Gravity Tire Challenge

[TahoeMichael]

Sorry for your trouble. Flat tires are rarer these days, but they still stink- especially on specialty tires like yours.

Just an FYI from a guy who spent 20 years in the performance car industry.

Aesthetics aside, tires with a section height of less than about 4.4" are not suitable for street use. Given the same tire, they do not handle better (and often handle worse), do ride more harshly, are harder to mount, and most importantly are much more prone to road damage- including damage to the wheels. It's always better to fit the smallest diameter rim that will fit over the brakes that also gives a section height close to the above.

So you'd argue that the 20/21 combo (132.5 mm and 128 mm section heights) and 21/22 combo (119 mm and 114 mm) are good choices, but the 22/23 combo is a bad idea because the 265/40R22 has a section height of only 106 mm, and the 285/35R23 has a section height of 99.75 mm?

 

[037]

So you'd argue that the 20/21 combo (132.5 mm and 128 mm section heights) and 21/22 combo (119 mm and 114 mm) are good choices, but the 22/23 combo is a bad idea because the 265/40R22 has a section height of only 106 mm, and the 285/35R23 has a section height of 99.75 mm?

I am running 265/40/22 and 285/40/22 and haven’t picked up anything in them yet, but they are Michelin AS4 vs the skinny nail attracting PZ5s

 

[Mr.Quindazzi]

So you'd argue that the 20/21 combo (132.5 mm and 128 mm section heights) and 21/22 combo (119 mm and 114 mm) are good choices, but the 22/23 combo is a bad idea because the 265/40R22 has a section height of only 106 mm, and the 285/35R23 has a section height of 99.75 mm?

I'd argue that on a heavy SUV like the Gravity I wouldn't consider anything but the 20/21 combo. The larger rims/shorter section height doesn't buy you anything other than a particular look.

 

[TahoeMichael]

I'd argue that on a heavy SUV like the Gravity I wouldn't consider anything but the 20/21 combo. The larger rims/shorter section height doesn't buy you anything other than a particular look.

Good to know. 20/21 was my main interest, but just because Lucid rates that size as giving the best range, not because I know much about tire selection and driving dynamics.

 

[hwy17er]

Good to know. 20/21 was my main interest, but just because Lucid rates that size as giving the best range, not because I know much about tire selection and driving dynamics.

I think the 20/21's are going to do better in snow than the 21/22's (once you slap some CC2's on there, of course) and I don't think there's even a winter tire option out there for those 22/23's, if so they're probably pricey.
So ya: better range, snow performance, plus lower tire replacement cost...seems like a no-brainer

 

[GGoose]

I carry the emergency aftermarket spare when I go out of town. It fits vertically in the gap behind the second set. (no 3rd row seat) My thinking is it will avoid a hotel stay when we are out of town and get us to a city that we want to be in while we wait for the new tire. Or maybe get us home if we are close enough. BTW I had my rear 22 inch tire get punctured locally and Americas Tire had it replaced the next day. I then got insurance from them for all the tires. Replacement tire and insurance for all four tires was about $900.

 

[hmp10]

Coming home from dinner tonight we picked up the fifth tire puncture in our Lucids in the past year. Construction is booming in our area, and we were on a six-lane road in our Gravity passing a charter school construction site when we suddenly started hearing a steady booming from the front end of the car. We finished the 14 miles to the house watching the tire pressure readout on the dashboard, which was holding steady at 46 pounds for all four tires.

Thank goodness we have a road hazard warranty on the tires with Discount Tire, but this is the LM1 version of the Pirelli P Zero, which means the tire will have to be ordered . . . and our other Gravity is in the next state at a Service Center because of a drive unit malfunction on a road trip. So, once again, with three Lucids in the garage, we're back down to one car for a few days.

But here was the shocker. I checked Tire Rack and found that the tires for the Gravity with the 22/23" wheels -- which were already a chunk of change -- had soared. It is our front tire which is punctured this time, but the rear tire has gone up from $966 the last time I needed one to $1301.16!

 

[037]

Coming home from dinner tonight we picked up the fifth tire puncture in our Lucids in the past year. Construction is booming in our area, and we were on a six-lane road in our Gravity passing a charter school construction site when we suddenly started hearing a steady booming from the front end of the car. We finished the 14 miles to the house watching the tire pressure readout on the dashboard, which was holding steady at 46 pounds for all four tires.

Thank goodness we have a road hazard warranty on the tires with Discount Tire, but this is the LM1 version of the Pirelli P Zero, which means the tire will have to be ordered . . . and our other Gravity is in the next state at a Service Center because of a drive unit malfunction on a road trip. So, once again, with three Lucids in the garage, we're back down to one car for a few days.

But here was the shocker. I checked Tire Rack and found that the tires for the Gravity with the 22/23" wheels -- which were already a chunk of change -- had soared. It is our front tire which is punctured this time, but the rear tire has gone up from $966 the last time I needed one to $1301.16!

Not sure if you follow my world records…I am now on the large wheel using the Goodyear F1 Eagle Assymetric 6 in 275/295 size (also available in 265 on back order). Make sure you pick Y speed rating.

Will save you 50% at old prices.

Also, they shave about 10 feet 70-0.

 

[037]

Coming home from dinner tonight we picked up the fifth tire puncture in our Lucids in the past year. Construction is booming in our area, and we were on a six-lane road in our Gravity passing a charter school construction site when we suddenly started hearing a steady booming from the front end of the car. We finished the 14 miles to the house watching the tire pressure readout on the dashboard, which was holding steady at 46 pounds for all four tires.

Thank goodness we have a road hazard warranty on the tires with Discount Tire, but this is the LM1 version of the Pirelli P Zero, which means the tire will have to be ordered . . . and our other Gravity is in the next state at a Service Center because of a drive unit malfunction on a road trip. So, once again, with three Lucids in the garage, we're back down to one car for a few days.

But here was the shocker. I checked Tire Rack and found that the tires for the Gravity with the 22/23" wheels -- which were already a chunk of change -- had soared. It is our front tire which is punctured this time, but the rear tire has gone up from $966 the last time I needed one to $1301.16!

TireRack as of right meow shows the same price as before so not sure where $1300 comes from

 

[037]

What I have now

 

[hmp10]

TireRack as of right meow shows the same price as before so not sure where $1300 comes from

Oh, you're right. I looked again, and TireRack posted the all-season Scorpion Zero as the first selection when I searched on the Gravity 22/23" wheels. That is the one that costs $1301.06.

While the rear all-season Pirelli cost almost $400 more than the PZ5 ($1301.06 vs $917.46), the rear all-season Pirelli was almost $100 cheaper than the PZ5 ($466.85 vs $559.25).

I wonder why there would be such a reversal in price tiers regarding the front and rear tires?

 

[037]

Oh, you're right. I looked again, and TireRack posted the all-season Scorpion Zero as the first selection when I searched on the Gravity 22/23" wheels. That is the one that costs $1301.06.

While the rear all-season Pirelli cost almost $400 more than the PZ5 ($1301.06 vs $917.46), the rear all-season Pirelli was almost $100 cheaper than the PZ5 ($466.85 vs $559.25).

I wonder why there would be such a reversal in price tiers regarding the front and rear tires?

They are OEM spec for different vehicles which happen to overlap the Gravity. And those vehicles are even pricier…

 

[hmp10]

They are OEM spec for different vehicles which happen to overlap the Gravity. And those vehicles are even pricier…

I knew that, but usually Tire Rack shows the OEM tire for the vehicle you specified as the first listing. But in this case they didn't, and since I was going to get the tire through Discount Tire I didn't pay close enough attention. (The OEM tire was the last tire listed instead of the first one for some reason.)

 

[037]

I knew that, but usually Tire Rack shows the OEM tire for the vehicle you specified as the first listing. But in this case they didn't, and since I was going to get the tire through Discount Tire I didn't pay close enough attention. (The OEM tire was the last tire listed instead of the first one for some reason.)

There is a box to check all the way on top that lists only your oem tire for vehicle selected.

 

[hmp10]

There is a box to check all the way on top that lists only your oem tire for vehicle selected.

Yeah, but I never use it as I usually like to scan to see if any new tires have become available. I guess I'd better start.

 

[037]

Yeah, but I never use it as I usually like to scan to see if any new tires have become available. I guess I'd better start.

Feel free to look into the GoodYear option I mentioned.

 

[hmp10]

Screw of the Month:

Can't wait to see what we pick up next month.

Even though I was a bit reluctant, I agreed to have the tire patched as the puncture was squarely in the tread. I know the manufacturer says don't repair these tires, but Discount Tire uses to 2-step repair, first inserting a plug and then applying an inside patch. They claim it has been approved for all DOT-certified tires. Although it did require tearing out a bit of an acoustic foam block, that should not have any noticeable effect.

As the car has almost 4,000 miles on it, I did not want to have a new tire on just one side, so the repair saved me having to buy another tire for the other side. In fact, I think Discount Tire says they will not put a new tire on a car if the opposite tire has more than 2,000 miles on it.

 

[hmp10]

Feel free to look into the GoodYear option I mentioned.

According to Tire Rack, the 295mm rear tire is being discontinued.

 

[037]

According to Tire Rack, the 295mm rear tire is being discontinued.

Show me, not seeing it.

 

[hmp10]

Show me, not seeing it.

Oh, jeez. I gotta quit trying to do several things at once while I'm posting. it was the Pirelli PZ4 right below the Goodyear that is being discontinued.

Thanks for the catch.

But a question: did you mount the Goodyears on the stock Lucid wheels?