Do you keep track of other peoples tires?

[eljefino]

Ten years ago local tire chain VIP used to have a "Any size, 4 for $99" tire deal. I've actually bought a few... wore fast, squealed near the limits, but were otherwise ok. Anyway I could spot those tires anywhere, and guess the price paid.

Same with the Douglas cheapo from walmart.

The tire pile at the junkyard, which I dig through, is full of oddly named stuff. I wonder what distribution these get. Never see ads for them in the paper or on TV. All shady corner gas stations? Do people actually buy tires at Meineke? Probably a good portion get mounted at used car dealers I guess...

 

[rjundi]

Sadly I look.

 

[Hokiefyd]

I look at tires all the time. Tires are a passion of mine really. I know what most people at work have on their cars. What else are you going to look at walking in in the morning. People think I'm funny and quiz me all the time. I noticed when a co-worker replaced his Goodyear Wrangler HPs on the back of his Ram with new Wrangler SR-As. I asked him about it the next day and he said he figured it'd take me a week to notice.

I can tell most all modern tires by their tread pattern. My wife thinks I'm nuts. She's probably right.

 

[PeteTheFarmer]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Ten years ago local tire chain VIP used to have a "Any size, 4 for $99" tire deal. I've actually bought a few... wore fast, squealed near the limits, but were otherwise ok. Anyway I could spot those tires anywhere, and guess the price paid.

Same with the Douglas cheapo from walmart.


LOL, my uncle got the same deal once at a regional tire chain for an old beater he didn't want to put too much money into. He got all of the 35,000 miles the tread warranty was good for. Wish I could remember the brand name on the tires.

 

[Kaboomba]

Originally Posted By: 94MaxGXE
Do you check the tire pressure also? Go for it. Keep them safe.


+1 they'll thank you later

 

[IndyIan]

I look at snow tires alot, just to see the different tread patterns that are available depending if its a snow or ice tire.
And I'll always mention to anyone I see that a tire is low on their car.
Other than that I notice the 20" low profile tires on pickups these days and shudder at the cost of buying a set...

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: Joe1

If somebody has different brand tires on front and rear axles, I know that and form a negative opinion of the person whomever it is.


You form a negative opinion of someone based on their tires?

That's really pathetic.

 

[mpvue]

sad to say, I look at tires also. if I see a nice low profile tire, I might stoop down to read the size. I tell people when they have low pressure (they are always surprised; I'm amazed at how most people don't look).
I also tell people who park on a hill w/o setting the parking brake before they put the trans in park.
it bothers me when I see people w/ habits that potentially put their and others lives at risk.

 

[ideliver]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27
I do notice the cheap no-name tires on cars walking through parking lots.
I always tell people who ask that a set of good tires will transform a car, while a set of cheapos are a long lasting misery.


I especially notice this one a high end car....or when someone has expensive aftermarket rims...

I especially notice when they have PS2s or RE11's

 

[Hokiefyd]

Originally Posted By: IndyIan
Other than that I notice the 20" low profile tires on pickups these days and shudder at the cost of buying a set...


You'd be surprised. Around here, people get the largest wheels they can physically fit under the vehicle, and buy the cheapest, most no-name Chinese tires they can get for them. The full set of four often doesn't cost as much as ONE wheel. They often get those tires for $100-150 each, which is easily half or less of what a quality tire in that size would be.

Buy the most expensive wheels and put the cheapest tires on them. Not my way of doing business, but to each his own!

 

[IndyIan]

Bling bling! I also like to see rims that cost as much as the car they are on...

I guess all the low profile truck tires are still passenger tires and not LT rated ones as I don't think there are cheap low profile LT tires. Oh well, I guess they all haul air about the same.

 

[tdpark]

I look at family members as they are clueless about car maintenance.

 

[rpn453]

I look at the tires on vehicles of friends and family more than any normal person. I look for unusual wear patterns, adequate tread depth, and any difference between the front and rear tires. However, I seem to pay the most attention to the condition of studs on winter tires. I still haven't determined why some studded tires have much sharper and more protruding studs than others. Is it the stud brand? The installation? The tire? The driving habits? The vehicle? It seems like a combination of all those things, and I'd like to know more about it as it makes a huge difference in performance. I'd love to have studs as sharp as those currently on my buddy's Acura 1.6EL. It's quite a rush to be a passenger in his car on an icy day!

 

[SteveSRT8]

forget rims, I like functional. Big blingers with rubber bands just let me know that person doesn't care about how their car rides or performs.

But I am into tires. Always watching, looking, reading. Nice to know there are a few out there with the same view.

 

[Sayjac]

Yes, more so since discovering BITOG and finding Discount Tire. Generally, check other cars similar to what I own for brand and also wear pattern. Also keep up with family members' air pressure and rotation.

 

[CrazyMike]

I can't help but track tires all around me, I leave notes for those under in flated, or directionals and assymetricals improperly mounted. I also have a knack to identify tire models and brands on vehicles in front of me as they roll, much easier to identify in town of course but still can do it on the highway. Even a glimpse as they pass I can pick them out.

I love new models of tire to test and swap, try this, run that, go here with this, let's try alum bodied #15's over steel, whatever, tires tires tires!!!!

A gift or a curse, I dunno, a passion none the less