Originally Posted By: Char Baby
Bowlofturtle, I do understand if your budget only allows you so much to work with and I don't know what vehicle these tires are going on but...If you want CS4's, buy CS4's! This is the only way you'll know that you got'em! Or buy other high rated tires mentioned here and other sites. See if you can duplicate those "prices" or come as close a possible by purchacing better tires online and having a reputible place install them.
If your looking for good tires, SEARS-named tires doesn't have any. Maybe their Sears/Michelin's are good, IDK. And SEARS does sell major name brand tires too which I beleive are decent but, way overpriced.
Although the price(s) that you show are good prices for 4 installed tire anywhere, you are going to get what you paid for. If your not keeping the vehicle long then, OK! But, there are lot's of tires that will get you to or past 10,000 miles without many complaints but, this could be the, "I told ya so!"
Man, there is nothing like really good tires. Even my wife and daughter can tell when they don't like a tire or something is wrong with their car(s). Tires that don't viberate on the hiwy, keep their balance longer, don't pull one way or the other and actually last a decent amount of miles. Plus all of the other qualities in my/our personal creteria.
I have never had good success with SEARS tires. Although I have never owned Michelin made SEARS tires, only Good/Year and other SEARS tires. The Michelin made SEARS tires are grossly overpriced and usually of an older design.
Good tires mean the world to me and they can make a cars' feel and security top notch especially in foul weather, highway cruising, and just normal driving/handling.
I have purchaced many so-so tires over the years from SEARS and many local tires stores and they always seem OK when new. But, get 10K miles on'em and there is whole different story. It's like, one day their fine and the next day their junk!
Now, I will only buy from the online tire stores for better tires of high quality and great reviews. I pay much, much less, apples for apples after they're shipped to my house and I have them installed by the installer of my choice. For 4 tires, I often pay $120-$150 less after everything is said & done!
I have become a tire finatic lately since I have been buying tire based on good/great customer reviews and test score by the testing facilitys and personl opinions of folks(family/friends) in my circle.
As I have said before, I will say it again.
Today's tires have to perform well. In today's age what with government regulation, the social climate(the ability to rate tires in a second) and the fear of having that "firestone" stigma it makes zero sense for any tire maker to put out a bad tire.
Futhermore, most of us do not need high end tires. Our cars and our driving style do not warrant a high performance tire.
As I have said, I can put on $1200 running shoes. But I gain no performance over $10 kmarts. I can put $1500 hiking boots on. Again, if im on a side of a mountain, I gain no traction. I am still going to fall. I am not set up to climb mountains.
So. Putting $400 tires on your (insert sub 25K car here) sedan may sound like a great idea. But your car, your suspension, your breaking system, ect. . . are more than likely not set up to get any good use out of them.
The basic tires are all we really need.
If you have a basic commuter car, a basic all season tire is really all you need.
Trucks/SUV's may see better performance with all-terrain tires. If your going mudding, Mud-terrain may work even better.
If you have a BMW M5, you may want to put the $400 a piece Summer high performance tires on since the car is built to use that type of tire.
If you have a Audi A8, you may want to put $400 a piece grand touring tires since again, the car is set up for that
But people, *for the most part* any name brand tire that fits your OEM recommendation for size/speed rating/ect will work more than fine. Because, most of todays cars we see on the road are not set up for racing around a curve at 75 mph, or having a cloud soft ride at 80 mph, or going through six inches of mud, ect. . . No. Most of our cars are set up to have a tolerable ride. Nothing more. Nothing less. And that is what your going to get. You will get that with $90 tires and with $400 tires.
As I said, no tire maker selling tires in the U.S. wants to go through the Firestone issue. Half of them probably would not even be able to make it through such an event. They no this. So, if your looking at a cheap, name brand tire, that meets your car's spec and thats all you want to spend. Go for it.
It's like oil. Most of our cars do not need $8 a quart synthetic. But some, like me (I will admit it), like to use it anyway.
So if you are one of those people, who just want to get the better "quality" just because you want it. Then go for it! I am all for that.