[Ruckmn]

My wife and I just returned from a great 2860 mile trip in our new G6 GTP Convertible with 778 miles on the car when we left. We went from Seattle, WA, down I-5 to Bakersfield CA, across to Barstow CA, and on to Kingman, AZ, our final destination for 3 days. Then returned home via the same route. The car was superb, functioned perfectly, and handled great in the mountains of Oregon and California, and was very comfortable. I can tell you the XM radio is excellent, no need to hunt for stations on AM or FM when you get out of range of a station; it’s always there. We traveled all the way with the top up, and upon arrival and unloading the “stuff’ in the trunk, put the top down in 100+ degree temperature; yes it was HOT there.
Over the 2860 miles we used 118 gal. of gas, for and overall average of 24.24 miles per gallon. The air conditioner was on most all the time; however, on our return as we got into Oregon, it turned rather cold (in the 60’s), so was able to turn off the air. The overall average calculator in the car started to indicate much better mileage without the air, as expected. This included some running around in Kingman, and other running around as detailed below.
Now for the …..EXCEPT FOR……
Just before Mojave, CA, (I-40 east bound) we were traveling in the center lane next to the concrete barrier, doing oh 75-80, when I heard a fairly loud POP. I thought maybe something hit the side of the car, and then I heard a thump, thump, so I pulled off, and discovered a flat tire; well, a real flat tire with a hole in the sidewall about the size of a quarter. No problem right, just unload everything from the trunk, remove the “space saver” spare, jack, and change the tire, which I did, and go get a new one under warranty (less than 2000 miles on it).
So, with the spare on, we went to Mojave, CA, but it was too late, and the ONLY tire store was closed. Had to stay all night, and was told to go to another little town which had a tire store. So, first thing in the morning we went there, about 25 miles, and the guy there didn’t even know what an 18” tire was. So, off to Barstow, CA we head, still with spare on, about 70 miles. Get there, and the GoodYear, store is INDEPENDENTLY OWNED, and doesn’t do anything for GoodYear except carry their name and tires, but no 225/50x18 tires. He said to go to Victorville, CA about 35 miles (each way), to a GoodYear COMPANY Store, and there is a Goodyear Warehouse there also. So, with spare still on, off we go and get to the GoodYear store, and the manager was very helpful. All we wanted was another tire – right. Well, she had NONE, the warehouse had NONE, in fact no tire shop in town (a pretty good size city) had a 225/50x18, PERIOD. By this time, I was becoming somewhat frustrated , so she gave me the directions to the GM/Pontiac dealer in town, and off we went. I was ready to demand they take a tire/wheel off a GTP and replace mine. As it turned out, they had 4 take offs from a GTP (bright wheel just like mine), that a customer had replaced wheels and tires, and they were willing to sell me one wheel and tire combination for $100.00, that’s right $100.00 (cheap). I said OK, didn’t have much choice, and they didn’t want to buy back my rim, so they broke the tire off and I kept the rim (yes, I made room for it in the trunk).
After all this, we wasted 1 night, and 8 hours of chasing after a tire which doesn’t exist.
As it turns out, this is a new tire size, :cheers: GoodYear makes it for OE and does not make it for stock, at least until they start to wear out in a couple years.
Bridgestone is the only other manufacturer that makes that size. Beware, if you have 225/50x18 GoodYear tires on your GTP, handle them carefully.
I talked to the tire store that I have done business with for years, and he said these are really not a very good tire, with a low speed rating of T. He suggested replacing them with 245/45x18 tires with a Z performance rating. There are many manufactures of this tire size, and used on many cars as OE.

All in all a wonderful trip.

Later,

 

[Ruckmn]

branderson,
Yes, the 2 manufactures are all; however, if you go to the Tire Rack site, www.tirerack.com and select tires by size (225/50-18), then click on the tire picture, you will see the excellent wet capability of the Bridgstone (better than the Goodyear). Also, the article tells the cars it is used on as OE.
"While the Potenza RE050 is used as Original Equipment on the supercharged Mercedes-Benz S55 AMG sedan, a Potenza RE050A Scuderia version is used on the 12-cylinder Enzo Ferrari supercar, and a Run Flat version is used on the BMW Z4 sports cars and 5-Series sedans."

"The Potenza RE050A was developed to provide good traction along with responsive and predictable dry and wet road handling. It is not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice."

This could be a problem, as we get to some below freezing here, but virtually no snow.

If I were to buy another set of wheels, I would get 7 1/2 inch so as to fit REAL tires, assuming the clearance is OK. That would fit 245/45x18, and there are 'thousands' of these made, and used as OM on MANY cars.

Later,

 

[Ruckmn]

hook2233,
Yes, roadside assistance. The problem as I explained above, there were NO tires available in that size PERIOD where we were, and we were 1200 miles from home. What we did by getting a wheel and tire exactly as mine was the best thing, short of just getting a tire.
Later,

 

[Ruckmn]

Well, after talking with Goodyear, they are sending me a check for $50.00, 50% of the cost of the wheel and tire I bought as described above. Not bad, considering that makes the wheel and tire cost $50.00 - really a GOOD deal.

I also called Pontiac direct and told them that I thought it was poor that they put a tire size on a car, that cannot be replaced at even the Goodyear stores. After a good conversation with the person at Pontiac, they are sending me a up to $200.00 scheduled maintenance coupon.

Later,