Mail order for new tyres

[BigTed]

hi folks,

As you can see from my previous post in this section (here), I seem to have plenty of time before I need another set of rubber. However, I have been thinking about mail order from overseas in order to keep the costs down for the next set. First, a cupla questions...

a) has anyone actually bought PR3s from overseas? If so, where from and how much did you pay? I looked at Revzilla and at their check-out they say that can't send them to Australia due to restrictions from Michelin.
b) have you managed to fit them (easy or not) without the machines - ie. just the tyre irons/kits as shown here?
c) is it worth it? If I could buy them from Revzilla I'd only be paying $165 US + shipping for the rear. I recall it was $320-ish fitted here in Perth.

I'm comfortable with balancing (either with beads or a free-wheeling rig).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Rob.
PS. given these tyres last well, I will of course consider just paying the top-$ for someone else to do it, but I'm a tight-fisted w***er son of a bank manager.

[alans1100]

Not sure about PR3s but http://www.jakewilson.com/t/52/-/344/1163/Michelin-Sport-Bike-Motorcycle-Tires might give you an idea. Though ST1100 rear isn't available.

For me two Bridgestone BT 23 tyres incl shipping for the price of a rear over here is like getting the front for free.

[saaz]

I use Jakewilson, and get a few sets of tyres at a time (shared between a few ST riders) to get the postage per set down.  The tyres for the STs are stiff and take a bit of effort to fit even with a simple tyre changer and tool.  You could do it with tyre irons but you may swear a lot!  If you have a place nearby that will changed tyres on loose wheels for a reasonable amount that would be better - some of the car tyre places can do it.

[jwm]

I bought a set of PR3's in from the states about 2 years ago when I had my FJR. From memory they cost me about $420 delivered and a local workshop were fitting them for $50. I also bought in a set of tyres for a Yamaha XS750 triple I am rebuilding at the same time, they were really cheap at about $140.00 the pr delivered.
At $470.00 supplied and fitted at that time it was a worth while exercise as the local stealers on the south cost of NSW were charging about $550 a set for the tyres plus a fitting charge at that time.
I know that since that time a lot of the USA parts dealers that were shipping tyres to Australia have ceased the practice because the tyre manufacturers got onto them after the Australian Agents/importers had a whinge to the manufacturers.
When I bought my ST1300 a couple of months ago it needed a front tyre and I thought about fitting a set of PR3's to it and rang around the local stealers who are still wanting nearly $600 to supply and fit a set of PR3's. Eventually I just finished up replacing the front tyre locally at a reasonable price and when this set of tyres is finished I will ride the 200klm to Sydney and have a set of PR3's fitted at TeamMoto, Blacktown where the prices for PR3's supplied and fitted is currently $449.00. They can also supply and fit PR2's for under $400.00 and for that sort of money it is not worth mucking around with importing the tyres from overseas.

Check your tyre prices and shipping costs on the US sites and then give TeamMoto a ring and see how much they will charge you to buy the tyres from them and ship them to you. Just for your information, there are 2 Michelen Importers in Australia, one here in NSW (formerly owned by Wayne Gardner) and another in Qld who seems to be a hell of a lot cheaper. TeamMoto is actually a Qld based business with several outlets in that state and only the Blacktown store in NSW. They told me when I was talking to them that because they buy the tyres in bulk lots that they get them at a very good price.

Sorry if my reply is a bit convoluted and I hope it helps.

[saaz]

It does remind me that jakewilson did stop selling michelins to Australia for a while, but seems to be shipping again.  I don't mind using local suppliers where possible, but sometimes the price difference is so much compared to a US business that still makes a profit and can ship to Australia, and still come in at half the price.

[jwm]

Saaz, just for my information, how much is it costing you for set of Michelens delivered from from JakeWilson?

[saaz]

Last time I bought 2 sets of PR2s  (110/80 fronts, 170/60 rears).  For 2 sets now it would be US$320 a set including shipping - there are sweet spots for shipping as it goes by value of the order.  When I last bought some it was around A$290 a set as the dollar was pretty good at the time.

[jwm]

That's good buying. Thanks for info.

[BigTed]

Many thanks guys... more surfing when I get home.

[jwm]

A group of about 10 North Qld FJR riders actually set up a co-operative and bought all the proper tyre changing gear from the US to help them fit the imported tyres. From memory the gear cost them about $100 each and they are still doing it and it has worked out pretty well for them.

[BigTed]

Great... $384 USD from Jake Wilson for a front & rear delivered to Oz... Now to decide if I can do it. Many thanks!

[Malcolm6112]

Twin tyres in Maddington will fit your tyres for $15.00 each if you take the wheels off, which is not hard.
Jake Wilson is the go.

 

[Pezzz]

Thanks Malcolm, will keep that in mind.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

[Gavo]

Great... $384 USD from Jake Wilson for a front & rear delivered to Oz... Now to decide if I can do it. Many thanks!

Scarp and i did purchase two sets of tyres from Jake Wilson a while back to get the better delivery cost

Fitted tyres by taking the wheel off and into Steves in Midland

[Wombat]

Just posted on the 1100 section I had a set of t23's fitted $400. Try Motorcycle Masters on kewdale road for a price. I got a special from the bike show. mention they did a 1100 on friday only they use marine grease on splines. I supplied MOLY60.