Existing Michelin premier LTX (non-directional) tires have 7/32 remaining all around. One rear picked up a nail and is not repairable. Tire shop proposes to put two new Michelin cross climate 2 (directional with 10/32 tread depth according to Michelin) tires on the rear. Will that cause a problem with the center differential wearing prematurely or poor handling, and performance?

Naa you'll be fine long as they are all the same size. If you do this though you'll be required to grow a mullet, start dating your cousin, and take up meth 🤣 JK, we do what we gotta do.

Where is the nail hole that it can’t be repaired? Yes put on Michelin. You “need” one tire if one can’t be repaired .

hole is about 1 1/2 inches in from the edge of the tread. Tire shop tried patching it twice but there is still a tiny leak. The second patch is a safety patch with a plug and a patch so I’m afraid this tire is toast.

i’ve been cautioned against using directional tires with non-directional tires, but there does not seem to be a consensus on that lol

Why not one new Michelin Premier LTX? New tread depth is 8.5 and your other one is at 7. Seems that would be the cheapest and also the best solution, save buying 4 better tires.

I would but apparently it’s been discontinued in my size.

Are you sure? What size?

235/45 20 XL

I'd go for the Pilot Sport All Season 4. It's a much better match and doesn't have that funky 4 season snow rated tread pattern.

I used to use the oem continentals in my GLK350 but it was prone to nails. Have changed to Bridgestone Dueler Alenzas and have no problems since.

I would think the nails were the issue, not the tires...

I have had a lot of bad luck with crooked or dumb tire shops. Mainly crooked. I had a shop I used, owned run and built by this guy since 1970. But he just died. This is why I asked Where is the Nail, because Costco recently , wrongly , lied and said my leak was previously ground out and I needed 4 new tires , Michelin of course. My tire was leaking so bad it went flat in 20 minutes and Costco Refused to fix it and sent me on my way leaking bad. They thought is just say OK to 1,000,00$ in new tires!

I proceeded to find a new shop that proved this a lie and got it fixed. ( yes I’m Pursuing Costco crooks)

In the past we had BMW x5, 750 xli, and other BMW . Our bmw dealer constantly said “we can’t repair that”, when we had a flat , “ sorry you need a new tire”. Then I went back to the guy that had been business since 1970. He fixed all the tires bmw Chicago said “ tire is no good”

So I came to learn and distrust big tire shops. So if the nail is 1.5” inside to the center of the tire and it leaks. I’d say get someone else to re - repair it , telling the guy your problem. it could be a bad repair , you need a plug and an interior patch for the best repair.

If you really want to know about the tires tread, simply call Michelin. They do make some of the best tires.

I find the small local owner operated, truck oriented shops more honest and better than commission driven big chains . Too much of the tire business can be commission oriented. They make money selling 1,000$ in tires, not a 40$ repair !

The first big flag is he blames the tire
The second flag is he tries to sell you two tires, of a new model.
The 3rd big flag is he doesn’t offer to find you one tire of what you have now. I’m sure they are around.

Get a second opinion and repair . Properly repaired it should not leak or why did he fix it in the first place ?

A plug and inside patch is best. A patch itself is better than a plug.

Great tire, I have 4 on my C Class. But I’m not sure I would mix it with any other tire because of its handling characteristics. I would apply this to mixing most sport tires with any other type of tire.

So you went to Costco for tire work and are seriously fur real surprised you got f€#¥ed. Why didn’t you just go see if Chucky Cheese could fix it, Jesus.

Good advice on finding a quality locally owned tire shop. When talking to them be specific and say “I would like my tire removed from the rim and a Boot placed over the damaged area.”

Some tire shops are very formulaic about their approach to things like this. Yes, repairs closer to the sidewall are more likely to fail, but 1.5" sounds like it is probably fine (to me, YMMV).

FWIW, what I've done in the past to keep from upsetting my (finicky) BMW AWD (which require all tires to be within 0.5% in diameter) is to look on eBay for a used tire that matches the make, model AND tread depth. I'm sure the OP could find one like that (if he hadn't already gotten it fixed by a competent tire tech, that is).

GlkASSitude Hey , WTF is your &&”’ problem , grow up dude, you’re getting boring with your childish moronic Assitudal insults . You bring nothing to the discussion.

Ha!! What is an Assitudal insult? I know it seems like I’m picking on you but my god this is like the fifth or six time you have told people about Costco tires as if you’re providing some kind of PSA. You made a really dumb decision even going to Costco and I wouldn’t be telling anybody about it if it was me!!

You need to grow up.

Wow! What do you do, rotate them every Saturday?

Naw!! Groin up’s overrated!! Got any Costco coupons I can have? Baby needs some new shoes!

Every other Saturday. ;-) It's really not all that difficult to keep them within that spec, and I doubt the world would end if the tires drifted slightly outside that spec, but with the cost and hassle of maintaining that car, I'm not gonna take any unnecessary chances! ;-)

FWIW, 0.5% on a typical tire is just over 1/8", or 4/32" of tread wear. That's the difference between a new tire and one that's approximately half-way to the wear bars... so it's not really rocket science to stay within the spec.

A wise man once said "If you don't grow up by the time you're 50, you don't have to.