Re: Tires (Mail Order) (fwd)

["Barton P. Chambers" <bchambers@atlantic.nos.noaa.gov>]

 Tom Leveckis adds to Bart's comments:

> > I have been *very* happy with BFG Comp T/As, in all their evolutionary 
> > iterations, over a *long* period of time, and over three cars, including
> > the Syncro (currently wearing 195-60 HR-4 14 Comp T/As).  These are the 
> > tires I've ever gotten 20K miles from (others commonly report 40K), and I 
> > think they're fantastic in the wet as well as the dry!
> 
> I have my 2nd set of Comp T/A 's on my 80Q, but I should be on my 1st set.
> on 3 of the tires on my 1st set, I developed splits on the sidewalls. I
> bought them at NTW, they gave me an 88% refund towards another set (after 
> 20K). Good tires, but I don't know how you would deal with defects after 20K. 
> The price for the 195/60 HR 14's at NTW was 70$/tire, while the magazines 
> had them for 62-64$/tire. Personally I don't think mail order is worth it 
> for 25-30$.

No flame intended here, but I think that there might be a connection among
the factors cited: Major defects in tires purchased from major discounter.

Personally, I always buy my tires from a local dealer and pay the freight. Just 
FWIW, I don't buy parts and expect my mechanic to install them at his regular 
rates either.  The reason is simply that I like to support the small 
businessman. Also, just FWIW, I've never had problems with BFG tires this way.

YAMMV, as we southern boys say...

Cheers, <vbg>

Bart,
Frau, Dora
'77 Feline Varmint, Felix, Gray
'86 Carrera Cabriolet, Indischrot
'87 Syncro (Stealth Quattro) Alpenweiss