Scarlet 'R' -ugh...tires. Where to buy around here?

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

So my car just failed inspection- the scarlet 'R' -  because the tires have little cracks... (not the treads... ;-) Plenty of tread but little cracks along the edges. Seems like a scam to me but what do I know.

Anyway, I've never bought tires - no idea where to go. Is there a reliable + rea$onable place around here (or anywhere...since I have a car)

tx

Comments

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

There's a Goodyear Tire in Union Square; easy to get to.

I've always been told that Costco/BJs/Sam's Clubs have the best deals on tires and haven't bothered to comparison shop beyond that. I've never had trouble with the tires I've gotten there, and it's nice to get free repair work done at their chains where ever.

There's a Costco in Everett and a BJs in Medford, both easy to get to by car from Wellington Circle.

[frederic.livejournal.com]

I'll second that. They have tires of varying price range and are able to fit you in and get things done reasonably fast (I've walked over to the Sherman Cafe with a book and gave them my cell phone number only to get a call soon after that the work was completed). No complaints at all.

[derekp.livejournal.com]

Costco often has coupons for a full set of tires in their monthly (bi-monthly?) coupon mailer. Usually something like $60 off a set of 4 tires. I *believe* I still have this coupon at home, so reply to this if you want it. I won't be using it this time.

[ron_newman]

I tagged this cars. There are a few old posts on this subject, though mixed with a lot of other car-related stuff.

[magpie-leah.livejournal.com]

There's a Firestone on Comm Ave near The Paradise. In fact there are like 5 car places altogether there. I went to Firestone recently and I was happy with the service. They have warranties you can sign up for that guarantee the tires if anything goes wrong.

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

Not a scam. Those tiny little cracks in the sidewall are referred to as 'dry rot' and they're what happens when a tire gets really really old and the plasticizers evaporate out of the rubber. A dry-rotted tire is much more prone to a spontaneous blowout, and the rubber compound has also gotten hard with age so that the tire has a lot less grip than it did when new regardless of how much tread is left.

*I'd* like to know how a car tire ends up getting dry-rotted unless the car sat in a barn for something like ten years. Methinks some shop sold you some elderly tires they had lying around. When did you buy them, and what does the date code (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11) on them say? And I sure wouldn't buy tires there anymore.

[an-art-worker.livejournal.com]

thanks - had no idea.

The car is a 2001 golf and the tires came new on it - so they are 6 years old. (the car has @ 27k miles on it)

[bikergeek.livejournal.com]

That's just plain weird. That shouldn't happen to car tires that are only six years old. I doubt the VW factory had them lying around for an extended period of time.

[rethcir.livejournal.com]

If you have the time to spare, I've heard good things about ordering from tirerack.com online - I am probably gonna go to them for some winter shoes for the whip

[joylewis.livejournal.com]

I've had good success with tirerack.com, price, quality and service. You'll have to pay to get them installed and balanced, though, which cost an extra $125 or $150.

[narya.livejournal.com]

I have had two good experiences with the Direct Tire in Watertown.