I have a 2001 Dodge Durango SLT. I am getting ready to dismount 4 studded winter tires (265/75R16). The placard on the edge of my driver's side door shows front and rear tire size of (265/75R15XL).

I have driven the car with no steering problems and I have bought new tires for the 16" rims multiple times over the past ten years.

Today, for some reason, I cannot find anyone who will sell me tires equal to the ones on the car now (by that, I mean 265/75R16) mainly, so I'm told, because the tires I have on now do not match the placard specification.

None of the tire fitment options that the tire dealers provide to fill out online indicate tire specs for an SLT. Are SLT tire options different than R/T or straight 4x4 tire options? The tire dealers say they can deal to some extent with "options" that deviate from door placard specs.

One guy said he could sell me four 265/70R16s, and he could mount them on my rims, but he could not thereafter put the newly tired wheels on the car.

What's going on here? Is this some kind of "new way"?

 

I have no idea what they are trying to pull on you. The 2000 to 2003 Durango and 2000 to 2004 Dakotas stock had 16" wheels and the rt's had 17's. And 265-75-16 is a tire size for the vehicles. Your Durango may have had the door replaced from an older model pre 2000's. But there obviously not being smart about this. All they have to do is go into there computer and look up tire sizes for your vehicle. Plus you can get any size tire mounted and installed without any issues. I'm confused as to why there doing this to you. That tire size is equal to having 31" tires which is an optional size. I'm baffeled!!!! It just doesn't sound right.

 

My door placard doesn't match my wheels/tires either. Mine reads for 15", yet I have 16".

SJ02

 

I'd suggest going to a different tire shop where they're not a bunch of asshats.

 

The last "dealer" is Costco. An "administrator just informed me that any deviation from the placard by more than +or - 3% means putting on the tire is considered to be specialty work ... and Costco does not do specialty work. I could give them rims and they could mount and balance a set of new tires and give them to me that way.

I said, "What a load of crap!"

I think Cosco is not the only tire dealer in town that will give me that story.

 

I have been in the tire industry my whole life and I have never heard of this ridiculous policy appearing anywhere but in Costco and other similar chain stores. That is what you get for taking your vehicle to Costco.
+1 to that!! Take it to any local shop, I'm sure they would be more than willing to help you and have far more knowledge than a Costco employee. Best of luck!

 

The thing I still don't understand is how your 2001 has a plackard on it from a 1998 1999 model. But still. 265-75-16 is an optional size tire for the Durango. So regardless they shouldn't have given you a hard time.
I agree also Costco isn't the type of place I would want to bring my vehicle to get tires put on or have any sort of work done to it.
If they have the tires you want I would just purchase them and take them elsewhere to get mounted and balanced and installed.
Best of luck to ya!

 

@ all,

I don't know anything about the placard except what is printed on it.

But, yes, Costco and any like it are now off my list.

Thanks for the advice.