The auto shop put the wrong tires on my car. Now what?
John Paul, AAA Northeast's Car Doctor, answers a question from a reader who was sold tires that are the incorrect size for his vehicle.
Q. I have a 1998 Mercedes Benz 230 SLK, and on the door it states the rear tires should be, for summer tires, size 225/50 R16 92V, and for winter tires, if needed, 205/55 91H M&S. Recently the car was in the shop, and they installed BF Goodrich 255/50 ZR16 99W tires on the front and rear. I have been told these tires would be dangerous in wet weather. I am 82 years old, and I don’t drive over 70 miles per hour, but is this a problem? The car seems to ride OK, but should I change the tires to a smaller size as recommended by Mercedes? A. I would go back to the shop that installed the tires and have the correct tire installed. The replacement tires are almost 3 inches taller than the factory-specified tire. In addition, your speedometer now has nearly a 10 mile-per-hour error at 60 miles per hour. John Paul is AAA Northeast’s Car Doctor. He has over 40 years of experience in the automotive business and is an ASE certified master technician. Email your car question to [email protected].
