Tire questions..

Just thinking out loud here, and if anyone has any input, i'd surely appreciate it..

My poor baby needs a bit of work.. She needs a new front-let CV axle, a set of rear rotors, and some tires.

All three are important, but I've been thinking a lot about tires recently. I'm wondering if I should just get another set of all-seasons, or if I should go ahead and get honest-to-god winter tires. The thing here is that I'm going to be doing a lot of driving this winter, and it seems like it would make sense to really get some specifically-for-snow tires.

Unfortunately I really can't spend more than $100 per shoe, and the only thing I can find at Tire Rack is these Dunlop Graspic's (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....tnum=25R6GRDS1)

Anyone have anything to say about them? I'd love to get a set of Blizzaks because I've heard a lot of good things about them, but I just can't afford it..

The problem is that once winter ends, I probably won't be able to afford a set of "summer tires." So do I go with all-seasons?? grr.. I really don't know what to do.. I'd love to get a nice summertime 17" wheel and tire package, but it just isn't realistic.

-adam

okay, I just called the local Tire Warehouse and asked for a quote on four of the Dunlops. They quoted me $115 each. When I balked, the guy asked me how much I'd found them for on the internet (he's probably used to this sort of thing). I told him I had found them at Tire Rack for $85 each. He told me that the $115 included shipping, mounting and balancing. Well I checked what Tire Rack would charge me for shipping. Four tires from Tire Rack including shipping is about $370. He wanted $460 for the whole shebang which means it would cost me about $90 to get four tires mounted, balanced and installed, plus he'd throw the old ones out. This breaks down to about $22 per tire. Does this sound about right?

Why is everything so much more expensive when you multiply it by four??

-adam

[mattski]

Originally posted by alacrity024
The problem is that once winter ends, I probably won't be able to afford a set of "summer tires."

-adam

Adam, this pretty much makes the decision for you. If you cannot afford two sets of tires specific for the season, then the only logical choice is a set of "all-season" tires. I have been driving my Legacy for 4 winters with a set of all season tires and never had an issue. I live on a private road that is very steep and my plow is at the top so I have to get to the top through unplowed snow. Granted, NJ is not NH but the Michelin MXV4s have done well. Having said that, since the Weenie Wagon is now my wife's car, she wants 4 studded snows on it. The way she drives, it does make $ sense.

Matt

[jscorse]

Adam,
You KNOW where "I" live. Up that LONG steep hill. I drive my all season Bridgestone Portenza 910s all year round. No worries. They where ~$100 each, I think, mounted. I'll have to go check out the receipts next chance I get.

I realize they're not z (actually H I think) rated or anything like that, but that just makes 'em last longer. I've had them up over 100 plenty of times and they work just fine.

As for the cost of mounting, that sounds about right. You can't get them mounted for free. The don't take care of the old ones for FREE, they get charged for that as well, which they do pass on to you.

$22 per tire sounds about right, mount, balance, valves, tire disposal.....it all adds up.

Unfortunately, I can't seem to find my tires on tirerack, so you'll have to find something else. Anyway I believe that all-season tires are just fine.

[lee]

A possible long term solution would be to move

winter vacations handle any reminiscent feelings