Buying Tires

[Marine Corps Air]

I would review the sales contract very closely.

We also owned a Toyota Sienna and bought Michelin tires from our Toyota dealer when they were running a "Buy Three-Get One Free" special. What they did not tell us was that we had to always go to a Toyota dealer for repairs and replacement. We had a steel belt separate on Interstate 20 in Atlanta. We called the dealer here and I was advised that we had to find a Toyota dealer near my location (on the side of the road on I-20 about ten miles from a Toyota dealer) to have the tire replaced - noon on a Friday afternoon. It went downhill fast from there. Thank goodness, it did not happen on a weekend!

In the case of my own car - the previous owner bought a set of Michelin tires from the Costco store in Austin, TX. I bought the car from him with almost new tires. However, Costco would not transfer the warranty from him to me, although we are both Costco members.

A close friend from HS bought a set of tires from Costco - again Michelins. There's a message here. He moved from Atlanta to the Georgia coast but since there was not a Costco close by, he allowed his Costco membership to lapse (expire). Now he can no longer go to a Costco store for tire warranty, repairs, replacement, etc.

Granted, other members may have had different experiences.

My recommended solution? Discount Tire!! Great service, reasonably good prices, name brand tires, usually open seven days/week, excellent warranty. There are far more Discount Tire stores than there are Toyota dealers.

Bill

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

Tires are now a commodity. If you can find Kelly Springfield Tires (a Goodyear house brand) they are generally good quality for the price. There are only about five different private tire makers that make 90% of the tires in the world no matter what the tires are called. Except for special performance tires (Goodyear eagles, snow tires) they are generally the same except for the name. There is always a tradeoff between traction and wear. Advertising aside, more traction will get you less wear. Traction tires in addition to wearing out faster generally cost more. All tire warranties are based on mileage and you only get the value of the unused warrantied mileage should the warranty be honored. I worked in the tire industry for 16 years, and live where there is no ice or snow, so I generally go with inexpensive long wearing tires as log as they are not junk.

 

[Rustyt1953]

It's good to see Akron and Findlay still plugging away.

https://www.marketresearchreports.com/blog/2018/07/05/worlds-15-largest-tire-manufacturers-revenue

 

[VaTom]

What do YOU call not great tread life? The Sienna is a heavy vehicle with over 60% of that weight on the front wheels. They can be hard on tires and brakes.

Me, I'll give up tread life for grip most days.

Thanks!
Have 42000 miles on the Goodyear Eagle RS-A. They have about 5,000 miles left. Was surprise to find them as OEM on a new mini-van as they are what comes standard on a lot of new police vehic!es. They have worn evenly and no problems. After researching leaning towards getting another set. You are correct on weight issue. Same on Honda Odessy Van. Go to keep them rotated.

 

[SC_Mike]

I bought a set of Nitto Tires from my Toyota dealer when they have the buy 3 get one for a dollar deal with free rotation at oil changes for the life of the tire which pays for a second tire. So it's like getting four for the price of two.

 

[swsig]

My recommended solution? Discount Tire!! Great service, reasonably good prices, name brand tires, usually open seven days/week, excellent warranty. There are far more Discount Tire stores than there are Toyota dealers.

Bill

I agree 100% about Discount Tire. I buy all of mine from them. I also use the Tire Rack website to help choose my tires. They have extensive information based on their own tire tests as well as many customer reviews. And if you like Tire Rack's prices better than Discount Tire's, they will work with a local installer to get you your tires. Between Discount Tire and Tire Rack, you should be able to find good tires at a good price.

 

[Targets Guy]

I have Coopers on the Mustang and the wife just put a set of Michelin's on her 2012 Forester.

I trade every one or two years on my Forester so I never worry about tires for whichever one I have.

 

[Turq]

Yokohama Geolander's, my third set. I also use Tire Rack, it usually works out to be significantly cheaper taking everything into account.

 

[VaTom]

I have Coopers on the Mustang and the wife just put a set of Michelin's on her 2012 Forester.

I trade every one or two years on my Forester so I never worry about tires for whichever one I have.

Nice 66 Mustang Fastback! Learned to drive on a 1966 Mustang in 1968.

 

[H Richard]

I priced my last set from Tire Rack. com and then at my local tire store. The local dealer was within $6 of Tire Rack and I'll pay the little extra to keep business local.

 

[doublesharp]

Amazon will eventually rule the world of retail. They are selling tires now and their prices are very low and many include prime free shipping.

I just put these on my Ridgeline. The original Michelin LTX M/S had 58,000 trouble free miles and I would have stayed with them but they are no longer made. Sold them for $80 on CL and that paid installation. These Falkens Wildpeaks are more aggressive, and have the mountain snowflake symbol, but I like them regardless of price and a set mounted and balanced for under $500 makes me happy.

[ame="https://www.amazon.com/Falken-Wildpeak-AT3W-Terrain-Radial/dp/B01C53CX9U/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=falken+wildpeak+245%2F65%2F17&qid=1555422480&s=gateway&sr=8-1"]Amazon.com: Falken Wildpeak AT3W all_ Season Radial Tire-245/65R17 111T: Gateway[/ame]

 

[Arizona Ghost]

The 'stickiest' set of tires I ever had were made by Kuhmo, could hardly get them to break off the pavement in my Vette. They held up very well.

These days, I stick with Walmart for tires. Got lucky and snagged a set of 4 on discontinued/clearance for my work van for $110.00 out the door. If I have a flat tire, there's pretty much a Walmart ANYWHERE that I can take it to, for repair.

 

[dougb1946]

Look up some tire reviews at Consumer reports. I got a set of Somitumos for my F150, Good in rain and snow, quiet on dry pavement. Tires are rated to 50,000 miles but CR says they should be rated at 70,000. Price was a lot less than the Michelins that the truck came with, and my local garage handles all the work at a lot lower hourly rate than a dealership.

 

[VaTom]

Thanks for all the replies. I have a local independent garage that specializes in Chrysler Products and Jeeps. They keep my 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan on the road. Last year they put a set of Laufenn G-Fit AS tires on it. Really pleased with them. Made by Hankook tire and the brand debuted at the SEMA Show in 2017. My garage guy said every set he has installed the customers have been happy. Unfortunately the Toyota Sienna has 235-55/18 tires and the G-Fit AS isn't made in that size.

Anyone looking for a mid price tire should check out the Laufenn brand.

 

[Old TexMex]

I like Discount Tires. The service over the years has been excellent, and after the hurricane, they did tons of repair and even tire replacement for FREE. Excellent operation in my experience.

 

[TX-Dennis]

I'll agree with those that recommend Discount Tire. Despite the name, they aren't any less expensive than other tire stores, but their service is top notch. I just replaced my tires there today with a set of Cooper CS5 Grand Touring tires. My last two sets were Continental Pro Contact (OEM on my Escape). They were good tires, but both sets had a tire that developed a slow leak and had to be aired up weekly. The most recent set had two like that, so I decided it was time for a change.

The Coopers have good reviews, and are priced about the same as the Continentals were. I had about 45,000 on the last set, and they would have gone another 5000 or so, but I just decided it was time. Riding around town on them today running errands my first impression is that they are quiet and ride and handle very similarly to the Continentals. That's a good thing.

 

[michael1000]

our honda cr-v rolls quite well on continentals. i usually buy local, but the info on tire rack is very good for comparison shopping. this winter i wanted goodyears, but they weren't available, so i chose pirelli, which did well through the snowy weather. if tire noise is a problem for you, my recommendation is continentals.

 

[wnderr]

It is really hard to beat Michellin's top of the line. Amazing tires, car or truck!

I like to trade at a national retailer, so I know I won't have any warranty issues, wherever I happen to be.

 

[Chukar60]

WE only have pickups at our house. I drive an F350 diesel and the wife drives and Older Ford Raptor.
Had to tire both trucks early last year.
I have been riding on Cooper AT’s for several years and this year went 9th the ST MAX. So far a very good tire.
Wife switched to the Cooper AT’s on her truck and it improved the ride from the usual meaty, beaty, big and bouncey tires you see on Raptors.
I have always gotten very good wear out of the Coopers.

 

[oneounceload]

Both Sam's Club and Costco have great tires at very good pricing AND a nationwide service plan. None of those piddly extras that end up adding another $20 per tire, free rotation forever, etc.