After talking to a bunch of different tire dealers, this season we will be going with Venburg Tire again. Here is the info needed to get this group buy rolling. Location: [FONT="]Venburg Tire Company[/FONT] [FONT="]3001 Highway 61 North[/FONT] [FONT="]Maplewood[/FONT][FONT="], MN 55109[/FONT] [FONT="]Ph. 651.483.2601[/FONT] [FONT="]Fax 651.483.2881[/FONT] [FONT="]Contact: [/FONT] Kevin Mcfarlane [email protected] The Details: We can start calling right away to start getting our tires/installs. Take note about the new tariff details. It might be in your best interest to act quickly to avoid the price increases. You can have people call at any time starting now. Most of these tires I can have here on the same day or next day depending on when I order them from the warehouse. The pricing should remain the same until February but I can’t promise that with the new tariff that is being placed on tires coming from China all tire manufacturers are starting to increase prices. You will still get wholesale pricing for sure but the actual costs may vary in the next few months. For example, Cooper is raising the price of all their tires November 1st up to 5%. They don’t make anything in the Cooper line that comes from China but the majority of tire companies do and will have to raise their prices by 15%. When people call I’d first have them ask for me but if I’m not around have them mention the Subaru Club and the guys down here will get in touch with me for pricing. Hope this all helps. Let me know if there’s anything else I can do for you. Thanks again. Sample pricing: 205/55R16: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R = $164.21 Nitto NTSN2 = $73.99 General Alti Artic = $87.72 215/45R17: Nokian Hakkapeliitta Rsi = $166.99 General Alti Artic = $114.33 225/45R17: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R = $209.11 Nitto NTSN2 = $100.99 General Alti Artic = $113.34 225/55R17: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R = $180.39 General Alti Artic = $114.56 195/65R15: Nokian Hakkapeliitta R = $121.56 Nitto NTSN2 = $70.46 General Alti Artic = $72.05 This is strictly tire pricing. Labor charges would be $20 per tire for 15” and 16” tires and $25 per tire for 17”. There is a $2 disposal fee if anyone would be getting rid of the old tires but generally in the past they have all kept the summer tires. Obviously the Nokian R is the best tire out of the 3 but we’ve had very good luck with the General tire in the past also. I do not have a lot of experience with the Nitto winter tire. Retail prices on all these tires would average about $20-$30 more per tire. The tires listed about are not the only ones they can get, it is just a sample of what some of the prices will be on certain tires and certain sizes. So the way the GB will work. Call Kevin and let him know what tires you are looking for. He will get you wholesale pricing on the tires (Which will be changing). At that time, Kevin can tell you if/when he will have the tires in stock and be able to set up a time to have them installed. If you have any other questions, let me know and I will try to help out as best as I can. Russ
Awsome, thanks Russ! I will call ahead and just go over there, since it isnt far from my house. If thats cool.
I ended up buying a used set of five spoke stock Subaru wheels from a dude in AZ and a new set of Nokian Hakkapeliitta R tires to wrap around 'em from Venburg's through the group buy. I pick 'em up tomorrow. http://www.nokiantires.com/tyre?id=11949&group=1.01.02&name=Nokian+Hakkapeliitta+R Excellent service and selection from Venburg's and this Group Buy. I thought the deal could have been a little sweater but I'm not complaining one bit. I'm very pleased. Thanks Russ for setting it up. Joel and Kevin at Venburg's wanted me to make mention to everyone at MNSubaru to quickly get in who wants in ASAP before the 15% Tariff Tax kicks in on tire costs.
FYI, I just was quoted $87.72 per tire for 205/55R16 General Alti Artic that were $72.72 in the first post.
So I just ordered up my set of wheels and it looks like all the Nokians just received their large price jump. I double checked with some of the other vendors and Venburg is still by far the cheapest. I updated the Nokian pricing to our current GB prices. Once again, this tarriff stuff is coming and it is coming quick. Thanks Obama. Russ
Well, then every tire dealer is screwing us. Ever one I talked to has given me the same story. And from what I also heard was that if the tire "came from" China. Not made in China, just came from there. So in cases like the Nokian, they actually get chipped over from China because that is part of their distribution route. Russ
Has anyone gone from the Hakka RSI to the R? I'm debating between the two at the moment and trying to see if the R is that much better.
I have a set of each (rsi on the lgt and r on the fxt), but I have yet to drive the r's. I will know once we get some actual snow on the ground. Russ
That may be.... but companies like general and nitto are usually built in the us or canada. I have done a lot of research into this because it is what i do for a living. I just want to make sure that nobody is getting screwed. A lot of tire companies are using the tariff as an excuse to pocket more $. Just be careful and make sure you ask those questions. This is a great deal and i dont want to see it get spoiled.
The "R" was built more for performance and is a newer treadcompound. It handles better then the RSI both on dry/wet and snow/ice conditions. It is also made with a less rolling resistant rubber which should help improve gas milage. They also use a different kind "sipe" known as a "Pump sipe" which is designed not only for snow traction but wet as well. It helps evacuate water giving more stability in wet conditions. It also uses the a solid center rib for quieter driving. As far as a head to head comparsion i do not know the difference but i have heard from customers that the ride is alot better.
I just got them put on my stock wheels, I haven't had a chance to test them but I will later when we get some good snow.
I just got a set from the tire shop I used to work at. They're sitting in my garage but i haven't mounted them yet. They look pretty decent, real soft compound, but I've never owned a set of snows before.
I just bought a set of rims and snows from Kevin at Venburg and I'm really happy with their service and pricing...$940 for a winter wheel and tire package for 17s is a steal. I went with the general snow tire...I'll let you know how it goes.
