Tyre Price Shock

[Mike&Loz]

Well I've had a bit of look around at replacements for the Mickey T MTZ's I've got fitted to the D3 on the 17" steel rims.

Firstly I'll say I am a big fan of BF Goodrich All Terrain. I have them fitted to the Pajero twice and haven't got a bad thing to say about them even when towing (economy excluded). So I went looking.

I have 265/70R17 MTZ fitted at the moment but I still have the OEM 18" rims. The equivalent rotational diameter tyre is a 265/65R18, or near as "Darn It" is to swearing.

Price from Bob Jane here in Perth for the 18s is a phenomenal $590 ea and $375 ea for the 17s. I checked with Tyre Plus and according to them the BFG aren't available in that size. I didn't bother correcting him and the price was the same for the 17's. I don't know whether they would be cheaper in other parts of Oz but that price for the 18s is just ridiculous.

So I checked with Tirerack in the US. 5 X 265/65R18 BFG AT delivered to my home is $1834. I would have them split the load to avoid the GST. Throw in $30 ea for fit and balance and it is still $200 cheaper per tyre saving $1000.

Now if I, as a lowly citizen without the big boy buying power, can get them for that price, including shipping by FedEx why are we subjected to these hugely inflated prices. Yes I know about overheads etc and I like to support local business but not at that sort of inflated price.

Anyway I've had my rant so I'll be ordering the tyres early in the New Year.:confused:

[Ivan]

That price is stupid. I was quoted about $350 each fitted for a set of GG AT's for my D3 which I thought had 18" rims at the time (since found out I have 19" rims). this was from Jaxquickfit tyres in Brisbane.

Ivan

[tomisawesome]

try some more tyre shops, see what they can do on the price. tell them exactly how close they will have to come to the yankee price to get your sale. while they won't price match, they might sweeten it enough to make it worth your while.

[aew849]

I recently went the tirerack route. 5x BFG MT KM2's at AUD$190 each. Even with $100 per tyre air freight.....over $100 per tyre cheaper, and more importantly, delivered to my door in 8 days..not 12 weeks.

I prefer to buy at home, but not to the extent to subsidise a marketplace. Just goes to show the mark ups that are out there.

When an Oz company makes a tyre that equals BFG's, Coopers or the Mickey T's, then I'm in the queue.

aew849
Deefer 130
Disco 3

[Basil135]

I would keep shopping around, even if it means getting them from interstate.

Whilst the savings in $$$ terms you gain by importing from the US might seem good, what happens in the event you need to make a warranty claim?

I too went down this path last year. By the time everything is taken into account, I figured the savings just were not worth the risk.

Just my 2c + GST + Carbon Tax worth

[Mick_Marsh]

Ping booftdi a PM.
See if he can help you out. Maybe recommend a local Tyrepower and get them to do you a good deal.

[Mike&Loz]

Thanks everyone for the replies. There don't appear to be many dealers that carry the BFGs in the 265/65R18. Mind you, the more common sizes are a lot cheaper ($200). I also know how well the BFG perform on and off road as well as when towing the van.

I haven't seen the GGs around that much except on the forum. Is there a national distributor?

I'll keep shopping around until it's time to order but I'll not hold my breath waiting for Oz suppliers to provide a more realistic price.

[discojools]

I have a set of BFG KM2 MT 245/70/17 as a spare set for my D4 2.7.. They are quite bearable for everyday use and cost me about $350 each from local tyre dealer here in Mornington. They are a fantastic off road tyre and as I said fine on the road.

[400HPONGAS]

You just cant get BFG KM2's in a 18 inch size , for a half reasonable price anyway !I would have a set if you could !
Still, the GG AT2's and now the AT3's are probably just as good in 90% of situations , and do represent the best valus for money in the 18 inch size. Can be bouight at any Tyrepower in Perth ,haggle and you can get them down around the $285-$300 each range.

[scarry]

Do the GG at3's come in the stock D4 18' rim size,and are they LT construction?

[CraigE]

I would keep shopping around, even if it means getting them from interstate.

Whilst the savings in $$$ terms you gain by importing from the US might seem good, what happens in the event you need to make a warranty claim?

I too went down this path last year. By the time everything is taken into account, I figured the savings just were not worth the risk.

Just my 2c + GST + Carbon Tax worth

I looked at getting them from interstate, a bit cheaper on tyres, but $900 delivery for 4 tyres.
As far as warranty claims on tyres, try and make a claim on anything other than blatant manufacturing faults.

[Graeme]

Do the GG at3's come in the stock D4 18' rim size,and are they LT construction?
Yes, no. However from reports they seem to have a useful improvement in carcase strength over the OE Goodyears.

[scarry]

Yes, no. However from reports they seem to have a useful improvement in carcase strength over the OE Goodyears.

So thats a um not really:p

OK,so after searching around there is no LT around in the 255/60/18 size,or a size very close?
The toughest tyre around is the GG A/T

[101RRS]

BFG AT at 265/60(maybe 65)/18 are LT.

Garry

[Graeme]

So thats a um not really:p

OK,so after searching around there is no LT around in the 255/60/18 size,or a size very close?

I have no experience with them myself, but its why I fitted LT245/70-17 (LI 119, the same diamater as 265/60-18 and this brand (Yoko AT/S)/size have 3 ply sidewalls), although that was before the current crop of 18" tyres was available so I might not have been as convinced to swap had I waited. 265/60-18 is generally even lower spec than 255/60-18 with the latter at least being rated as XL even though still passenger construction, but some brands are stronger than others, eg there are some good reports for Yoko AT/S in 265/60-18. I need to lower my vehicle regularly (sometimes very low) so LT265/65-18 would have been troublesome.

[scarry]

BFG AT at 265/60(maybe 65)/18 are LT.

Garry

They are 65 only so a lot larger than stock size:(

[cewilson]

I just fitted the missus' Prado with 5 x 245/75 R16 Goodyear Wrangler DuraTracs for under $300 per tyre. This was using Tire Rack as the local companies couldn't match the tyres or the availability at the time. I received them here in 6 days from the time I ordered them.


Cheers
Chris

[Mike&Loz]

Happy New Year everyone and thanks for the replies.

The cost of the tyre, I am finding, is a bit of a hit and miss and based on a few things such as brand, construction, purpose and more importantly how common the sizes are.

Example is the two sizes of BFG I was looking at. 265/65R18 are $590 ea while 265/70R17 are $350 ea. Both are almost identical rolling diameter of around 31.6" according to this size calculator (http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html) but the 18" isn't as common here as the 17" and so they charge more for them. One dealer even said the 18" aren't available.

I was trying to get away from the 17" steel rims because they have the wrong offset of +30 whereas the original 18" alloys are +53 and the steels aren't available in that offset. Well not that I have found anyway. Still the smaller offset probably helps with the wider tyre not scraping the under guard so I might have to stick with the steels for clearance.

[Robocop]

Are there any 19" steel rims available? I had a search around & there are a few sizes available slightly larger than stock. From what I've seen 18" probably won't fit due to the front calipers.

[chuck]

Robocop

There are special 18's available.
Gordon one of the forum members imports them from UK.
from memory they are Bowler Off Road Rims - expensive but meet & exceed load requirements with correct offsets.

Cheers

Chuck

[Graeme]

from memory they are Bowler Off Road Rims - expensive
They are redesigned Bowler rims. For a cast aftermarket rim they are quite inexpensive compared with what some people pay for spun rims to fancy-up their vehicles. I originally ordered a set but wasn't satisfied with the 18" tyre options at the time, but now there are 18" tyres around that would be good enough for my use. I might not change from my 17" rims but if the vehicle was replaced with another D4, I'd just get these 18" rims.