I couldn't believe this (no, I don't work for, own stock in or have anything to do with Tire Rack).

As you know the tires for the RX-8 are expensive, and I've been looking for months to get a new set of 4. The factory installed RE040's have about had it (I just hit 36,000 miles on these original tires).

Tire Rack has got the regular size Bridgestone RE050A's in 225/45 YR 18's for $145. That's unreal, the local tire store wants $350 each. It's a closeout price.

They also have the BR RE050A's in 245/40 YR18 for $159, also a closeout. I got mine, get yours before they run out.

 

Your local tire shop sucks. I paid $150.00 a tire locally.

 

im at 25,000 on mine from the factory. Now that i'm looking for a new set i cant seem to find a good deal. with tirerack you still have to pay about $100 to a local shop to install them. is our only solution to spend between 900+ for a good set? any suggested alternatives?

 

Yeah, keep the cost of mounting and balancing in mind. Not to mention the hassle.

 

[QUOTE=Armaant] with tirerack you still have to pay about $100 to a local shop to install them. [QUOTE]

Shop around. My local Firestone shop will do it for $19.99 per tire which includes mount, rubber stems, balance, and disposal fees. That's about the best deal I found.

 

if you like the bridegestones that's a good deal... i personally hate them and wouldn't buy them if it was for $150 for all four.

the only bridgestone tire I'd even consider is either the indy500/firehawk or the s-03 pole postions.

 

tire rack is great because you can drop ship them to your local tire shop and have them install them for you. I usualy call before I ship them and try and talk the local tire place I use to mount my tires and try and get them to price match for me. if they BEAT the diffrence between shipping and taxes I'll use them otherwise I drop ship the tire to them, they call when they are in and I come by and get my tires put on.

It's much more painless than going to the local whateve nad having to pick whatever crap tire they have in stock.. and paying out the nose for it.

 

I just got rid of my OE Bridgestone Potenzas @ 3,200 miles. I couldn't stand the road noise. I shopped the TireRack but went with the local tire shop. I went with Falken "Zeeks" 245/40/18 @ 161.00 each.

Caution: The local tire guys tried to charge me $16.00 ($4.00 a piece) for rubber valve stems. I complained to the store manager that the RX-8 requires the OE TPMS valve stems. They gave me a refund but they were really embarassed by the oversight.

 

Bridgestone tires are pieces of ****.

 

Better than any European or American crap.