Tyres: It pays to shop around

[Zed]

Yes I need *another* tyre, fast motorcycles are expensive fun! Current rear tyre is a Pirelli Strada and has lasted 4,400kms, the tyre before that was a Pirelli Diablo which lasted me 7,500kms!! Hmm, I havn't been riding that fast, must've been that one track day on the Strada!?

Anyway, I phoned 3 shops in Ak today and got the following quotes on a new Pirelli Diablo rear 180/55/17 fitted:

Holeshots - $300. I thought, good price! The salesman said that I must ensure to book it in in order to have it fitted, and I said thanks, I *may* call you. :second:

Haldanes - Couldn't get a price for one minute while I held on the phone for 'junior' to ask someone who's more sure of the price, he said "Um, it may be $299 or ...erm $350?? I'll just go check!" So he came back with the higher $350 fitted and I said "catch ya later". :third:

Cycletreads - $270. You beauty! I asked Scott if I should book it in and he said nah just roll on in anytime! :first:


'Most' of the time when I'm shopping/buying I try and stick to at least three quotations before deciding, it's a good rule to live by!

Cycletreads takes my money again for best pricing and service!


Now to get that warrant... :cool:

[Hitcher]

Makes mental note to stick with the Metzeler Z6 and not try the new Pirelli Strada.

[madboy]

Makes mental note to stick with the Metzeler Z6 and not try the new Pirelli Strada.Yeah, the Z6 doesn't chew out on the track as quickly for ya, does it H?!

[WINJA]

YOUR JUST CONFIRMING THE GOOD THINGS I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT TREADS, A LOT OF THOSE GUYS AT TREADS ARE HARD RIDERS SO THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR SELLING AND WHAT THEIR TALKING ABOUT WHICH IS A CHANGE , HALDANES IS A WASTE OF TIME

[Hitcher]

Yeah, the Z6 doesn't chew out on the track as quickly for ya, does it H?!
Indeed not, Your Madness. Bring on that ST racing class!

[Motu]

But Haldane's don't drop bikes off the lift in full view of customers,then make a cock up of the cock up while customers continue to watch.

[myvice]

Been burnt on the fitting too!
$34 to fit a tyre?
Its not a tractor!

[Holy Roller]

Been burnt on the fitting too!
$34 to fit a tyre?
Its not a tractor!
Down here if one wants to avoid the cost of fitting, just take the wheel in or as I do take it off in the shop, they fit the new tyre, I replace the wheel just for the cost of a new tyre. Its a chance to check on the drive splines lubrication and brake pads etc.

[SixPackBack]

My experience with cycletreads is the following: ring several dealers and find the cheapest price for tyre and fitting, them ring scott ask him if he can do it for price 'x' [i.e. minimum qoute minus $20]. he has not dissapointed me yet, to top it off he is a good all round bloke.

[Motu]

Hey Holy Roller - how much for the girl? :dodge:

She's a good salesperson,but we didn't buy.There was a guy out of place,she should be able to place me then :spudwave:

[Zed]

Makes mental note to stick with the Metzeler Z6 and not try the new Pirelli Strada.How many miles do you get outta ya Z6's Hitcher?

[dss3]

Yeah I found the same thing with tyres in Ham's Zed. When I was getting a set of GPR70's for the race bike the price ranges from $440.00 a set to $540.00, and this was from two bike shops that are literally a stones through away from each other. I was suprised to find such a difference on identical products... definitely worth shopping around and a bit of haggling on price.

[FROSTY]

Can't argue with ya logic Zed-- Treads have an advantage in they import their own tyres.
Re Haldanes --Mate dont talk to the boy--Look Im sure he's a good kid but for tyres ONLY speak to Chris.
I must say Chris does reward loyalty.

[Hitcher]

How many miles do you get outta ya Z6's Hitcher?
Bearing in mind that I don't do track days, but that my ride is probably nearly 50kg heavier than thine (with almost identical torque output) I expect about 11,000km off a rear, plus or minus.

[Holy Roller]

Hey Holy Roller - how much for the girl? :dodge:

She's a good salesperson,but we didn't buy.There was a guy out of place,she should be able to place me then :spudwave:

Not for sale
There were so many guys out of place she couldn't place just one guy out of place next time give a "say hullo to HR" then she may remember.

[Toast]

Cycletreads never fails. It's so good dealing with people who have their margins worked out and don't try to screw you for every single cent they can cut out of you.

[Lou Girardin]

One reason for variations in tyre prices is whether the dealer gets stockist rates or not.
A dealer that is owned by an importer has a slight advantage with pricing wouldn't you say?

[Sparky Bills]

Yeah, every bikeshop have different discounts on different branded tyres.
We do 2 top brands mainly. We can get other brands, just cant do as gooder deal as a dealer for that brand.
Saying that, they cant do as gooder deal on tyres we stock.

[vifferman]

The things I like about Cycletreads:

Selling/fitting tyres is their core business, so they do it well, and at a competitive price.
The advice they have given me has checked out to be true.
The tyres are well-balanced, as they do dynamic balancing (in three dimensions, not just two).
With regards to (1), they have asked me how I ride, where I ride, checked the wear on my tyres, and recommended the most appropriate tyre for the riding I do. (Note that Kerry at Motohaus also does this). But because tyres are their 'main thing', other services aren't quite so good sometimes. I had an oil change done there once, because it cost me less than just the oil+filter cost elsewhere! However, because they'd never changed the filter on a VFR750 before, it took a long time, and I had to tell them what to do. It was still worth it - free labour is still good value!

[enigma51]

The shop that has always looked after me the best is Colemans I take the bike in for a wof they let me know I need new rear or front or what ever I say make me good price I come back all sorted. And having phoned around for tires as well Colemans tend to be the cheaper option as I dont have to go from one shop to the other to get the bike in shape for a wof.

But in cycletreads defense I have not phoned or used them so cant say if they are better or not I just know I get a good price and good service from Colemans (espicialy from Dan)

[SimJen]

Been using Boyds in Hams for a good few years. John in the parts dept always looks after people. Done me countless deals on NSR parts back in the day, as well as primo deals on tires. Last set of GPR70SP's I got were way cheaper than anywhere else.
Just ordered a 180/55/17 Metz Sportec M1 and he did me a mega cheap price, over $50 less than elsewhere.
Johns a top bloke in Hams. :)

[Qkchk]

Cycletreads - $270. You beauty! I asked Scott if I should book it in and he said nah just roll on in anytime! :first:


'Most' of the time when I'm shopping/buying I try and stick to at least three quotations before deciding, it's a good rule to live by!

Cycletreads takes my money again for best pricing and service!


Do you guys know they are having a big sale on @ the end of this month..... cheaper tyres :2thumbsup:

[vifferman]

Stop whingeing about tyres!

Go to Kerry at Motohaus - get a set (e.g, 120 front, 180 rear) of Avons fitted and balanced for $475!
And he'll give you 1000km satisfaction guarantee (try them, and if you don't like 'em, he'll fit summat else), and free puncture repair for the life of the tyres.
Ya can't beat a deal like that! :niceone:
(I'm going in next week, when I've toasted the Bridgestones....)

[Zed]

...get a set (e.g, 120 front, 180 rear) of Avons fitted and balanced for $475!
And he'll give you 1000km satisfaction guarantee (try them, and if you don't like 'em, he'll fit summat else), and free puncture repair for the life of the tyres.
Ya can't beat a deal like that! :niceone: Yes indeed, sounds like a great deal, but unfortunately I had a bad experience last year on a set of Avons from Kerry and I'll probably never buy that brand again, just not prepared to take the risk. Pirelli's work for me at this time, and I get the feeling many of us have our preferred brands that we will stick with regardless of improvements made to other brands.

Btw, I reserve my right to whinge about *anything* thankyou very much! :mega: