Buying tires
 

I'm going to try to keep this thread as updated as I can as the exchange rates have been quite active again.

When buying tires locally, in general your cost is price plus $5 tire levy per tire, GST, and PST. Depending on where you go, you may also have to pay for the tires to be mounted and balanced.

If you were to buy the tires from the US or internet, there are 3 ways to get the tires. 1) Shipped to a US tireshop and get them to mount and balence them and drive on them back to Canada. 2) Shipped to a US post office or shipping hub like The Letter Carrier or TSB Shipping. 3) Get them shipped into Canada.
The downside to #3 is that you will have to pay GST, PST, tire duties (6%) and a higher shipping fee which may include some ridiculous amount for brokerage fees.
#1 is good if you do not have the ability to bring the tires back. Legally, you SHOULD report the tires to customs and pay the GST, PST, and tire duties when you cross the border.
I personally go with #2 as I buy a lot of race tires and cannot drive around on them as normal street tires.

Some of the sites I use to compare prices are The Tirerack, Onlinetires, and Discount Tire Direct.

During christmas last year, Discount Tire Direct had a $100 off for web purchases which makes their prices very cheap but unfortunately their selection is a little limited.

For the AP1 guys, DTD has the Dunlop Direzza Z1 Star Spec tire in 225/50/16 size at $115 per tire. 4 tires with UPS ground shipping (cheapest method available) lands the tires into Pt. Roberts at $530.77 USD.

The Tirerack has the same tires at $115 per tire as well, and shipped to Pt. Roberts is $513.54 USD.

Onlinetires has those tires at $111 per tire and only charge $495.20 USD to have them shipped to Pt. Roberts.

1010 tires is a internet branch of Volco, and they have the same tire listed at $179.99 cdn each.
Tire Trends has the older version of this tire at $136.95 cdn per tire, but the StarSpecs are supposed to be an improved compound.

When picking up the tires from Pt. Roberts, you have to pay a small fee to those shipping hubs. TLC charges about $3.75 per package, which is usually a set of 2 tires. I believe TSB charges $5 or $6.

Assuming I buy the tires from Onlinetires and shipped to TLC, the cost breakdown is as follows.
$495.20 for the tires plus $7.50 hub fee.
GST, PST, and duty only applies to the tires themselves and not the shipping.
Today's exchange rate is roughly 1.07 according to this site.
$475.08 cdn x 18% tax and duty = $85.52 cdn.
$502.70 usd = $537.89 cdn
Total cost is $537.89 + $85.52 or $623.41 cdn.

The same tires from 1010 tires would cost you $179.99 X 4 + $20 X 12% tax = $828.76 cdn.

For the AP2 guys, let's look at the 225/45/17 and 255/40/17 Bridgestone RE01R's.

TR has them listed at $183 and $220 and shipping is $55.32 when they have them in stock.
OT has them listed at $161 and $194 and shipping is $50.50.
DTD does not list these tires.

1010Tires has them listed at $239.99 and $279.99.
TT has them listed but you need to call to get pricing.

Assuming I bought them from OT, they would cost me $768.00 picked up at Pt. Roberts. Taxes works out $136.75 cdn and total cost of the tires is $958.51 cdn.
Picking up the same tires at 1010Tires would cost $1187.25 cdn.

Very good info edwen!!!

I plan on getting the Dunlop Z1 Star Spec shipped to a friends place down there.

p.s. ill sticky this for ya.

did u check Tire Rack, got mine cheap on there

or try www.vulcantires.com, bought some from them before

I checked out Vulcan tires and they have a really limited selection.

They list the Falken RT-615 but are out of stock in a lot of the S2000 sizes.
They list the 255/40/17's at $129 per tire plus $60 for shipping for 4 tires but are on back order.

Tirerack does not carry this tire.
DTD has this tire and is listing them at $131 per tire and $72.22 for UPS shipping.
Onlinetires has the tire listed at $123 per tire and shipping is $52.72.

Vulcan Tires are a hit or miss, but most of the time there 5-10 dollars cheaper than most places and charge only $40 for shipping

Shipping charges are based on where the item is being shipped from and where they are going. In this case, they would ship out of Utah to Washington and it is $60 for shipping. :tipwink:

o, ok

Great info Edwen!