Buying winter tires in the US

[new_hobby]

Have anybody bought winter tires from the US before? I am thinking of order 4 Micheline winter tires from the US and pick them up myself across the border but not sure if it is worth it?

[dpatte]

add PST at the border, unless you are away long enough

[Jeff1192]

Completely worth it. I order all my tires through the States now. They key is you have to make sure that they are tires made in North America that way there is no duty, only tax, when you bring them back. You'd be paying that tax on them if you bought them here anyways. I picked up winter tires for my wife's car last year, through tirerack.com and I paid $105 per tire for tires that were $215 at Canadian Tire. Tire racks's webpage shows you where the tires are made. You can have them delivered to the Corporate Center in Ogdensburg and they'll charge you $8 per tire to hold them for you.  http://www.corp-ctr.com/


Jeff

[Greatwhite]

add PST at the border, unless you are away long enough

Stay for 48hrs to get $800 per person allowance.  Otherwise, 24-48hrs is $200 per person.

BUT...  American prices on tires + PST, you are still coming up ahead.  Don't try to sneak them across the border, because it's hard to stick 4 winter tires under your coat and you will get caught.

[wandmangels]

drive down with a set of tires you dont want to bring back...have the new ones installed there...

[new_hobby]

Thanks everyone for the tip, specially Jeff with the website and prices.

[Greatwhite]

drive down with a set of tires you dont want to bring back...have the new ones installed there...

Lol - why didn't I think of that?!?!?  GENIUS!!

[lucius]

I'm not sure how much money you would be saving because chances are you would be staying for a meal and maybe hitting up the surrounding stores and doing more shopping.  I keep hearing that the Wal-Mart in Ogdensburg carries items that aren't in the Ottawa stores and people usually stock up.

[exv152]

Way worth it. I know lots of people who do this. For some reason the tire suppliers here have not adjusted their prices since the Canadian dollar has gone to par with the US, like many other items. But I see no reason to pay up to 50% more in some cases, when all you need to do is pay for the gas it took to get there (~ $40 tops) btw, fill-up on gas while you're there too it's at about $1 per litre. Even if you paid gas and declared the tires (make sure they're made in the US so you don't pay duty) and even with the HST it's still cheaper.

PS if you look closely you may even notice "made in Canada" marked on your new tires.

[Greatwhite]

We make a trip down to Syracuse to hit the outlet mall in Waterloo every 6 months or so.  We stay at a hotel for a couple nights, aiming for one with a pool and the kids think it's a great vacation -- we blow about $2000 on clothes for the kids and ourselves, and save about the same because of sales. 

As much as I like to support my local stores, the savings of hopping across the border make it too tempting -- ESPECIALLY with the dollar doing as well as it has been.

[Darth]

I'm not sure how much money you would be saving because chances are you would be staying for a meal and maybe hitting up the surrounding stores and doing more shopping.  I keep hearing that the Wal-Mart in Ogdensburg carries items that aren't in the Ottawa stores and people usually stock up.

I shop at the walmart in ogdensburg then go across to the price chopper I buy cereal normally around $7 for the fam size here $2.50-$3.50 there boneless chicken breast here anywhere from $4.99 and up per lb down there on sale $1.99 per lb. some stuff is just as cheap if not cheaper here but some other things totally make the trip worth it (like the selection of cheeses at the deli counter )

[Nerine]

WHY are tires so expensive here?!

I was quoted in town for all season radials - $850 for my van and I went to Montreal told the guy I had cash and I got brand new tires (they said they were used, but they were not used at all) for $350 (and better tires than what I was gonna get from CT!) - I can look the name of the shop up...I just remember it was past the reserve and down an alley haha it looked suspect but there were many beautiful cars in the lot ('vettes etc)

btw - on the sneaking bit - they do take a photo of your car just claim them! easier and no messes in case they decide to pull your photo up!

[Peekay]

I shop at the walmart in ogdensburg then go across to the price chopper I buy cereal normally around $7 for the fam size here $2.50-$3.50 there boneless chicken breast here anywhere from $4.99 and up per lb down there on sale $1.99 per lb. some stuff is just as cheap if not cheaper here but some other things totally make the trip worth it (like the selection of cheeses at the deli counter )

As long as you're ok with high fructose corn syrup instead of sugar, and growth hormones in the meat and dairy... 

[sas]

As long as you're ok with high fructose corn syrup instead of sugar, and growth hormones in the meat and dairy... 

Nice

[Greatwhite]

WHY are tires so expensive here?!

One reason that winter tires (at least) are so expensive is that they are REQUIRED BY LAW in Quebec (and I think Ontario?)... At least "highly encouraged" in Ontario, and you're rewarded slightly with insurance cuts.  When the law was set in Quebec, prices jumped up.

In New York state, I don't think they're required... And no one would willingly shell out the $$$ for winter tires if they don't NEED them, so the prices are lower to entice people to buy.

All seasons tires...  No idea why they're so expensive.  I seem to remember seeing once that a big portion of tire cost is tax..  Other provinces (and countries) may not tax their tires as much, thereby having a more affordable price for the end customer. ()

I got a set of summer tires and sexy rims for $1000 for my Tiburon, and they came from Montreal.  They are "Vector" brand or some name I've never heard of, but was told they're made by Cooper Tire (great?)... 

You can keep an eye on Kijiji and get some great tire deals when people get a new car and realize their winter tires don't fit any more.

oh, and in regards to pictures being taken of the car on the way across the border....  They take pictures of the front and back to get the license plates.  They certainly don't zoom in on the tires and would never be able to see that the tires coming back are not the ones that went down.  Put old winter tires on some steel rims, drive down, change them, drive back.... Done.   (I should point out that I have never knowingly snuck anything across the border, and am just pointing out that it IS possible - but there's always a risk of getting caught, so don't do anything you're not ready to accept consequences for)

[exv152]

If you're wondering why the tire price discrepancy between the US and Canadian markets, take a quick look at this article below. I think the tire manufacturer's have a lot to answer for, and not the tire retailers here in Canada. Like many other products with the same problem, I think the higher profits just become too enticing to do anything to fix the problem. That's the problem you have when the guys setting the prices are also the same guys reeping the profits.

http://www.moneyville.ca/article/998627--why-do-tires-cost-so-much-more-in-canada

[lucius]

New tires usually have those rubber, prickly spikes that are left on during the manufacturing process.  They probably don't normally look but you never know.

I happen to know that my steel winter rims are cheaper in Ottawa than in the US.  $50 to $75 CDN vs $150 USD each.

[76brian]

The savings on motorcycle tires is substantial. I've bought 2 sets in the last 2 years on Amazon, and saved at least 40% over what the same tires cost here.

[Greatwhite]

New tires usually have those rubber, prickly spikes that are left on during the manufacturing process.  They probably don't normally look but you never know.

I happen to know that my steel winter rims are cheaper in Ottawa than in the US.  $50 to $75 CDN vs $150 USD each.

My winter tires are 2 years old and still have little nubby spike things...

[Nerine]

I hope you're able to find your tires at a good price

and interesting article. ahhh prices!!

and my tires have the nubbys on them too!! and my last set of brand new tires didnt have any!