Saved $80 on a TV, ended up needing $700 in tires...

[carajo]

Saturday, I arrived at BJ's (like Costco or Sam's Club) to get a new TV, and my mom noticed my rear passenger side tire was quite flattish. After buying the TV, went over to their tire dudes to get some air. Well, it was coming out as fast as it was going in. They took the wheel off to see if they could fix the tire, but deemed it irreparable. I was trying to squeak a few more months out of them, so I'm just getting a new set. I've got an appointment on Friday morning. I'm getting Pirelli PZero Nero's.

Compared to the front tire, the size of the sidewall is similar, making it not look so odd as most donuts:

 

[ScratchNSniff]

$700...did you get them price matched...how much are you paying per...

 

[carajo]

$700...did you get them price matched...how much are you paying per...

160 including mounting and balancing. Sales tax will put it up around 700 total. And then there's the NYS new tire fee, and disposal fee, and "nobody will pass this if we call it a tax" fee, and who knows what else.

They were 120 on Tirerack. I don't know what shipping is from them. But I'd still have to have them mounted, balanced, and pay all the taxes and fees. I've been going to this place since before I could drive.

 

[ScratchNSniff]

I bought some from Discount tire and had them price match, but they dropped the price to $105...cost me about $440 when it was all done...that is why I asked...

 

[carajo]

I bought some from Discount tire and had them price match, but they dropped the price to $105...cost me about $440 when it was all done...that is why I asked...

What size? BJ's (which is actually Monroe people) couldn't even get them in 215/45r18's. My tire dudes gave me an option of General Exclaims(?) - $149 a piece - and I asked about the Pirellis because I had read reviews of people with them on the MS6.

 

[ScratchNSniff]

215-35-18's...on the P5 I cannot go any bigger height wise...we are limited to that size only...

 

[mysleeper6]

I run General Exclaim UHP 225/40/R18 on RX-8 wheels as my 3 season set up (I go back to the stock wheels and Kumho Ecsta All-Season tires for winter). $95 per on tirerack, second highest rated UHP (summer ultra high performance) tire. Since you are in upstate NY, I don't know how much value that info is to you, but I've been very happy with them. As far as size goes, a little flexibility gives you more choices. 225/40 is just a little lower sidewall than 215/45 (6.75 mm) and, in my opinion, looks better on the car.

 

[tunersteve]

I run General Exclaim UHP 225/40/R18 on RX-8 wheels as my 3 season set up (I go back to the stock wheels and Kumho Ecsta All-Season tires for winter). $95 per on tirerack, second highest rated UHP (summer ultra high performance) tire. Since you are in upstate NY, I don't know how much value that info is to you, but I've been very happy with them. As far as size goes, a little flexibility gives you more choices. 225/40 is just a little lower sidewall than 215/45 (6.75 mm) and, in my opinion, looks better on the car.

Not to mention they end up cheaper. I walked out with a set of 225/45/18 Pirelli Pzero Nero M&S from a dealer for a little over $600.

 

[carajo]

Not to mention they end up cheaper. I walked out with a set of 225/45/18 Pirelli Pzero Nero M&S from a dealer for a little over $600.

Those are showing as $158 on tirerack. And I'd have to save a lot more than $100 to go to a dealer - my tire place rotates my tires for free, as opposed to $25 at the dealership.

 

[mysleeper6]

I think tunersteve meant a tire dealer.

 

[tunersteve]

It was actually a Pontiac/GMC dealer that a local guy works at. They ran a special on those tires and I picked up a set after the RE050As wore out. Still have them and really like the way they drive.

 

[mysleeper6]

Alrighty, then. My bad.

But, in any event, you should expand your search to include 225/40. And even if you don't buy from tirerack, its a great resource for information and user reviews on tires.

 

[carajo]

I went with the Pirellis because they were discussed in the tire review thread. I had Kumho ECSTA's on my Mercury Cougar and they were fantastic, but when I put them on my Mazda6s, they were crap. What goes well on one car doesn't necessarily go well on another car. Even if they were made in the same factory.

I ended up paying about $690. $155.60 per tire plus taxes and fees. They'll rotate them for free as long as I have the car. And they advised that I "rotate the crap out of them" - told me to bring it in whenever I want for rotations.

Now I have to go back next week for an alignment. I forgot to ask them about it when I brought the car in. Driving under 50 all week, I had forgotten about it. But with the new tires on, pulling to the right, and over 60 and it started vibrating. I've got a rental car for work 3 days this week, so it shouldn't mess up the tires too bad driving for a week like this on non-highway.

 

[MR_X]

I found out that 235/40-18 was cheaper than the other option size we have. I ordered 4 Hankook Ventus R-S2 XL from Tire Rack. Came to $400 delivered to my door + $80 for mounting and balance at my local dealer. I'm very pleased with this tires and I will definitely use them again.

 

[mysleeper6]

I found out that 235/40-18 was cheaper than the other option size we have.

Any rubbing? Are you rolled? What width wheel? (Sorry, I just realized this is what my kids do to me all day. Question after question after...)

 

[MR_X]

No rubbing not rolled on stock wheels and stock suspension.