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So I was brave and installed some unheard of tires.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Main Forum' started by Prius92, Sep 26, 2019.

  1. Prius92

    Prius92 Member

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    I didn't feel like spending over $90 each for some of the more often touted tires on here.
    I wanted to find a tire with good tread, low rolling resistance and quiet ride.
    Now I'm sure you have heard of Nokian tires, their winter tires have really good reviews.
    Recently they have come out with the "Entyre 2.0" which is an all-season tire.
    The tire is $83/ea but I got Discount Tire to knock off $20 per tire from an online price match.

    They are very nice tire for $63 each. They seem more "slippery" and by that I mean turning around in parking lots requires a bit less movement of the wheel. Road noise is really good, the car had Arizonian tires on it. These sound much quieter.
    I can't really vouch for the low rolling resistance, but drove about 50 miles in town today and noticed my MPG going up a touch (about .3mpg), which is good considering the tires on there were all ready LRR.

    I am going to get a pair put on the rear before winter. Considering I bought them for about 1/2 price of a Michelin defender, I would highly recommend them.
     
  2. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    I like Kumho's on a G2. Nicer soft quiet ride but don't wear real good but they are cheap like $60 each. On my third set.
     
  3. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    What place did you have them price match? Or is it wrong to ask?
    Because that's a huge part of the deal.
    $63 a tire is a great price for that tire.
    $83 a tire for that tire,- there's a lot more competition. I'm probably looking at other tires.

    Plus Nokian is hardly "Unheard Of".
    In North America maybe not as widely known as the commercial giants, but Nokian is a well established tire manufacturer.
    If you got 4 of those tires for $63 each....you got unheard of deal.
     
    #3 The Electric Me, Sep 26, 2019
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2019
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  4. Prius92

    Prius92 Member

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    Discount tire is the one doing the price matching. I've always used them for years.
     
  5. egg_salad

    egg_salad Active Member

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    Nokian is quite famous for their snow tires, being from Scandinavia. I used their snows exclusively when I lived in the frozen north.
     
  6. Prius92

    Prius92 Member

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    Their winter tires are made in Finland. These are made in Russia, probably contain Stalin's mustache hairs in them lol.

    I also didn't know Nokian was originally part of Nokia.
     
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  7. oldtechaa

    oldtechaa Active Member

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    I got Milestar MS932 Sport tires for $42 apiece, and saw essentially no mileage difference from my Michelin Defenders that were on the car. I'm not sure about the UTQG of the Nokians, but the Milestars are 540. They seem excellent quality and have very good traction.
     
  8. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    Yes, but the key is you evidently found them someplace else for $63 so that they had a price to match.
     
  9. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    The price of tires are volatile, with sales and rebates you can get as low as 50% off from MSRP on major brand tires sometimes. 25% off the regular price is almost a norm. The key is to start looking for the replacement tires way before you actually need to replace your current tires. If you know you will likely needing a new set next season, you have plenty of time to look for great deals.
     
  10. The Electric Me

    The Electric Me Go Speed Go!

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    I've got "maybe" one more Winter possible with my tires. I feel they are still good...they pass the penny test, and "barely" pass the Quarter test. But I think by next Spring, I'll definitely need tires. I'm looking now. I feel I don't necessarily HAVE to buy them now, but if I could find a good enough deal? I'd just have it done.

    And that is a nice way to handle a tire purchase.

    But I also have found that at least in my area? Tire deals are actually pretty hard to find.
    Or they are somewhat "fictional". That is..the same rebates, the same "pre-paid card" deals, week after week, month after month. So the savings I think...really is just what the tires cost.

    Costco has their usual pendulum swing deal on either Michelin or Bridgestone, and it isn't too bad...but again, it is what it is, the price within that deal doesn't really change. The question really only becomes whether you want to buy when they are offering Michelins or buy when they are offering Bridgestone.

    I've spent about a month semi-casually looking.
    And it seems to me tire prices differ widely depending on brand and quality. Somewhat between where you are buying from. But overall, finding a great discount deal, doesn't seem to really exist.
    I think Tire dealers and manufacturers are selling a product they know you need. Therefore, you don't really find great deals all that often.

    If I could get 4 of those Nokians for $63, I'd consider that a very good deal. But not a common one.
     
  11. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    You are correct, that if you are trying to find an once in a life time deal, it's difficult to find one. But as you pointed out, the sales are repeated on regular intervals. Knowing that, you would not want to buy tires at MSRP at dealership when manufacture is not offering any promotional rebate.

    I was on lookout for Michelin snow tires for our SUV. I had marked a page on Walmart.com for a great price of $165/tire. This tire sells for $211 at Michelin web site, and normally priced at ~$190 in most of local stores or on-line tire place like TireRack. I did not buy them because Michelin was not having any rebate promotion at that time. But when I went back to see it today, the price is now at $190/tire at the page I marked. This price change was matter of a single day. For this purchase, I don't have much time left, so I may have to settle at higher price or have to get different tires.

    BTW, I think I have seen Nokian Entyre 2.0 all-season tire for PRIUS size at around $60 at Walmart.com. Nokian snow tires are usually at high priced and do not find much discount on them, but this all season was on deep discount IIRC.

    EDIT: I just checked Walmart.com for Nokian Entyre 2.0 all-season tire for PRIUS size. Currently, it is available in 195/65R15 bit more expensive at $85/tire: Nokian eNTYRE 2.0 195/65R15 95 H Tire - Walmart.com
    but found 185/60R15 currently at $46.75/tire: Nokian eNTYRE 185/60R15 88 T Tire - Walmart.com
    or195/60R15 at $49.34/tire: Nokian eNTYRE 195/60R15 92 H Tire - Walmart.com
     
    #11 Salamander_King, Sep 27, 2019
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2019
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  12. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

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    What Kumho tires do you have. Our Gen3 Prius has Kumho Solus TA31 tires that were on it when we got it used.
     
  13. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    um not sure Solus maybe have to look. I see new Hyundai's using them as oem too. Nice tire. Soft tire. The G2 has a very firm ride to firm for my old behind so i go with softer tire.
     
  14. ilmawi

    ilmawi Junior Member

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    Maybe made in usa?
    factory is in dayton tennessee