Tire Purchase

I purchase tires from: www.tirerack.com

I buy the smallest width tire possible, yet keeping the diameter the same for the speedometer accuracy. Then I pressure them with nitrogen to 44lbs.

You can use this tire calculator to see a virtual image of your existing tire, compared to the new you are looking at:

www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Hope this helps.....

If I order from tire rack which I have considered you still gotta get someone to mount/balance. The Uniroyal Tiger Paw is like a name brand to me with out all the marketing hype. The $69 price per tire is a fair price. The buy three and get 1 free is on low mileage like 50 to 60 thou life span. I can get 80 thou on the Uniroyal plus deal local and closeby.

Just purchased some 155/80R13's at a local tireshop in Bonham @ $39.95 each. Much better deal that I could get even at TireRack. They don't have "Nitrogen" so I sent off a CO2 tank to be converted to "Nitrogen". I'll set it up to have myself for "Nitrogen" tire inflation. Hmmm, maybe I'll advertise this as a service in the area.....lol

Thinking of setting up a demonstration for "Nitrogen" tire inflation, by taking two identical tires/wheels, inflating one with typical air the other with nitrogen at the same pressure. Set outside in the weather, but with them mounted in a squeeze device to simulate the weight of a vehicle and see what the pressure is on both tires after something like 6 months.

I may go with Michelen energy saver X. Most people talk good about discount tire and multiple locations.

TexasCotton said:

I may go with Michelen energy saver X. Most people talk good about discount tire and multiple locations.

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Ask if they can inflate with Nitrogen. Keep an open mind, and realize they use it in Airplane Tires to maintain pressure at extreme temperatures. You'll have less rolling resistance changes over time/temp during the life of the tires, and have to top off/check the pressure much less. The local shop here charges something like $2.50 per tire. I've gone as far as to send off a divers tank to be tested/filled and a regulator system installed to have on hand for all the tires around here.

I just got 4 Cooper white wall 155/80R13's for $100.00 mounting and balance
included.
Small local shop that I do business with.
Cooper says that they are discontinuing the white wall option.
I like my white walls as it is sorta a '50s thing.

TexomaEV said:

I'll set it up to have myself for "Nitrogen" tire inflation.

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You know me, Mike... I'm still just running 80% Nitrogen in my tires in all my vehicles, seems to still be working well.

FYI/Followup
Now, I have tried LRR tires kinda think more hype than reality. The other factor is many Prius owners max inflate tires so wear pattern in middle of tire plus increase mpg but rougher ride because of inflation pressure. So Michelen Energy X are good quality but pricy

Yea discount tire/wally world has ECOPIA LRR which would have given me just as good result and performance. The big thing is always check tire pressure both winter/summer/fall/spring.