Tire Load Rating ?

[dedbird]

So, after going through all the research for new tires I decide on Continental Extreme Contact DWS 06. I have them on my GTI and they fit the bill for what I need on the 76 911 in 205/55/16's. Call Discount Tire and they tell me they won't mount them as the load rating is not sufficient. They claim the Porsche load rating for the car is 94 but the tires are 91. Makes no sense to me. The weight of the car is well within the limits. Anyone out there running this tire without issues? Never thought just selecting and buying a set of tires could be so challenging.

[Matt Monson]

I experienced that a couple years back buying tires for my 85 Carrera. I just lied and said they were for my 914 instead. Suddenly I was within rating and they would mount the wheels I have provided. Not the same tire, but the same song and dance.

[Cajundaddy]

I think this is some weird game Discount Tire is playing in order to turn you to a different tire they carry. Check with Tire Rack to confirm your load rating but for stock N2 tires it looks like 89W, so the DWS at 91W exceeds Porsche weight rating specs.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?tireIndex=0&autoMake=Porsche&autoYear=1976&autoModel=911&autoModClar=&width=185%2F&ratio=70&diameter=15&sortCode=37600&skipOver=true&minSpeedRating=V&minLoadRating=S

I have been given this line when shopping track rubber at America's tire in non-stock sizes and after looking up the N2 weight rating, my tire choice exceeded Porsche specs for my car. They lost the sale on both sets of tires to a competitor. I generally like AT service and pricing but I won't play this game. If I choose tires that meet or exceed Porsche N2 weight rating specs, AT can install them for me or watch me walk don the street. We all have choices.

[Cajundaddy]

This is another tire in that class that you might like even better than DWS. They are available at Costco as well.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=g-Force+COMP-2+A%2FS&partnum=055WR6GFC2AS&fromSurvey=true

[Tremelune]

Bring your wheels and tires to a place that will road-force balance them. It matters less for 55-series tires, but a place that can road-force balance is a place that is more likely to do any work better than Discount Tire—big tire chains make money on volume, and they're fine with losing the rare customer that drives away with crushed oil lines and over-torqued aluminum lug nuts.

[Trackrash]

If you go to Costco for tires, GOOD LUCK, is all I can say.

I have had good luck with the local Big-O. (don't laugh).

I order my tires from Tire Rack, have them delivered to B-O. I take my WHEELS to B-O. No issues.

[dedbird]

After I expressed my opinion that these are well within specs for the car weight, and my displeasure with the guy on the phone, I received a call back from the manager despite not asking for a call back. He offered to research and get back with me. About an hour later he called and said that yes, they will work and not sure why their computer system was wrong. It was actually great service and I do buy a lot of tires for them as I have a bit of a car problem.

I ordered them in and went down today to have them mounted. I probably would have gone with the previously mentioned BF Goodrich's had I seen the post sooner but I was already going down this path. Tires ran great on the 1 hour drive home. Much smoother than the RE11's I took off. Definitely a compromise on performance in the canyon (Glenwood) but overall very good handling and so much of a better ride.

Thanks for all the input.

[Cook&Dunning]

Glad to hear that it worked out in the end. Take a look at Goodyear Eagle Sport next time around - they are very similar to DWS - same load rating - might be lower speed rating, but for me, I rarely get over 230 kph. Tire Rack does not sell them - or maybe Goodyear does not allow Tire Rack to sell them. They are all seasons, too. DWS are made in Portugal, not sure where Eagle Sports are made. Have the Eagle Sports on my commuter car, like them better than DWS. Currently have Continental DW's on Porsche - but it seems like they are NLA.

[RichardNew]

Cotsco really sells Kirkland tires.

The Michelins and Bridgestones you buy at Costco are not the same as you would get from Tire Rack. I know.

I had a non-repairable puncture on my tow truck. Cotsco could not match it with an in stock tire. They checked the whole world for me.

At that point I called a friend at Michelin. He said they always do special runs for Cotsco. The construction and rubber compounds are different from their usual run. The tire I need is scheduled for production the end of this month. They'll run off a quarter-million tires in my size.

Meantime ......

Richard Newton
Tools for Your Tires

[Trackrash]

Originally Posted by RichardNew

Cotsco really sells Kirkland tires.

The Michelins and Bridgestones you buy at Costco are not the same as you would get from Tire Rack. I know.

I had a non-repairable puncture on my tow truck. Cotsco could not match it with an in stock tire. They checked the whole world for me.

At that point I called a friend at Michelin. He said they always do special runs for Cotsco. The construction and rubber compounds are different from their usual run. The tire I need is scheduled for production the end of this month. They'll run off a quarter-million tires in my size.

Meantime ......

Richard Newton
Tools for Your Tires

I had three blow outs in a year with Costo "Michelins". The last set was total crap, they could not even be balanced correctly.

In addition the store manager in San Diego did not know how to correctly measure a rim width and was totally disrespectful to me. I could go on, but you catch my drift. Rant over.