the first time i really drove the 9000 again, i quickly realized that the wheels were rubbing the inside of the fender well….and badly. i couldn’t go around a normal corner without SCRRAAEEEEEP. so i knew i had to replace the tires immediately. this was a serious drivability issue for me the way i drive. but i really didn’t want to plunk down 5 bills for some new rolling stock, and on top of that, i wasn’t really sure what size would fit right.

but, WHA-LA! i still had a wheel and tire in my back yard FROM THIS EXACT 9000. it was the original wheel  that this 9000 rolled off the assembly line on. don’t ask my why i still had it, and please don’t judge me, but this came in super handy because i now new what the EXACT RIGHT tire size was. 185-65-15. and then it dawned on me: since this is a used car, let’s get some used tires!

so i found a tire place in santa ana, tire express, that has some great social media reviews, and i headed over to see what they had. unfortunately, their selection was thin, but they did have 2 pair of different kinds of tires that still has some life left in them. after explaining to them that the ones i was taking off had GREAT tread, they offered to make me a deal. pay them $50 buck to switch them, and that’s all. DEAL! granted, the new tires were not perfect, at least they didn’t rub the inside of the wheel well and made it SO much more fun to drive. roll on.