TIRE WARS: Load E, the final solution

[thomas g. warner]

6 new Alcoas should cost about $1150, and 6 Michelin LT225/75R16 should cost
about $720 plus tax. that would mean that Buskirk is charging $1000 for
labor of replacing studs. Even if they charge the full retail price for the
Michelins of $160/tire they are still getting $700 for labor.

Get them somewhere else. Sams club has them for $115/tire

>Tim,
>Your message was very interesting since as you know I live
>pretty close to Jackson. Could you share with us what you
>will be paying for your tires and Alcoa's?
>
>I have Goodyear G159's on steel rims and they have good tread,
>but I think they are close to being 5 years old. I can't be sure,
>because I have never been able to find the "DOT" code.
>
>I'm a bit concerned that if I lose a tire, I won't be able to find
>a suitable replacement in a reasonable amount of time. Maybe I
>should get on the waiting list for a set of Alcoa's and tires
>from Buskirk's.
>
>By the way, Ivan at Cinnabar told me a ball park price for
>new Alcoa's, tires and installation (including new studs)
>would be around $2,600.
>Richard Waters '76 PB, Troy, MI
>

>
>> Things I Learned Today:
>> 1. It is not easy to find an all steel, E-rated 8.75 x 16.5 tire in
>> Jackson, Mich.
>> 2. According to the counter jockey at Discount Tire, the Bridgestones on
>> Dave Greenberg's coach don't exist. Neither do Goodyear G159's.
>> 3. According to the Goodyear dealer, who knew that G159's exist, they
>> are on "national backorder", could be 6 months or more.
>> 4. The local Firestone dealer doesn't "do" motorhomes, and after seeing
>> his shop, I don't want him to.
>>
>> And now for the beauty part. I spoke to Max at Buskirk-Rush and he said
>> he had just heard that the Alcoa's he's had on back order for 2 months
>> will be shipped next week. The drought may be coming to an end! He had 7
>> coming that were'nt spoken for, so now 6 of them are all mine. (Or at
>> least they will be when they show up.) They coordinate with the Sandusky
>> Firestone dealer so I can get Bridgestones and Alcoa's all in one swell
>> foop.
>>
>>
>> Tim Brown
>> 78 Royale
>> Jackson, Mich
>
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
"The beautiful Mohawk Vally"

 

[john wright]

Tom,
The original estimate was from Cinnabar not Buskirks. I got my wheels,
covers and nuts from Buskirk's in Feb. for $1150 + tax. They won't
insist that you need new wheel studs either. As for the cost of tires
that is what you can negotiate, I got mine wholesales for under $80 per
tire. By the way you don't have to install new studs to put Alcoa
Wheels on the GMC!

J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
77 Eleganza II
Michigan

>
> 6 new Alcoas should cost about $1150, and 6 Michelin LT225/75R16 should cost
> about $720 plus tax. that would mean that Buskirk is charging $1000 for
> labor of replacing studs. Even if they charge the full retail price for the
> Michelins of $160/tire they are still getting $700 for labor.
>
> Get them somewhere else. Sams club has them for $115/tire
>

> >Tim,
> >Your message was very interesting since as you know I live
> >pretty close to Jackson. Could you share with us what you
> >will be paying for your tires and Alcoa's?
> >
> >I have Goodyear G159's on steel rims and they have good tread,
> >but I think they are close to being 5 years old. I can't be sure,
> >because I have never been able to find the "DOT" code.
> >
> >I'm a bit concerned that if I lose a tire, I won't be able to find
> >a suitable replacement in a reasonable amount of time. Maybe I
> >should get on the waiting list for a set of Alcoa's and tires
> >from Buskirk's.
> >
> >By the way, Ivan at Cinnabar told me a ball park price for
> >new Alcoa's, tires and installation (including new studs)
> >would be around $2,600.
> >Richard Waters '76 PB, Troy, MI
> >

> >
> >> Things I Learned Today:
> >> 1. It is not easy to find an all steel, E-rated 8.75 x 16.5 tire in
> >> Jackson, Mich.
> >> 2. According to the counter jockey at Discount Tire, the Bridgestones on
> >> Dave Greenberg's coach don't exist. Neither do Goodyear G159's.
> >> 3. According to the Goodyear dealer, who knew that G159's exist, they
> >> are on "national backorder", could be 6 months or more.
> >> 4. The local Firestone dealer doesn't "do" motorhomes, and after seeing
> >> his shop, I don't want him to.
> >>
> >> And now for the beauty part. I spoke to Max at Buskirk-Rush and he said
> >> he had just heard that the Alcoa's he's had on back order for 2 months
> >> will be shipped next week. The drought may be coming to an end! He had 7
> >> coming that were'nt spoken for, so now 6 of them are all mine. (Or at
> >> least they will be when they show up.) They coordinate with the Sandusky
> >> Firestone dealer so I can get Bridgestones and Alcoa's all in one swell
> >> foop.
> >>
> >>
> >> Tim Brown
> >> 78 Royale
> >> Jackson, Mich
> >
> >
> >
> Tom & Marg Warner
> Vernon Center NY
> 1976 palmbeach
> "The beautiful Mohawk Vally"

 

[richard waters]

Tom,
Thanks for the info.

Actually it was Cinnabar, not Buskrik, that told me the price
would be about $2,600 for the new tires and wheels.

Does seem kind of steep. Maybe I misunderstood what Ivan
was telling me. He might have suggested that price includes
new wheel bearings. While we were talking about new Alcoa's
he said that was a good time to replace the bearings since the
hubs would be off for the stud replacements.

I would hate to think their prices would be that much out of line.

I had some work done by them recently on my exhaust manifolds
and I thought their bill for that work was fair and reasonable.
Richard Waters

> 6 new Alcoas should cost about $1150, and 6 Michelin LT225/75R16 should cost
> about $720 plus tax. that would mean that Buskirk is charging $1000 for
> labor of replacing studs. Even if they charge the full retail price for the
> Michelins of $160/tire they are still getting $700 for labor.
>
> Get them somewhere else. Sams club has them for $115/tire
>

> >Tim,
> >Your message was very interesting since as you know I live
> >pretty close to Jackson. Could you share with us what you
> >will be paying for your tires and Alcoa's?
> >
> >I have Goodyear G159's on steel rims and they have good tread,
> >but I think they are close to being 5 years old. I can't be sure,
> >because I have never been able to find the "DOT" code.
> >
> >I'm a bit concerned that if I lose a tire, I won't be able to find
> >a suitable replacement in a reasonable amount of time. Maybe I
> >should get on the waiting list for a set of Alcoa's and tires
> >from Buskirk's.
> >
> >By the way, Ivan at Cinnabar told me a ball park price for
> >new Alcoa's, tires and installation (including new studs)
> >would be around $2,600.
> >Richard Waters '76 PB, Troy, MI
> >

> >
> >> Things I Learned Today:
> >> 1. It is not easy to find an all steel, E-rated 8.75 x 16.5 tire in
> >> Jackson, Mich.
> >> 2. According to the counter jockey at Discount Tire, the Bridgestones on
> >> Dave Greenberg's coach don't exist. Neither do Goodyear G159's.
> >> 3. According to the Goodyear dealer, who knew that G159's exist, they
> >> are on "national backorder", could be 6 months or more.
> >> 4. The local Firestone dealer doesn't "do" motorhomes, and after seeing
> >> his shop, I don't want him to.
> >>
> >> And now for the beauty part. I spoke to Max at Buskirk-Rush and he said
> >> he had just heard that the Alcoa's he's had on back order for 2 months
> >> will be shipped next week. The drought may be coming to an end! He had 7
> >> coming that were'nt spoken for, so now 6 of them are all mine. (Or at
> >> least they will be when they show up.) They coordinate with the Sandusky
> >> Firestone dealer so I can get Bridgestones and Alcoa's all in one swell
> >> foop.
> >>
> >>
> >> Tim Brown
> >> 78 Royale
> >> Jackson, Mich
> >
> >
> >
> Tom & Marg Warner
> Vernon Center NY
> 1976 palmbeach
> "The beautiful Mohawk Vally"

 

[patrick flowers]

>
> 6 new Alcoas should cost about $1150, and 6 Michelin LT225/75R16 should cost
> about $720 plus tax. that would mean that Buskirk is charging $1000 for
> labor of replacing studs. Even if they charge the full retail price for the
> Michelins of $160/tire they are still getting $700 for labor.

Probably close to full retail on the tires and wheels, which would
probably leave about $500 for labor(remember tire
mounting/balancing/disposal is in there too). Not out of line really
when you consider what must be done to change out all the studs - total
disassembly of all six hubs including removing discs and drums, then
cleaning and repacking/replacing bearings. It's not a small job.

Patrick
- --
Patrick Flowers
Mailtoatrick

The GMC Motorhome Page
http://www.gmcmotorhome.com

 

[thomas g. warner]

but the point is that Alcoa says the studs do not have to be changed.

>>
>> 6 new Alcoas should cost about $1150, and 6 Michelin LT225/75R16 should cost
>> about $720 plus tax. that would mean that Buskirk is charging $1000 for
>> labor of replacing studs. Even if they charge the full retail price for the
>> Michelins of $160/tire they are still getting $700 for labor.
>
>Probably close to full retail on the tires and wheels, which would
>probably leave about $500 for labor(remember tire
>mounting/balancing/disposal is in there too). Not out of line really
>when you consider what must be done to change out all the studs - total
>disassembly of all six hubs including removing discs and drums, then
>cleaning and repacking/replacing bearings. It's not a small job.
>
>Patrick
>--
>Patrick Flowers
>Mailtoatrick
>
>The GMC Motorhome Page
>http://www.gmcmotorhome.com
>
>
Tom & Marg Warner
Vernon Center NY
1976 palmbeach
"The beautiful Mohawk Vally"

 

[patrick flowers]

It is? It wasn't even mentioned in the post I replied to.

Patrick

>
> but the point is that Alcoa says the studs do not have to be changed.
>

> >>
> >> 6 new Alcoas should cost about $1150, and 6 Michelin LT225/75R16 should cost
> >> about $720 plus tax. that would mean that Buskirk is charging $1000 for
> >> labor of replacing studs. Even if they charge the full retail price for the
> >> Michelins of $160/tire they are still getting $700 for labor.
> >
> >Probably close to full retail on the tires and wheels, which would
> >probably leave about $500 for labor(remember tire
> >mounting/balancing/disposal is in there too). Not out of line really
> >when you consider what must be done to change out all the studs - total
> >disassembly of all six hubs including removing discs and drums, then
> >cleaning and repacking/replacing bearings. It's not a small job.

- --
Patrick Flowers
Mailtoatrick

The GMC Motorhome Page
http://www.gmcmotorhome.com

 

[timothy brown]

Richard Waters wrote:

Richard, I see I'm a bit tardy in replying due to my GMCNet having to be
digested. But J.R. Wright is exactly correct. $1150 for the wheels. The
tires I haven't negotiated yet. Max suggested if I'm intersted in
Bridgestones, I could buy them from the Sandusky Firestone dealer and
that way he wouldn't have to mark them up. He could then have them ready
to swap for my "caveman" wheels. That seems to be fairly representative
of the way Buskirk operates, they kind of look out for you and your
wallet. (Of course, they've gotten into my wallet pretty good already!)

Paul Barz told me he paid $110 plus $8 shipping for his Bridgestones
from Zurcher in Indiana. J.R., what kind of tires did you get for $80
wholesale?

BTW, I'm told Clarence Buskirk always recommended Michelins. I may go
that route if the Bridgestone dealer is too greedy.

I'll post more when I find out what I don't know.

Tim Brown
78 Royale
Jackson Mich

 

[john wright]

Tim,
When I got my wheels in Feb. I wanted to stay as close to stock rolling
diameter as possible. I had installed a 3.55 final drive in Oct. and
didn't want to run a larger diameter tire. Max recommended a Firestone
Steeltex Radial R4S LT225/75R16 M/S Load range E tire which they had
been installing on one of the GMC's that they had just finished. It was
within 2% of stock 16.5" tire rolling diameter. These tires retail from
$119 to $129 at most dealers. My brother is a Cadillac Dealer and I got
them thru him at his cost.

J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLaker
77 Eleganza II
Michigan

>
> Richard Waters wrote: >
>
> Richard, I see I'm a bit tardy in replying due to my GMCNet having to be
> digested. But J.R. Wright is exactly correct. $1150 for the wheels. The
> tires I haven't negotiated yet. Max suggested if I'm intersted in
> Bridgestones, I could buy them from the Sandusky Firestone dealer and
> that way he wouldn't have to mark them up. He could then have them ready
> to swap for my "caveman" wheels. That seems to be fairly representative
> of the way Buskirk operates, they kind of look out for you and your
> wallet. (Of course, they've gotten into my wallet pretty good already!)
>
> Paul Barz told me he paid $110 plus $8 shipping for his Bridgestones
> from Zurcher in Indiana. J.R., what kind of tires did you get for $80
> wholesale?
>
> BTW, I'm told Clarence Buskirk always recommended Michelins. I may go
> that route if the Bridgestone dealer is too greedy.
>
> I'll post more when I find out what I don't know.
>
> Tim Brown
> 78 Royale
> Jackson Mich