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Is it worth driving to Portland for tires?
!LittleDragon
08-12-2019, 09:59 PM
As stated in the title. I need new tires and I'm thinking of taking a trip down to Portland to buy a set of tires after labour day. I could get a set of Pilot Sport A/S 3+ for just shy of $1000 USD. Locally, I think it's about $1600.
Riding on DWS 06 right now, great grip but soft sidewalls. I blew 2 of them so far. Low profile, heavy car... Not a great combination with our crap roads.
Probably not worth it if I go down for a weekend just for tires but if I make a trip out of it...
fliptuner
08-12-2019, 10:05 PM
Why not get them shipped to Blaine?
!LittleDragon
08-12-2019, 10:16 PM
Sales tax... lol... and I'm looking to get them installed down there as well. I need to stay down there for 48 hours to bring them back duty free and I can't think of enough things to do in Blaine to keep me busy for 48 hours...
Bender Unit
08-12-2019, 10:31 PM
compare to these online stores 1st
https://quattrotires.com
https://pmctire.com
FN-2199
08-12-2019, 10:39 PM
If you make it a weekend trip and enjoy your time down there, any purchase would be well worth it as compared to buying it up here.
If you're thinking of just a day trip, I definitely wouldn't do it unless the savings truly justified it.
keifun
08-12-2019, 10:47 PM
Exactly. Just stay there for the weekend.
Go buy some electronics while you're there; no sales tax. Check out the outlet for some shopping. Hit up the food trucks while you're at it too.
!LittleDragon
08-12-2019, 10:58 PM
compare to these online stores 1st
https://quattrotires.com
https://pmctire.com
They're about what I expect... $1600 without install.
320icar
08-12-2019, 11:34 PM
FWIW id go through 3 tanks of gas at least each way. So just in fuel probably $550-600 plus my time. Just do it here
68style
08-12-2019, 11:51 PM
FWIW is go through 3 tanks of gas at least each way. So just in fuel probably $550-600 plus my time. Just do it here
What the heck are you driving down there? It's only 509km! Should be 1 tank each way
How do you go through 3 tanks on a 500 km drive?
fliptuner
08-13-2019, 12:17 AM
Aren't those US made tires and not subject to duty?
SSM_DC5
08-13-2019, 06:08 AM
Aren't those US made tires and not subject to duty?
It's probably auto charged sales tax to buy from the online store if shipping/pick up is set to WA.
twitchyzero
08-13-2019, 07:02 AM
what size? i paid $600 for mine at costco here
and i've already used the warranty twice
sounds like a bad value proposition unless you're already down there for a trip
trollface
08-13-2019, 07:11 AM
Do you drive a Panzer tank? 3 tanks of gas to get to portland?
eclipseman
08-13-2019, 07:29 AM
FWIW id go through 3 tanks of gas at least each way. So just in fuel probably $550-600 plus my time. Just do it here
I do this drive often and usually have a 15-25% tank of gas left in my '12 Audi sedan. Not sure what drive you're doing to use 3 tanks each way to Portland...
!LittleDragon
08-13-2019, 08:27 AM
FWIW id go through 3 tanks of gas at least each way. So just in fuel probably $550-600 plus my time. Just do it here
Uhhh.... $600 worth of gas would get me to Vegas and back and my car gets only 27mpg hwy.
!LittleDragon
08-13-2019, 08:30 AM
what size? i paid $600 for mine at costco here
and i've already used the warranty twice
sounds like a bad value proposition unless you're already down there for a trip
I have a staggered setup.
Fronts 245/40/19
Rears 275/35/19
$600 wouldn't get me a pair of front tires at Costco... lol
teggy604
08-13-2019, 08:44 AM
if you buy tires from the states, if anything happens you have to go back down there. You wouldn't be able to go to any tire stores here, even tho its the same manufacturer. My buddy bought some tires from Bellingham and some how they pop after 1 month. so he had to drive back down there to get it replaced. Always there is a chance.
SFU_wmc
08-13-2019, 10:20 AM
if you buy tires from the states, if anything happens you have to go back down there. You wouldn't be able to go to any tire stores here, even tho its the same manufacturer. My buddy bought some tires from Bellingham and some how they pop after 1 month. so he had to drive back down there to get it replaced. Always there is a chance.
Not if you buy it from Costco USA. Warranty works at any Costco Canada+USA locations.
trollface
08-13-2019, 10:30 AM
TIL: I'm the only person that's never had a flat or puncture in 20+ years.
I’ve surprisingly never had a flat or a puncture in 20 years of driving and I’ve driven 30k+ almost every year.
jackmeister
08-13-2019, 11:06 AM
As stated in the title. I need new tires and I'm thinking of taking a trip down to Portland to buy a set of tires after labour day. I could get a set of Pilot Sport A/S 3+ for just shy of $1000 USD. Locally, I think it's about $1600.
Riding on DWS 06 right now, great grip but soft sidewalls. I blew 2 of them so far. Low profile, heavy car... Not a great combination with our crap roads.
Probably not worth it if I go down for a weekend just for tires but if I make a trip out of it...
Oh boy I was about the drop money on the DWS 06 (low profile) for my Audi 6. I'm picking it because its got M+S
You're making me second guess that decision..
Simplex123
08-13-2019, 11:09 AM
OP are you buying from a store or classifieds?
!LittleDragon
08-13-2019, 11:15 AM
OP are you buying from a store or classifieds?
I'm buying in a store. Probably a Discount Tire because I have to get them installed down there as well. My tire guy says he can't even get tires at cost for less than retail in the US. I think I'm just going to go and have fun for a few days. Maybe pick up that 2070 Super I've been wanting as well while I'm down there.
!LittleDragon
08-13-2019, 11:18 AM
Oh boy I was about the drop money on the DWS 06 (low profile) for my Audi 6. I'm picking it because its got M+S
You're making me second guess that decision..
I'd have a different opinion if I never hit any potholes. They're a good tire and served me well through 3 winters including that snow dump of 2016. Never had an issue with grip. They just don't hold up well with potholes. I'd probably buy them again if I didn't want to try out the Michelins. If you are sure you can avoid hitting a pothole then I'd say go for them. My front tires take all the brunt and they're 245/40/19 on a 4500lbs car. If I end up having the same problem with the Michelins, I'd probably go back to the DWS and deal with flat/bubbled tires on occasion
trollface
08-13-2019, 11:49 AM
Oh boy I was about the drop money on the DWS 06 (low profile) for my Audi 6. I'm picking it because its got M+S
You're making me second guess that decision..
Do you guys live in an active warzone? Where are all these pot holes at?
twitchyzero
08-13-2019, 12:21 PM
tons of nails from constructions all-around
yes you could use fix-a-flat but it's nice not having to deal with leaks at all and just bring it to a local shop
fack me, i know 19-20" rubber are not cheap but not like triple the cost
the difference btw here and US is a few hundred...if you get years out of them just buy local
all for A/S tires too...if it was a one-off custom shop for a thoughtafter part maybe
!LittleDragon
08-13-2019, 12:32 PM
Do you guys live in an active warzone? Where are all these pot holes at?
I worked in a shipyard for 12 years. There's always potholes, floods, nails, screws, etc... This is my third car since working there because my last two were trashed with sawdust from our neighbour... The stuff gets into everything and builds up, gunks up the gears. My last car was only 5 years old before I dumped it because the power windows were working really slowly due to sawdust buildup. At least it's sawdust and not cement dust like out in one of our other offices.
discount tire at bellingham and go for dinner in seattle
come back after 12am, all the new tread marks will be gone
sales tax is only 6.5%?
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