My first car was a 1978 Plymouth Volare – two tone blue. Imagine a mini Nova. Two doors with the pimp car frame-less windows and it rode close to the ground and I could replace the tires for as little as $25 but go splurge on the $55 tires that lasted much longer. Things have changed.
I currently drive a 2004 Toyota Tacoma – Black. Extended cab which means I have five windows that open. It has Off-Road Suspension and larger tires, which makes it look lifted (technically it’s not) and new tires cost $120 each.
I know this because after having my truck for just over three years, I had to replace all four at once. That’s $120 x 4 + misc fees and taxes = $650 That’s a lot of money. I’m not one to pamper myself so I was more than happy to drive around in my big ol’ truck with balding tires (two had nails in them) until absolutely necessary. But when you’re expecting a child, you tend to start “nesting“. For me, that means making sure I don’t die in a horrible car crash because I lost control of my truck while making a simple left turn.
Also, we picked up a rocker glider from Craig’s List. More on that later.
My first car was a 1968 Chevy Belair. Trust me…it wasn’t like the cool ones from the mid 50’s.
Tires are expensive….but necessary.
The truckish nerd in my head wonders what kind/size tires you bought.
archshrk responds: Dunlop Grandtrek P265/70R-16 $120 each tire, 16.20 free replacement warranty, $13 lifetime ballancing X4 + tax = 649.80
I feel your pain. I got it bad right after I got my car. I have a 1995 Ford Taurus SE 3.0 V6, which I got for a very good deal. I put full coverage overkill on my car because of my son. I spent almost a grand getting everything set, then the tires wore out.
I spent $250 on my tires(Sumitomo Srixon 4)including rotation and balancing. Had I known that my rims were racing rims, I’d have gone to the nearest boneyard and traded them for five steel, and a used tire.
The new rim, which was used, replaced the one that was badly bent, cost me $105. A new one would have cost me $209. Lesson learned? Carefully inspect car for signs of racing gear, wear and tear.