizashi (235/45x18)i, the price bump is rather substantial, as they would cost $174 each.
So yes, you do pay a stiff premium by having an 18" tire. Even so, if IL had gone to TireRack.com, they could have save some $$$.
Also note those prices do not include balancing and sales tax.
cello_one says:
05:41 AM, 08/30/10
Both of our Hyundai Elantras are like that. Its not a bad tire size, just one that isn't that popular or only available in really fast rating... So the 2000 had Firehawks and the 2005 has Eagles - to the tune of $700+ for each car... :(
eldaino2 says:
07:07 AM, 08/30/10
rsholland:
great tire choice man. i have those on my 09 gti and they are flawless. (225/45r18's) quiet too, but still grippy, but i need decent snow traction for the icy winters we get occasionally here in nc.
firstwagon brings up a good point. (and i agree with you too body blue.) as nice as the wheels look, the kisashi probably could find a better middle point with tires. maybe something like 215/50 r17 or 225/50 r17's. the amount of selection in my GTi's 17 inch tire size over the 18's it currently has is pretty staggering, especially if you want cheaper, longer lasting, all season rubber.
but since average buyer of this car is NOT going to be looking for a sport sedan and rather a nice looking reliable car with lots of features, a tire size like that will force that person into buying crappy tires just to stay within budget. maybe a handful of suzuki owners will purchase it because of the handling prowress, but MOST wont, and those are the people suzuki should be mindful of.
z479: the reason those camry tires were so expensive was because your folks replaced the tire with the same one it came with stock. stock tires are usually overtly expensive and under performing. you could have had better for cheaper especially on that tire size. i agree, manufacturers should cater to customer 'wants' but most kizashi owners will 'want' something more affordable, and will care little of suzuki's 'sport sedan' hopes for this car.
seppoboy says:
08:18 AM, 08/30/10
OK, I'm going to get on my soapbox once again. I will not buy a vehicle with tires having a low profile, period. Fifty is too low in my experience, 55 is about as low as most people need to go.
Once upon a time car manufacturers had to know proper chassis design to get a car that handled and had an acceptable ride. Nowadays they slap egregious tires on everything to fool shoppers into thinking their new ride "handles". Those tires are prone to tracking road imperfections, have easily-damaged and stiff-riding sidewalls (which require compensation in spring rates, bushings, and dampers that work counter to ideal handling), and the contact patch gets wide and squidgy resulting in little or no self-centering and steering feel.
Then when the fat little darlings get damaged or wear out (usually wearing unevenly and causing mild or worse out of balance), the happy buyer faces sticker shock. They then learn about fascinating new brands like Kumho, Fuzion, Toyo, Nitto, and Falken, made in places like Indonesia, Thailand, Paraguay, and Philippeans. Such bargains! Don't they look cool?
Give me a well engineered car riding on a properly tall sidewall of a well engineered tire any day. It's a tool for crying out loud, the joy is in the proper use of the tool, not how cool it looks sitting there by the curb.
rsholland says:
08:49 AM, 08/30/10
eldaino2
The base Kizashi S comes with 215/60x16 tires. The next level up, the SE, comes with 215/55x17 tires. Only the top two trims levels, the GTS (what Edmunds has) and the SLS, come with the 235/45x18 tires. See link, under "Chassis."
http://suzukiauto.com/kizashi/specs/?r=left#-specifications
bodyblue says:
09:21 AM, 08/30/10
My Falken tires have been great...I have a little over 10k on them and they look great. They ride nice and are quiet and handle just fine. I have had them rotated and balanced twice at Americas Tire and each time I was out of there in lest than 40 mins and last time they even cleaned and shined the sidwalls..lol. I will never, ever buy anywhere else but Americas tire. Best prices for tires and mounting/balancing and free road hazzard. (free pro rate road hazzard, the replacement is extra)
"The base Kizashi S comes with 215/60x16 tires."
In other words the cheapest model has the best ride......that is the opposite of what things used to be.
rsholland says:
09:40 AM, 08/30/10
^ and is probably the least sporty as well.
banhugh says:
09:59 AM, 08/30/10
To whom it may concern:
"...Just like the stupid 160 MPH speedo on cars why does a car need a V speed rated tire when it cant even get close to the rated speed? What a waste of money..."
Because engineering design follows a concept known as safety factor.
feloniousmonk says:
10:06 AM, 08/30/10
rsholland says:
09:40 AM, 08/30/10
"^ and is probably the least sporty as well."
Actually, I drove both the S and GTS models, both with manuals, and they both felt the same "sporty". Suzuki claims they all (except the new "Sport" model") come with the exact same suspenders, brakes, tire type and steering so that explains some of that, but I also think, for a car of this ilk, there really isn't too big a difference in handling between 2 inches of sidewall. If I were buying one today, I'd opt for the "S" because it comes loaded, is definitely a fun ride and is certainly more cost-effective. Good luck finding one at a dealer though. I've only ever seen one S with a manual and that was the one I test drove.
bodyblue says:
03:37 PM, 08/30/10
"Because engineering design follows a concept known as safety factor. "
Oh come on........then why aren't all cars equipped with V rated tires then?
billt9 says:
07:54 AM, 08/31/10
This OEM tire is $167 at tirerack.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?tireIndex=0&autoMake=Suzuki&autoYear=2011&autoModel=Kizashi+Sport+AWD&autoModClar=GTS&width=235/&ratio=45&diameter=18&sortCode=53850&skipOver=true&minSpeedRating=H&minLoadRating=S&tab=OE&filterType=oe
The cheapest tire of this size, the Kumho Ecsta, is $129.
I see nothing outlandish about the price.
northsparrow says:
08:07 AM, 09/ 1/10
Huge wheels are justified on high performance cars with HUGE brake rotors.
If you want to have a good laugh check out some modest sized rotors hidden behind the
spokes of an over-sized wheel. They look like the hub on a bicycle wheel.
Better still, examine a rusty old brake drum behind a gleaming allow wheel and you will understand in most cases these large wheels are just fashion statements .
Somebody may have found a Third World 18" tire for $129 but it will probably be finished after
20,000 miles.