Tires are freakin' expensive.

"G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3" (gbodyman)
01/24/2015 at 13:34 • Filed to: None

The cheapest new tires I can find that fit my Cutlass are $59 each, and they're Geostars.

Whelp, it's official. I need a way of acquiring currency.

DISCUSSION (39)

Steve in Manhattan > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/24/2015 at 13:42

The tires are the only part of your car in contact with the road, if you're doing it right. Buy the best you can afford.

E. Julius > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/24/2015 at 13:43

I would highly recommend two things:

—do not cheap out on tires. You don't have to get the most expensive ones possible, but it's definitely worth it to go with a trusted brand, even if it's their base level tire.

—Use Discount Tire if you're near one of their locations. Their product range is solid, but more importantly they have very friendly staff that plays fair, and the service is impeccable. You'll get lifetime free rotations, and twice I've been able to get them to knock $100 off of 4 tires. Awesome company, can't recommend them enough.

bob and john > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/24/2015 at 13:45

THATS EXPENSIVE TO YOU?!?!??!

holy mother are you in for a shock if you ever get a new car. I've had bicycle tires that cost that much.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > bob and john
01/24/2015 at 13:46

For off-brand tires, i was expecting 45-50 dollars, not 60!

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Steve in Manhattan
01/24/2015 at 13:47

That's why I'm looking at a second-hand set of Goodyear Regattas.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > E. Julius
01/24/2015 at 13:47

Up here in Canada, you pay a premium for everything, and don't have a lot of U.S. shops.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/24/2015 at 13:48

When I bought my Miata it had Geostars on it. The one benefit I can think of is that it taught me a lot very quickly about power-on oversteer and braking understeer.

When they warm up, they turn into candle wax. No freaking grip at all.

bob and john > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/24/2015 at 13:48

10$ is a big difference? oh boy

let me tell you a piece of a advice:. NEVER cheap out on rubber of any kind. you dont want to end up in a tire or with un-intended kids.

Nobi > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/24/2015 at 13:49

Dude, if you only knew. Look up a set of name brand tires in 245/45R17. That's what my GTO takes. Cheapest ones I can find are Firestone Indy 500's for about $90 per tire, and that's extremely cheap. Some of the list prices on the Michelin tires we sell at the Acura dealer I work at START at about $200.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Nobi
01/24/2015 at 13:50

Yes, but those aren't surprising, given that they're high-width, large-diameter and low-profile. For a set of tires to fit 14" rims, I wasn't expecting $60 for offbrands.

Steve in Manhattan > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/24/2015 at 13:52

Used tires make me uncomfortable. Did you check TireRack.com? Do they do Canada?

bryan40oop > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/24/2015 at 13:54

Goodyear is worse than the damn Geostars

Tareim - V8 powered > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/24/2015 at 13:57

they are probably expensive due to being an uncommon size nowadays with most cars favoring 17/18" wheels

McMike > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/24/2015 at 13:58

Brace yourself for a slew of "$59 is cheap, what are you complaining about" replies, as most are much, much more expensive these days.

Hopefully you get them replaced before you really, really need them.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Steve in Manhattan
01/24/2015 at 13:58

Yes, but shipping isn't that cheap, from what I've heard.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Tareim - V8 powered
01/24/2015 at 13:59

Yeah, that's what I thought. Five of six years ago, you could get them for $45 apiece.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/24/2015 at 13:59

In my world those 245/45R17's are small, narrow and have huge sidewalls! Most of my customers spend more on a single tire than you will on a whole set!

I know it's all relative, and I've been in your shoes before. I've gone the used tire route lots of times. But if you do that, make sure they're less than 3-4 years old based on the DOT date code (if you have that where you live), and have no sidewall damage, bulges, or separating tread.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > bryan40oop
01/24/2015 at 13:59

Have you had experience with Geostars?

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > McMike
01/24/2015 at 14:00

It's a lot more expensive than I was expecting, but the last time I checked this size was five or six years ago.

I still have okay tread-depth, but the PO chronically underinflated them.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
01/24/2015 at 14:01

Fair enough. I get that it's all relative, but five or six years ago, tires in this size were $45-50 apiece.

bob and john > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/24/2015 at 14:03

also, another tip.

you cant afford decent rubber for you car? then you can't afford to drive. simple as that. its like saying I want to drive, but I cant afford gas.

sorry to be the downer, but thats life.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > bob and john
01/24/2015 at 14:05

I can only afford decent rubber if I take some money out of my rust repair budget. For me, the costs of running a car are a carefully balanced ordeal.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/24/2015 at 14:06

True. Because inflation, bro! Prices go up and wages stay the same!

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
01/24/2015 at 14:07

Ain't that a bitch. At least minimum wage here is $11 an hour.

bob and john > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/24/2015 at 14:14

refer to my comment. then you cant afford to drive that car. simple as that.
i know your in the Toronto area, believe me, I know what its like trying to get funds to run a car. I dont even have one because I cant afford it. remember that there are other things in life then JUST cars, so its wise to not spend more then 50% of your money on it. you will just end up witrh no money, no friends, and unhappy with your life.

Devilishprune > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/24/2015 at 14:18

Check out tirebuyer.com. I recently got some tires from them installed on my wife's Fit. Got them shipped to an installer for free, too.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3
01/24/2015 at 14:22

About 12-13 years ago when I was working minimum wage it was only $5.15. But the hourly cap for my current position hasn't really increased at all in the last 30 years. Yay.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > Devilishprune
01/24/2015 at 14:29

Thanks for the tip!

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > bob and john
01/24/2015 at 14:32

Maybe I'm just being an asshole. I think I'll suck it up and buy some name-brand tires. Also, about spending all your money on cars and having no money, friends, or happiness: me and my friends are those masochistic idiots that derive happiness from cars and nowhere else. We don't spend money on each other, we take care of our cars and our cars take care of us.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
01/24/2015 at 14:33

Yeah, that sucks.