Recent users of tirerack.com?
Discussion
I've seen a couple of older posts (2010 sort of time) about getting tirerack.com to ship tyres here... Has anyone done this recently? Presumably you have to pay GST, and duty (?) when they arrive, but the prices still look very good. (e.g. Pilot Super Sports in 295/30 19 are USD $318 versus $1000+ at hyperdrive.co.nz - even with 15% GST and what looks like 10% duty etc. that's still only around $500 NZD each...). Does anyone have experience of shipping times and costs? Any customs issues?
I met a guy last week who was on a skidpan day with me and he'd just brought in (to NZ) these exact tyres from Tirerack. Yes, he had to pay import duty and GST, but figured overall he'd saved a packet of $$$. Depends on the tyre. I'm getting Michelin Pilot Sport 3s, and it's not worth buying from o.seas - too little differential. Seems to work only for rare or very top end rubber.
Be aware, Tirerack does not accept overseas (ex-USA) credit cards, so you have to do a wire transfer (I know that's no prob with ASB accounts - others???).
Other issue is you need to have someone who will actually fit and balance the tyres.
As for Super Sports, the guy I'm referring to said he had 350 hp at the rear wheels of his (modded) BMW 335i and watching him on the soaking wet, smooth surface of the skidpan, I'd say he had to work pretty hard to break traction. Very very impressive.
Be aware, Tirerack does not accept overseas (ex-USA) credit cards, so you have to do a wire transfer (I know that's no prob with ASB accounts - others???).
Other issue is you need to have someone who will actually fit and balance the tyres.
As for Super Sports, the guy I'm referring to said he had 350 hp at the rear wheels of his (modded) BMW 335i and watching him on the soaking wet, smooth surface of the skidpan, I'd say he had to work pretty hard to break traction. Very very impressive.
There are a number of people who regularly bring in containers of parts from the US. I use a bloke in Geraldine when I need to get big stuff, and got a set of Avons in recently for a considerable saving via another friend who brought in a T-Bird plus some other bits. Just a matter of finding someone who does it and getting the paperwork right.
So, just been quoted USD $321 each for 4 295/30 R19 Michelin Super Sports, plus approx. $100 per tyre shipiing, with arrival in around a week. That's a total of USD $1677, which is around NZD $2020. GST is 15%, duty is 10%, so that takes it to around $2500.
Are there any charges for clearing through customs, does anyone know? Tirerack.com say FedEx (the carrier) may charge 'brokerage fees' in addition - guess these could be for those sorts of charges...
And then fitting costs here - $50 per tyre, at a guess?
So a total of around NZD $2700 or so (depending on those 'brokerage fess'...). That compares with the HyperDrive online price of $1015 each - $4060.
What am I missing, or is this something that's worth trying!?!
Are there any charges for clearing through customs, does anyone know? Tirerack.com say FedEx (the carrier) may charge 'brokerage fees' in addition - guess these could be for those sorts of charges...
And then fitting costs here - $50 per tyre, at a guess?
So a total of around NZD $2700 or so (depending on those 'brokerage fess'...). That compares with the HyperDrive online price of $1015 each - $4060.
What am I missing, or is this something that's worth trying!?!
Brokerage - I'm guessing here, but imagine Brokerage would normally mean fees they might incur with currency conversions, and maybe charges their banking/payments system charges them. If so, prob tiny amounts compared with what you're saving.
Guy, I'd love to know, in time, how you get on with the fit and balance aspect if you're in the Auckland region. Who you used and would you recommend them? The guy I know who got tyres in from Tirerack used Precision Wheels (Ponsonby, I think) but he wouldn't go back! But he had a good experience at Tyre Power, East Tamaki.
And, what sort of car will be the lucky recipient of your care and attention?
Guy, I'd love to know, in time, how you get on with the fit and balance aspect if you're in the Auckland region. Who you used and would you recommend them? The guy I know who got tyres in from Tirerack used Precision Wheels (Ponsonby, I think) but he wouldn't go back! But he had a good experience at Tyre Power, East Tamaki.
And, what sort of car will be the lucky recipient of your care and attention?
I've been using Bruce Gemmel tyres in Glen Innes. Very friendly and seem to take care of the wheels. I'm in there tomorrow for a set of rears for the M3 (255/35 19 Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 at around $600 each, vs. $900 or so on the Hyperdrive website) and will have a chat with them. Given that they can get these Michelins for so much less than the Hyperdrive price, it may not be worthwhile importing, but I'll see.
I run a small sports car rental company - www.conceptcarhire.co.nz - so tyres are quite a big part of my expenses. The 295/35 19s are for the rears on a 911 and an R8 which happen to share the same tyre sizes.
I run a small sports car rental company - www.conceptcarhire.co.nz - so tyres are quite a big part of my expenses. The 295/35 19s are for the rears on a 911 and an R8 which happen to share the same tyre sizes.
Thanks Guy - I'd overlooked Gemmels. They've quoted me $960 for four 17" Michelin PS3s fitted/bal'd. Next best was TyreCity, Newmarket at $1,000, HyperDrive $1,060. But Gemmels also give me a courtesy car (wheel alignment etc - takes a while). Tirerack just not in the picture at those prices!
I didn't get round to it in the end... Still a possibility. I think it was around $100 per tyre delivery; they price it on a combination of number of items and weight. So unless they are $800 tyres or so, it's unlikely to be a better price than you can get from shopping around here. I think I would probably have saved around $100 - $150 on a $1000 tyre, so a saving, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra effort!
Hi All, i maybe able to help, i most likely will be shipping a van back to NZ from the UK for my brother in Jan. I previously shipped some PS2's for my 964 at home which worked out around half price, excl shipping as it went in a container. I will have additional space and hopefully can buy excluding VAT (20%). I Just would like to subsidise my shipping cost. Have a look at event tyres, lovetyres.com, pnues for some pricing. Thks
Just a very late update on this one. A few months back I took the plunge and ordered 4 Michelin Pilot Super Sports from tirerack. Had to call them to pay over the phone with the credit card as they can't take overseas cards online, but that was quite easy once I'd worked out the time difference to Indiana, USA.
FedEx did the shipping (ends up about NZD $100 per tyre, so this is only really economical for expensive tyres) and you have to have a customs customer number (which is just a form to fill in). FedEx then get in touch when the tyres arrive here, you pay the GST, and they deliver them. Pretty straightforward. I ordered on the Friday morning and they were in my garage the following Thursday (air freight...)
Fitted by Bruce Gemmel for $20 each, no probs at WOF time (had a slight concern that the tyres might not have suitable standards markings for NZ roads, but the US DOT standard is fine, and I think they also had all the EU standards moulded in as well).
A reasonable cost saving over the NZ prices, but the main thing was that I was able to get exactly the tyre I wanted within a few days. Last time I tried to get some Pilot Super Sports in a particular size here it took a lot of phone calls to track down the last two in NZ, and I didn't therefore exactly get a great price...
So I'm now just keeping an eye on the tread wear indicators, ordering a few weeks before I need them, and getting them fitted witout worrying about supplies. The person I dealt with at tirerack was Corey on +1 574 287 2316 x4764
FedEx did the shipping (ends up about NZD $100 per tyre, so this is only really economical for expensive tyres) and you have to have a customs customer number (which is just a form to fill in). FedEx then get in touch when the tyres arrive here, you pay the GST, and they deliver them. Pretty straightforward. I ordered on the Friday morning and they were in my garage the following Thursday (air freight...)
Fitted by Bruce Gemmel for $20 each, no probs at WOF time (had a slight concern that the tyres might not have suitable standards markings for NZ roads, but the US DOT standard is fine, and I think they also had all the EU standards moulded in as well).
A reasonable cost saving over the NZ prices, but the main thing was that I was able to get exactly the tyre I wanted within a few days. Last time I tried to get some Pilot Super Sports in a particular size here it took a lot of phone calls to track down the last two in NZ, and I didn't therefore exactly get a great price...
So I'm now just keeping an eye on the tread wear indicators, ordering a few weeks before I need them, and getting them fitted witout worrying about supplies. The person I dealt with at tirerack was Corey on +1 574 287 2316 x4764
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