Tire Prices!! Geeze

[crashz]

Its funny that this came up now.
I just bought new tires for my 1/2 ton DD. I put on Mastercraft Coursar A/T (265/75R16), because they were a "reasonable" price and I was looking for at least a load range of D (these are E's). Walked out the door at $980 for all four.

Last set was Bridgestones that I got three years and 65K miles out of. Great tires, but I made the mistake of getting one size bigger than stock (285/75R16) and they rubbed a bit. I think I paid about $750 then. Same tiree store, same serives rendered.

 

[JDgreen227]

I just re shod my Lesabre...
Got lucky in that they were 15" tires...
Got the whole set for $85 ea with 65K tread wear rating...
These newer cars and truck utilize the larger sizes and they sure are pretty but very expensive to keep up...

My Lesabre uses 16 inchers, have to spend about $140 for an OEM quality replacement. Know what baffles me.....automakers try to reduce weight by using thinner steel, more plastic, downsize cooling systems, etc. but they keep putting bigger, heavier wheels and tires on vehicles. Does that make any sense to you?

 

[JDgreen227]

Yea, I rotate my tires myself. I have 2 large jacks and my shop is set up with a compressor and air hose reels at 3 locations. It takes me about 10 minutes to rotate them on any of my vehicles. I then go back with my torque wrench and again at 100 miles.

Chris

Smart way to do it, BUT...do you use an impact wrench on alloy wheels? I had a brand new set of alloy American Racing Wheels damaged by a shop using an impact wrench a long time ago and will NEVER let an impact wrench near any of our vehicles again. Not by me, nor by a shop.

 

[JB4310]

Smart way to do it, BUT...do you use an impact wrench on alloy wheels? I had a brand new set of alloy American Racing Wheels damaged by a shop using an impact wrench a long time ago and will NEVER let an impact wrench near any of our vehicles again. Not by me, nor by a shop.

Every shop in the world is using Impact tools on alloy rims every day.

Good or bad, that's a fact, what do you tell them at the shop to use a tire iron?
They would laugh at you at soon as left, and go right back to using the air wrench. I understand your position on the matter, due to your experience, but don't forget some of the heaviest truck rims are alloy now.

I usually use/ need the 4 way to break the nuts loose and torque them, but that's because my compressor/ impact wrench is not capable. I do use the impact as much as I can though.

JB

 

[Diamondpilot]

My Lesabre uses 16 inchers, have to spend about $140 for an OEM quality replacement. Know what baffles me.....automakers try to reduce weight by using thinner steel, more plastic, downsize cooling systems, etc. but they keep putting bigger, heavier wheels and tires on vehicles. Does that make any sense to you?

Its larger brakes and heavier cars that need the bigger brakes to meet the new requirements set forth by SAE that requires the larger wheels and tires. Just compare the size of the brakes on a 2-3 year old 1/2 ton truck to a 15 year old 3/4 ton truck and you will quickly see what I mean.

Our BMW 335I has huge brakes I would not be surprised if they are not as big or bigger than my 2006 F-350.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

Smart way to do it, BUT...do you use an impact wrench on alloy wheels? I had a brand new set of alloy American Racing Wheels damaged by a shop using an impact wrench a long time ago and will NEVER let an impact wrench near any of our vehicles again. Not by me, nor by a shop.

Yes I do but I do it, not some idiot at a shop. I only run them on to 75 FT lbs with the impact on most things and 120 FT lbs on my F-350.

Most passenger cars and 1/2 ton trucks have a torque setting of about 95/110 FT lbs. Trailers are at 120 FT lbs. My F-350 and neighbors 3500 GMC both require 140/160 FT lbs.

Chris

 

[JDgreen227]

Every shop in the world is using Impact tools on alloy rims every day.

Good or bad, that's a fact, what do you tell them at the shop to use a tire iron?
They would laugh at you at soon as left, and go right back to using the air wrench. I understand your position on the matter, due to your experience, but don't forget some of the heaviest truck rims are alloy now.

I usually use/ need the 4 way to break the nuts loose and torque them, but that's because my compressor/ impact wrench is not capable. I do use the impact as much as I can though.

JB

The shop that had to eat the cost of replacing my $400 worth of new wheels, plus the labor charges to demount, mount, and balance my new tires used an air impact wrench just to INSTALL the lug nuts....the rims had never been mounted before and the operator was careless and let his wrench mark up both wheels and stainless center caps, on all four corners. Every since then, if I needed flats fixed or new tires, or whatever, I demount the tire and rim and take it in to have the work done. The instructions that were packed with my new rims (that the shop sold me) clearly said "DO NOT USE AN IMPACT WRENCH ON THESE WHEELS"....morons.

 

[clemsonfor]

The last time I purchased tires was for a 1990 F 150, back in about 1997-----REALLY !!! Paid about $65 each for premium P235-15 snows with stems, balancing, and tax. Being a really low mileage driver, tires last me forever. But right now, wifes 2004 Saturn will need a set within a year. I have been seeing prices keep rising...worries me because sooner or later I will need a set for my GMC (load range E) too...probably cost me $200 each then.

I have 195 60 15 on my saturn. The cheapest set i can get from a friend who sells me tires through a side business of his (at his cost) is $130 for 2. That is 110 for tires and him charging 10/ tire to mount and balance. They are off brand chineese whatever the best price is about 40K mile tires.

Your truck, they are $200/piece i bet today!

 

[clemsonfor]

Just did some checking, back in March of '95 I purchased a set of BFG Radial T/A's for my F150, invoice says tires were $78 each plus tax, mounting, balancing....current price online for the same tire..235/70-15 (load range B) is about $128 each...I don't think that is an unreasonable increase over the time period.

Look at the BFG All terrain, there close to $200 per tire in the size for your other truck.

 

[JDgreen227]

I have 195 60 15 on my saturn. The cheapest set i can get from a friend who sells me tires through a side business of his (at his cost) is $130 for 2. That is 110 for tires and him charging 10/ tire to mount and balance. They are off brand chineese whatever the best price is about 40K mile tires.

Your truck, they are $200/piece i bet today!

Saturn is an L-300, OEM size is 215/55R16....still has original Firestone Firehawks with 53,000 miles...will replace front pair next spring.