My Canuck LX owners! Has anyone bought rims and tires from the states?

**narts** · 01-18-2007, 04:12 AM

I've been shopping for rims for a while now and I can't believe the difference in prices from Canada to the US. Even with the exchange its still 25 to 30 percent less. Has anyone ordered rims from the US, or maybe driven accross the border have the wheels mounted then drive back? Is the duty worth it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

**PowerWagon896** · 01-18-2007, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by narts

I've been shopping for rims for a while now and I can't believe the difference in prices from Canada to the US. Even with the exchange its still 25 to 30 percent less. Has anyone ordered rims from the US, or maybe driven accross the border have the wheels mounted then drive back? Is the duty worth it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

If you have them already mounted on the car, how are they going to catch you if you don't pay "duty"?

Is this a small border crossing where you are likely to get the same guard coming & going?

Maybe you could try to time it for a shift change while you are getting the tires/wheels.

**teflon74** · 01-18-2007, 10:25 AM

Be aware in detroit some of the shops have let customs know they put stuff on a car that was coming back.

**zbeest** · 01-18-2007, 10:37 AM

What would you put on your car in order to go and get new rims? Even if you come back with your old ones in the trunk if you get stopped you're going to get questioned.....There aren't too many 18" rims that are cheap enough to toss out when you go to get the new ones.....
When I bought rims and tires for my Mustang I had them shipped to a UPS store in the U.S (just over the border). I then had my father pick them up. If the rims and tires were made in the U.S there is no duty, you just pay exchange and taxes. My rims and tires were $1000 U.S and by the time I got them back and paying exchange and taxes it worked out to about $1500 Can.

**MooNDoGGie** · 01-18-2007, 01:08 PM

Yeah the smuggler's game don't work to well with Rims and Tires. However the Tires only deal ..now that has its benifits. Who has time to bother though. Its so much easier to just get them at a local tire shop and pay pay pay

**Grouch** · 01-18-2007, 01:52 PM

Have you tries www.tiretrends.com Located in BC.
Got tires for Mustang last fall. 225/50/15 Kumho 4 for under $400 delivered to Calgary.

**MooNDoGGie** · 01-19-2007, 02:28 AM

Nope haven't tried them but I just saved the link in my favourites. Thanks!

**themightye** · 01-21-2007, 06:30 PM

I bought a wheel and tire package from Eastway Chrysler in Toronto recently. Adam in service was very helpful and worked very hard to ensure everything was done well. Could it be cheaper in the States? Maybe, but I know if I had any problems I could just go to Eastway and it would be taken care of.

**CANDYAPPLE** · 01-21-2007, 07:27 PM

Dropped in last Saturday, and although Adam (Parts Manager) wasn't there, Ian looked after a minor problem quickly and squeezed me in and out in a hurry. LX'ers do seem to get the best service...it is worth it. If you haven't yet tried Eastway....there are plenty of members on here who will vouch for not only their service, but also Adam's pricing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers CANDYAPPLE

**Netsrac** · 01-21-2007, 07:35 PM

Originally Posted by Grouch

Have you tries www.tiretrends.com Located in BC.
Got tires for Mustang last fall. 225/50/15 Kumho 4 for under $400 delivered to Calgary.

I buy my tires from them, even with shipping is very good.

Originally Posted by narts

I've been shopping for rims for a while now and I can't believe the difference in prices from Canada to the US. Even with the exchange its still 25 to 30 percent less. Has anyone ordered rims from the US, or maybe driven accross the border have the wheels mounted then drive back? Is the duty worth it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I am lucky enough to have a buddy just across the border, I bought my rims and tires from the states, mounted them at his house (Hemi31) and later had Bigjim bring up my old rims and tires, he ended up paying only $35 (I think).

The cheapest I found my package in Canada was $3500 CDN plus shipping, got the same package in the states for $2000 USD even

Good luck!

**05SXT** · 01-21-2007, 08:01 PM

I bought a sent of Magnum OEM 18" rims with Goodyear Assurance tires from a company in Texas. I bought them off EBay and by the time I paid Ebay Vendor, shipping, and tax and duty it cost me about $1000 for a new set of OEM wheels and tires.
A lot better price than I could get anywhere in Canada.
Vendor shipped the wheels and tires UPS from Texas and I had them in less than a week. Most of that time was Canada Customs.
Still a good deal in my opinion.

**narts** · 01-22-2007, 04:27 PM

So I guess it isn't that big a deal to drive them accross. I'm still a bit chicken to do it. I'll check out tiretrends. Thanks!

Originally Posted by Netsrac

I buy my tires from them, even with shipping is very good.

I am lucky enough to have a buddy just across the border, I bought my rims and tires from the states, mounted them at his house (Hemi31) and later had Bigjim bring up my old rims and tires, he ended up paying only $35 (I think).

The cheapest I found my package in Canada was $3500 CDN plus shipping, got the same package in the states for $2000 USD even

Good luck!

**Netsrac** · 01-22-2007, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by narts

So I guess it isn't that big a deal to drive them accross. I'm still a bit chicken to do it. I'll check out tiretrends. Thanks!

My best advice would be to get them mounted down there, drive them around awhile while before you cross the border, and claim your OEM's and tell them you bought some used ones for the winter.(you can ask your installer to make you up a bill for your OEM's I would suggest $400)

If your car is dirty, make sure your new rims are aswell, or just make sure you clean your car. (Clean rims on a dirty car are a dead giveaway)

Good luck!