Tires and local tire shops

[WolfeMacleod]

Picked up a large screw in the left front recently. Looking for a tire place that won't mangle my wheels. Haven't decided if I'm just going to plug it temporarily, or to replace the whole set now since I've been considering it anyways.

Car is an '88 924S. Michelin 195/65/R15 that were on the car when I bought it. If I replace the set, I want to go with something a bit wider with much better grip. The Michelin's aren't terrible, but they're not great either.

So..any shop and tire suggestions?

[tumalo98199]

For tires my bias is Tirerack. Typically have good deals on countless types of tires. Tirerack also makes it easy by identifying "partnered" installers in your area. Pick one and they will drop ship direct to your installer.

I've used Group2 in Magnolia on several occasions - 911, Boxster and, yes, even my Eurovan. Chris and they guys over there are top notch and know what they are doing. They won't screw your wheels up and will give great advice on setup/alignment.

Whatever you do . . . DO NOT go to Les Schwab. I took my old 924S there and they tatered a wheel. Didn't learn the first time and took a flat on my Boxster there to get fixed. Tatered that wheel too!!!!!

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally posted by tumalo98199
Whatever you do . . . DO NOT go to Les Schwab.

Yeh...I called Les Schwab on Aurora near the cemetary about plugging the tire...asked if they had any soft sockets or whatever they're called. He said "What? what are those for?" I told him "So ya don't F*ck up my lug nuts"
He said he'd never heard of those...I so said I woulnd't be coming.

[Scooter]

I've used Speedware a few times. They are careful with the wheels and don't use an impact wrench.

[Jeff Higgins]

Discount Tire here in Lynnwood off 196th has put on my last several sets. No problems, ever. They will remove and install lug nuts by hand if you ask. They take their time and are carefull with the bead breaking / installing machine as well.

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally posted by Jeff Higgins
Discount Tire

I may give them a call. Checking thier website now...

If I go with them, here's what I'm considering

Yokohama AVS dB S2
P205/60R-15 90V BW $101

Yokohama YK420
P205/60R-15 90H B $95

Kumho Ecsta ASX
205/60R-15 91V BW $74

Any thoughts on these as far as dry/wet cornering and such? I tend to corner moderatly hard....

[Jeff Higgins]

I haven't run any of those. In the same price range, I have run Yokohama AVS ES100's and Avon Tech M500's; both in 205/50-15. I prefer the Avons, but the Yoko's are a very close second. Tread life on the Yoko's was better, but both wet and dry traction on the Avons are better. The Avons are hands down the best rain tire I have run. I have managed to wear the Avons out in less than 10,000 miles of fairly agressive street driving, and about half a dozen track days out at Pacific.

[Dantilla]

My local Discount tire guys use torque wrenches for final lug tightening.

That being said, for the Porsche wheels, I take them off at home and bring them to the tire store in the back of my truck.

[teenerted1]

i'll second discount tires and the yoko ES100

i ordered mine since they didnt have in stock. arrived on a friday
set up an appt for a saturday morning and was nice to see that i didnt have to wait in the big line they had going on people that wanted theirs the same time they ordered. they didnt rush it, did a real good job. make sure you take it easy on the way out of the parking lot on a rainy day.



might go with the Avon's next time

[RANDY P]

North Seattle Discount took good care of me. Pretty much any Discount, but stay away from Renton and Fed. Way - they see your car, they'll assume you automatically are used to paying 4x what they normally charge.

That is, till you call them on it. Every single time..

Kirkland and Bellevue Discount are top notch.

[WolfeMacleod]

Originally posted by Dantilla
My local Discount tire guys use torque wrenches for final lug tightening.

And indeed they did. No impact wrench at all. I went to the one in Lynnwood today. I opted only to have the two tires plugged, for now. And damn, it was free!

the only thing I was unsure of what thier jacking method. They put some sorta black blocks under the jack points of the car. They looked like they compressed a bit (dense foam? rubber?), to avoid damage to the edge of the body. I've already got a badly mangled spot under there where some jackass didn't know how to lift the car.

[HarryD]

Originally posted by WolfeMacleod
Yeh...I called Les Schwab on Aurora near the cemetary about plugging the tire...asked if they had any soft sockets or whatever they're called. He said "What? what are those for?" I told him "So ya don't F*ck up my lug nuts"
He said he'd never heard of those...I so said I woulnd't be coming.

Interesting. The Les Schwab near me uses my jack plate and removes and replaces my lug nuts by hand and at the correct torque. How do I know? I stand there and watch. It is amazing what a bit of your time at the job site will do for the quality of work perfomed.

So far, no problems.

[AaronM]

I've always had good luck with Firestone shops. Never had one mangle anything, though the wheels do tend to come back greasy.

[nize]

tire survey;
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?threadid=277173

Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3

these tires are relatively new to the market so there might be a backorder for your size.

[MOVOVR951]

www.edgeracing.com

I have had nothing but good say about them. If you go 205/50 you can get Azenis 615 or the Hankook 212s which are hands down the best street tire I have driven on. Both are very competitive in SCCA street tire classes. When driven hard they will heat up and and get very sticky. I have the 212s on my Fuchs and have 10k miles of abuse on them. I have driven on the Neova and bridgestone top of the line tires and these are on par all day at half the price. My car is not a daily driver so keep that in mind. I trade tire life for grip gladly, a couple of years ago I ran full tread R compound tires all year. The 212s are very close to those (even with the heat cycle count taken into consideration) and will deal with standing water quite well . Good luck!

[Drago]

Originally posted by HarryD
Interesting. The Les Schwab near me uses my jack plate and removes and replaces my lug nuts by hand and at the correct torque. How do I know? I stand there and watch. It is amazing what a bit of your time at the job site will do for the quality of work perfomed.

So far, no problems.

+1

There are differences in the local area Les Schwabs. Some are corporate owned and some are locally owned. In my experience I'd stick with the locally owned stores.

[nize]

here's a car and driver review;
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/CandD_gy_f1_gs_d3.jsp