Costco tires
Driver
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 159
Likes: 7
From: California
Just acquired a 2013 LS 460 SWB air suspension with 19" wheels. Tires will need replacing soon. My situation is low annual miles (5k), driving mostly rough city streets of San Diego (no snow or ice) and likely to switch cars in a few years (just my preference). I've bought tires once in 10 years as I've changed cars so often. Last tires I bought were Michelin MXMV (I liked them)which they stopped making a few years ago. So I'd prefer a frugal buy. Costco has worked well in the past with the combination of convenience, tire price and install price. Currently, Costco offers BF Goodrich g-force comp-2 a/s for $745, Bridgestone Potenza S-04 PP for $870 or Michelin Pilot Sport 3 for $1000. I would consider other brands from elsewhere such as Kumho and a few other 2nd tier brands. Tire rack has tires starting at $600 set plus installation but the BFs from Costco at $745 installed are about the same price point. Basically I'm looking for budget priced tires for the LS. Thanks in advance.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,918
Likes: 4,121
From: Maryland
Those tires are very different. The QuietTrack are grant touring tires like the Pirellis, but the A/S 3 is a ultra high performance tire and will have very different characteristics.
Driver
Joined: Sep 2019
Posts: 159
Likes: 7
From: California
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,918
Likes: 4,121
From: Maryland
I wouldn’t put those tires on the LS just because they don’t have the characteristics I’m looking for, but if you want a UHP tires they’re some of the best for sure.
Tire install and balance even purchased elsewhere is cheap and reliable at Costco. That may be an option if you have a store nearby. Although tires are cheaper on Tirerack, understand in some cases you are buying tires that have been on the shelf for some time. Hankook and Kumho are great tires. I’ve had them on some high performance vehicles with no complaints.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,918
Likes: 4,121
From: Maryland
Tire install and balance even purchased elsewhere is cheap and reliable at Costco. That may be an option if you have a store nearby. Although tires are cheaper on Tirerack, understand in some cases you are buying tires that have been on the shelf for some time. Hankook and Kumho are great tires. I’ve had them on some high performance vehicles with no complaints.
I don’t like Costco because they don’t do road force balancing and they don’t do alignments.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 18,452
Likes: 1,809
From: Ohio
Ive bought many tires from TireRack over 20 years and I have never gotten old tires. TireRack moves a LOT of tires. No reason to think their inventory is any older than any other tire retailer.
I don’t like Costco because they don’t do road force balancing and they don’t do alignments.
I don’t like Costco because they don’t do road force balancing and they don’t do alignments.
I too don't believe Tire Rack has low turnover and old stock. I'll check the tire date tomorrow before installation and will post if the tires are more than 4 months old. Costco will also have high turnover. I do know from experience that with car batteries 1-2 months old is typical for Costco and Walmart. These companies are experts at stock turnover. Auto parts stores are hit and miss for batteries but even then maybe 5 months old. I notice that type of thing.
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Pole Position
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 342
Likes: 53
From: Chicago
I recently put P7 Plus V1 tires on 20” and they ride pretty nice. Moving from 18” to 20” so a little rough but not much.
I was debating of AS 3+ tires from Costco before purchasing the wheels and P7 tires from Tire Rack.
You can also buy from Discount Tires as they price match since they’re local (not sure if they’re in California).
I was debating of AS 3+ tires from Costco before purchasing the wheels and P7 tires from Tire Rack.
You can also buy from Discount Tires as they price match since they’re local (not sure if they’re in California).
Pirelli Cinturato P7 Plus II installed at Firestone today. Took about an hour. I would recommend them as a Tire Rack partner. $93 total includes free rotation and balance for life of tire. The 4 mile ride home already felt much smoother. Tire rack says that tires take about 500 miles to wear off a surface protectant and thus give tires their full gripping ability.
Edit: the date code of mfg is 4019. 40th week of 2019. There was a comment about old stock at Tire Rack. What is the average or normal for new tire age? Does it really matter (within reason) as most folks are likely to wear the tread out long before the rubber goes bad? I'm more concerned about new a car battery being 4 months old than a tire that's 4-6 months old.
Edit: the date code of mfg is 4019. 40th week of 2019. There was a comment about old stock at Tire Rack. What is the average or normal for new tire age? Does it really matter (within reason) as most folks are likely to wear the tread out long before the rubber goes bad? I'm more concerned about new a car battery being 4 months old than a tire that's 4-6 months old.
Last edited by swfla; Feb 28, 2020 at 06:50 PM.
Steve, My experience may have been based on close-out tires I purchased couple years ago. It was about 3 years old. Nonetheless, my installer had shared the comment of the inventory for tirerack being a little stale dated. l guess this matters on the demand for the tires and turnover. Less desirable ones may be on the self longer.
Lexus Fanatic
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 68,918
Likes: 4,121
From: Maryland
Steve, My experience may have been based on close-out tires I purchased couple years ago. It was about 3 years old. Nonetheless, my installer had shared the comment of the inventory for tirerack being a little stale dated. l guess this matters on the demand for the tires and turnover. Less desirable ones may be on the self longer.
