On 7/9/2016 3:36 AM, Chuck Norcutt wrote:
Thanks, all. I've learned some things here about tires that I should
avoid.
And I've learned to be happy that we have a 21 and a 20 year old car,
both of which take standard sizes of 70 series tires. The MB/RAM van
conversion, of course, takes standard size Light Truck tires.
And all three vehicles sport almost new rubber to brand new (less than
five miles).
An almost new tire on Carol's car went flat and damaged the sidewall.
Although not covered by a road hazard warranty, the shop we bought them
from replaced with new for $50, out the door.
One thing that has developed here is web tire buying. Particularly
useful in Calif. without the 10%-ish combination of state and local
sales taxes.
They have a list of local tire shops, with guaranteed listed rates for
mount, balance, service pressure senders, etc.
Order and pay on-line and select a local tire shop. The shop received
the tires the next day and notified me. I made an appointment. When I
went in, the shop order was pre-filled in. I added a smog check, signed,
came back when they called and picked it up at exactly the two hours
promised. Entirely painless and I saved $140 over the best price I could
find for buying everything locally.
The trick is that they have their warehouse just over the border in
Nevada, have no bricks and mortar presence in CA, and have delivery made
by an unaffiliated carrier - and thus pay no warehouse inventory tax and
don't have to collect CA sales tax. I'd guess that accounts for ~$100
and large volume buying power for the other $40.
Well Shod Moose