Best place & price to get higher end car tyres? (Michelin/GoodYear etc)

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Best place & price to get higher end car tyres? (Michelin/GoodYear etc)

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#228685 17-Jan-2018 11:46

So tyres seem to be yet another consumer good we get absolutely screwed on compared to UK, US and Oz pricing...

I will be in the market to replace all my tyres this year - probably 2 at a time given the cost - and I will be looking to get either GoodYear F1 or Michelin Pilot Sport in a 19/35/225 size.

So far it seems I will be paying at least $550 a tyre fitted...does anyone have any ideas if I can get this done properly for less and if so, where?

(I am in Auckland but would drive a bit for a decent saving!)

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#1941442 17-Jan-2018 11:54

I find calling around will get prices down quite a bit.

I got the price of my last tyres down about $100 per tyre by calling round - they started at $350ish fitted, got them for $245 fitted (per tyre). 215/45R18 Falkens.

Discount Tyres was where I ended up, but had called Bridgestone, Beaurepaires and Tonys as well. They were (all) really good and quite competitive.

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#1941445 17-Jan-2018 12:00

...to add, a quick search on main UK dealers shows that compared to the prices I have been given here, a complete set of the Michelin's would be at least NZ$600 cheaper and the GoodYear would be exactly half the price.

Sheesh.

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#1941449 17-Jan-2018 12:13

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So tyres seem to be yet another consumer good we get absolutely screwed on compared to UK, US and Oz pricing...

I will be in the market to replace all my tyres this year - probably 2 at a time given the cost - and I will be looking to get either GoodYear F1 or Michelin Pilot Sport in a 19/35/225 size.

So far it seems I will be paying at least $550 a tyre fitted...does anyone have any ideas if I can get this done properly for less and if so, where?

(I am in Auckland but would drive a bit for a decent saving!)

My BMW has just worn out it's 2nd set of Michelin PS3's, and I'm about to put a 3rd set on.

I bought both sets from TyreWarehouse on Great North Rd. They charged ~$200 fitted & balanced. Most others wanted around $250. I would definitely recommend them. And freindly service to boot.

Edited - corrected street address...

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#1941450 17-Jan-2018 12:14

I previously used to have the exact same tyre size and they are generally more expensive than either 18 or 20's. I found prices used to vary between $300-350 for Maxxis tyres through to $400-$500 for Dunlop Sportmaxx or $550+ for the Goodyear. the Sportmaxx cost more, but actually ended up lasting approximately double the length of time if not longer. The Sportmaxx also had some of the best handling of the tyres I've tried.

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#1941454 17-Jan-2018 12:19

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...to add, a quick search on main UK dealers shows that compared to the prices I have been given here, a complete set of the Michelin's would be at least NZ$600 cheaper and the GoodYear would be exactly half the price.

Sheesh.

The prices we see are mostly due to our small market size and the cost to store and transport tires. I used to sell tires and car parts, Shipping on tires from the US is NOT cheap. Tirerack have got some deals but generally is well offset by the shipping cost.

Unrealistic to draw lines to off shore pricing.

Call around, See what people say.

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#1941455 17-Jan-2018 12:24

What about the Bridgestone Potenza S001, got the 245/35R20's on my SS and they are a great tyre. They retail at $439 but you'll get them cheaper than that if you ring around.

Who quoted $550 for the Goodyear F1's ? You should be able to get them for around $450. I had them last time round but they were noticeably noisier than the Potenza's

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#1941464 17-Jan-2018 12:29

pillmonsta:

My BMW has just worn out it's 2nd set of Michelin PS3's, and I'm about to put a 3rd set on.

I bought both sets from TyreWarehouse on Rosebank Rd. They charged ~$200 fitted & balanced. Most others wanted around $250. I would definitely recommend them. And freindly service to boot.

I think the fact that mine are a slightly more unsual size does jack the price a little!

Will check these guys too though.

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#1941466 17-Jan-2018 12:30

Coil:

The prices we see are mostly due to our small market size and the cost to store and transport tires. I used to sell tires and car parts, Shipping on tires from the US is NOT cheap. Tirerack have got some deals but generally is well offset by the shipping cost.

Unrealistic to draw lines to off shore pricing.

Call around, See what people say.

I know it isn't always a fair comparison, but I can't help myself...

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#1941468 17-Jan-2018 12:33

clevedon:

What about the Bridgestone Potenza S001, got the 245/35R20's on my SS and they are a great tyre. They retail at $439 but you'll get them cheaper than that if you ring around.

Who quoted $550 for the Goodyear F1's ? You should be able to get them for around $450. I had them last time round but they were noticeably noisier than the Potenza's

Its interesting how people's experience varies so much.

My biggest issue with the OEM Pirelli Zeros is the road noise and the accelerative grip in the wet. General consensus on the Skoda forum is that the Michelins and the Goodyears are by far the best choice to resolve these issues, hence why they are on the shortlist.

Hadn't considered the Potenzas - maybe I will now...

Much as I whinge about the price, I think I would rather have a slightly softer tyre which performs better and more quietly and replace it slightly sooner than continue to run the Pirellis!

$550 was both from my local independent and HyperDrive. Again, I think the rarer size contributes to the higher cost.

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#1941475 17-Jan-2018 12:38

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Coil:

The prices we see are mostly due to our small market size and the cost to store and transport tires. I used to sell tires and car parts, Shipping on tires from the US is NOT cheap. Tirerack have got some deals but generally is well offset by the shipping cost.

Unrealistic to draw lines to off shore pricing.

Call around, See what people say.

I know it isn't always a fair comparison, but I can't help myself...

Yep.. I'd go for a Michelin on that wheel size. Pilot Sport 2 or 3 or 4 is a good tire, otherwise I like the BS RE003.

Achilles ATR Sport is not bad either and on the cheaper end of the scale.

P Zero series are fast wearing from what I saw, Expensive too. I prefer the Michelin and BS offerings.

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#1941477 17-Jan-2018 12:39

If you're driving a Skoda VRS, I'd go for the RE003!

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#1941478 17-Jan-2018 12:40

Coil:

If you're driving a Skoda VRS, I'd go for the RE003!

I am!

Why so? They seem to be noted as "noisy" by a lot of folk?

clevedon

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#1941481 17-Jan-2018 12:46

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clevedon:

What about the Bridgestone Potenza S001, got the 245/35R20's on my SS and they are a great tyre. They retail at $439 but you'll get them cheaper than that if you ring around.

Who quoted $550 for the Goodyear F1's ? You should be able to get them for around $450. I had them last time round but they were noticeably noisier than the Potenza's

Its interesting how people's experience varies so much.

My biggest issue with the OEM Pirelli Zeros is the road noise and the accelerative grip in the wet. General consensus on the Skoda forum is that the Michelins and the Goodyears are by far the best choice to resolve these issues, hence why they are on the shortlist.

Hadn't considered the Potenzas - maybe I will now...

Much as I whinge about the price, I think I would rather have a slightly softer tyre which performs better and more quietly and replace it slightly sooner than continue to run the Pirellis!

$550 was both from my local independent and HyperDrive. Again, I think the rarer size contributes to the higher cost.

The prices I said above were for your size tyres. There is also the Dunlop Sport Maxx option at around low $400's

The Potenza's are a lot quieter than the F1's, certainly from my experience. The Potenzas are the next step down from the RE050's but they retail at high $600's, the RE050'S came out on my car from new and they are a great tyre but not at that replacement price so I went for the Potenzas when they needed changing. There is not a lot of noticeable difference in handling/treadwear that justifies the difference in price for me anyway.

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#1941482 17-Jan-2018 12:50

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Coil:

If you're driving a Skoda VRS, I'd go for the RE003!

I am!

Why so? They seem to be noted as "noisy" by a lot of folk?

The RE003 in a 225/35R19 is not a current tyre listed on Bridgestone price list which was released October 2017.

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#1941486 17-Jan-2018 12:52

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Coil:

If you're driving a Skoda VRS, I'd go for the RE003!

I am!

Why so? They seem to be noted as "noisy" by a lot of folk?

I woudn't get caught up in the specifics of what people think. Each to their own, Anything is noisy on our crappy chip seal roads. A new Skoda has enough noise dampening in it to not make that much of a difference.

Heck, my old E36, you can hear a pin drop in the cabin at 100KPH on the motorway..

I like the RE003, Handles very well and has good wet performance as well.
Do need to get some heat in them to make them stick. The sidewalls are also quite rigid and holds a very nice line through corners.

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