A Different Tire Question

[Gunnut]

Okay, I need tires for my 94 LS400. I've made my decision on which brand/model (bridgestone LSV).

I've priced them out at Tire Rack and with shipping I'm looking at @$550 to my door. Then I'd have to pay a local shop about $80 to mount/balance them.

i could get them from my local Firestone dealer for a total of about $15 more out the door.

I hear on this group all the time how great a place Tire rack is to buy from.

Am I missing something on the economics here?

Any alternatives?

JIMA

[1990LS400]

Tire Rack is not always cheaper or that much cheaper than buying locally. I generally buy from Tire Rack because it is more convenient and cost effective (time, money, gas) to shop on-line than to cruise local stores looking for what I want. Hey, $15 is $15 -- enough to buy a couple of cheeseburgers and fries -- at least here in Lenexa a few miles from where you live in K.C.

I have sometimes found incredible deals at Tire Rack by buying winter tires at the end of the winter and summer tires at the end of the summer. In around 2002, I bought eight Dunlop 4000s at once (our 90 LS and 98 Camry used the same size) when they were on sale at $50. I bought eight tires and four wheels (for snow tires) from Tire Rack in 2003 when I purchased my current LS. When one of the wheel center caps didn't fit exactly right, Tire Rack sent me a complete set with no questions asked -- didn't even ask for me to send the defective one back.

With regular shipping my purchases from Tire Rack usually arrive in 2-3 days. I wish all companies gave such great service.

[RX in NC]

I concur. If you watch for the Tirerack.com sales you can catch incredible deals vs. buying locally. Plus, I can usually talk them into including something free with my order such as a set of lug nuts, tire gauges, etc. Standard shipping gets the tires here in a couple of days and I agree that their customer service is outstanding....

[SW03ES]

I also concur, it really depends.

Tire Rack used to be much cheaper, now that they have a following they don't always have as good a price since not as many people cross shop.

Another thing to think about is thefact that Bridgestone has a 30 day ride guarantee. If you don't like the tires a Bridgestone dealer will replace them with whatever you want. Hard to do when you'd have to ship them back to Tire Rack, pay to mount again etc.

[steviej]

Rather than ship to you, what would be the cost if you had them shipped to and balanced/mounted by one of their appointed shops in your area?

TireRack's best deals or cost savings are achieved when you get a set of tires and wheels so they come to you balanced. You just bolt them on. No middle man.

I found the same scenario when I got my Exaltos. I went with my dealer.

steviej

[Gunnut]

Rather than ship to you, what would be the cost if you had them shipped to and balanced/mounted by one of their appointed shops in your area?

TireRack's best deals or cost savings are achieved when you get a set of tires and wheels so they come to you balanced. You just bolt them on. No middle man.

I found the same scenario when I got my Exaltos. I went with my dealer.

steviej

Actually the $80 is to one of their certified installers.

JimA

[Gunnut]

I made an appointment for the Friday after Thanksgiving at a Firestone store to get a new set of LS-Vs for my LS400. I showed up early and talked to the manager. THe appointment was set up and verified online so I figured they had the tires and I would be good to go. Nope. No LS-Vs. THey had LS-Ts, I turned them down since they would be WW plus not the tire I researched and wanted. Week to ten days to order the Vs so I ordered them from TireRack and they'll be here Saturday.

SHould have went with the Rack all along.

[Lexusfreak]

Don't forget to get a 4 wheel alignment. B)

[steviej]

I made an appointment for the Friday after Thanksgiving at a Firestone store to get a new set of LS-Vs for my LS400. I showed up early and talked to the manager. THe appointment was set up and verified online so I figured they had the tires and I would be good to go. Nope. No LS-Vs. THey had LS-Ts, I turned them down since they would be WW plus not the tire I researched and wanted. Week to ten days to order the Vs so I ordered them from TireRack and they'll be here Saturday.

SHould have went with the Rack all along.

another reason why I don't like dealing with Firestone/Bridgestone dealers. Not reliable.

steviej