buying tires should be fun!

[spindleshanks]

hey there peoples;
I'm beginning tire research again and am completely disgusted with the results so far. I've been quoted ridiculous prices by the major tire installers plus $12 per tire installation. I'm ferking offended. So what are my options for tires?

--Tire Rack sells the tires cheapest I've found, even with $100 shipping factored in. I may be able to m&b them for a case of beer at a shop I know.
--Big-O and Discount are within pennies of each other, highly overpriced, with $12 per tire install fee and attempting to justify the price with lifetime balancing and flat repairs. Unacceptable
-Sam's Club...haven't pursued this option yet. Worth looking into?
-Local independent tire shop: offered me LIST PRICE AND $12 each installed...fucking ridiculous!

So, have I missed any sources? Where has everybody else been able to beat the racket?

[mrbigbri]

Linked in from the main page.... in my area, you can't get much better than Sam's Club or Costco. They do a good install too.

[hammerdown]

first off.....buying tires sucks balls....second, theres no way to really beat the racket.

if you skimp in one place, itll bite ya in another. what tires are you looking for? it sounds like you picked but are trying to find a place to buy.

here's my experience: i bought bfg m/t's at america's tire (discount tire elsewhere) with the no hassle warranty. at time of purchase, it was the lowest price i found anywhere (save for Tire Rack online). I paid $770 for 4 265/75/16's on stock rims. this was in Jan 2003. I have trashed at least 8 tires on trails and road debris since. it takes less than a half hour to drop off my truck, get a new tire, and be on my way. the replacement tire is free, and i pay for a new warranty* plus stem/valve. maybe $34. so in the last 4&half years, ive gotten a lot for a little. and these tires werent trashed cuz they were cheap quality, i wheel hard. to me...the convenience, customer service, and peace of mind is worth the extra couple bucks i may pay over the internet prices.

*im curious why i have to buy an individual warranty for each tire...what if i only buy two warranties? do they know which tires its good for?

[RedRunnertc]

Discount Tire, plus their roadhazard is unbeatable (and I recommend getting roadhazard for the way we use our trucks!)

If you can get the M&B done for free/cheap though, TireRack is gonna be hard to beat ...

For the balancing, look at using sticky weights instead of rim weights. Rim weights just get torn off 'wheeling!

[Lysmachia]

Yeah next time I get tires I am doing Discount for the warrany As I have already gone through 2 of mine! Oh and sticky weights ROCK!

[Jacket]

I bought mine from Big O in Louisville a couple months ago, and the price was within $10 of Tire Rack's for a set of 4 BFG's. I had to pay the extra $50 to mount and balance, but it was the best price I found locally, and the guys in there are pretty cool.

In the past I had always gone to Discount tire, and probably went to Big O this time because it was more convenient. But I'll definitely go back again. They also offer the lifetime replacement warranty for extra $$.

Did you ask for a quote on paper? If you do that, they know that you are shopping around and they should offer you the best price they can. At least that was my experience.

- matt

[spindleshanks]

Thanks Jacket, I think you're right. What I'm looking for is the best deal they can offer. When I stay in a hotel (at least a couple times a week for work) they always give me their shittiest price first, then I talk them down by 20, 30 bucks depending on the confidence of the employee behind the counter. So I think you're right. If I get the quote in writing it will tend to be more competitive. They tend to give you the most profitable (list) price at first, especially if you call on the phone.
It's all a fucking game man.

[DriftinCO]

I get all my tires at Rex Tire in Colorado Springs. These guys are local, reliable, family owned business that call their regular customers by first name when they walk in the door.

[Dailydriver2]

Craigslist. You can find like new tires for half price.

[RedRunnertc]

Originally Posted by Dailydriver2

Craigslist. You can find like new tires for half price.

and sometimes, if you're selling tires, you will find people to buy them who actually bring money to the meet, right?

[fjcruzer]

http://www.4wheelparts.com/CT13.aspx

http://www.4wd.com/categories.aspx?cid=25

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di..._campaign=2007

http://www.4wheelonline.com/Categori...?Categoryid=25

No tax for online orders, sometimes also free shipping. Sometimes M&B is free when purchased locally. Warranty usually available either way, but getting it honored from an online company might be fun.

[colorado125]

Originally Posted by RedRunnertc

and sometimes, if you're selling tires, you will find people to buy them who actually bring money to the meet, right?

Now that was just wrong. Friggen dicks couldn't come up with $35.

[spindleshanks]

Holy shite, 4wheelonline has "buy 3 get 1 free" on all ProComps!

**edit** But it's all such a scam. "Buy 3 get one" is only $15 bucks cheaper than paying full price for 4 at 4Wheel Hardware. These bastards are so slippery with the numbers!

[Dailydriver2]

Originally Posted by RedRunnertc

and sometimes, if you're selling tires, you will find people to buy them who actually bring money to the meet, right?

If you steal their wallet.

[fjcruzer]

Originally Posted by spindleshanks

Holy shite, 4wheelonline has "buy 3 get 1 free" on all ProComps!

**edit** But it's all such a scam. "Buy 3 get one" is only $15 bucks cheaper than paying full price for 4 at 4Wheel Hardware. These bastards are so slippery with the numbers!

Yup, it's all about timing. If you're lucky you can catch one of them on free shipping day

[spindleshanks]

I'm still debating on size and brand anyway. just a pipe dream at this point. The problem is that I actually have the money to spend.....
How 'bout I hijack my own thread here:
Lookin for a roughly 33" tire to put on my stock rims, without rubbing. I have 4.75" lift overall, plenty of wheelwell. I'm afraid the 255/85-16 will be too tall (Expeditions West runs 'em on their DC and says it's 1.3" taller than a 285/75-16) and narrow. It's roughly a 33.3x10.5 Being that much taller, I'm concerned with the possible need to regear as well.
But I'm concerned the 285/75-16 will be too wide. It's roughly 33x11.5.
Both of those tire sizes may rub on the frame with the stock wheels' backspacing.
I'm open to suggestions!

[Jacket]

Originally Posted by spindleshanks

I'm still debating on size and brand anyway. just a pipe dream at this point. The problem is that I actually have the money to spend.....
How 'bout I hijack my own thread here:
Lookin for a roughly 33" tire to put on my stock rims, without rubbing. I have 4.75" lift overall, plenty of wheelwell. I'm afraid the 255/85-16 will be too tall (Expeditions West runs 'em on their DC and says it's 1.3" taller than a 285/75-16) and narrow. It's roughly a 33.3x10.5 Being that much taller, I'm concerned with the possible need to regear as well.
But I'm concerned the 285/75-16 will be too wide. It's roughly 33x11.5.
Both of those tire sizes may rub on the frame with the stock wheels' backspacing.
I'm open to suggestions!

Yea - there's a couple of guys on ExPo running 255/85 on the previous gen Tacoma - flyingwil has them as well I think. Seems doable, especially with almost 5" of lift.

I've got 285/75/16 BFG's, which as you say are about 32.8x11.5 - a bit smaller in diameter compared with the 255/85. I'd be happy to help you with a "test fit", but I'm not running stock rims (for the same reasons/concerns about rubbing). My rims are 16x8 with 4.5" of BS, and keep the tire clear of the UCA on my gen truck. I still rub the fender plastic, even though I've trimmed quite a bit. Once I get a new bumper I should be in much better shape.

I've also got a complete 2nd set of used, unmounted BFG KO's in my garage - 285/75/16. I plan on mounting 1 on my spare steelie this week, and Prodigy has dibs on one for a spare, but the other 2 are just sitting unmounted. So if you wanted to try something out in the 285 size, and had a means to get these mounted temporarily for a test fit, let me know and we can try and work something out.

- matt

[RedRunnertc]

That 1" more width causes FAR more problems than the 1" of diameter, and there's no benefit to it, where the larger diamater keeps your diffs out of the rocks.

Go with the 255/85 on your stock rims, save a ton of money by not having to buy new rims (285 you should really have 8" rims).

Is your Tacoma, white a V6 or 4cyl?

[fjcruzer]

Originally Posted by spindleshanks

I'm still debating on size and brand anyway. just a pipe dream at this point. The problem is that I actually have the money to spend.....
How 'bout I hijack my own thread here:
Lookin for a roughly 33" tire to put on my stock rims, without rubbing. I have 4.75" lift overall, plenty of wheelwell. I'm afraid the 255/85-16 will be too tall (Expeditions West runs 'em on their DC and says it's 1.3" taller than a 285/75-16) and narrow. It's roughly a 33.3x10.5 Being that much taller, I'm concerned with the possible need to regear as well.
But I'm concerned the 285/75-16 will be too wide. It's roughly 33x11.5.
Both of those tire sizes may rub on the frame with the stock wheels' backspacing.
I'm open to suggestions!

I'm running the 255/85R16's on my FJ with 2.5" lift with a little rub on the body mount. No problem with the gearing, but I'm up to the 4.0 liter V6. I love the narrow tire patch for maneuverability, traction and less gas-guzzling friction. The ride is also much better with the stiffer suspension (OME 886/896)

[colorado125]

Originally Posted by RedRunnertc

Is your Tacoma, white a V6 or 4cyl?

Troy, Jeremeys truck is a 3.4 V6 TRD 5speed.

My brother had 285's on his Dcab before he got rid of it on stock rims with 2.5-2.75" of lift with coilovers. He rubed his arms some and his frame. I think it may have rubbed a bit of his inner fender on flexing also. Dont recall.

[RedRunnertc]

Originally Posted by colorado125

Troy, Jeremeys truck is a 3.4 V6 TRD 5speed.

That's what I thought - so does that mean 4.30's or 4.10's? Sorry - don't know all the Tacoma specifics.

Regardless, I would think you would be PLENTY fine with a V6 ... bastards actually make power, unlike mine.

[Jacket]

It will also depend on what kind of tire you are looking for. The 255/85 selection is pretty limited, and is mostly the MT variety.

Wider tires do give the benefit of more surface contact with the road. Good if your truck is also a daily driver.

[RedRunnertc]

I would argue the extra inch (at the most) doesn't provide a significant difference. And if it does, it has to be offset by increased rolling resistance and potentially greater risk of hydroplaning.

Seriously, for the relatively light weight of our trucks, unless you're going to lift to the sky so you can go REALLY wide (15.5" or wider), there isn't any benefit in going wider than 10.5". You will gain increased flotation, sure, but IMHO not enough to get you on top - just enough to keep you in the middle where there is NO traction.

[pulser]

I got tires from cosco in PA last time I got tires. They mounted and balanced the tries for free and They cam with a road hazard warranty for free. I had the them on for less then a month when some one knifed one. They replaced the tire no charge. I got my BFG 23x11.50s for $125 a tire out the door.

[RedRunnertc]

I bought the tires for the Impala SS at Costco - good deal, plus they fill them with nitrogen!

Only problem with Costco is they won't mount tires bigger than factory onto the truck. At least that one in Cleveland wouldn't...

[pulser]

Originally Posted by RedRunnertc

I bought the tires for the Impala SS at Costco - good deal, plus they fill them with nitrogen!

Only problem with Costco is they won't mount tires bigger than factory onto the truck. At least that one in Cleveland wouldn't...

I had no problem with that in PA.

[spindleshanks]

So 255/85-16, eh?
Gearing shouldn't be an issue with the stock TRD V6 manual truck? (What is that, 4.10s?)
Cruzer, I like the narrow footprint and stance, as you mentioned, and I also like the height (Troy had some pretty tall TSL's on his stock 2nd gen runner) Troy is probably correct: the problems incurred with a taller tire should be less difficult than those incurred with a wider tire; instead of expecting rubbing on the UCA, I'll have to do a serious pinch-weld mod, for example.
The 255s will fit better on my stock rims. And I'll get some serious lift from them.
Tire selection is limited, indeed, for this size, but there is a BFG MT/R that would work just fine.

[colorado125]

Originally Posted by spindleshanks

So 255/85-16, eh?
Gearing shouldn't be an issue with the stock TRD V6 manual truck? (What is that, 4.10s?)
Cruzer, I like the narrow footprint and stance, as you mentioned, and I also like the height (Troy had some pretty tall TSL's on his stock 2nd gen runner) Troy is probably correct: the problems incurred with a taller tire should be less difficult than those incurred with a wider tire; instead of expecting rubbing on the UCA, I'll have to do a serious pinch-weld mod, for example.
The 255s will fit better on my stock rims. And I'll get some serious lift from them.
Tire selection is limited, indeed, for this size, but there is a BFG MT/R that would work just fine.

Yup, 4.10's. Except my brother hated the power loss when he went from 31's to 33's on his Dcab, even supercharged.

[Jacket]

Just to be clear, I'm not by any means "promoting" 285/75 over 255/85 - I think they both perform very well for what we use these trucks for, and for 90% of us, we would really never notice a performance difference. I'd be perfectly happy with a set of 255/85 MT's, but for me I'd like them as a complete second set that I could use just for wheelin.

Just trying to provide info to help spindleshanks make a decision, and offer what I have if he wanted to do a test fit with 285/75.

[spindleshanks]

I appreciate the help guys (Jacket). It's a tough and expensive decision.