For a while I've been wanting to get some Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 tyres on my car to replace the cheap no name Chinese tyres currenty on it (from when I bought the car in Jan this year). They're not track day tyres of course but from the reviews I've read the Asymmetric 2s are one of the best all round road tyres at the moment, for example see http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Goodyear/Eagle-F1-Asymmetric-2.htm The prices in Australia are a bit ridiculous though, for example Beaurepaires quoted me $532.00each (include fitting, balancing) at 25% off (Regular Retail Price $608.00). Actually that was the only Australian quote I got (it was the weekend when I went tyre internet shopping - but I know they are around that from what I saw on ebay). I eventually ordered my Asymmetric 2 tyres (2 x 265/35R18 and 2 x 235/40R18) from the US at http://www.tirerack.com where the 4 tyres cost me $824 plus $354.92 shipping for a total cost delivered to my door of $1178.92 USD or $294.73 US per tyre i.e, half price compared to buying in Australia. It was mildly annoying that Tyre Rack wouldn't take PayPal or a credit card (like they do for their US customers) but insisted I wire them the money (then found my internet transfer limit was $1000 and would take days to change so ended up visiting the bank in person to do the wire). But over all a very smooth and quick transaction. Sent the money last Wed and the tyres arrived at my door today (Mon) 5 days later. I don't know if all tyres workout cheaper buying from the US but certainly if your after F1 Assymetric 2s its the way to go. Hope the tyres live up to their reviews.
Further to this; I did the same , ringing around for these tyres, most of the tyre shops didn't even have, or know, about the bigger size tyres!! They told me Goodyear didn't make them in this or that size or that they couldn't be stuffed bringing those sizes in to Australia!! When I need my next set of tyres overseas I shall order!!
1100 + (GST + IMPORT DUTY TAX) fyi. (10% gst & 5% duty) (pretty sure there is a 5% duty... maybe wrong) ((1100*1.1)*1.05) = $1270.50 / 4 = $317 USD per wheel. still 180-200$ ish cheaper.
just another example of how ripped off we are in this country, especially in the auto industry. its a sad state of affairs when you can pay for shipping and duty privately and still be better off than probably the wholesale price here
From my experience importing things I'm pretty sure its a hell of a lot more than 5% IF you get charged import duty tax (Once imported a Z32 2nd hand engine and paid about as much in duty and getting through customs as I did buying it in the first place). But fortunately you don't pay 1 single cent of import duty or other tax (not even GST) IF your purchase is less than $1000 (I should know I've spent about 20k on parts for the Z this year nearly all from overseas - I only paid duty once this year - pretty sure it was a lot more than 5% but it was my only order listed as more than $1000 on the invoice - that came with the order). It was in the news a while back too with Harvey Norman bitching that people are buying on the internet from overseas and not paying any GST or duty for goods under $1000 (and claiming it was sending Aussie businesses broke cause they have to charge GST). In any case the price I state in my initial post is not speculation it is the money that I did physically pay for tires now in my physical posession. And what I paid was $1178.92 USD (plus conversion fee from Aus dollars to US at the bank). I paid no GST or import duty. Basically go over $1000 and they charge like wounded bulls, stay under $1000 and you pay no GST and no import duty.
Exactly. You'll buy a Ferrari, Porsche etc in the US or England for about third what you pay here and that's even before you add the Australian luxury car tax on top of it. In the case of cars you can't do parrallel importing apparently (i.e. if sold in high volume here by Nissan etc - Maybe its just as well Nissan didn't sell the TT here). With tyres you can though.
Not sure what you're saying. I paid $824 USD for 4 tyres plus an additional $354.92 USD to ship 4 tyres to my door. The total I paid was $1178.92 USD. My calculator confirms that 354.92+824=$1178.92. Which is just as well because I have several invoices (don't ask me why they gave me several copies but they did) all confirming that I paid a total of $1178.92 and that the shipping was $354.92 USD. ...Oh I get it you're being facetious
Not quite. The value of the GOODS must be over $1000 to trigger GST/Import Duty, in which case yes GST will be calculated against the DELIVERED value. Ie if I buy a $1 part that costs $1001 to ship I do not pay duty or GST. If I order $1001 part that costs $1 to ship then I pay GST on $1002. I also get stung for clearing and brokerage fees...
F1's are great tyres. Enjoy them. You don't pay duty or get on th shipping amount. It's only on the goods cost. You scraped in under the thresh hold and they should be duty and get free.
By memory, the Goodyear F1's use Sumitomo rubber... So you know they'll be a good tyre. We've had like a 30% price increase on tyres now cause of import tax, as well as carbon tax, and a whole load more (dumping fee's or some crap? Can't remember what it was...) We're getting stung in the ass all the time. Sucks penis. My workplace is still booming, but no one can afford wheels any more, because they're now coasting $40 - $90 more per wheel. -_-"
Second this notion. Went to buy some tires from tirerack too. Much the same process, freight charges the same. Would have saves hundreds. Just bad timing with a puncture, meant i had to buy here in aus. But totally agree we're getting so ripped for pricing on things like this. I plan to purchase my subaru suspension gear from them as i plan to save hundreds again with going the off shore option - for the exact same goods. Tirerack FTW
Funny being american and all... lol perhaps these? KM2's? http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=Mud-Terrain+T/A+KM2
hmmmm still 1 grand + postage for 33's... might match some prices locally and see how they compare catch is... 1k tyres $400 postage $40 per tyre fitting + time and effort picking them up from dept/or taking them to a shop etc etc there's $1560... not far off just rolling into a shop and getting them from a shop here and not having to wait. ha, as i posted that i got a msg from a mate at a tyre shop foir hercs $260 fitted.
Micky T's and Coopers come out the same factory. Same compound, different moulds. Big Horn Maxxis are pretty dope. They are shocking for road use though lolol.