Thread: Where to buy tyres - Local, UK or USA?

As has been mentioned: it's a global village. Your local tyre supplier imports ANYWAY: so whether YOU import, or HE imports, makes little difference.

What adds to the supplier cost is the following:

- import taxes
- storage
- transportation
- depreciation of static stock

So the local suppliers take the risk of keeping stock on hand, JUST IN CASE you want something. In future, I predict that most suppliers world-wide will soon build a network of overseas resources and then import on demand only: we know it takes 5-7 days for some tyres from the States, so why doesn't your local supplier import using Just In Time principals?

Well, one reason is because people are fickle these days: If I can't buy Product X now, at the best price, I will no longer support the corner shop. I will rather drive out 2 x the price saving by going somewhere else, and I then justify this by saying I have the buying "power".

I know of several LR accessory shops in South Africa that survive by importing EVERYTHING only AFTER they have an order and a deposit.
So if you want a thingamajig for your D3 from Britpart, they will only start the import once you have paid a deposit.

So in that case, for me to import direct is no contradiction of any morals or ethics, because all I'm paying for, is the capability of this moron to go onto the internet.

Funny things, people.

Would Love to shop locally BUT. Cooer Zeon LTZ are selling for 170 US here they want $440. Now thats some serious markup!

In a global economy Aussie retailers need to be a little closer to a fair deal to get my vote. If US tyre sellers can sell at $170 and still make a profit whats the margin at $440 ?

I'm buying mine from the US. I can get 37 inch super swamper radials for around 170 bucks each, over here they are at least 650 bucks each when you can find them. I love the swampers because they are roadworthy in Aus, are a radial and beat every other tyre I've come up against. Go US mate, buy two or three sets and you will be set for years.

Originally Posted by Mudsloth

I'm buying mine from the US. I can get 37 inch super swamper radials for around 170 bucks each, over here they are at least 650 bucks each when you can find them. I love the swampers because they are roadworthy in Aus, are a radial and beat every other tyre I've come up against. Go US mate, buy two or three sets and you will be set for years.

I always thought tyres have a shelf life of 7 years.
I do realise some farmers put their tyres in the shed for 10 years so they get hard and are less prone to punctures but on the road, I do believe 7 years is the acceptable life of a tyre.

Correct me if I am wrong though.

Originally Posted by big guy

I always thought tyres have a shelf life of 7 years.
I do realise some farmers put their tyres in the shed for 10 years so they get hard and are less prone to punctures but on the road, I do believe 7 years is the acceptable life of a tyre.

Correct me if I am wrong though.

Well, i was thinking anyone looking for muddies would be lucky to get two years out of em, mine are two years old and are shagged because by their nature they spit mud and find some very spikey and hard crap under it. Anyway, if it makes you happy buy two sets. sheesh. Oh yeah, 10 years is the used by date for newies, about 5.5 mins for retreads.

I ordered a set of Dunlop Roadsmarts for the Yamaha XJR1300 today for US$328 delivered - that's A$305 and less than some shops here are asking for just the rear tyre alone. I got them from ATV Parts, ATV Tires, Dirt Bike Parts, Motocross Gear, Motorcycle parts and Motorcycle Tires | Rocky Mountain ATV/MC

Hey P38,
Just been trying to order tyres for my bike from Rocky Mountain but they wont ship tyres overseas? How did you go about it. Unless its a change of policy. Thanks.....

Buy local? pffft, I bought 2 gate openers for $805 delivered, no better than $850 each here in aus, for the exact same unit, sure for a hunjy I'll buy local, but not %100+ markup

Atleast my job relies on services rendered which can't be imported