I spoke with John at Talon Tire in Montreal. He is still going with the Toyo Garrit Ht's but he has suggested the FRD 6 wheel rather than the FRD 30.

Here is the Pricing for the 2004 Mazda RX-8 Group Buy.

Toyo Garit HT 215/55-17 17x7 FRD 6 Mags (Mounted & Balanced)

$928.00 = (x4) Tires @ $190.00 each
$392.00 = (x4) Rims @ $175.00 each
$102.20 = 7% GST
$1562.20 = Total (Plus Shipping)


Shipping Rates are as follows

Ontario = $38.00
Winnipeg = $50.00
Alberta = $50.00
Vancouver = $60.00
Martimes = $45.00

If you are interested call John at Talon Tire.

http://www.talontire.com/

 

your math is off for the rims x4 $175 =$700
tires x4 $195 =$760

but some how your totals correct

 

This is a quote that I got from my dealer P215/50R17
Tire Make Tire Steel Rim Labor Subtotal Taxes Total
Pirelli 210 Winter Sport
Sport 980.00 375.00 70.00 1425.00 213.75 1638.75
Yokohama Ice Guard IG721
900.00 375.00 70.00 1345.00 201.75 1546.75
Bridgestone® Blizzak® WS-50TM
840.00 375.00 70.00 1285.00 192.75 1477.75
Dunlop Graspic DS-2 Winter
640.00 375.00 70.00 1085.00 162.75 1247.75

Is this a good deal?

 

The pricing was a cut and paste from the email John sent me, so I guess his math is off. Lol.

I think it is a good deal myself. However I just bought a package locally. Panther 17x7 rims (same guys as FRD) and a set of Michelin pilot alpine pa2's 225/50/17.
Rims were 145.00 and tires were 300.00 mounted and balanced.
Tires were 40.00 each more than tiretrends price.
I was leary of ordering off the net.
Call me old fashioned but I had to actually see the rim fit the car before I bought.
As for buying tires locally, I deal with the same guy all the time, I pay what he wants and don't bicker.
I always get looked after real well and have had no issues concerning warranty etc.
Order off the web and try to get good service from the guy you didnt buy from. Not gonna happen.

I just thought I would pass along the Talon package because I believe it is a good value , and I almos bought it.

 

btw,
TalonTire..com is offering FREE SHIPPING (within Canada) on all winter tires purchased before October 15th, 2004.

 

I just got a price of $1230 for Hancook W30 winter tires and aluminium 5 spoke wheels, mounted and balanced from Performance Mazda in Ottawa.

Anyone knows of Hancook (south Korean) Tires?

 

I've used Hankook in my Audi A4 Z rated for summer, not bad at all. However I dont have experience with their winters. I've used their tires in gokart as well.

 

Will there be a group buy in Ontario later?
I just brought a RX-8. I'm going to need snow tire for sure! : )

 

There is a group buy right now at Talon Tire. See first post. Just call em up and away you go.

 

I hear of them here and there but don't know anyone with them. We'll see how it goes.

I was at performance the other day getting my a/c compressor recal done and noticed their winter tire specials.

I went to see the parts counter about buying some since the steel rim package was selling for $1,000. The guy at the counter said that they didn't sell the package with steel rims. I asked then why are they advertising seperate prices for aluminium and steel rims then? He said that it was only for comparison. I asked him why they would place an add for steel rims and not sell any that it didn't make any sense. I said that the only reason why I was talking to him at that very moment was the fact that I could save about 300 bucks if I opted for their steel rim special.

So then he did an about face and said that he could order the package with steel rims for me if I wanted them. OF COURSE I WANT STEEL RIMS!!! I felt like I was in a Monty Python skit but instead of looking to buy cheese I was looking for steel rims.

I've had nothing but problems with the parts guys there. So far I've delt with the chinese guy (this time) and the fat white guy (last time). I go there because I live close by, maybe I should start taking my business to Bank street or Carling. Any thoughts?

 

Yeah, the chineese guy is kind of goofy.

Did he show you the Hancook tires, he has them in stock now.

I paid cash for a set od mud guards, they lost the docs, now they are asking me for proof of payment!!!!!

I bought the car there in August and negotiated the first two oil changes, so I still need to go, haven't had any experience with the other two dealers, but remain happy with the work done tpo date.

Mine is red, has a spoiler, mud flaps, and I live near st-laurent and Ogilvie.

You said you were close, have I seen you on the road?

 

It's crazy that they're asking you for proof of payment, didn't you get a receipt.
Not impressed with them one bit.

The service department is fine I guess, they seem to know about the car so you don't really have to worry about that.

I'm at 10th Line and Innes area. Mines yellow with a couple of stickers on it and a hula doll in the back window.

 

Anybody in Toronto who is looking for a place to get the winter tire package offerred above by Talon Tire but not have to install it, i just posted a reply to the thread on Winter Tires and TPS. This is not a group buy. If you want it, just phone up and ask for it. I am not trying to undermine the great work done by the members and Talon Tire last year to establish the package ( thanks to them ), it is just that we all dont have the ways and the means to flip aroung 8 mounted tires.

 

I ordered the Talon Tire package ( one week ago so I hope to see it in a week or so). Toyo Garit HT 215/55-17 17x7 FRD 6 Mags. I asked about Dunlop M3 in 225/50-17 but John was more comfortable recommending the Toyo's because of all the test fitting done last year. Thanks to the group for sorting out what will work.

As an aside, my hood was hit by a flying chunk of road debris (a 2 foot long piece of muffler I think) and cut open a 12 inch gash. The aluminum skin sure doesn't stand up to any abuse.

 

I'm planning on going in on the deal as well, but was curious to know what others think of the Dunlop WinterSport M3s, Pirelli 210/240 Snowsports and Michelin Alpins PA2 instead of the Toyo Garit HTs.

The FRD 6 rims are nice, but is anyone riding on anything better looking for the winter?

Also, is there another thread showing what other CDN drivers are running on this winter? or last? and what do most people with the 8 go with, 225s or 215s?

 

Yes, do a search in the Canada forum for "winter wheels" and you'll get 60 threads, at least half of which directly discuss winter wheels and tires over the past 16 months! This thread has pics of my winter wheels, 17" Konig Holes from www.tiretrends.com (along with the Garit HT). For better winter performance, narrower is better, which is why I bought 215s. I'd have considered the PA2s if they'd been available in the 215/55-17 size.

Regards,
Gordon

 

Gord in theory narrower is better, but my tire guy said the difference between a 225 and a 215 is 1 cm. He said in reality 1 cm will not make a noticeable difference, and joked that I should spend less time on the internet researching winter tire sizes and more time enjoying my car.
For the record I went 225/50/17 because I had to have Michelin despite them being 400 dollars more and not available in a 215/55/17.
I cant explain why I love Michelin.
It might be the cute baby sitting in the tire in the ads.
Damn baby cost me $400 and possibly some slight traction.

 

Hi all.
I'm planing to buy 4 TIRES HANKOOK ICEBEAR W300 225/40R18 XL 92V and put it on the mazda 8" original rims.

The 40 insted of the 45 gonna give me a little clearance for snow.
I dont have to pay for another 4 rims.
It's gonna cost me around 650$. I think !

Any objection ?

 

No objections, but think long term. You're going to pay to mount and balance 4 tires this fall, same as if you'd bought separate 17" wheels for (cheaper) 17" winter tires. Next spring, you're going to pay to mount and balance 4 tires, while the guy who bought separate wheels just unbolts them and bolts back on the OEM (summer) wheels at no additional cost. Next fall, you're going to pay to mount and balance 4 tires, while the guy who bought separate wheels for his winter tires just bolts them back on, no additional cost. And so on...

Last fall, I did a cost comparison of swapping tires on the OEM rims twice per year vs. buying a separate set of 17" wheels for (cheaper) 17" winter tires. After 3 winters, the person who bought separate wheels has spent the same as the person who just bought 18" winter tires to swap on and off, and by the 4th winter the person who bought the separate wheels for the winter tires has spent less money. All that cost for dismounting, remounting, and balancing twice per year adds up fast.

Regards,
Gordon

 

You didn't do your homework!

If you ploughed thru the previous threads, you would come across Gord's thread about the cost of mounting and balancing 'on and off' every spring and fall.

First you have to find a place that will even touch 18" rims.....

Mine were $80 just to mount and balance, a set of cheap alloys pays off real quick at that rate!

.....and for the guy buying 'cheap steel rims'....good luck, that is why Talon is getting all the business, they tested and couldn't find ONE that fit.

Bottom line...as always.....'Gord is right!"
.
.
.
doc

 

I went with the 18" tires on the OEM rims...but I don't have to pay for the tire swap in spring and before winter so I was only out the original $275 per tire for Blizzack LM winter tires

 

Tanks Gordon and Doc.
If you are looking it that way, you guys are probably right.
i'm gonna take a decision this week.
I let you know for sure.
See you all.
- Androvsky

 

Silly question but how difficult is it to change tires by yourself. I'm planning to do as Gord says and get myself a set of winter rims/tires. In the owner's manual, they make it look easy. Just jack, unbolt and replace. Is it really that cut and dry? Or am I missing something?

 

That's pretty much it....just remember to mark your tires as to what corner they came off so you can rotate them properly when they go back on in late spring. Also clean the rims of any excess crap.

 

650 for 4 snow tires on 18". I think I am missing something here. Where can you get those tires for that little money.