question on tyres for rear wheel drive car

obi604

Hi,

I bought a VW ID4 yesterday from a main dealer - not VW, but still a main dealer.

I noted when I first checked the car out a couple of weeks ago that the tyres on the car were:

Front: 235.55.19

Rear:  255.50.19

I believe rear wheel drive cars normally have wider rear tyres.

The garage replaced the 2 back tyres for me as they were 'amber'.

I checked them now and the back tyres installed were 235.55.19 (same as the front)

Is this right - should they not have replaced them with 255.50.19?

Will this have real world impact on the car?

General thoughts?

Casati

https://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php?width=235&aspect=55&diameter=19&wheelwidth=9&offset=45&width2=255&aspect2=50&wheel_size=19&wheel_width=9&offset2=45

Not a big difference in diameter, just 4mm smaller. I personally would say it to them mind as dropping from 255 to 235 is quite a lot from a grip/ handling perspective

tphase

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121894845#Comment_121894845

Dealer dropping tyre size from 255 to 235 is likely down to cost but unlikely to make a real world difference unless the replacements are ditch finders. My last few cars have been RWD, same size tyres all round. Only grip/performance issues have been down to the crap tyres on the cars when I bought them and subsequently noticable loss of grip once thread depth was less than about 3mm (this would be with reasonable types eg Uniroyal Rainsports)

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895293#Comment_121895293

thank you. Replacements are Continental eco contact 6, so seem to be decent enough.

Birka

They're not what the car is designed to use so in theory there are insurance implications. The dealer should have fitted the tyres the car is designed for.

Check the weight rating of the new tyres and make sure that they're rated for the weight of the car.

MarkR

I had a quick Google, and it seems it comes with two different sizes front and back.

https://tiresize.com/tires/Volkswagen/ID.4/

XsApollo

I’d be asking for the correct tyre size, all they have to do is take the tyres off and put on the right size. They can re-use the ones they put on yours, not a big deal for them.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058340972/question-on-tyres-for-rear-wheel-drive-car

What wheels are on your ID4?

RWD cars can have square set up (same size all round) or staggered (wider rear) depending on the actual wheels on the car.

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895684#Comment_121895684

yeah, im sure it will not be easy though and they will say its fine etc etc, plus its a 2 hour drive away

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895694#Comment_121895694

what do you mean by wheels? as in the alloy? Pic below.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895712#Comment_121895712

Yes. The ID4 has different wheels. Different sizes. You need to work out what wheels you have and what the OEM tire size for that wheel is before going back to the dealer, so you are armed with the correct info.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895711#Comment_121895711

Irrelevant. It’s a safety matter. The oem tyre size should be used.

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895719#Comment_121895719

thanks, where would I find that out?

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895724#Comment_121895724

Go and look at the wheels. On the back of them it will have the size. 8jx20 for example.

Or just show us a picture of what wheels you have on the car.

XsApollo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895711#Comment_121895711

I wouldn’t be accepting them, and I don’t see why it wouldn’t be easy get the right ones put on. They are a different size for a reason.

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895730#Comment_121895730

here are some pics.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895737#Comment_121895737

They are the base 19”’wheels.

IMO they should be 255 on the rear. Just let the garage know. They will understand and shouldn’t put up any fuss about it.

tphase

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895730#Comment_121895730

That table indicates front and rear wheels are the same size ie 8Jx19 or am I missing something?

bcklschaps

You can't just put different tyre wides on the same rim surely? a 235 and a 255 wide rim will be different. Did the dealer actually change the rims too? Maybe pulled the fronts off another car.

Maybe have a chat to a main VW dealer, they might be able to shed some light on the situation.

OP you would want to have your story straight before going back to the selling dealer otherwise they will fob you off and label you as a 'messer' going forward.

tphase

Rims will take a number of tyre widths within a range. In this case, based on the table posted by Gumbo, the rims will take both 235 and 255 tyres. The usual issue is maintaining the same overall diameter so if you increase the width, you have to reduce the profile

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895762#Comment_121895762

On the 18” wheels yes, it the OP has the 19” wheels. Wheel physical widths are the same but OEM tyre size is staggered.

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895824#Comment_121895824

My table shows the rears should be wider. If you look at the little pictures it shows front and rear. Staggered set up.

Should go back to the dealer.

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895794#Comment_121895794

See this is the whole problem. How do I concretely prove to them that the tyres fitted at the back should be a different size to the tyres at the front.

tphase

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895831#Comment_121895831

I get that the tyre sizes are staggered, just wanted to clarify the rims are identical

tphase

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895844#Comment_121895844

The table from VW's website posted by Gumbo shows the OE setup

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895844#Comment_121895844

VW spec. In the brochure.

or email VW

https://www.volkswagen.ie/idhub/content/dam/onehub_pkw/importers/ie/models/product-guides/2021/march/210407_RB_ID4MY21.pdf

XsApollo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895844#Comment_121895844

there is a sticker on the car somewhere with Oen tyre sizes and pressures

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895915#Comment_121895915

do you know where that is?

Gumbo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895937#Comment_121895937

Google.

it’s a white sticker and used to be in the boot of older VW.

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895937#Comment_121895937

They are often in the drivers or passenger door areas

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121895973#Comment_121895973

I found the with sticker in the boot, has no reference to tyre sizes. lots of other numbers but no tyre size stuff

2 stickers on passenger door - one just gives the pressure for font and rear tyres, no reference to tyre size

another sticker just has the VIN number and car weight etc

Seth Brundle

I don't understand that. How can it recommend tyre pressures if it doesn't mention the tyre sizes (as different size tyres may require different pressure values)?

It should also be in your car's user manual

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121896063#Comment_121896063

Not sure. Just has this.

obi604

I have written a bit of a stinker of a mail to them, not sent yet. Do ye think its fair enough that I insist on getting this resolved? Like im not being unreasonable here, this is basic sh1t

djan

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121896256#Comment_121896256

You're right to be annoyed about this and absolutely need to get this sorted. May not be a huge safety or drivability concern unless driving on the edge but they've given you a non OEM set up and a cheaper tyre. On a RWD EV with instant torque the wider tyre will offer more needed grip (albeit with a slight hit on the range).

obi604

or maybe I am making a mountain out of a molehill, most other buyers may not even notice or even car if they did notice or just be totally oblivious

but the amount of hours one has to work to buy a car and then this, makes me mad

tphase

I'd send a polite but firm email and give them a chance to resolve the issue before going nuclear. A stinker of an email might get the tyres changed but if they end up being ditchfinders, that's not really a result

XsApollo

Whoever put the tyre on could have just looked at the front and thought that’s them, their aren’t many cars with staggered tyre sizes. Well maybe the new EV generation there is..

it’s not a big deal they will just throw the tyres on another car.

for sure they need to be changed this isn’t a 1000 euro run around, you spent in the multiples of 10’s of thousands.

the rear of the car will be a different height also, tiny but still there.

ring them and just say , you might be surprised when they say oh, apologies come back in to us.

edit: I got 4 conti sport contacts a few years ago, they wernt cheap , I noticed a few days later they were a different load rating than the Contis that came off, no question asked they replaced the tyres.

Casati

Just pick up the phone. Sounds like an honest mistake, they stuck v nice tyres on it, it’s just they are the wrong size - the correct sized ones are unlikely to cost much more and as main dealer I’m sure they can use the tyres elsewhere. Cant see any need for firm letter etc

artanevilla

My car, Alfa Romeo Giulia has a few options from the OEM on tyre sizes (on the same rims).

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121896256#Comment_121896256

Me personally I could not be arsed driving 2 hours for something so minor. I don’t think people realise how minor this is

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121896664#Comment_121896664

but this is the thing, to some people its minor and maybe a non issue, and then others mention insurance implications, car handling etc etc etc

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121896679#Comment_121896679

No one on here would be able to differentiate between those two tyres, and you’ve been driving the car with no issues. You could change all four wheels to something completely different and there would still be no handling issues.

Insurance implications is scaremongering nonsense.

I’m not saying don’t contact the dealer but its not such a big deal that people are making it out to be

GSBellew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121896679#Comment_121896679

If you are going down that Rabbit hole of handling, sure it has MO spec tyres all round, they are Mercedes Original, so not designed for it and so on.

R.O.R

From the MY23 ID4 Product guide, issued 19.12.22.

The do look to be the wrong size tyres for the rear, but it's probably not going to make any noticeable difference.

The biggest question is do you have an inflation kit or spare? The 19's came with AirStop tyres and at least one of those sets doesn't look like AirStop (think they were Conti, but can't remember). With the factory tyres, there was no inflation kit and no spare.

obi604

They have agreed to change the tyres, admitted it was a fault on their end, so fair enough.

now I just have to spend 4 hours driving and time up there to get it sorted

XsApollo

Do a few burnouts and doughnuts on the way up, pass the time a bit easier. :-P

obi604

At the end of the day, my knowledge on this is not great. I’m not entirely sure if it’s grand or a bit of a risk or a non story even.

I am second guessing myself now 🙄🙄

Is it worth my while to do this trip?

Seth Brundle

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121898471#Comment_121898471

The dealer is offering to look after you so just be grateful that the dealer appears to be decent and make a day of the trip.

Casati

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121898501#Comment_121898501

It’s not a major issue but VW obviously have a reason to spec 255 rear tyres so given the option I’d keep it original and drive back.

MO marked tyres is odd in a VW but that difference is probably just marketing

obi604

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121900708#Comment_121900708

Noted. What is MO?