Topic: Good Place To Buy Tires Online?

[FiestaTT]

Hey guys I'm looking for tires size 205 50 R15 which by itself is tough, plus everywhere online is based in the US and so shipping fees make importing tires nearly impossible. Is there any online tire site based in Canada? Or does anybody know of a place which has good deals on tires somewhere in the GTA? Thanks in advance!

[Leviathan]

How 'boot clicking the TireTrends ad at the top of the page

[Careener]

Tiretrends in Canada or tirerack in the US. If you are in Ontario and you orderr from tiretrends you don't pay PST which essentially cancels out the shipping cost.
 I imported a set of Blizzaks for $50 less per tire. A friend ordered some tires from Summitracing with free shipping in the US and had them delivered and stored for next to nothing at a warehouse in niagara falls ny.
He picked them up at his leisure and declared them on the way back across. On the rims/tires he saved over $1000.

[FiestaTT]

TireTrends does indeed have plenty o' tires at this size, but is there nothing cheaper? Seems I cant find anything less than $350. Doesn't Hercules or maybe Uniroyal make a tire at this size? Perhaps Costco can help me out here..?

Also, can I get some more information on this Niagara-Falls-Warehouse thing? Will a warehouse actually recieve shipped tires and hold them for somebody whom they've only spoken to on the phone?

[KRS]

 I see on tire trends that they have tires in that size as low as $81 per tire. In a fifty series tire (which should be performance oriented Based on side wall) it is unlikely you will get much lower in price. I know Cooper makes a couple of tires in 205/50-15 but I don't have any idea on price.  When you consider that Canadian tires Motomaster SE tires, which are the cheapest new tire I am aware of, in any 15 inch size starts at $70 per tire, there is not much likely hood you'll beat $80 a tire in the size you need.

 Costco, Sams Club (if in southern Ontario) and tire trends.com are the three stores I would  get prices from. costco and sams club brag on their low prices and tire trends can be the bench mark of a reputable tire dealers prices.

[FiestaTT]

You've got a good point bud, I checked out Costco and the lowest price they have is $115.99 per tire, which isnt exactly cheap.. I may just go with TireTrends if theres no Canadian retailer willing to sell Cooper or Hercules tires in this size.

[quadzilla]

If $115/tire isn't cheap enough maybe you should tell us how much you are actually looking to spend?

[FiestaTT]

I plan on burning up these tires pretty quick bud, they're for track use so the cheaper the better.

[wing]

You want CHEAP tires for the track?  That's backwards!  Get good tires for the track that will last longer.  If you get R compound tires for the track they will last longer than street tires -- I know that doesn't seem to make sense but they are designed to take the heat cycling that track abuse provides.

I was able to tear up a set of streets in 30min on the track just overheat them and voila they are toast.  But R's last a long long time.

[quadzilla]

I plan on burning up these tires pretty quick bud, they're for track use so the cheaper the better.

Until you give us an actual $ value nobody can really help you. Cheap, expensive, value, not too much all have different meanings to every person. Be very specific.

[FiestaTT]

You guys are much too good to me, let me tell ya! Ok, so here are the main things I'm looking for in a tire:

1) Long-life treadwear
2) Cheap
3) Good for my occasional track-visits

I'm using these to get back and forth to work too so I don't want slicks.. lets do it this way; of the following 3 tires listed on TireTrends for my size, which would be the best for my application?

1) Falken Ze-912
2) Avon Tech M500 (who the heck is Avon?)
2) Kumho Ecsta AST

[KRS]

I may just go with TireTrends if theres no Canadian retailer willing to sell Cooper or Hercules tires in this size.

  Cooper lists tons of retailers in the GTA area who handle their brand. look up Cooper tires website and hunt the retailers nearest you and get a quote. I would be surprised if they can match the price tire trends has for the Falken ZE 912 but it never hurts to check it out.

  As to looking for good tread wear for cheap that is usable for track trips, the goals are not compatible. if its cheap and wears well it is very likely going to be like driving on a set of billiard balls for grip. if its cheap and gives good grip its likely going to last for a couple of tanks of gas on your track visit. If its wears well and has good grip its going to be pricey. its like the old poster at work. Quick, cheap, and good, Pick any two.

[FiestaTT]

Hah! I get your point bud, I get your point. Ok then, of the three tires I listed in my last post which would you recommend for a daily-driver, forget the track use part.

[dorin]

I will repeat my criticism of anyone who puts cheapness above performance in tire choice.    Even expensive tires are relatively affordable compared to all the other costs of owning a car, so it's rather dumb to really cheap out on them given that they're so crucial in providing control over a car.

Now to get back to the issue at hand, none of the tires you've listed seem like particularly bad choices.  Assuming you're not silly enough to try to run any of these in the winter, my ranking for road-only use would be:
1. Falken ZE-912
2. Avon M500
3. Kumho Ecsta AST

If you're really going to throw in some track days then I'd change that ranking to:
1. Avon M500
2. Falken ZE-912
3. Kumho Ecsta AST

[Careener]

Here's the Summitracing page for your tire size..there are some Nitto tires for $59
http://store.summitracing.com/egnsearch.asp?N=700+4294923107+4294921520+4294905042+115+4294904948

Nitto NT Neo Gen Tires
Tire, NT Neo Gen, 205 / 50R15, Radial, 1,279 lbs. Maximum Load, W Speed Rated, Blackwall, Each
 3/28/08 $69.95 
 Additional Info (2,8 )
 
 
     BFG-57786  BFGoodrich g-Force Sport Tires
Tire, g-Force Sport, 205 / 50R15, Radial, 1,235 lbs. Maximum Load, V Speed Rated, Blackwall, Each
 3/29/08 $84.95 
 Additional Info (2 )
 
 
     KUM-1844713  Kumho Ecsta AST Tires
Tire, Ecsta AST, 205 / 50R15, Radial, 86 Load Range, H Speed Rated, Blackwall, Each
 3/19/08 $59.95 
 Additional Info (2,8 )
 
 
     KUM-1658213  Kumho Ecsta MX KU-15 Tires
Tire, Ecsta MX KU-15, 205 / 50R15, Radial, 86 Load Range, Y Speed Rated, Blackwall, Each
 3/28/08 $119.95 
 Additional Info (2,8 )
 
 
     BFG-90751  BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW Tires
Tire, g-Force T/ A KDW, P 205 / 50R15, Radial, 1,168 lbs. Maximum Load, W Speed Rated, Blackwall, Each
 3/29/08 $115.95 
 Additional Info (2 )
 
 
     KUM-1763513  Kumho Ecsta SPT Tires
Tire, Ecsta SPT, 205 / 50R15, Radial, 86 Load Range, W Speed Rated, Blackwall, Each
 3/28/08 $85.95 
 Additional Info (2,8 )
 
 
     KUM-1741613  Kumho Ecsta ASX Tires
Tire, Ecsta ASX, 205 / 50R15, Radial, 86 Load Range, W Speed Rated, Blackwall, Each
 3/28/08 $79.95 
 Additional Info (2,8 )
 
 
     COO-39618  Cooper Cobra G/T Tires
COBRA RADIAL G/ T
 3/28/08 $91.95 
 Additional Info (2 )
 
 
     YOK-04303  Yokohama A043A Tires
Tire, A043A, 205 / 50R15, Radial, 1,019 lbs. Maximum Load, V Speed Rated, Blackwall, Each
 4/4/08 $161.69 
 Additional Info (2 )
 
 
     KUM-1866413  Kumho Ecsta SPT Tires
Tire, Ecsta SPT, 205 / 50R15, Radial, 86 Load Range, V Speed Rated, Blackwall, Each
 3/28/08 $249.95 
 Additional Info (2,8 )
 
 
     YOK-30489  Yokohama AVID T4 Tires
Tire, AVID T4, P 205 / 50R15, Radial, 1,113 lbs. Maximum Load, T Speed Rated, Blackwall, Each
 4/4/08 $116.99 
 Additional Info (2 )
 
 
     COO-01853  Cooper Zeon ZPT Tires
Tire, Zeon ZPT, P205/ 50R15, Radial, 1,168 lbs. Maximum Load, H Speed Rating, Blackwall, Each
 3/28/08 $86.99 
 Additional Info (2 )
 
 
     BFG-62485  BFGoodrich g-Force R-1 Tires
Tire, G-Force R-1, P205/ 50ZR15, Radial, W Speed Rating, Blackwall, Each
 3/29/08 $258.39 
 Additional Info (2 )
 
 
     NIT-371080  Nitto NT01 Tires
Tire, NT 101, 205 / 50ZR15, Radial, 1,168 lbs. Maximum Load, Z Speed Rated, Blackwall, Each
 3/28/08 $149.95 
 Additional Info (2,8 )
 
 
     BFG-59612  BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KD Tires
Tire, g-Force T/ A KD, 205 / 50ZR15, Radial, 1,168 lbs. Maximum Load, Y Speed Rated, Blackwall, Each
 3/29/08 $191.39 
 Additional Info (2 )
 
 
     BFG-07855  BFGoodrich g-Force Super Sport A/S Tires
Tire, g-Force Super Sport A/ S, 205 / 50R15, Radial, 1,279 lbs. Maximum Load, Blackwall, Each
 3/29/08 $109.95 
 Additional Info (2 )
 
 
     BFG-62462  BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KD Tires
Tire, g-Force T/ A KD, 205 / 50ZR15, Radial, 1,168 lbs. Maximum Load, Y Speed Rated, Blackwall, Each
 3/29/08 $191.39 

[HeliDriver]

I will repeat my criticism of anyone who puts cheapness above performance in tire choice.    Even expensive tires are relatively affordable compared to all the other costs of owning a car, so it's rather dumb to really cheap out on them given that they're so crucial in providing control over a car.

Now to get back to the issue at hand, none of the tires you've listed seem like particularly bad choices.  Assuming you're not silly enough to try to run any of these in the winter, my ranking for road-only use would be:
1. Falken ZE-912
2. Avon M500
3. Kumho Ecsta AST

If you're really going to throw in some track days then I'd change that ranking to:
1. Avon M500
2. Falken ZE-912
3. Kumho Ecsta AST

Assuming he's not going to be driving on these in the winter (which I also hope is the case), why would he even be looking at all-season tires in the first place? 

For a summer-only tire that may see some track time, I'd scratch the 912s and ASTs off the list, and replace them with Falken Azenis and the Kumho SPT.

[KRS]

 I only have only driven a car equippped with that Avon tire (twice for about 35 miles or so) so it is the only one I can comment on. It had pretty decent grip but is strictly a summer tire. It doesn't even claim to be a all season. If you are going to attempt to use it in the winter it would be a horrible choice but seems quite good in the summer time. If your doing the smart thing and use winter tires when its cold then they would be a good choice.

 By the way Avon tires are from England and the company used to supply the tires that came on Rolls Royces from the mid thirties till If i remember right the early eighties. Avon has been a division of Cooper tires for the last 6 or 8 years, and i liked their motor cycles tires enough to have had a couple of sets of them

 As to the other two options you list, I've never rode in a car with Kumho tires and to be honest never even heard of Falken tires till about a year ago. None of the local tire dealers offer them, so really can't comment on them.

[FiestaTT]

Hmm, it seems like I will be going with the Falken 912's then. I've been reading conflicing reports on the treadwear of these, does anybody here have a story bout em?

[tortoise]

The 912's are pretty new to the market, so there aren't many people who can accurately comment on their wear.