I had new OEM rear tires put on the '01 yesterday, at Costco, and today, on the '05 at Affordable Tire. Two different experiences for me. How have yours been?


Costco (for 2001 S2000)
Total cost was $367.03 for two rear OEM 225/50/R16 Potenza S-02s, installed. Price includes free flat repairs, free rotations (I know, not needed), free re-balancing and Road Hazard Warranty.

I was told it would be an hour and a half wait and it was. They drive you car into the workbays and use a lift under the whole chassis. I felt comfortable with the employees. Well, as much as possible when handing over my S2000. The place is clean. They don't let anyone tighten the nuts unless they have had a class and are certified. They always use a torque wrench. I trust them.

The only problem is Costco will not be selling Bridgestone's anymore after Dec 31st. If I do need my tire warrantied, due to a Road Hazard, they won't give me a Bridgestone, so it's pretty much useless now. I will still be going to Costco for Michelin tires on our other vehicles, but not for the S2000s.

Affordable Tire (for 2005 S2000)
Total cost was $485 for two rear OEM 245/40/R17 Potenza RE 050s, installed. They started on the car within about 7 minutes of me pulling up. It was done in about 30 minutes. They used a jack on each side of the car to lift the back end. It was done outside, in the front of the workbays. I wasn't comfortable with the employees. I asked if they were going to use a torque wrench for the correct torque, and the owner yelled out the door to; "Have the Honda torqued".

The price was good, and they did it fast. No flat warranty, or free balancing. I don't know if I'll go back.

 

I guess the employees at Affordable are not too tuned in, Patty.

I found a guy I trust locally who will mount and balance four tires for me for under $100, so I always order my rubber from Tire Rack (online). It usually takes under a week for them to get them shipped to my house.

I think there are some Goodyear and/or Michelin alternatives to consider for replacing your 16" OEMs. Just be sure, if you do it, to check the sizes with someone knowledgable (or poke around the wheel/tire forum here). Normally you'll go with a slightly wider tire designation because the stock S02s are wider than their printed size.

 

I don't have experience with replacing the tires on my S, as it's too new. For my other cars, I've gone two ways -- and I haven't decided which to go here in Boca.

In Santa Fe, the Discount Tire operation was pretty good, and they offered lifetime balancing and puncture repair. With the construction there, we were always picking up drywall screws that got spilled off construction trucks, so the repair freebie was useful. I got my wife's tires there for her convenience.

There was also a very good TireRack installer (an independent Saab dealer/shop), and I used him a lot also. He put on metal valve stems without being asked to.

If I can find what seems like a solid TireRack installer here, that's the route I'm taking for my S. I may use the Goodyear dealer for Claire's car, though, because I'm thinking about those TriplTreads for her Forester in a few months. HPH

 

I always end up at the same local store. I call around getting prices first. Then I call the place I know I will be buying from, and tell them what I want, and what I want to pay.

They will also take a jack out to my car if all of their service bays are full. That's fine with me. It gets the job done faster, and I know they won't be tempted to use an impact wrench.

I looked into ordering from Tire Rack. But after figuring in shipping it was almost the same as buying locally. If it doesn't cost me any more, and it gets the tires on the car sooner, I'd rather keep the profits in the hands of my local store. When I'm trying to get a discount on brake or suspension work I don't want them to be thinking of me as the cheapskate who brings in his own tires to be mounted.

 

Since our S2K is a daily driver, even in the winter, I bought a spare set of '03 OEM wheels. The tires (Dunlop Winter Sport) came from Tire Rack. Excellent price and delivery. I checked the Tire Rack website for a list of installers in my area and then I called about 2-3 of them for prices. Next, I took a drive-by to see what each one looked like. Based on price and how they looked, I picked one and set up an appointment. When I took in the wheels/tires, they started on them within 5 minutes. They were VERY careful with the wheels were very courteous.

 

I should add that Affordable Tire was the first one listed by Tire Rack as a go-to installer. They were about $3 higher getting the tires themselves, than if I had Tire Rack ship to them and then have them put the tires on.

 

I've only dealt with Tire Rack for my S, which is a year-round daily driver here in Chicago.

Before the first winter, I bought a set of used OEM wheels, and contacted Jim @ Tire Rack for advice about tires. We decided that the Bridgestone LM-22s would be the best option for me and my winter driving environment, and he suggested using the printed SO-2 tire sizes to maintain a stagger, but give better winter traction with a slightly narrower tire. Since they are only about 3 hours away from me, Hilly and I made a day of it and went to their South Bend, IN, facility with our sedan and the wheels in the trunk. It took about 30 minutes to pa for the tire, get them mounted, and put in the car with each tire in a large plastic bag.

When I needed new rear SO-2s last summer, I went back to Tire Rack. We again drove out there for the install. About 10 minutes after we paid, they started on the car. I drove it into the indoor bay, the car was carefully jacked up with floor jacks on each side, and the rears removed. two guys busted down the two wheels, mounted and balanced the replacements, and installed them on the car on the correct sides. Each wheel was torqued, and they also checked the fronts.

I am quite happy with their pricing and service, and I plan to go back when it comes time to get winter tires for the Accord, and summer wheel/tire packages for both the S and the Accord.

 

Patty,

I've bought quite a few sets of Tires from Tire Rack and have always been satisfied with their service. They've called me up to confirm that the tires that I bought for my 4Runner were actually the tires that I wanted, and they even helped me to find alternatives when there was a tire shortage in my 4Runner's size due to the Firestone debacle.

I've bought two complete sets for my 4Runner, a complete set for my Acura and two rear SO-2s for my S. Each and every time I was pleased with Tire Rack.

The first set for my 4Runner was installed by my Toyota dealer. They did the mounting, balancing and installation for $10 per tire because I gave them a hard time about not being able to get me the tires (due to Firestone). They did a very good job.

The time after I had the same Toyota dealer do the work. This time they overtightened and warped my front rotors. When I brought the car back, they denied using an impact wrench to put the tires back on, and made me pay for the repair. (This time they charged me $20 per tire)

My Acura dealer mounted, balanced and installed the set on my TL. They did a good job of it (which is surprising for them, they do horrible work) except that they over tightened the lug nuts. They too denied using an impact wrench. They charged me $20 per tire too.

My Honda dealer mounted and balanced my rear S0-2s. I had the car on stands in my garage in order to change the fluids, so I took the wheels off and brought the wheels and tires to them. They did a good job. Mounted the tires on the correct rims and balanced them. I picked up the tires that afternoon and put them back on the car myself using a torque wrench. I paid Honda $25 per tire.

I love dealing with Tire Rack, and I think the dealers do a good job of mounting and balancing the tires, I just have to take them off the car and put them back on myself.

 

One theme that's running all through here -- and something I forgot to mention before -- is that it's the local shop, rather than the name on its sign, that makes the difference. There are good Discount shops and bad ones, etc., etc. TireRack makes deals with shops (one was a Firestone/Bridgestone place in Santa Fe, even) and then weeds out the not-so-good ones; but you can have a bad experience in the meantime. If you can find a place that's been a TireRack installer for a long time, that's probably a reasonable recommendation -- but even they will have good and not-so-good technicians. So, first time out it's always a little bit of a crap shoot. HPH

 

That doesn't make sense. It's not like Bridgestones are unavailable. I'm sure they would just order one from another supplier.

If you have a warranty you have a warranty. What would they do, replace all four of your tires because one failed? They can't put one tire of a different brand on there -- the liability would be unacceptible.