Return-Path: Received: from IUS5.IUS.CS.CMU.EDU by K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU id aa26196; 24 Mar 95 19:33:05 EST From: Julio Ken Rosenblatt Date: Fri, 24 Mar 95 19:32:17 EST To: bovik+@k.gp.cs.cmu.edu CC: news+post-cmu.cs.general@CRABAPPLE.SRV.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: car tire recommendations I asked: Any recommendations for a cheap place to get tires? In case it matters, the car is an '86 Toyota Camry. The majority of responses were for the following two: Baum Boulevard Tire 683-1999 245 N. Neville Tire America 856-0701 4200 Wm. Penn Highway Mnrvl I went to Baum Blvd Tire, mainly because it is close by. I got a steel belted radial installed in 20 minutes for about $45 with tax. My mechanic had claimed he could beat anybody's price, but couldn't beat that. The pressure on my other tires was low, so they they checked for leaks, which they found and sealed at no additional charge. And to top it off, the people were friendly. I recommend them highly. Finding them is somewhat tricky, however. If you are heading west on Centre Ave. (i.e. toward Oakland from Shadyside), go just past the entrance to the busway on Neville, and there is a small on the right - turn in there and then into their garage. There are small signs also. Here are the replies I received: **************************************************************** From: Mike Blackwell I've been happy with Tire America in Monroeville. Good prices and selection, they seem competent. You can get a coupon for 5% off from the credit union. -mike- **************************************************************** From: jennie@IUS5.IUS.CS.CMU.EDU I got a set at PACE which is now Sam's club. It's pretty much "figure out which ones will go on your car and buy them". They have a book or something to give you an idea of which ones you should buy, and for a small fee they'll put them on and balance them for you. ** NOTE ** I did this when it was PACE -- I'd give Sam's a call and make sure they still do this. Anyway, I'd guess that they'd be the cheapest. **************************************************************** From: Mark.Maimone@A.GP.CS.CMU.EDU Baum Blvd tires (located off Center Ave; don't ask) is a great place. Cheap, fast turnaround, and when I was willing to buy 4 new tires they told me two of my current ones were fine, don't worry about them yet. Check 'em out. **************************************************************** From: dredish@GS151.SP.CS.CMU.EDU Try Baum Blvd Tires. They are a hole-in-the-wall place. Not very clean, not a lot of amenities, but you get the feeling that the people working there grew up under a car. **************************************************************** From: mbergerm@IUS4.IUS.CS.CMU.EDU if you really mean cheap tires (not fancy ones), you can try America Tires in Monroeville (very close to Service Merchandise). I bought tires there for my old Toyota Corolla and paid only $25 each (plus some $6 for balancing, $2 for valve, etc.) Then I changed the Corolla for a Le Baron, and had to buy new tires again. This time, K-Mart had a price even better than America Tires, so I bought them there. **************************************************************** From: Dennis Grinberg I got some cheapies for my '87 Toyota Corrolla and Tire America in Monroville. **************************************************************** From: segall@ATHENA.NECTAR.CS.CMU.EDU The cheapest way to buy *good* tires is to buy them mail order (e.g. call Tire Rack) and have them delivered via UPS. Then shop around for a place that will balance and mount them for a reasonable fee (say, $8-10 per tire, approximately). I don't know how well this works out for inexpensive tires, but it saved me a bundle on some Yokahama V-rated all-season tires.