I have neglected my car maintenance for the last two months or so. I t had to do with lack of funds first and now, lack of time. But the winter tyres (yes, I prefer the UK spelling) must come off as the leafs are turning green and spring is finally here.
Choosing bad tyres is not only a waste of money, but a hazard to yourself and others. Often the opposite is very true, a quality set of tyres (and maybe lighter wheels) improves the handling and driving comfort of a car, and your opinion thereof.
Phil Bailey’s article for CanadianDriver covers the same topics and reminds me I really need to take care of my car.
My tyre spec is : 205×55R16 H rating or better
So far the short list includes :
Pirelli P6000 SPORTVELOCE, H rating obo $160 Cdn
Falken ZIEX ZE-512, V rating obo $135 Cdn
Bridgstone POTENZA RE950, H rating obo $155 Cdn
Kumho 712 ECSTA SUPRA, V rating obo $125 Cdn
and
Nokian WR, H rating obo $200 Cdn and the only true “All Season” tyre
Where to buy is another question, today, much like with computer components, mail-order houses (often from B.C.), seem to have the best prices and service. Even with transport costs around 20$ a tyre to Montreal.
See :
TireTrends see their community discussion board on Canadian Driver
As for local shops:
Shops carrying Falken, a performance brand from Japan with great racing and “street cred”, can be found at President Tire
Where I shopped in the past, with great prices and service:
Although it changed ownership and now is in the Unipneau corporate stable, Pneaus Beaumont has shod my last two cars and my mothers’ Forester in Nokian winter tyres. If it were not for my fascination with Falken, I’d go there for the Pirelli and the service.
For Falken, I found online raves for Pneus Theo Gossellin, who are close to the distributor and have great prices (or so I read).
UPDATE : Just called and Mr. Gossellin himself took the call. No tyres of my size in, but will be in day-two. $625 installed, ballanced, tax. Better overall price the from Tiretrend.com … wow.
And for the “new and innovative”, how about Pneus Direct actually come to your house!
Posted by petergun at May 12, 2003 09:13 AM