Need new tires, what to get, where to get them?

[Muse]

Nope. It's processed in the same system, and if they get hacked it doesn't really matter how your CC# was entered.

Ah, well, I look over my CC statements item by item... always. Thanks!

I learned some things here. Finally figured out what tire specs mean.

 

[manly]

I’ve been going to America’s Tire for about 14 years, and like others here, recommend them often. You may consider the road hazard certificates. I’m never for extended warranties, but California streets and roads are poorly maintained.

If budget was a primary concern, Walmart has some cheap tires:

Solar 4XS Plus 185/70R14 Tire - Walmart.com

Arrives by Wed, Nov 29 Buy Solar 4XS Plus 185/70R14 Tire at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

My understanding is that it is not cheap Chinese rubber.

 

[Muse]

I’ve been going to America’s Tire for about 14 years, and like others here, recommend them often. You may consider the road hazard certificates. I’m never for extended warranties, but California streets and roads are poorly maintained.

If budget was a primary concern, Walmart has some cheap tires:

Solar 4XS Plus 185/70R14 Tire - Walmart.com

Arrives by Wed, Nov 29 Buy Solar 4XS Plus 185/70R14 Tire at Walmart.com

www.walmart.com

My understanding is that it is not cheap Chinese rubber.

Thanks...I don't drive a lot. I try to dodge potholes!

Those Solar tires cost the same as the Generals I'm getting. Figure with installation, etc. it would come out almost the same. Driving distance is similar. I figure I'm OK with the order I did this morning.

 

[manly]

Thanks...I don't drive a lot. I try to dodge potholes!

Those Solar tires cost the same as the Generals I'm getting. Figure with installation, etc. it would come out almost the same. Driving distance is similar. I figure I'm OK with the order I did this morning.

Well, I was a little vague earlier re: road maintenance. I wasn't referring to potholes, but sharp debris that can puncture tires. I had screws damage my tires last December and January, both times on the sidewall where you couldn't patch. The first time was very annoying, 2 brand new tires (replacing just one is unbalanced). The second time just one month later I was a little lucky. Bridgestone (like some other manufacturers) includes 1 year road hazard coverage, so the tire was comped. I quickly signed up for the tire certs, so AT will comp the labor as well. Their web site says certificates are good for 3 years (seems short), but in past experience it seems like they'll go beyond that. Not sure if those were grandfathered in (i.e. certs I had bought back in 2014), or if the shop/franchise was being lenient since someone else is paying.

Since what you bought is good, I wasn't suggesting you change your order at this point. I believe the Solar 4XS tires are in fact cheaper, and I wanted to share a reasonable option for old cars or cost conscious buyers. If you Google Solar 4XS, the tires are reportedly made in Indonesia by a large OEM.

 

[NutBucket]

Tires are made all over the place. My tire guy recommended a Pirelli P7 Cinturato Plus for the family cars. Turns out Pirelli is now Chinese owned (but still HQ'd in Italy). I bought two sets, different sizes. One set was made Brazil and the other Mexico.

 

[sdifox]

Gotta say, the guy on the phone sounded great compared to the other guys I talked to. Figure to go with them. Not sure it's the best deal, but doesn't sound terrible! $319 out the door, 10 years worth of service included. Never heard of Nankang tires before but 5 Amazon reviews for these same tires are totally positive.

Taiwanese brand.

 

[Muse]

Taiwanese brand.

I always figure a Taiwanese product is apt to be superior to a Chinese product, but the context is usually technology. Anyway, based on what people here said, I switched to the General Altimax tires. Not spec tires, however, and ~$100 more. *shrug*

 

[BoomerD]

vulcantire.com.
simpletire.com

both are usually good options when comparing tires and prices.

 

[killster1]

i really love my Michelin premier tires, i watched alot of the youtube reviews for driving in the snow but i can get good prices on Michelin premier and the longer you drive them the more tread opens up from the sides. they drive really good in the summer and rain too. ill even buy them used if the tire is not old and still has knobbies ;P yea definitely check the date of tire manufacture.

 

[killster1]

delete double post!

 

[MtnMan]

1400 miles a year? Does it really matter that much.

OBTW, 10 year old tires are dangerous, regardless of mileage.

 

[Muadib]

Just make sure your tires are new. Read this: https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...!e!!g!!how to determine tire age&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Muse]

I got the new tires put on at America's Tire 2 weeks ago, Fri. Nov. 8. I got sick over that weekend and haven't used the car since parking it in my driveway that afternoon. Today, I wash the car am about to go to local Costco and notice the front left tire is completely flat. I call America's Tire and the guy say to bring the car in and they'll evaluate the problem. I ask if sitting like that for 2 weeks wouldn't damage the tire and he says not if the car didn't move. I have an AC pump and will pump it to the recommended 32lb, then wait 1/2 hour and check the pressure again. If OK, I figure it's safe to drive the 20 freeway miles. Otherwise I'll have to pull out my donut spare, pump it up, swap tires and drive no more than 50mph to the place. He said those tires aren't designed to be driven over 50. Guess getting it done locally might have been a better idea. Bummer.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I got the new tires put on at America's Tire 2 weeks ago, Fri. Nov. 8. I got sick over that weekend and haven't used the car since parking it in my driveway that afternoon. Today, I wash the car am about to go to local Costco and notice the front left tire is completely flat. I call America's Tire and the guy say to bring the car in and they'll evaluate the problem. I ask if sitting like that for 2 weeks wouldn't damage the tire and he says not if the car didn't move. I have an AC pump and will pump it to the recommended 32lb, then wait 1/2 hour and check the pressure again. If OK, I figure it's safe to drive the 20 freeway miles. Otherwise I'll have to pull out my donut spare, pump it up, swap tires and drive no more than 50mph to the place. He said those tires aren't designed to be driven over 50. Guess getting it done locally might have been a better idea. Bummer.

20 miles is local.

My morning commute is 35 miles each way.

 

[Muse]

Drove there on the ??? tire. Turned out to be a bad valve. Told they always put in new valves with new tires, mine just happened to be bad.

 

[Muse]

20 miles is local.

My morning commute is 35 miles each way.

It's actually 15 miles. Windows phone's GPS app said it would be 38 minutes.

Tell me this... I had the phone out of airplane mode and used GPS to get there. I may be wrong but I had the distinct impression that the app was using unusual routing in order to circumvent heavy traffic in various places. Is that the way it works? It actually had me get off the freeway for 1/4 mile in multiple spots and go ahead of the traffic to my left! Blew my mind! Also, a mountain road I wouldn't have guessed and that I'd never seen.

 

[NutBucket]

Yep, that's what most apps do now days.

Back in the old days my TomTom told me to take Market St in SF during rush hour. Yeah, that didn't work out too well.

 

[Muse]

Yep, that's what most apps do now days.

Back in the old days my TomTom told me to take Market St in SF during rush hour. Yeah, that didn't work out too well.

Mostly, I've been loving the GPS with my Windows phones. But today, I swear, damn thing had me LITERALLY running in circles... 3 times, until it stopped telling me to go left at a certain intersection, etc. The last time it let me go straight and I was on my way, cursing my head off at the bitch in the phone. To do so I had to illegally go straight from a left turn only lane. That made me grumble more, I haven't had a moving violation in many decades. Made it home in one piece, however. All's well that ends well? Goofy idea kinda.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Hah. Yeah; phones are a little too "smart" for their own good sometimes.

I walked by a parked car with a flat and thought of you. I've had leaky tires myself; likely due to sloppy installation. Hope they fix it right for you.

 

[VirtualLarry]

It actually had me get off the freeway for 1/4 mile in multiple spots and go ahead of the traffic to my left! Blew my mind! Also, a mountain road I wouldn't have guessed and that I'd never seen.

Be VEEEEEEERY careful, about following GPS directions, in the wintertime, when roads might have snow. (Ok, this applies more to Oregon, than Cali, but... I've heard stories, and sometimes... people get stranded.... taking a "shortcut".)

 

[Muse]

GPS is fabulous, it's incredible. They other day I had the notion that my journey was being guided by a super being, an entity that knew more than I did! I mean, dig, it's a computerized system that is continuously and in real time getting feedback from countless vehicles' systems, so it knows how fast traffic is going in a multitude of situations pertinent to my travel plan. Thus, it calculates in real time what route is likely to save me time. Well, this is the concept. Is that really what's going on? Not sure, that's why I ask, but it seemed to me 2 days ago that this MIGHT be what was happening. Had me scoot by quite a few cars taking momentary detours. I didn't feel too guilty because I wasn't just trying to get ahead of my fellow drivers there, I had a legitimate reason to hurry... I had good reason to suspect my tire might go flat and I'd have a goddamn blowout on the freeway, possibly at high speed and cause a multi car pileup disaster of who knows what proportions!!!

Be VEEEEEEERY careful, about following GPS directions, in the wintertime, when roads might have snow. (Ok, this applies more to Oregon, than Cali, but... I've heard stories, and sometimes... people get stranded.... taking a "shortcut".)

Yeah, we have winter conditions in CA, just not exactly where I'm living, which is barely above sea level close to the coast on San Francisco Bay.

 

[Brainonska511]

Be VEEEEEEERY careful, about following GPS directions, in the wintertime, when roads might have snow. (Ok, this applies more to Oregon, than Cali, but... I've heard stories, and sometimes... people get stranded.... taking a "shortcut".)

Yeah, in winter, if you're going through anywhere with appreciable amounts of snow, stick to the main thoroughfares (aka, the snow emergency routes). But I'd also recommend doing some simple stuff too, like keeping a snow shovel in your car in the winter, in case you do get stuck.