Jeff
SuperDork
5/13/15 8:42 p.m.
I know I'm being fairly geographically specific, but I have not had any luck finding a decent tire place.
I need a set of performance tires for the season in 14 inch size. Budget is really tight, so I need something with a fair amount of life. Probably something just below a Direzza ZII Star Spec, though if I could get 5 of those mounted for $1k out the door I'd do it (yes, tires are stupid expensive up here). I'm having trouble finding a shop that will even return my calls or email. I walked into one shop, no one in sight, rang the buzzer twice, waited a few minutes, and nothing. Can someone help me out? My first event is May 31st.
Thanks,
Jeff
Can you drive across the border? Annoying yes, but sounds like it would save you like 3-400 bucks.
NGTD
UltraDork
5/13/15 8:59 p.m.
Tire Rack, or Discount Tire, or someone else in the US - ship to Niagara Falls NY, pick up there. There is a place there that will accept them and charge you something like $5 to hold them. I can't remember the name of it.
Lot's of guys on Toronto Subaru Club use it.
If I lived closer to the border, I would do it.
I've bought hoosiers through talon tire tire in Quebec,shipping was fast and cheap at $31 for the set.
Not helping you with mounting though.
Look for Braiden tire locations near you,they are supposed to be CASC sponsors.
This will soon be relevant to my interests...damn, star specs a $1k per set!? Those are the kind of tire prices I'm trying to get away from!
There has to be a Canadian version of Tire Rack or Discount Tire Direct if they don't ship to Canada.
https://www.pmctire.com/en/
Will have the cheapest prices. Just have to find a place to get them mounted and balanced, I'd check the local toronto car forum for suggestions (mlrc.ca an Ontario rallyclub, or rallysport ontario's forums).
NGTD
UltraDork
5/14/15 8:23 a.m.
Mr_Clutch42 wrote:
There has to be a Canadian version of Tire Rack or Discount Tire Direct if they don't ship to Canada.
TireRack will ship here. . . . . .
If you want to pay more for shipping than you pay for the tires! 
Discount Tire Direct. Believe it or not their free shipping actually includes Canada. They charge $40 a tire for duties and brokerage but otherwise shipping is free.
Not sure what their selection is like for 14" but a set of Falken FK453's for an e46 was $512USD delivered to my door in Ottawa.
NOHOME
UltraDork
5/14/15 8:37 a.m.
Mr_Clutch42 wrote:
There has to be a Canadian version of Tire Rack or Discount Tire Direct if they don't ship to Canada.
It's not tire rack of even the border cost that kill you. It's the "brokerage" fees that the shippers charge that kill. UPS and FED X really berkeley over the consumer.
Canadians have selective amnesia when it comes to the border. They want to believe the border is totally porous when it comes to commerce, but completely impregnable when it comes to guns, politics and general Americanness. Really, the US is a different country. There's a lot of paperwork involved in moving stuff across that border because it's an international border.
The "brokerage" fees are actually mostly avoidable, but you have to be willing to do the work yourself. They're brokerage, disbursement, COD and one or two others. If you act as your own broker or if you arrange for payment ahead of time, you can avoid them. Of course, that means you have to do work, but it's funny how that's often the case.
I know that Tire Rack offers a fixed price to Canada - that will probably get rid of the disbursement and COD fees. It's worth contacting them.
leftme
None
5/14/15 10:22 a.m.
Keith Tanner wrote:
I know that Tire Rack offers a fixed price to Canada - that will probably get rid of the disbursement and COD fees. It's worth contacting them.
Yep, TireRack pre-collects all fees/taxes for border crossing and there are zero surprise costs when the tires arrive at your door. You can get a quote right on the website when ordering, at least the old site did haven't checked the new one.
Clayton
