(05-20-2024, 08:37 PM)l0st Wrote: I've also done extensive traveling in cars, and there is definitely a difference in the quality of the different brands. I've had some of the off-brand tires become out of round with age, or have belts that snap loose inside the tire. No issues with alignments or suspension as I have these checked with every new set. There are also definitely wide variances in the traction. My vehicle has a lot of power and rear wheel drive, and the tread patterns definitely matter, particularly in the snow or rain.

I also never rotate my tires, only balance them when needed. No problems with the tires lasting to the stated warranty mileage. One really only needs to rotate tires on a vehicle with bent suspension. Most cars have been in at least one minor accident. I used to work on older cars and trust me, they've all been hit whether the owner knows it or not. I think the issues arises where a lot of the cheaper cars don't have suspension that's fully adjustable. This can be remedied with a kit in most cases but most tire places would rather sell you more tires, alignments, and rotations.

(05-20-2024, 09:36 AM)putnam6 Wrote: I used to travel extensively for work the first few years I get the best tires I could made sure I rotated them etc.

Then I hit a rough patch and money was tight, and found a local used tire guy. By the time bought a second set in my mind I was saying those lasted for a real long time. I went back and checked and in comparison to my higher-priced dealership prestige brand, I was getting close enough mileage and wear and tear why pay so much more?

Plus he set me up with a plug kit and I got where I could fix most popped tires if I could get to it without even taking the tire off? If you drive for a living and are on a schedule it's invaluable being able to fix it quick and keep going to the next appointment. 

As long as you watch your tires and rotate and balance them when needed. Next, rip off designer engine oils...

(05-21-2024, 06:26 AM)CCoburn Wrote: I probably average about 75 miles a day on typical backroad conditions with some occasional dirt road driving. The car came with Continentals which are around $200 a piece, and I ran those until the metal threads were becoming exposed on the inner sidewalls, and replaced the two front first with a couple of closeouts that were around $60 a piece.

Lately I just buy used/closeouts at a fraction of the price. I have gotten three flats over the past year and a half though, but this is likely more to do with road conditions than the tires themselves, plus I'm running these low profiles at 235-40-18, but I'm unsure exactly how much of a factor that actually is.

I was adjusting tire pressure a few days ago and I noticed the front right has a small bubble in the outer sidewall which probably does have more to do with tire quality. I have an appt. in a few hours to get that replaced with another closeout at $62.

I was thinking about some sort of "plug kit". The last flat appeared to have a puncture on the inner sidewall and at the time I was even thinking if I could just jam something in there while periodically adding air it might slow the leak enough so I could make it home without calling AAA.

I've since upgraded my AAA plan back to the AAA Plus which covers up to 100 miles of towing where the other was only 5 miles.

(06-03-2024, 10:27 AM)CCoburn Wrote: Freshly Cut Grass


There are these occurrences that appear so trivial, tenuous, and unfounded that one ought have their head examined to even consider sharing, but the irony here is that however weak and counterintuitive they may initially appear, they do in fact at times culminate and continue as a moderate to intense feeling of emotion that washes over.

And as it turns out I'm talking about freshly cut grass here, but there is something unique and different about its aroma lately. I first noticed it at the house, and then while out for a drive, so apparently nothing location dependent. Perhaps my sense of smell has gone off. I think about the Mandela Effect, but I don't think so.

It's as if something so trivial and tenuous has manifested into something transcendent. It feels like a long-lost memory; a memory that isn't mine - it feels like deja vu.

(06-03-2024, 12:43 PM)Maxmars Wrote: I want to thank you.  Your post inspired me to recall a similar observation about something I only knew of experientially until my late wife taught me of a word...

Petrichor...