Posted on 06/08/2013 10:48:09 PM PDT by Jyotishi
Back in the early 1960s when I was in college and working part-time, I had to have my car to get to my employment. So, when I had a tire problem I did indeed go to the junkyard. Tires there were $5.00 and were jocularly known as the "Maypop" brand.
The ones I’m currently running are “Jetzens” or something like that. Never heard of ‘em, but are locally available. They’re 6 ply. I have run 10 ply Hankooks before. The tire shop guy is complaining that I don’t get enough flats.
Just to be more accurate, I don’t get a year out of a set. 15 to 18 thousand miles usually. The heavier tires cost more, but last longer, but the lighter tires save enough, but need more repairs. In the end, the cost is a wash, but I have nearly no flat tires with the heavier ply. I once finished my drive with two screws, a nail, and a sharp rock penetrating the tire. I drove for an hour and a half after I noticed the tire was low. Cheaper tires would have gone flat immediately. I got the holes patched and ran that set out. Pretty cool.
When I bought my “new” jeep, it came with standard street tires and I had two flats in the same day on ice. I just figure the cost of heavy tires into the price of a vehicle.
Obama added a 25% tarif to every tire made in China.
this is after most tire companies were drivin out of the USA by the greenies.......
I have a total of 28 tires on this ranch...
Want to guess how much it costs me when I need tires for a vehicle???
Cry me a river if you ONLY NEED 4 of them!!!!
I could get that kind of mileage out of what I run if I didn’t start and stop constantly. Just driving is not nearly as hard on a tire as what I do. Plus, I have to make sure I have really good tread going into winter, so I have to time my tire purchase to land in, say November, and this year I’m way out of sync. I’m going to need tires by Sept.
For years, I put slightly used “take-off” tires on my Ford vans. People would buy a vehicle and immediately take it in to have fancy wheels and tires put on it. These days, however, the shop where I have always dealt tells me they cannot even get use 15” tires anymore because few, if any, vehicles come with them. I used to be able to put a nearly new set of tires on an E-150 Ford for about $100.
Sorry, that't not my life experience. A willingness to live within ones means and budget, coupled with even a mild amount of enthusiasm prevents this type of nonsense.
Except for poor health, I see people who are poor through their own bad decisions.
Thanks, FRiends! This is an issue (a problem?) that interests me greatly: I am thinking of doing a major gravel road ride next year, the “James Bay Road.”
The Goodyear Wrangler with Kevlar sidewalls might be your best choice for what you are going to do.
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