Topic: CDN Tire going back into online tires...

[blur911]

Speaking of duties and brokerage...

Can anyone comment on duties and brokerage when you get the "free-shipping" tires and wheels from discounttiredirect ?

I was just pricing a wheel and tire set for a friend from Discountiredirect.
Sure, they offer free shipping to Canada.  They just tack on $440 worth of fees at the end.

   
•    UPS Standard Shipping
Other Shipping Options
Change "Ship To" Zip Code
      FREE    
   
•    Prepaid Canadian Tarriff Fees
      $440.00    

[sailor723]

Speaking of duties and brokerage...

Can anyone comment on duties and brokerage when you get the "free-shipping" tires and wheels from discounttiredirect ?

I was just pricing a wheel and tire set for a friend from Discountiredirect.
Sure, they offer free shipping to Canada.  They just tack on $440 worth of fees at the end.

   
•    UPS Standard Shipping
Other Shipping Options
Change "Ship To" Zip Code
      FREE    
   
•    Prepaid Canadian Tarriff Fees
      $440.00    

Yep...you really need to live within an hour or so of the border to make US tire shopping worthwhile.

[johngenx]

Yep...you really need to live within an hour or so of the border to make US tire shopping worthwhile.

I still price out every tire purchase in the US, just to make sure.  I have bought a couple sets over the last few years as on some particular tires, the savings are substantial.  I've found that on performance tires and larger sizes, the US pricing, even with shipping, is hundreds less.

That said, some Canadian retailers are getting more aggressive, notably Costco on some brands (their Michelin prices still seem really high to me, but Bridgestone seem much better).  Combine that with their seasonal instant rebates, and this year I matched US pricing on the WS-70 without shipping.

[sailor723]

Doesn't Costco have some weird policies on tires though? I read somewhere that they won't install Q or R rated snows on a car that has higher speed rated summers or allow minus sizing.

[ktm525]

Doesn't Costco have some weird policies on tires though? I read somewhere that they won't install Q or R rated snows on a car that has higher speed rated summers or allow minus sizing.

Yes but they are more flexible than they used to be. On winters they will drop the speed ratings. Summers. Probably not.

[johngenx]

Yes but they are more flexible than they used to be. On winters they will drop the speed ratings. Summers. Probably not.

At first, they were stupid about it, thanks to US policies.  Costco in Canada realized that people need lower speed rated snow tires and different sizes, so they have adapted.  Summer tires, they are pretty sticky about it.

If you're doing something way out there, buy the tires cash and carry and get a non-picky shop to install them.

[GapBoyPCS]

Yes but they are more flexible than they used to be. On winters they will drop the speed ratings. Summers. Probably not.

At first, they were stupid about it, thanks to US policies.  Costco in Canada realized that people need lower speed rated snow tires and different sizes, so they have adapted.  Summer tires, they are pretty sticky about it.

If you're doing something way out there, buy the tires cash and carry and get a non-picky shop to install them.

 I was behind a guy who was looking for winters for (I think) a Civic Si. The woman behind the counter told the guy that he was unable to get either Bridgestones or Pirelli's because the speed rating was lower than what he had. She did, however, say he could have Michelin X-Ice 2's because their policy allowed them to go down just one rating. I knew the guy was pissed off at the Costco employee, and all she could reply was that it was their policy to not install sub-speed rated tires (or something to that extent) on the other makes of tires. Michelin was the only one they could do it with. 

[psg]

Speaking of duties and brokerage...

Can anyone comment on duties and brokerage when you get the "free-shipping" tires and wheels from discounttiredirect ?

I was just pricing a wheel and tire set for a friend from Discountiredirect.
Sure, they offer free shipping to Canada.  They just tack on $440 worth of fees at the end.

   
•    UPS Standard Shipping
Other Shipping Options
Change "Ship To" Zip Code
      FREE    
   
•    Prepaid Canadian Tarriff Fees
      $440.00    

Ouch!
Seems a lot of people get tires from tirerack.  Are they any better?

[sailor723]

Speaking of duties and brokerage...

Can anyone comment on duties and brokerage when you get the "free-shipping" tires and wheels from discounttiredirect ?

I was just pricing a wheel and tire set for a friend from Discountiredirect.
Sure, they offer free shipping to Canada.  They just tack on $440 worth of fees at the end.

   
•    UPS Standard Shipping
Other Shipping Options
Change "Ship To" Zip Code
      FREE    
   
•    Prepaid Canadian Tarriff Fees
      $440.00    

Ouch!
Seems a lot of people get tires from tirerack.  Are they any better?

Easy enough to tell...Tirerack has a shipping estimator on their website. Just enter your postal code

[SaskSpecV]

Ouch!
Seems a lot of people get tires from tirerack.  Are they any better?

It depends on the tire size and brand.  But yes, I've found them to be very fair.  Both times I ordered rims and tires, and their rim prices and selection are excellent.  Plus free mounting, which is about $20 - 40 per wheel at most places.  But the shipping and duty charges add up - especially if you live far from the border, or for wheels/tires that are not made in North America (not covered by NAFTA, so more duty).

At least tirerack.com is honest about the charges though, unlike discounttiredirect.com which (as mentioned by other posters) hits you with a massive fee at the end.  And tirerack itemizes the fees on the quote, so you can see where the money is going.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Doesn't Costco have some weird policies on tires though? I read somewhere that they won't install Q or R rated snows on a car that has higher speed rated summers or allow minus sizing.

I didn't have an issue. I went to 16" rims which weren't listed for the 3.6, but the Costco tire guy said it won't be an issue. The tire size wasn't listed of course, but I had the variance figured out (0.4%), which he verified, and the load range of the WS-70s was actually higher than the Continentals on the car, so he placed the order and I was on my way. The OEM ContiProContacts on the OB are only T rated, so the speed rating wasn't an issue.

[psg]

Speaking of duties and brokerage...

Can anyone comment on duties and brokerage when you get the "free-shipping" tires and wheels from discounttiredirect ?

I was just pricing a wheel and tire set for a friend from Discountiredirect.
Sure, they offer free shipping to Canada.  They just tack on $440 worth of fees at the end.

   
•    UPS Standard Shipping
Other Shipping Options
Change "Ship To" Zip Code
      FREE    
   
•    Prepaid Canadian Tarriff Fees
      $440.00    

Ouch!
Seems a lot of people get tires from tirerack.  Are they any better?

Easy enough to tell...Tirerack has a shipping estimator on their website. Just enter your postal code

The extras were like $450, making more expensive than here for me.

[aquadorhj]

i won't be able to slag CDN tire for tire pricing...  i asked for quote for the Continental extreme contact dw for my m3 rear size, (they might have given me a pricing for different tire...  ..i don't know for sure.) but it came to be $440 PER TIRE.

it's not like 255-40-18 is massive or very special size anymore...   i got the whole rims and tires on kijiji for 750...

[mrthompson]

A co-worker ordered winter tires and steel wheels online for his '10 Corolla S.  He ordered them with the intention of having them mounted and balanced at his father's shop.  He printed the confirmation and learned that the local CT store had his order in.  He took his print-out confirmation to the auto service/parts counter and they brought out his tires and wheels on two carts.  He was then told to go to the main cashier for order confirmation.  The cashier (and other employeess, including the manager) had no idea how to process the paper work.  He had to wait 45 minutes while the employees searched the training binder for instructions.  The tires and wheels had already been paid for online with his credit card.  He has written a lengthy complaint and sent it to CT.

Fack.