I need tire-buying advice, please! (Sugar Land: coupon, credit, home)

[ShelbyGirl1]

Oops...sorry....I just saw that you already have.

[catfancier]

Thanks, everyone for the replies!

Topaz, were you given "old" new tires?? I do know how to read the sidewall for the date of the tires...I will ask how "old" the tires are that are selected.

Tstone, my appt. is tomorrow at Discount...are you saying they don't do alignments?? I wanted to have them do that because I have hit a curb recently, and I'm also wondering why the front tires are more worn down than the rear...

I don't think the HydroEdge is available for my Highlander, it hasn't come up in any of the choices on tirerack.com.... as mentioned, I am too weary from all the research!

[tstone]

No Discount I know of does alignments. Just mounting, balancing & repairing tires.

[catfancier]

thanks so much again, tstone. I called the NTB in Stafford and spoke with a nice guy who of course says he will "beat any competitor's price"...his is lower than DT for a full set of Michelin LTX. Another question: is the "road hazard" protection stuff worth buying, or not if one is an AAA member already? I am leery of all the nickel and dime stuff that can get added on... he did say they would of course check alignment at the time of tire installation, and if it was needed it was $74.99 and if not I wouldn't be charged. Sound reasonable?

[tstone]

I'd get the most basic road hazard warranty which includes mounting, lifetime rotations & balancing and to fix flats & nails. If they can't fix it they pro-rate a new one based on wear. Yesterday I actually replaced one on my other car for $30. Anyway when you add that basic road hazard + the tire, it's a very small amount more than Discount but worth the extra convenience IMO. I think it's called "Royal" and it's 17.99 per tire.

Also that sounds right for an alignment. The 3 yr is $120 or so, and they will check & fix the alignment at every rotation. If you get rid of the car, it's transferrable once. This was important to me, driving so much now and for the next 2 1/2 years.

[Topaz]

Originally Posted by catfancier

Topaz, were you given "old" new tires?? I do know how to read the sidewall for the date of the tires...I will ask how "old" the tires are that are selected.

No, all my tires were manufactured in 2008 but when I saw the 20/20 show I had a scare because I had just bought four tires without knowing to check the dates and I was afraid I would find out I had purchased ancient tires that just looked new. It turned out OK despite my lack of knowledge of tires but from now on, I will check the date of manufacture prior to purchase.

[studiobtm]

Have had 3 sets of Michelins over the years and had defects in every set. Never again. Cooper tires are highly rated for the money. At least they were a couple of years back.

[icon7]

I have never had a problem with Michelins.
On my car I have gone through:
Bridgestone pole positions in 8K miles,
yokohamma in 15K, pierelli in 15,
But the michelins lasted 30K.
I blew out the pierellis on the road. 3 times!!!!
i purchased them all from discount tire and bought the road hazard warranty. it is well worth it since tires were about ~$300 a piece.

[tstone]

Ouch, $300 a piece? You rollin on 22s or something?

[starkeshia]

Originally Posted by icon7

I have never had a problem with Michelins.
On my car I have gone through:
Bridgestone pole positions in 8K miles,
yokohamma in 15K, pierelli in 15,
But the michelins lasted 30K.
I blew out the pierellis on the road. 3 times!!!!
i purchased them all from discount tire and bought the road hazard warranty. it is well worth it since tires were about ~$300 a piece.

Those Pole Positions are soft compound, high performance tires. Sounds like you've switched to some hard compound Michelines...that's why they lasted so long. Any brand of tire that's hard as a rock will, on average, outlive a high performance (sticky) tire.