Car tires (summer)

mxs

mxs

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I figured that before I get gouged buying locally (I did a couple of times before) I ask whether there's alternative. I normally don't care if the difference in local/internet pricing is not more than 30% ... but I have a feeling that this one is in the territory "you better ask first".

I am shopping for a set of decent summer tires (205/45/17). Good handling, good wet performance and decent treadwear (I will be OK with 30K) and noise. I figured that something like this ... for a set of 4, should not be more than $650 all-in installed locally ... I did some googling and like Falken Ziex ZE-912 (http://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Reviews/Falken/Ziex+ZE-912). the tire goes for not more than 100USD per. I called around and Kal Tire quoted me $928 all-in ..... my understanding is that this is not a premier tire ... Kal built in $70 for install, but that still leaves a huge difference.

Is there any on-line store in Canada who would ship tires ... I could not find any with this tire or a good selection to start with. Is this worth pursuing or just rather pony up and pay a lot more than I thought originally (I don't want to settle for a completely cheap cheap tire).

Any summer tire recommendation in that size?
 
Tirerack
 
I know, but they ship from US to US, no? I am not looking to go across the border to pick up tires ... to lazy for that. I want them shipped to my door.

Plus Tirerack doesn't carry Falken brand I believe, at least I didn't see it.
 
mxs said:
I know, but they ship from US to US, no? I am not looking to go across the border to pick up tires ... to lazy for that. I want them shipped to my door.

Plus Tirerack doesn't carry Falken brand I believe, at least I didn't see it.
Click to expand...
You can ship them to a shop there & install it there. Most of the reviews from customers of the site is dead-on.
 
Bought my last set at Kipling tire. Did tonnes of shopping around.

In the end they were around $10 cheaper on the car compared to: Tirerack, shipping to Buffalo, mounting in Buffalo, exchange rate, dodging HST at the bridge (not claiming them).

Factor in gas, bridge toll, time and getting dinged for HST at the bridge they hit it out of the park. So online is not always cheaper.
 
Ive used this site a few times. www.discounttiredirect.com

They offer free shipping to Canada, and they have all boarder fees pre paid when you order online. The type of tires I got from them for my mustang saved me a couple hundred $$ compared to buying locally.
 
Try these guys based out of Montreal, they carry Falken too.

Ordered winter tires from them last November, and at the time, they were the cheapest I could find in Canada.

My local Kal dealer installed them for dirt cheap.

quattrotires.com
 
The Tire Guys in Cambridge.
Last yr they bought whole containers of Dunlops and Contis.
I have winters, so I didn't need all seasons. I called about true summer tires, a few that I had researched and decided they had good reviews.
I would have preferred Conti Eco-Contacts but they didn't have them in the right size, so I got 4 Dunlop Efficient Grips, installed and ballanced (215/55/16) for wife's Volvo for $440 + tax. Less than half of retail anywhere else. The date tags on them were 2 yrs old, but I figure I generally have tires on cars for many yrs anyways, so I wasn't bothered by that. I have been quite happy with them- quiet, smooth, and work pretty god in the rain. No visible wear after 20,000 kms so far.
 
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Thanks for the tips.

Looks like the Falken tire I wanted is discontinued and the one summer/all season replacing it is just too much on the snow wet side. I need rather real summer tire.

Anyone heard of this GTRadial brand?? ... Chinese/Indonesian brand ... my tire guy is telling me that they are building factory in US and are already huge in Europe, as well as do ton of OEM tire work for all the big guns car makers.

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/d....do&fl=&pc=12352&counter=0&ar=45&rd=17&cs=205

My tire guy can install them for $580 all-in.
 
I don't think I would use that tire on my wheelbarel never mind my car. I assume if you want a summer tire you want it for performance, or is it just for the look? I know far too many people who have gone the chinese off brand route and got exactly what they paid for! Just even spot checking reviews on those ones there are a lot of good at first, total carp after a year.

If it was my choice, I would spend a little more and go with something like this http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...GFSPC2XL&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

You might spend a 100 or more extra but you will have a decent proven performance tire. Crappy tire list is 644, in my experience shopping around to local guys you can get that on the car (give or take a little). Also check to see if they have any rebates, I got 70 back on the last set of BFGs I bought.

Quick calc on the BFGs you are looking at around 600 on the car in canadian funds (ship to buffalo, install in buffalo) drive back, donèt declare.
 
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mxs said:
I figured that before I get gouged buying locally (I did a couple of times before) I ask whether there's alternative. I normally don't care if the difference in local/internet pricing is not more than 30% ... but I have a feeling that this one is in the territory "you better ask first".

I am shopping for a set of decent summer tires (205/45/17). Good handling, good wet performance and decent treadwear (I will be OK with 30K) and noise. I figured that something like this ... for a set of 4, should not be more than $650 all-in installed locally ... I did some googling and like Falken Ziex ZE-912 (http://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Reviews/Falken/Ziex+ZE-912). the tire goes for not more than 100USD per. I called around and Kal Tire quoted me $928 all-in ..... my understanding is that this is not a premier tire ... Kal built in $70 for install, but that still leaves a huge difference.

Is there any on-line store in Canada who would ship tires ... I could not find any with this tire or a good selection to start with. Is this worth pursuing or just rather pony up and pay a lot more than I thought originally (I don't want to settle for a completely cheap cheap tire).

Any summer tire recommendation in that size?
Click to expand...
I don't see that model in the size you need. The one they have for Falken is the ZE-950.
Also dunno why you'd consider an all-season tire for summer use. If it happens to snow at a really weird time of year, it won't stay around for long and the A/S performance tires won't do you much better anyways.
I'd look at something like this http://www.1010tires.com/Tires/Hankook/Ventus+V12+evo2+(K120)/1015410
 
Love my Continential DW tires. (not DWS).
Will get great mileage (search on tirerack's reviews, and sort by the reviewers with highest mileage). All tires give great feedback in the first 30,000km's, you'll start to see the bad ones towards the end.

My DW tires are great. Priced as an average tire, but grip is only a few rungs down from the premier ultra-summer tires. Their call to glory is the quiet ride, great ride quality (235/50/17), and they will be half decent in the rain at the end of their treadlife. (should be near their end at 40k-50k miles)
 
mxs said:
Thanks for the tips.

Looks like the Falken tire I wanted is discontinued and the one summer/all season replacing it is just too much on the snow wet side. I need rather real summer tire.

Anyone heard of this GTRadial brand?? ... Chinese/Indonesian brand ... my tire guy is telling me that they are building factory in US and are already huge in Europe, as well as do ton of OEM tire work for all the big guns car makers.

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/d....do&fl=&pc=12352&counter=0&ar=45&rd=17&cs=205

My tire guy can install them for $580 all-in.
Click to expand...

I had GT Radial snows on my work van.....Best snow and ice traction I have ever experienced, and great price- $740 all in, for 16" E rated 10 ply tires for a 3500 series van....and the noisiest tire in existence-I took the van in twice for wheel bearings, and the bearings were fine. Come spring, re-installed my Michelin All Seasons, and noise was gone. I never put the GT Radials back on and sold them as used one season.

Of course that is snows, and not related to your question directly- but that's my only experience with that manufacturer.
 
Thanks for the feedback ... Seems like my guy has tire which I like .... Basically made by one of Continental euro factories called Barum ... I have their winter tires and it's a great value. The summers will 500 bucks installed.
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