Front tires $65

[poston]

I just bought a couple of Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires from Tire Rack for $65 each:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+LM-500

It so happens that snow tires are useful where I live, but for 1/4 the price of regular tires, I'll use them year-round. You might give up a little dry-pavement performance, but for the price, I'll take it.

And, since I'm local, I saved $20 for local pickup!

 

[Mustrum Ridcully]

I just bought a couple of Bridgestone Blizzak snow tires from Tire Rack for $65 each:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+LM-500

It so happens that snow tires are useful where I live, but for 1/4 the price of regular tires, I'll use them year-round. You might give up a little dry-pavement performance, but for the price, I'll take it.

And, since I'm local, I saved $20 for local pickup!

They cost me $68.60, but I Had to buy a set of 19"wheels and TPM valves. They did mount balance and ship with no shipping fees. But here in North America, we can not buy 20" rim snow tires for our 3s cars—or indeed any tire other than the Bridgestone offerings. This will hurt a bit when I have to replace the rear tires on my i3S next summer.
$255.74 Per Tire
Size: 195/50R20 93T XL
Star BMW Style: Blackwall
Eco Focus: Ecopia
https://www.mybmwi3.com/threads/19-...ckage-from-the-tirerack-com.19066/#post-80112

 

[tob1as]

They cost me $68.60, but I Had to buy a set of 19"wheels and TPM valves. They did mount balance and ship with no shipping fees. But here in North America, we can not buy 20" rim snow tires for our 3s cars—or indeed any tire other than the Bridgestone offerings. This will hurt a bit when I have to replace the rear tires on my i3S next summer.
$255.74 Per Tire
Size: 195/50R20 93T XL
Star BMW Style: Blackwall
Eco Focus: Ecopia
https://www.mybmwi3.com/threads/19-...ckage-from-the-tirerack-com.19066/#post-80112

Tire rack has a deal on the 155/19 Blizzaks currently. I bought an entire set for $215 yesterday (pickup cost in Colorado - all in): https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...oModel=i3&autoModClar=&cameFrom=WinterSection

 

[Mustrum Ridcully]

This seems to be how the tyre rack (and I would guess other large-volume retailers) keep their stock fresh. The ones I bought last summer were dated August 2022
so with the data{This does not include mounting and balancing at either store, just shipping a pair of
Bridgestone Ecopia EP500 175/55R20XL 89Q BSW

I will stick with
Tyre-rack $594.78
Giga $616.46
I think it may be that regulations require that items such as tyres that are more than X years old may not be sold as new in the US. Does this vary in the rest of the world?

Let's ask the new hotness DeepSeek:

Are there rules or regulations about the age of tyres sold in the US?

Yes, there are guidelines and regulations in the U.S. regarding the age of tires, primarily focused on safety. While there is no federal law that explicitly prohibits the sale of older tires, several key points are worth noting:

1. NHTSA Recommendations: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that tires older than six years should not be used, regardless of their tread depth or apparent condition. This is because tire rubber degrades over time, even if the tires have not been used, which can lead to failure and increased risk of accidents.
2. Manufacturer Guidelines: Many tire manufacturers also advise against using tires that are more than six to ten years old, even if they appear to be in good condition. Some manufacturers stamp a DOT code on the tire, which includes the week and year of manufacture, making it easier to determine the tire's age.
3. State Regulations: Some states have specific laws regarding tire age. For example:
   
   • California prohibits the installation of tires that are more than six years old on vehicles.
   • Other states may have similar regulations or are considering them.
4. Retailer Policies: Many tire retailers and auto service providers voluntarily follow the NHTSA recommendations and refuse to sell or install tires that are more than six years old.
5. DOT Code: The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires tires to have a DOT code, which includes the week and year of manufacture. This helps consumers and professionals identify the age of a tire.

How to Check Tire Age:​

• Look for the DOT code on the tire's sidewall. The last four digits indicate the week and year of manufacture (e.g., "2318" means the tire was made in the 23rd week of 2018).

Best Practices:​

• Avoid purchasing or using tires that are more than six years old.
• Regularly inspect tires for signs of aging, such as cracks, dry rot, or bulges.
• Replace tires as recommended by the manufacturer or NHTSA guidelines.

While there is no outright ban on selling older tires, the combination of NHTSA recommendations, manufacturer guidelines, and state laws creates a strong framework to discourage the use of aged tires for safety reasons. Always prioritize safety when purchasing or using tires.


Based on all of this, I plan to check monthly the Tirerack page for the rear summer rubber 195/50R20 93T XL for my 2021 i3S

I have added the link to them to my tickler file program so that I can do just that on the first of every month.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tire...e=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD_rH_9z0k_fr2p0RhOrvP9DlDbgH

today, a pair of them can be had for a little less from Giga; but shipping 2 of them to me here in Maine is an extra $50 $461.06
while Tirerack has free shipping so $561.88 so it looks like I can save $100 by getting the pair from Giga today
BUT! Free Road Hazard Protection$54.42 value. Two-year coverage. is included with TireRack price.

• Item(s) Total:
  $561.88
• 
  
• 
  
• Shipping (04553):
  FREE
• Road Hazard ($54.42 value):
  FREE
• Required State Fee:
  $2.00
• Sales Tax:
  $30.90
• TOTAL:

$594.78
at Giga with that coverage we get
Bridgestone Ecopia EP500 175/55R20XL 89Q BSW
Passenger
Item Cost: $202.25
X 2
$404.50
Tire coverage:
$121.35
You're saving a total of $80.90
Shipping Cost:
$56.56
Recycle Fee Tax:

$2.00
Handling Fee:

$9.80
Sales Tax:
$22.25
Total:
$616.46
https://www.giga-tires.com/175-55-2...2UBg_jVDBCKY8BJeiCxsg2c_QjvTFTWhoCic0QAvD_BwE

 

[jreynaert]

I've had good luck with SimpleTire, they price match and have free shipping in USA too. I always shop between TireRack and SimpleTire. TireRack is now owned by Discount Tire...

As for tire age, if a vehicle is garage kept, there is less degradation of the rubber. Also using a quality tire dressing also helps.

 

[TedStriker]

For that price I'm tempted to import a load into UK and start up a tyre shop!

 

[Mustrum Ridcully]

I've had good luck with SimpleTire, they price match and have free shipping in USA too. I always shop between TireRack and SimpleTire. TireRack is now owned by Discount Tire...

As for tire age, if a vehicle is garage kept, there is less degradation of the rubber. Also using a quality tire dressing also helps.

Thanks for the tip about SimpleTire. I had never heard of the company.
I took a look, and they do sell one other possibility for the 20" rear tyres on our 2021 i3S
but they cost $370 each, about $100 more than the stock, which, at the moment, they have at $270
Do these Potenza 195/50 R20 93W XL offer any advantage over the stock Ecopia that justifies the price?

 

[larrykalenda]

How is the highway noise from the Blizzak compared to the Ecopia? It appears that Bridgestone is discontinuing the LM-500 tires. Tire Rack has them at $58.40 each on close-out.

 

[larrykalenda]

I went ahead and bought the 155/70 for the front, TR does not have the 175/60 for the rear.

 

[kd7iwp]

I went ahead and bought the 155/70 for the front, TR does not have the 175/60 for the rear.

For Blizzaks there was only ever one size (155/70/19). I have an i3S and the i3S-specific winter wheels are a square setup for that singular winter tire size.

How is the highway noise from the Blizzak compared to the Ecopia? It appears that Bridgestone is discontinuing the LM-500 tires. Tire Rack has them at $58.40 each on close-out.

They won't be discontinuing anytime soon. They are on closeout because those are old tires in stock from a few years ago. I just got brand new ones from my BMW dealership last week that were very recently manufactured.

 

[kd7iwp]

Removed.