I ordered new 15x8 Advanti Storm S1 wheels in the "titanium mirror" finish, wrapped in Continental ExtremeContact Sport 205/50ZR15 tires. This is my first time ordering from Tire Rack and I had a mixed experience..
The good:
- Price - They had the best overall price I could find on a wheel and tire set. I could have saved a few bucks on each item by ordering the wheels from one source, tires from another, but then getting them mounted and balanced locally would have made up the difference, plus there's the additional leg work involved. Ordering them already mounted is just quicker. I found other websites with free shipping, but they made up the difference with higher prices. (Admittedly, Tire Rack only beat out two other websites by $20. But hey, $20 is $20!)
- Availability - They had everything in stock and ready to go.
- Quick shipping - I should have my wheels and tires in 2-3 days.
- Included items/services - Mounting, balancing, valve stems, adapter rings, lug nuts (which I really don't need), road hazard certificates*
- Balancing - They use a Hunter Road Force machine, so they SHOULD be balanced well.
The bad:
- Fitment BS - I ordered my wheel and tire package and then got a call from a "fitment specialist." He told me that they would not mount 205/50-15s on 8" wheels. "It's too dangerous!" I couldn't really talk with the guy at the time, so I called back later and got another "specialist." He told me they couldn't mount them for street use, but if I "just say they are for track use" they would go ahead. I said, "yeah, sure, whatever," and he happily stated that they would fulfill the order, and that they would add a "track use only" statement to my receipt. So basically, they told me to agree to some BS statement that I had already told them wasn't true, or they would refuse to fill my order. While I think their refusal to mount this size tire is stupid, I really lost respect for them when they talked me through helping them violate their own policy. Either have the spine to stick to your policy, or acknowledge that its a stupid policy and drop it. Putting your customers through stupid crap like this is a great way to make sure they won't buy from you again.
- Road hazard certificates - I assume these are now worthless, since I can only drive my Miata with these tires on the track, according the Tire Rack's Fitment Police. :dunno: