Tires

I have to buy new tires for my Toyota MR2 Spyder. Needless to say, money is very tight. Anyone have any positive tire buying experiences to share?

I have to buy new tires for my Toyota MR2 Spyder. Needless to say, money is very tight. Anyone have any positive tire buying experiences to share?

Carla,

Why don't you just give that cute little black car to me and avoid the frustration and expense of buying new tires.

Carla,

I went online and tried to do a little research and came away scratching my head...If I'm reading this stuff right, it would appear that the MR2 went through a variety of OEM tire sizes and possibly performance ratings over the years. I even found some suggestion that the front and rear tires on some model years might be different sizes (which on the surface doesn't seem make sense).

My advice would be to call Toyota and ask them to make a couple of recommendations...After checking with them drop me a PM and I'll look up their suggestions on the Consumer Reports website. Bottom line you will probably end up paying around $100 per tire (plus or minus $10).

My husband and I swear by the Big O in Jeffersontown. They have gone above and beyond for us several times, even loaning us a used tire so we could still take our trip (they were out of stock in new tires for the hubby's car). Their prices are reasonable, and service is great.

9414 Taylorsville Rd
Jeffersontown, KY 40299-2733
(502) 267-7440

Tires are why we belong to Costco--purchase your tires there once and you pay for your year's membership. Lifetime rotation and balance--and no pressure to fill sales quotas on shocks, exhaust or other things tire dealers peddle. I'm a big fan.

Carla, I have always had good luck with Big-O in Middletown, however, I have this nasty habit of buying cars that require "Special Rated" Tires, such as my blue baby does.....when I did some comparative shopping, everybody was within about $20 one way or another from Big-O, and I know the people (my Father always took his cars, and Mom's, there).

I also echo the idea of calling Toyota and seeing what they recommend. When I had my zippy Dodge Charger (that the insurance company made me get rid of after my third speeding ticket, but that is another story), the cute little thing needed "Z rated" tired, which at the time were going to run about $2,000 for 4 (can we say stoke city). Went to Big-O in Nashville, and they found me some not so high rated ones that did just as well for about $500.

Good luck love.....it's one of those necessary evils

I have to buy new tires for my Toyota MR2 Spyder. Needless to say, money is very tight. Anyone have any positive tire buying experiences to share?

Carla....if you're still living out in the OC, I highly recommend Big O Tires, in LaGrange...they carry (or can order) most major brands of tires, do an honest, professional job and don't cost an arm and leg (plus, they're open on Saturdays)...personally, the last place I would go is the dealer (i.e., Toyota) only because dealer repair and maintenance tends to be expensive--especially the labor (just ask my Saab).... jg

I bought tires, last December, at Springdale Automotive. I shopped around for over a month. They charged a dollar over their cost.

Many thanks to all of you for your suggestions.
I bought the car with Toyo tires on it and since I am only buying 2 tires I thought I would get the same kind. Unfortunately the closest place buy Toyo tires is E-town. So... I went back to the Michel Tire store on Taylorsville Rd since I had bought tires there for my little Mirage once upon a time and I figured repeat business might mean someting to them and they'd give me a discount. (maybe).
They were great. They took the time to search on line and found the tires currently on my car were not factory spec and corrected the problem with the proper size. We discussed several options with my budget in mind as well as considerations for long term problems (like snow and ice since last winter my MR2 handled like a cat on crack with it's tail on fire when I tried to drive it on ice. Bad bad bad...) So, I got 2 new tires, a road warrenty, in and out the door in about 45 minutes and for about $214. I was very pleased. The car actually handles a great deal better than it did before so I guess they were right about that tire size situation.

Carla,

Why don't you just give that cute little black car to me and avoid the frustration and expense of buying new tires.

Uh huhhh! No sorry, but next time the weather is nice I take you guys for a ride with the top down.

Thanks again to everyone for your suggestions.

Tires are why we belong to Costco--purchase your tires there once and you pay for your year's membership. Lifetime rotation and balance--and no pressure to fill sales quotas on shocks, exhaust or other things tire dealers peddle. I'm a big fan.

This is a very good idea but unfortunately I don't belong. Still, yet another good reason to join Costco.

Tires are why we belong to Costco--purchase your tires there once and you pay for your year's membership. Lifetime rotation and balance--and no pressure to fill sales quotas on shocks, exhaust or other things tire dealers peddle. I'm a big fan.

This is a very good idea but unfortunately I don't belong. Still, yet another good reason to join Costco.

Carla,

If you decide to buy at Costco let us know...you can use our membership. HEYYYY !!!! I know, you could let me drive the car down to get the tires put on I pinky swear I wouldn't get it out of 3rd gear

Good idea Steve but with both of us in the car where would I put my 50lb bag of cat food?