[quote=flu]Well to complete my week of being ultra cheap FLU, I got my Kumho tires dropshipped to the tire installer locally.
The tire installation ended up being $16/tire ($12 for parts/labor, and $4 for disposal fee/tax/etc)… BUT, then after they were mounted and I drove home, I noticed the installer installed them reversed inside out…. To be fair, Kumho tires don’t have an obvious indicator on which side the tire is on the outside. But anyway, went back, and they fixed it and gave me a install credit.
Then when I was filling out the warranty registration, I was looking up the DOT manufacturing number, and it ends up the ones I got were made back in 2010… Great. So I contact tirerack, who basically told me that the tires were stored properly in their warehouse, rotated, correctly, and that all the other kumho tires they had of the exact same type were made roughly with the same date. They offered to give me a $40 credit total. I am a little annoyed, because tires have a shelf life, but then I already had them mounted and didn’t want to go through the hassle again…and realistically I go through tires in about 2 years anyway…So…. I guess I’ll keep them. But probably won’t do the online purchase again for said reason…
Ended up being
Tires $344
Shipping $58
Install $65
Less
-$50 Manufacture rebate (visa gift card)
-$40 Seller credit
-$36 Install credit for the inside-out mistake
$341 total, which isn’t bad for Z rated summer performance tires…
Also got my alignment done…for free. I bought a lifetime alignment back in 2007 for $140, and it was my 4th alignment done today. And when I rotate the tires @ the 1 year mark, I’ll do another alignment again…
As far as the Kumho’s go…handling is pretty good. They aren’t like Michelin Pilots or some of the $200+/tire sticky rubber, but they have pretty decent grip…Then again, I haven’t driven in the rain yet and they are brand new (we’ll see how they hold up). Acceptable for a daily car with spirited driving.[/quote]
flu, where did you sign up for the “lifetime” alignment? I just got my 3rd alignment in 5 years and they are up to $85 ea now for my car (Sears). Four Michelin Pilot Exaltos are $561.33 with tax (+ $7.50 ea fees, $2.99 ea valve stems and $16.68 ea for opt “Road Hazard Plus” agreement) at Sears.
