1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Seeking advice on all season tires on a budget

Discussion in 'Prime Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by bklocke, Feb 18, 2019.

  1. bklocke

    bklocke Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2013
    44
    9
    0
    Location:
    Denver, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    I am unemployed and on a very tight budget. My 2006 Prius has 218,500+ miles. It probably needs a tuneup and fuel induction service, but tires are my first concern. I currently have three winter tires on it and one all-season (front). The all-season (used for summers) replaced a winter tire that started to go bald on one side. I recently had a front-end alignment before driving from Illinois to Colorado earlier this month.

    The car place told me that the winter tire on the front has uneven tread from 1/32 to 5/32 to 2/32. The all season tire has 4/32. The rear tires both have 6/32. I am thinking of replacing the front two with all seasons, run the rears until fall and then replace all four if I have the money.

    The car place says they can sell me two Ecopia EP150s for $48.02 each but then would charge me $4 tire disposal, $3 state tire tax and $60 to mount and balance the tires, totalling to $163.04. But I don't think these tires have a mileage warranty.

    1. Is the mount and balance charge reasonable?

    Or I could order two Riken Raptor HR, which seems like a better tire, from tire rack for $129.26 shipped (or for $109.26 shipped if I pick them up at the local distribution center) and see if someplace would mount and balance them for less. But I have never heard of this brand. It sounds like they have a 6 year warranty. -https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Riken&tireModel=Raptor+HR&partnum=865HR5RHR&i1_Qty=2&autoMake=Toyota&autoModel=Prius&autoYear=2006&autoModClar=&vehicleSearch=true
    2. Is this a better option?

    Or I could get two NANKANG TIRECROSS SPORT SP-9 185 /65 R15 88H SL BSW installed at discount tire for $143.83 - they have a 50,000 mile warranty. I have not heard of this brand either and have not dealt with Discount tire before.
    3. Is this the best option?

    4. Other suggestions?
     
    #1 bklocke, Feb 18, 2019
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2019
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,477
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    In Denver Colorado, in winter, disimilar tires, some basically bald, you better spring for four new tires. Maybe an all-weather, four season tire, that has the mountain/snowflake.

    No offense, but you're endangering others with your current tires.
     
  3. bklocke

    bklocke Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2013
    44
    9
    0
    Location:
    Denver, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Only one tire has one area below legal tread in one part of the tire (thus my concern to buy new tires for the front as soon as possible), the rest have half or more of their tread left. But your point is well taken. I want to keep the winter tires on the back and get all seasons (I will also look for mountain/snowflake symbol) so I will have more tread on the front and then replace all four once I have the money by fall. I am unemployed and really in a tight financial situation, and tires are the priority for me now. I have only been driving on dry road condition days and I am not driving in the mountains.
     
    #3 bklocke, Feb 19, 2019
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2019
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  4. Nelsonprius

    Nelsonprius Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2019
    72
    14
    0
    Location:
    Nelson, BC Canada
    Vehicle:
    2001 Prius
    Model:
    I
    Nankang and Riken are from China/Indonesia and are only as good as the price. You might find cheaper balance&mount at Walmart, and cheaper used tires on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace classifieds
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,477
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    Nordman WR is a 4-season "all weather" up here, mainly through Kal Tire I think. Not sure how available in the states. They're nokians budget line, still not that cheap.
     
    bklocke likes this.
  6. m8547

    m8547 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2018
    927
    615
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Don't worry about the warranty. Tire companies make it almost impossible to actually collect on it, and if you do at best you might get a modest discount on another set of the same tires. Things that can void the warranty include running mismatched tires, damage to the tread from abuse or misalignment, not keeping detailed records of tire rotation at exactly the right intervals, etc. If you buy tires from a reputable brand you won't need a warranty anyway.

    Ideally you should have more grip on the back tires, so that the rear end doesn't end up in front of you. Running just two winter tires, or two new and two old tires, if not ideal, but if you can avoid driving on snow and ice it's probably fine. Winter is almost over.

    2/32 is legal minimum, but that's not sufficient for safe driving on snowy roads. If the traction law is in effect then 1/8 (4/32) is the minimum. Even if you avoid driving when the traction law is in effect, having more than 4/32 is always a good idea in the winter. And even 4/32 is pretty slippery.

    You could look for a couple used tires that match your two good winter tires. You'll pay slightly less now, but probably more in the long run because used tires probably have less usable life per dollar than new tires. Buy if you plan to be employed again in the near future then maybe that's OK.

    $60 to mount and balance two tires sounds high. Most places I've seen charge $15-20 per wheel, plus tire fees. I've heard rumors of tire "guys" who might charge $5-10 cash, but I don't know where to find one of those guys in Denver.

    I don't know what to suggest, but if it was me I'd probably get two new all-seasons and put them on the rear, and move the old rears to the front. Then in the fall get two more matching all-seasons and rotate those to the rear. Or find one used matching (same make, model, tread depth) all-season to replace the damaged tire on the front and then get four new tires in the fall. And definitely fix whatever issue caused you to get uneven tire wear, otherwise you'll ruin more tires.

    Also, in the mean time if you need to drive in the mountains but don't have sufficient tires, get a set of chains. You can probably find some for $40-60.
     
  7. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2008
    2,763
    2,250
    13
    Location:
    Chesterton, Indiana Another third world country.
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    You might go to your local junk yard and see if they have used wheels with tires already mounted and balanced on them and you could look at the tread. Mounting and balancing has really gotten expensive in the last several years.
     
  8. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2015
    10,958
    8,836
    0
    Location:
    New England
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I second Walmart for tire mount and balance for cheap. That said, most of my local shop will do for about $20/tire.

    JFYI, Nankang maybe from China, but Riken is a Japanese company. Not very popular one, but it should be good quality, although I have no idea where their tires are manufactured. It could well be in Indonesia.
     
  9. bklocke

    bklocke Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2013
    44
    9
    0
    Location:
    Denver, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thank you for the suggestions!
     
    Mendel Leisk likes this.
  10. bklocke

    bklocke Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2013
    44
    9
    0
    Location:
    Denver, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Thank you for all of this, it is very helpful! The two newer tires for the rear and the rotation with two new in the fall is probably what I will do.

     
  11. bklocke

    bklocke Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2013
    44
    9
    0
    Location:
    Denver, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    How much does it matter if now until fall I have winter tires on the front and all season tires with more tread on the back?
     
  12. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,477
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I'd leave it as-is.

    It's a reach to refer to any tires with 2/32" tread depth as "snow" tires. Safety should trump budget, even if that means mothballing the car for a few months.
     
  13. lextoy

    lextoy Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2010
    291
    131
    0
    Location:
    philadelphia
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    If your could afford it, or carry the balance on the credit card for a few months, Goodyear assurance set of 4 for 275 , excellent deal. They are offering 80 off via mail in rebate, and another 80 off if you open and use Goodyear credit card. Deals are only for set of 4. But that's a good price for a high wear rating tire. Then you are set for years. Pay minimum on card until you are more financially secure. They can ship to local shop to mount for you, call a few places get quotes, 20 to 25 per tire more reasonable.if you need to just mount 2 for now up front.Then the other 2 when the rears wear out. That could take 2 years though...depending on your mileage
     
  14. Rmay635703

    Rmay635703 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2016
    2,567
    1,595
    0
    Location:
    Somewhere in Wisconsin
    Vehicle:
    2013 Chevy Volt
    Model:
    N/A
    Mounting a tire can be done with a set of pry bars , I’ve done many al changes many times.

    Around here a tire mount is $10 balance $5

    Walmart and Fleet Farm are a little more but cheaper than $30 a mount which is rediculous

    I wouldn’t hesitate to replace 2 tires at a time,

    Good luck
     
  15. jm2ls

    jm2ls New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2019
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    California, USA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    I installed Nangkang SP-9 on my other car back in Dec '18. Different size 225-60-16. We have several storms since New Year, and they are surprising good in wet performance. I don't know their snow performance. Amazon carries them and also provides installation service. I didn't buy from Amazon. It can be used as a price reference for your location. Nangkang is actually a Taiwan company with manufacture facilities in Taiwan and China. I used to have Bridgestone tires but they are becoming too expensive.
     
  16. bklocke

    bklocke Junior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2013
    44
    9
    0
    Location:
    Denver, Colorado
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    UPDATE

    I recently had my two winter (non-all season tires) with the most tread moved to the front and used all season tires with 90% tread (Continental ContiPro Contact) put on the back. This fall/winter, I will either replace the front two and rotate, or replace all four.


     
  17. lextoy

    lextoy Active Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2010
    291
    131
    0
    Location:
    philadelphia
    Vehicle:
    2018 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    thats good, with some responsible rotation, and tread depth monitoring , you may be able to get several years out of your 4 tires.
    depending on the mileage you put on... but with 6/10 on the winter tires and 8/10 on the new conti's it is in much better shape.
    i would consider as soon as winter lets up, rotate the winter tires to the back, they will wear less back there, even out the tread difference for 10-20 k miles. run them all down to 2/10's and then get a nice set of 4 !!!