I'v purchased way too many tires over the last decade, and I finally found out how to save some serious dough.

I've been looking for a set of Michelin LTX M/S. IMO, the best all around tire made. Also, it happens to be one of the most expensive.

DiscountTire.com lists the price as $232. This is the same price you would pay if you walked into a Discount Tire store and bought them. With tax, thats $995 for a set of 4.

DiscountTireDirect.com lists the same tire for $219. There's no tax, and no shipping, for a total of $876. That's a savings of $119. They also happened to be on sale last week, $70 off a set of four. Total savings of $189, 19%. Not a fortune, but not chicken feed, either. That's about three tanks of fuel - free.

I had the new tires shipped directly to my local Discount Tire store. When they arrived in 3 days, they called me and I went down and had them installed. Mounting, balancing, and waste tire removal cost me $88. Same as if I bought them there. No tax on labor charges.

 

I just picked up a slightly used set of LTX A/S (<4000 miles) off craigslist.... including the Dodge aluminum rims off a 2003...

$675

 

what size did ya get, I have had a lot of luck savin money on tireseasy.com and so have a few friends don't look if ya don't want to know ya paid too much !

 

What is the cost of having them mounted and balanced??

Jim

 

I was going to say Craigslist as well.

I can find 2-3 sets of brand spankin' new Michelins every week on CL.

I broke down and bought a set of takeoffs last week. I got a set of 2008 forged aluminum OEM wheels and Michelins. Paid $400 for both with less than 50 miles on them.

They'll look terrible but will work for the summer towing season.

 

I've had those tires in the past, and I liked them. I thought Michelin didn't make them in a LT265/70-17 E.

 

I have found new spares at a wrecking yard for $100 a piece.

 

I just installed them tonight.. I like the chrome look of my old rims a bit better than the new alloy ones... but these are smooth tires! my old ones where the same LTX's but rode rough. I don't think the previous owner rotated them at all.. they were loud also...

 

The A/S and M/S are two very differant tires. The A/S is the stock tire. They're fine for rain and dry pavement. Fine for towing. But in snow and packed snow they stink.

The M/S is a great tire. I've driven through some really bad weather on those tires. Really bad. The kind where you often see other 4x4's down in the ditches, and visibilty down to a few car lenghts. It's also quiet on hot dry pavement, and rides smooth. With regular rotation, they should last 50K+ miles. They have a 65K warrenty.

I bought 235/80R-17, E rating. It's the same diameter as the stock tire, but about 1.5" narrower. The narrower tire provides less rolling resistance, a smoother ride, and cuts into the snow better. But in dirt, sand, and mud the wider tire is better.

Purchasing the same set of tires from tireseasy.com would cost $876, because they charge $88 for shipping. That would be $70 more than I paid - I got them on sale. But the same price as discountiresdirect.com usually sells them for; and shipping is free.

 

I know the difference, but you didn't specify what size you bought, so I wasn't sure if you had them confused. I wish they'd make them in the 70 series.

How do they do on stock width wheels?

 

good deal .boB.......... first time I seen tireseasy beat.

 

They do make them in the stock size - 265/70-17. Unfortunatly, it's only a 113 load rating (2535#).

The 235/80-17 is a 120(E) rated tire (3085#)

They fit just fine on the stock wheels. Since it's a narrower tire, it fits just a tad better than the stock size.

 

Actually onlinetires.com is cheaper than tireseasy.com and discounttiresdirect.com. At least on the tires I just bought. Just checked and they are $21 cheaper.

What I did was have Discount Tires Direct match Online Tires prices. Then had my local Discount Tires mount them. This way you get the lifetime balance for free.

 

Dang, I just checked and my tires have gone up in price in just 3 weeks.

I paid $719 delivered and now they are $771.

Whats up with that?

 

I looked on Michelin's web site before and must have spaced on them since I was looking for load range E. I wonder how they wear compared to the stocks, seeing as how they are narrower. I had them on my last pickup, when I lived in Northern Cal in the mountains. They did great in the snow I thought.