Jim Banville

Here's my experience. I bought 4 tires from Tirerack for a few dollars less each than local retail prices. BUT, shipping ($30-$40) killed most of the savings. THEN, I discovered that most installers near me actually charge a few bucks more per tire to install tires they didn't sell you. I wound spending about the same had I just bought local

Chappy

Jim,

I suppose it depends on what kind of tires you're ordering. I find that TireRack generally saves me $200-250 per set including install.

Silver_Lana

YOu must have pretty good local retail prices then. In my area there is enough of a difference to justify the shipping and then some.

Good luck with your tires.

Jim Banville

Can you give me an example?

Chappy

Call Butler Tire and ask them what they charge for Michelin PS2s for a CLK55.

Luke@tirerack

just did

BUTLER TIRE CO
4430 ROSWELL RD NE
ATLANTA GA 30342

01 CLK55
225/45-17
245/40-17
PS2's installed $1050.00

our price shipped to same Zipcode
$758.22

difference $291.78

I think i could find somebody to install them for less than $290.00 and save some money

just playin mystery shopper

Chappy

Yes, true. I called the exact same shop, lol! BTW, they quoted their DISCOUNT price (20% OFF the tires!!!)

Jim Banville

I was afraid you'd use an example using mega-priced high-end tires. How about an example using a "real world" tire and size more likely to be bought by an average Tirerack customer? How about an example using any 16", 55 series tire?

Luke@tirerack

actually our "typical" customer is an automtive enthusiast who looks for the better products for their vehicles that's why we focus on European and performance vehicles ....

amdeutsch

Jim

Would you consider a 17" Continental CH95 AS tire? You might want to search the W203 forum to see how well members like them in the 16" version.

The tirerack charged me $320 including shipping to my stealer for 4 at the time I bought them. Mounting and balancing was $45 including tax at the stealership. Best in-town price I could find was $600 including tax and free mounting, balancing and roadside. This place was listed on the tirerack website as an approved installer. I also happen to know that this place buys their tires from the tirerack and then resells them to the consumer. You and I both know that their price from the tirerack is better then what you and I pay considering that they are a tire dealership.

Chappy

Jim,

My last set of Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus in 205/60-15 cost over $50 less PER TIRE than shops here in town.

As for the "real" world......Frankly, I've quit buying "cheap" tires. I find the aggravation of having to deal with them isn't worth the few bucks I shell out at the time of purchase. I also find that quality tires last longer, handle better and return better fuel economy. In the long run, these additional benefits I now have come to expect are worth the added cost.

Here's how I rank my tire purchases and decide whom will do the install:

1. Quality
2. Confidence in workmanship
3. Hassle-free experience
4. Cost

But, that isn't to say you still can't get great deals on great tires. I bought the PS2s from TireRack in August (when Michelin had their $50 off deal), but didn't need the tires installed until November. Total price, after the rebate, was just $720 shipped!

Jim Banville

Michelin Energy+ MXv4 205/55/16
Sears $566 (including .07% tax)
Tirerack $548 (including shipping + $5 additional per tire installers around here want for installing "carried-in" tires)
It was kind of a hassle to fit the tires I got from Tirerack into my tiny C240. They don't seem that big, but I think I could only fit 1 in the trunk because of their shape. I think 2 went in the back seat and another rode next to me up front . When I got to the tire shop and set all the tires up next to the bay, people were looking at me like I had two heads or something! I guess people aren't used to seeing someone bringing in tires to a place that sells tires . I'm really not trying to sound nit-picky. This is just how I felt at the time. If I had actually saved a lot of money, I'd keep my fat mouth shut. Sometimes convenience (not having to load/unload tires while getting goofy looks at the same time) and not getting your hands dirty is actually worth something!

Maybe when it comes time to replace the "performance" ???-45-17's that are standard on the C230WZ I have ordered, I'll see a bigger savings going through Tirerack

Chappy

I see your point. Next time, just have the tires shipped directly to the installer. No dirty hands!

For me and nice rims: Sears/Costco/WalMart = No no
Try Gran Turismo, Butler Tire or (yes) even the dealer

Jim Banville

Brilliant!

s0vietbenz

Ya I don't save money either Tire rack should have winter sale

Randy B

Jim, not to jump on your back here. On all my Benz's I have only ordered standard Conti's from Tirerack. I have them shipped to my local factory Goodyear store as they are a listed installer with Tirerack. The mounting and balancing prices are already negotiated by Tirerack and come in less than if you had gone into the store first. I am sure Luke can help you with this on his website. On average, for a set of Conti's I pay $400.00 for four with shipping. Sometimes a little more for the new Benz. What is nice though is that Tirerack has proven great customer service with me. I had two Conti's Touring Contacts 245/45/17 (OEM tire) for replacements from them that Goodyear could not get aligned. The tires seemed to have a mold problem. I called Tirerack and explained to them what the problem was from the shop. They overnighted two of the exact same tires from a different serial number series and had call tags made for the other two tires I had at the shop. Did not cost me a single extra penny. That is something I can't beat about a so called mail order company. Now if you want to talk about high perf. tires, they have always beaten the local prices here in town. I find they ususally come under about 50 or 60 dollars on the OEM tires, plus I do not pay sales tax on them, so it's a pretty good deal to me.

Randy

Jim Banville

I HOPE that had you bought the defective tires from the local dealer/installer, they would have replaced them at no cost also.
I had assumed you get the better deal going w/ Tirerack when dealing w/ hi-end, hi-performance tires.
I find not having to pay sales tax, but having to pay shipping, I break even.
All the "approved" Tirerack installers in my area quote $20/tire for installation. If you buy the tire from them, installation is closer to $15/tire.

Randy B

Jim, looked at Atlanta for tire mounting prices and found them as low as $12.00 as an authorized Tirerack installer. I used Atlanta only as a reference as I do not know ehere in GA you are. Also the tires are bought were plain Jane Conti's not high performance. The car is an E500 and these were stock replacements that came on the car. By all means if you are not happy with Tirerack than don't use them. I certainally would not want to do business with a company if they had left a bad taste in my mouth. I wish you well with the local retailers.

Randy

05C55

I buy my tires through Luke whenever possible. I have yet to have a local match them though someone got close on a cheap set of 17"s I bought for a Nissan Sentra. For my C55 and 745Li Luke was very competitve BUT>>> was out of stock when I needed some PS2's I'll be back though.