"C. E. White" <cewhite3@removemindspring.com> wrote in message
news:43417f5f_4@news1.prserv.net...

> Sounds like a good plan. But what do you use for your source of
information?
> I really don't trust Consumer Reports (I clearly have different agenda
than
> CR when it comes to most things, particularly automitive related items).
The
> Tire Rack ratings are interesting, but it seems to me that the ratings are
> little more than personal opinion based on a limited frame of reference
(how
> many people actually have driven more than a couple of the tires in any
> category)?
>
> One more thought comes to mind. Maybe Michelin tires are as good as they
> ever were and it is the roads that are crap. It seems like the roads
around
> here are much worse than even 5 years ago.
>
> Ed

I have researched tires on a lot of different sites, including the Tire
Rack.

Like you, CR doesn't assure me with its credibility.

I talk to the people at Discount Tires and ask their opinions, but don't
take their recommendations as gospel. Have a local tire dealer here whom I
know
personally, and usually get good feedback from him. He hears all the
complaints,
comebacks, etc.

If I had to make the decision tomorrow, I would go straight back to
Michelin, without
hesitation. (And hope I am not sorry later.)

 

Ed White

I'd like to give FIrestones another try but I think I'll have to wait
for a lot more positive feedback. I have a long history of bad
FIrestones -

- Grand Prix Radials (Private Label Firestone 500's) on a Datsun 280Z -
Seperated belt. Recalled after I had dumped them.
- Firestone 721 Radials on Ford Fairmont - recalled but they were so
horrible I had already replaced them before they had 15,000 miles
- European Firestones on an Audi Coupe - Sidewall blew out on one for
no apparent reason (replaced under warranty). The d#$@ tires picked up
nails like a magnet.
- Firestone tires on an F150 - another set of nail magnets. I replaced
them before 15,000 miles
- Firestone Wilderness ATs on a Ford Ranger - recalled, but all four
had already been replaced (again before 15,000 miles. 3 of the 4
actually had the tread split (not seperate) in the middle of the tire.
They just could not handle gravel roads.
- Bridgestones on a Mazada 626 - rode like iron, wore like peanut
butter, griped like leather soles on glare ice. At least they didn't
last very long.
- Bridgestones on a Saturn Vue - good tires. I would consider buying
them again

1 for 7 is not good odds. Maybe if I see more positive feedback like
yours, I'll consider Firestones again. I wold like to support a company
that actully has a factory in my home state (Firestone has a tire plant
near Wilson, NC).

Ed

C. E. White

"C. E. White" <cewhite3@removemindspring.com> wrote in message
news:4341282b_3@news1.prserv.net...

> So I guess the question is - Are Michelin still my best non-brainer option
> for tires, or should I look elsewhere? And if I look elsewhere for my next
> tire purchase (probably new tires for the Thunderbird), where should I
> look?
> I will not buy Firestone tires (and because of guilt by association - no
> Bridgestones either) no matter what rating may say (burn me once, shame on
> you, burn me three or four times, damn I must be stupid).

Well wouldn't you know it...after asking about tires I suddenly find that I
need a set for my Vue. The Vue tires are a somewhat odd size - 235/65-16. My
options are limited

Avon CR227
Avon CR227
Bridgestone Turanza EL42
Goodyear Eagle GA
Goodyear Eagle GA
Michelin Energy LX4
Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50
Avon Ranger TSE
Bridgestone Dueler H/T D684
Bridgestone Dueler H/T D684 II
Bridgestone Dueler H/T D684 II

The vehicle came with Bridgestones and I have no complaints about them.
However, the Michelins are cheaper if I get them from Tire Rack, The
Goodyears are hideously expensive, so they aren't an option. I've never
heard of Avon tires and hesitate to take a chance on them. That only leaves
the Michelins and the Bridgestones. Any thoughts on which would be best? In
the Tire Rack Ratings, the Michelins are the best (and the cheapest). So is
the decision really as simple as it seems?

Ed

Shoe Salesman

"C. E. White" <cewhite@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:IaH0f.10265$q1.9864@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net...
>
> "C. E. White" <cewhite3@removemindspring.com> wrote in message
> news:4341282b_3@news1.prserv.net...
>
>> So I guess the question is - Are Michelin still my best non-brainer
>> option
>> for tires, or should I look elsewhere? And if I look elsewhere for my
>> next
>> tire purchase (probably new tires for the Thunderbird), where should I
>> look?
>> I will not buy Firestone tires (and because of guilt by association - no
>> Bridgestones either) no matter what rating may say (burn me once, shame
>> on
>> you, burn me three or four times, damn I must be stupid).
>
> Well wouldn't you know it...after asking about tires I suddenly find that
> I need a set for my Vue. The Vue tires are a somewhat odd size -
> 235/65-16. My options are limited
>
> Avon CR227
> Avon CR227
> Bridgestone Turanza EL42
> Goodyear Eagle GA
> Goodyear Eagle GA
> Michelin Energy LX4
> Bridgestone Blizzak WS-50
> Avon Ranger TSE
> Bridgestone Dueler H/T D684
> Bridgestone Dueler H/T D684 II
> Bridgestone Dueler H/T D684 II
>
> The vehicle came with Bridgestones and I have no complaints about them.
> However, the Michelins are cheaper if I get them from Tire Rack, The
> Goodyears are hideously expensive, so they aren't an option. I've never
> heard of Avon tires and hesitate to take a chance on them. That only
> leaves the Michelins and the Bridgestones. Any thoughts on which would be
> best? In the Tire Rack Ratings, the Michelins are the best (and the
> cheapest). So is the decision really as simple as it seems?
>
> Ed

You could go with a 235/70-16, I bet that size will give you ALOT more
options. And, its just slightly taller.

C. E. White

"Shoe Salesman" <someone@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:knI0f.21$k77.0@tornado.socal.rr.com...
> > The vehicle came with Bridgestones and I have no complaints about them.
> > However, the Michelins are cheaper if I get them from Tire Rack, The
> > Goodyears are hideously expensive, so they aren't an option. I've never
> > heard of Avon tires and hesitate to take a chance on them. That only
> > leaves the Michelins and the Bridgestones. Any thoughts on which would
be
> > best? In the Tire Rack Ratings, the Michelins are the best (and the
> > cheapest). So is the decision really as simple as it seems?
> >
> > Ed
>
> You could go with a 235/70-16, I bet that size will give you ALOT more
> options. And, its just slightly taller.

Well after checking local prices, going with the 235/65-16 Michelins LX4s
from Tire Rack was a no-brainer. Michelins from Tire Rack including shipping
are $312. They'll ship them directly to a local installer, who will put them
on for another $44.Total cost $356. A local retail store's out the door
price for 4 Michelin of the same size and type was $710 (i.e., twice as
much). Next best local option was 4 BFGs 235/70-16s from Sam's Club, but
that would have been $515. What I don't understand is that the store that
wanted $710 is always very busy. I've used them in the past to have tires
repaired and balanced and they are nice guys. I just can't imagine paying
them twice as much.

Ed

Ed

Sarge

You may want to consider plus sizing to give you more options.

Here is a link to what different sizes will do to your speedometer.
http://www.net-comber.com/tirecalc.html

Sarge

*

C. E. White <cewhite3@removemindspring.com> wrote in article
<4343d0b9_3@news1.prserv.net>...
>
>
> Well after checking local prices, going with the 235/65-16 Michelins LX4s
> from Tire Rack was a no-brainer. Michelins from Tire Rack including
shipping
> are $312. They'll ship them directly to a local installer, who will put
them
> on for another $44.Total cost $356. A local retail store's out the door
> price for 4 Michelin of the same size and type was $710 (i.e., twice as
> much). Next best local option was 4 BFGs 235/70-16s from Sam's Club, but
> that would have been $515. What I don't understand is that the store that
> wanted $710 is always very busy. I've used them in the past to have tires
> repaired and balanced and they are nice guys. I just can't imagine paying
> them twice as much.
>


I can't understand the abject fascination that Tire Rack commands. I guess
it's sort of like E-BAY.....it's e-shopping, therefore it is, somehow,
better.

Shop around a bit more, and I will bet you can find the same tire locally
at a much better price than the one retailer you cited.

Here's my example on a pair of 245/60X15, BFG Radial T/A

• Tire Rack -

$72.00 each + $24.05 s&h (Delaware warehouse to Maine zip code) for a total
of $168/Page Ranking OR a cost-to-me of $84 per tire.

A week or so for delivery.

Making sure someone is home for the UPS guy.



• Tire Warehouse - a local chain/franchise-

$86.00 each - $2 per tire MORE than Tire Rack.

Order today....pick up at store anytime during the day tomorrow morning.

No s&h.

ALSO - Tire Warehouse is local if there is a problem with the tire -
although I have never had a problem with the BFG Radial T/As in more than
20 years of using them on-road and on-track.

ALSO - Tire Warehouse allows me to return two junk tires for every tire I
buy.

What do you do with old tires when you buy from Tire Rack ???

.....UPS them back???

.....pay an additional $5-or-more per tire to have them disposed of???
(which would, by the way, increase the tire's cost-to-me to $89 per tire)

It simply isn't worth worth saving a measely $2-per-tire to deal with ANY
mail order concern...

Steve

* wrote:


>
> I can't understand the abject fascination that Tire Rack commands. I guess
> it's sort of like E-BAY.....it's e-shopping, therefore it is, somehow,
> better.

Well, they're certainly a driving force in lowering tire prices. I've
never bought from them, but I'm sure glad they're out there!

>
> Shop around a bit more, and I will bet you can find the same tire locally
> at a much better price than the one retailer you cited.
>

Or TELL the local retailer what the Tire Rack price is. Bring a
printout. Odds are, they'll match the price.


>
> What do you do with old tires when you buy from Tire Rack ???
>
> ....UPS them back???
>
> ....pay an additional $5-or-more per tire to have them disposed of???
> (which would, by the way, increase the tire's cost-to-me to $89 per tire)

No, you just leave them with the installer, who then sends them off for
recycling.

C. E. White

"*" <nospam@this.addy.com> wrote in message
news:01c5cb42$1480e9c0$b7a5c3d8@race...


> I can't understand the abject fascination that Tire Rack commands. I guess
> it's sort of like E-BAY.....it's e-shopping, therefore it is, somehow,
> better.

No, I'd really rather buy locally , but not a twice the cost.

> Shop around a bit more, and I will bet you can find the same tire locally
> at a much better price than the one retailer you cited.

Actually I tried four different local places. I usually use Sam's Club. They
could not order a tire that they were also willing to install on my Vue.
They would order me four tires of a slightly different size, but since they
were not listed for the vehicle, they would not install them. And even then
they were $30 more per tire than TireRack (for a lower quality tire in my
opinion).

> Here's my example on a pair of 245/60X15, BFG Radial T/A
>
> . Tire Rack -
>
> $72.00 each + $24.05 s&h (Delaware warehouse to Maine zip code) for a
total
> of $168/Page Ranking OR a cost-to-me of $84 per tire.

I am only paying $312 for four Michelin 235/65R16 Tires including shipping
and handling. $78 a tire. None of the local stores that handled Michelin
were even close. Plus I don't have to pay sales tax on a tire coming from
Delaware (at least not yet). In NC this would have been another $5.50 per
tire even if they only cost $78.

> A week or so for delivery.

2 Days for delivery in my case (NC).

> Making sure someone is home for the UPS guy.

They are shipping directly to the installer, so I don't have to me home. But
even if I did have them ship them to my home address, I'd just tell UPS to
hold for pick-up. There warehouse is 2 miles from where I live.

> . Tire Warehouse - a local chain/franchise-
>
> $86.00 each - $2 per tire MORE than Tire Rack.
>
> Order today....pick up at store anytime during the day tomorrow morning.
>
> No s&h.
>
> ALSO - Tire Warehouse is local if there is a problem with the tire -
> although I have never had a problem with the BFG Radial T/As in more than
> 20 years of using them on-road and on-track.
>
> ALSO - Tire Warehouse allows me to return two junk tires for every tire I
> buy.
>
> What do you do with old tires when you buy from Tire Rack ???

The installer keeps them ($1 per tire). However, as an individual I could
take them to the county dump for free.

> ....UPS them back???

To the dump with them, if necessary, which it is not.

> ....pay an additional $5-or-more per tire to have them disposed of???
> (which would, by the way, increase the tire's cost-to-me to $89 per tire)

My installer only charges $1 per tire for disposal.

> It simply isn't worth saving a measly $2-per-tire to deal with ANY
> mail order concern...

Well I agree with you if it is only $2 per tire. In fact, if Sam's Club
could have installed the tires, I would have been willing to pay $12 more
per tire (for Road Hazard and free rotate and balance). However, in my case
the savings was over $75 per tire compared to local prices for the exact
same tires. I know this was a special deal, since TireRack had the Michelins
at an incredibly low price, but that seems to happen regularly.

Regards,

Ed White

C. E. White

"Steve" <no@spam.thanks> wrote in message
news:BMGdnYLwBuW9GNveRVn-vQ@texas.net...

> Or TELL the local retailer what the Tire Rack price is. Bring a
> printout. Odds are, they'll match the price.

Well in my case, they just laughed at me. Then they told me the TireRack
tires must be defective, or blems, or the price was a misprint or.........
And I don't really like to play that game. I prefer to reward businesses
that offer me good prices the first time. When buying a car, I always hate
it when the salesman tells me to come back before I buy a car, because
they'll "beat anyone else's price. I always just tell them, "But you told me
this was your best price. Were you lying." This usually pisses them off.
Which is fine with me.

Ed.