So I decided to go down to a local tire place to have my Firestones replaced. So I go in say I want new tires, the guy replies we have some BFG Long Trails, I say I want Some BFG AT's, 31x10.5s, so we go look at my explorer, and he insists that only size 265-75-R16 will fit my car, and not 31X10.5, so I respond by asking him what does that mean in English, and he simply responds 265-75-R16, so ok I go in to sort out the matter of the price, he insists that the price is $173 per tire with mounting, balancing, new stems. I thought when I had called 2 weeks before for a quote someone else at the same store told me that it was going to be significantly less. So the salesperson insists that it is impossible for him to charge anything less due to fixed pricing with BFG. So I told him I was going to go look around at some other retailers. He told me good luck in a rather rude tone, and that was that.
Then I go down to Sears where the salesperson insisted I could only fit 225-something or other on my car, which I clearly new to be wrong, since my current tires read 255-70-R16. So I said ok, not wanting to argue and left.
When I got home, I found some tire size calculator on the internet, which said that 265-75-R16 was equal to 31x10.5, within a few decimal places, I dunno, maybe I used the thing wrong, but I think the guy at the first tire place wasn't sure of what he was talking about.
So I start calling around getting quotes at different retailers, within the first phone call I found BFG AT's for $155 mounted, balanced, with new valve stems. So I continue calling around to see if I can get a better price. The next place I called started out with a friendly conversation, the salesperson jokes that I was "Justifying his existence" by calling. Then he asks what type of vehicle they were for, it was all down hill from there.” This is an 8 ply tire, much too stiff for an explorer, it's a light truck tire, you have to keep a high air pressure in them just to keep them on the wheel, it's to aggressive, it'll wear fast, it'll make lots of noise, and your car will flip over." I respond by asking him so you won't sell them to me? Or you can't sell them to me? he responded by saying lots of people are now getting the michelin something or other tire, you can come down and look at it, I tell him sure, and that was the end of that conversation.
The next place I called the person who answered the phone wasn't sure if they even carried the tire, never heard of it, so I said ok.
Then I call NTB, which seemed to be the most reasonable, I told them what the other store had said about my explorer, he thought perhaps the concern was more with me going up about an inch in tire size, he said it possibly could affect the ABS, the spedometor( which I already realized), and possibly the computers in the explorer. I then asked him what it would cost to buy they 255-70-R16, he said $175vs the $155 of the 265-75-R16(makes no sense to me, more money for the smaller tire), which brings me to the point of this post, I have a couple of questions for people.
1. Is the BFG All Terrain K/O 265-75-R16 equal to 31x10.5 in size?
2. Is the BFG All Terrain K/O 265-75-R16 too stiff or rough for an explorer?
3. Will the BFG All Terrain K/O 265-75-R16 cause an explorer to tip?
4. Has anyone had the BFG All Terrain K/O 265-75-R16 cause any problems with the ABS, or computers of any kind in their explorer?
5. Assuming no one in the state of Massachusetts wants to exchange money(I was ready to pay cash right there) for the tires I want, any recommendations on other tires?
6. Is it true that everyone whom is involved in any facet of the automobile industry has to be such a wretched lot?(I'm not trying to insult anyone, but between my experiences with the dealer, and now tire stores it seems it is a requirement to make things as difficult as possible for the customer.)
Thanks alot, sorry about the length
Then I go down to Sears where the salesperson insisted I could only fit 225-something or other on my car, which I clearly new to be wrong, since my current tires read 255-70-R16. So I said ok, not wanting to argue and left.
When I got home, I found some tire size calculator on the internet, which said that 265-75-R16 was equal to 31x10.5, within a few decimal places, I dunno, maybe I used the thing wrong, but I think the guy at the first tire place wasn't sure of what he was talking about.
So I start calling around getting quotes at different retailers, within the first phone call I found BFG AT's for $155 mounted, balanced, with new valve stems. So I continue calling around to see if I can get a better price. The next place I called started out with a friendly conversation, the salesperson jokes that I was "Justifying his existence" by calling. Then he asks what type of vehicle they were for, it was all down hill from there.” This is an 8 ply tire, much too stiff for an explorer, it's a light truck tire, you have to keep a high air pressure in them just to keep them on the wheel, it's to aggressive, it'll wear fast, it'll make lots of noise, and your car will flip over." I respond by asking him so you won't sell them to me? Or you can't sell them to me? he responded by saying lots of people are now getting the michelin something or other tire, you can come down and look at it, I tell him sure, and that was the end of that conversation.
The next place I called the person who answered the phone wasn't sure if they even carried the tire, never heard of it, so I said ok.
Then I call NTB, which seemed to be the most reasonable, I told them what the other store had said about my explorer, he thought perhaps the concern was more with me going up about an inch in tire size, he said it possibly could affect the ABS, the spedometor( which I already realized), and possibly the computers in the explorer. I then asked him what it would cost to buy they 255-70-R16, he said $175vs the $155 of the 265-75-R16(makes no sense to me, more money for the smaller tire), which brings me to the point of this post, I have a couple of questions for people.
1. Is the BFG All Terrain K/O 265-75-R16 equal to 31x10.5 in size?
2. Is the BFG All Terrain K/O 265-75-R16 too stiff or rough for an explorer?
3. Will the BFG All Terrain K/O 265-75-R16 cause an explorer to tip?
4. Has anyone had the BFG All Terrain K/O 265-75-R16 cause any problems with the ABS, or computers of any kind in their explorer?
5. Assuming no one in the state of Massachusetts wants to exchange money(I was ready to pay cash right there) for the tires I want, any recommendations on other tires?
6. Is it true that everyone whom is involved in any facet of the automobile industry has to be such a wretched lot?(I'm not trying to insult anyone, but between my experiences with the dealer, and now tire stores it seems it is a requirement to make things as difficult as possible for the customer.)
Thanks alot, sorry about the length