Looking for new tires for the SportWagen TDI, anyone here try the Firestone Champion Fuel Fighters?

When I was younger I used to buy used tires all the time. As I've gotten older, I've moved away from that.

 

Since my “poor younger” days, I’m only slightly more monied. I’ve discovered that my used tires are far less expensive AND better than my new tires previously were, & my traveling opportunities are much higher.

 

Three years ago I paid about $85/tire minus $50 rebate/per set of 4 for Hankook Kinergy PT H737, same OE size as Edwin's.

 

I was burned a few times where the used tires gave out only a couple months after I bought them.

 

For a cheap tire, Hankooks are great. We put a set on Susan's car, and she loves them.

 

Ok, all my rewards came in as Amazon gift cards. 4 Firestone Fuel Fighters, with free shipping, $89.72/ea. All of my rebates and rewards (and a trip to the Coinstar machine at Food Lion) totaled $320. The rear brake pads and rotors I had in my cart were out of stock. I may have to buy those locally, but I did buy the triple square set, and the caliper compressors needed to do the brake job myself.

 

Same here. I bought two in the late 80s. One had strange irregular wear that worsened. The other one had a sidewall plug (which I failed to spot before purchase) and developed a tread separation. Around the same time, someone gave me a slightly oversize used tire that proved to be durable and trouble-free, despite looking very elderly. I replaced it before it wore out or "gave out."

 

Yeah…..yeah, yeah…..that’s what I’ve been sayin’…..

 

They're Here! A few days early too!

 

And quite a bargain! How do you handle mounting and balancing? That's the part I have trouble with when getting new tires. I feel like I'm at the mercy of the tire shops or garages.

 

My local Shell station. Even Wayne is familiar with them, as it is the station he fills up at when he's returning cars at Dulles Airport. I get pissed off whenever I go to tire shops, I always feel like I'm getting ripped off. For a period of time, a former brother in law of mine was in the management training program for Mr. Tire, and he quit. He didn't like that they were actively training people on how to talk them into more repairs than they actually need.

Wanting to support my mechanic at the Shell station, and knowing that I wasn't getting a deal anyway at tire shops, I asked him what a particular tire would cost from him. He said "just go to Mr. Tire. I can't compete with their prices". Since then, I've been buying my tires online, and he's been mounting, balancing, and installing them for $20/tire, which I feel is very fair. Added bonus is I'm still steering business to my favorite shop instead of the big box tire shops.

 

I’ve got a great mechanic who has done all our cars for 25 years.

 

Yes, and lucky if they don't grossly overtighten the lug nuts.

 

So, I've been driving on the tires for a few days now. Wet traction is a bit better than the Yokohamas, and the Fuel Fighters are a lot quieter than the Yoko's. Time will tell if there's a noticeable gain in economy.

 

Remember that worn tires give better FE than new tires, so if you see a little loss, don't be discouraged. New tires are also quieter. All tires get noisy as the tread wears and you're riding on larger blocks of tread. Once the new tires wear in a bit, mpg will improve.

 

The old tires weren't really worn out as far as tread depth goes, they were starting to crack, and they were loud, and the traction was crap... I wanted them gone.

 

It happens to the best of us when we get old.

I'm pleased to hear you are satisfied with the performance of the new tires.

 

HEY, WHAT DID YOU SAY?

 

Any new updates on the Firestone tires to report? Guess no news is good news?

 

Asking again. Any updates about those Firestone tires?