[Noelpolar]

For those that may be interested, I recently bought a set (4) of tyres from the tirerack. They were Michelin Pilot Super Sports. Was quoted about $3400 locally. Cost was $1800 Aussies bringing them in from the US inc freight ( plus $100 fitting and balancing). I ordered two at a time to keep the transaction below the $1000 so no customs duty or taxes were applied.

[NBTBRV8]

Tirerack are good, I got my PS2 fronts from there recently and by buying OS saved $1000 on the set. I had to get the rears from the UK.

[MFKN3]

Just curious, did the two lots of shipping cost outcompete the ~15% duty fees you would have paid?

[Jeef Beef]

Originally Posted by MFKN3

Just curious, did the two lots of shipping cost outcompete the ~15% duty fees you would have paid?

Sounds like it should've since the 15.5% would be applied on the total price including shipping which would turn out to be very expensive

[Noelpolar]

Originally Posted by Jeef Beef

Sounds like it should've since the 15.5% would be applied on the total price including shipping which would turn out to be very expensive

Correct, was about $370 for set of four and about $270 for two. Lus they arrive sooner.

[MFKN3]

Hey Rossi, on those numbers, shipping on all 4 would have to be <$310 to be cost- worthwhile

[TAAXED]

I just bought 4x Bridgestone RE11s from the US...here is my quote:

"Hi Jonathan
This set up will work on the E92 M3 with the oem wheels . The RE 11's are excellent tires, they will wear faster compared with the Super Sports but the dry grip is better.
These are the new quotes from FedEx:

FED EXPRESS (1-3 DAYS) - $ 893.82 SHIPPING METHOD FIP
FED ECONOMY (3-5 DAYS) - $ 328.99 SHIPPING METHOD FIE

QUOTE FOR 4 TIRES SHIPPING FROM USA TO AUSTRALIA.

Total on 4 tires delivered via FedEx Economy will be:$1,610.99 USD"

So, it's more or less the same, depends if you want to make the government or fedex richer...I'd rather lose the ~$18 and save the hassle of having to talk to the phillipino fedex call centre more than once.

edit: My duty charges were $293...so in total I paid $1547AUD + $293 + $70 to fit...$1910 in total

edit 2: This quote is for 2 x 255/35/19 & 2 x 285/35/19

[Jeef Beef]

Originally Posted by M3Rossi

How are the PSS? Have you had a chance to try them?

Im about to pull the trigger on a set of 4. Like MFKN3 said above, are you sure the 2 lots of shipping is cheaper then just sending it all in 1 go and paying the 15% duty?

This is the quote i just got from tirerack splitting the 2 shipments to avoid the duty. Im thinking its not worth the hassle and to just send it all in 1 go.





2x 275/35R19 MI PILT SUPER SPRT 349.00
Mds Total. 698.00

FED EXPRESS (1-3 DAYS) - $ 398.20 SHIPPING METHOD FIP
FED ECONOMY (3-5 DAYS) - $ 278.45 SHIPPING METHOD FIE


2x 255/35R19 MI PILT SUPER SPRT 298.00
Mds Total. 596.00

FED EXPRESS (1-3 DAYS) - $ 384.81 SHIPPING METHOD FIP
FED ECONOMY (3-5 DAYS) - $ 269.54 SHIPPING METHOD FIE

It really depends on what the total cost is in the end and how shipping varies between shipping two at a time compared to four at a time.

Get a quote for both methods and it should be easy to work out what you'll have to pay post-duty.

PSS has received some pretty amazing reviews, so you can't go wrong there

[Noelpolar]

Originally Posted by Jeef Beef

It really depends on what the total cost is in the end and how shipping varies between shipping two at a time compared to four at a time.

Get a quote for both methods and it should be easy to work out what you'll have to pay post-duty.

PSS has received some pretty amazing reviews, so you can't go wrong there

That's what I did....... and then split the order......

[Noelpolar]

As far as the PSS's go, I can't give you a view on them at the moment, the car is on stands in the shed whilst I'm in the process of installing Active Autowerkes down pipes. I'm kind off retired and installing the DPs is very testing so I'm only spending an hour or two a day on it to keep my sanity.

[MFKN3]

Does anyone else find the local tyre shops think you're a piece of shit when you walk in with tyres purchased elsewhere?

[purifyer]

The problem is that the prices here are exorbitant, but I don't think the tyre shops are making a killing

Wages are too high for essentially unskilled labour
Property prices (and too a lesser extent commercial property rental) is quite high as well
Many/most do not import directly from supplier, but work through distribution chains with their own mark up

So they see you bringing your imported tyres along as the eventual death of their way of life.

I do not see why we should haev to subsidise such a prehistoric model of goods delivery though...

[nav12c]

can you order RFT from the US too? I have the standard Bridgestone RE050 RFT that I believe came from factory.

[purifyer]

yep

I couldn't be bothered splitting my tyre shipment... they have spent nearly 3 days at "Alexandria AU" now... I thought if you were sprung for GST fedex would call you about it? I'm going to stick my head in the sand and hope my tyres magically appear

[purifyer]

Slighty off topic but with my new rims + tyres, do I just tell the dudes that put the tyres on to make sure they take the TPMS from the old rims/tyres and install it on my new setup?

Is this a fairly obvious and easy thing for "tyre guys" or do I need to go to someone who knows about BMW tyres?

[TAAXED]

Originally Posted by purifyer

yep

I couldn't be bothered splitting my tyre shipment... they have spent nearly 3 days at "Alexandria AU" now... I thought if you were sprung for GST fedex would call you about it? I'm going to stick my head in the sand and hope my tyres magically appear

Haha this is unlikely to happen...You'll probably be getting a call from a "+63" number about the duty taxes, it's their Phillipino call center!

Originally Posted by purifyer

Slighty off topic but with my new rims + tyres, do I just tell the dudes that put the tyres on to make sure they take the TPMS from the old rims/tyres and install it on my new setup?

Is this a fairly obvious and easy thing for "tyre guys" or do I need to go to someone who knows about BMW tyres?

Just take it somewhere reputable like beaurepairs, I went to the one on the corner of Swanston st and Queensberry st...They charged me $70 and had no issues at all with fitting the new tyres on my car.

[MFKN3]

TPMS are a US thing I think and not here?

[purifyer]

So we don't have TPMS? How does that work then?

I had a tyre pressure warning come up on idrive once so I thought we did have it.. do we have the old system (ie pre 2007 US) ?

[purifyer]

May 31, 2011 2:35 PM Clearance delay DERRIMUT AU
May 30, 2011 7:38 PM In transit ALEXANDRIA AU
May 28, 2011 9:41 PM In transit ALEXANDRIA AU Package available for clearance

Doh... I honestly thought customs were stupid enough to forget to charge me GST.. oh well

either that or they found the kilo of crack wedged in the sidewall

[Jeef Beef]

Originally Posted by purifyer

Slighty off topic but with my new rims + tyres, do I just tell the dudes that put the tyres on to make sure they take the TPMS from the old rims/tyres and install it on my new setup?

Is this a fairly obvious and easy thing for "tyre guys" or do I need to go to someone who knows about BMW tyres?

Our wheels do not have TPMS, that's for the US guys. They are required by statute over there.

Originally Posted by MFKN3

TPMS are a US thing I think and not here?

Correcto!

Originally Posted by purifyer

So we don't have TPMS? How does that work then?

I had a tyre pressure warning come up on idrive once so I thought we did have it.. do we have the old system (ie pre 2007 US) ?

The TPMS the US guys have is an actual sensor on each of the wheels where they can read the actual pressures of each wheel on the iDrive screen, and tells them which wheel needs inflation.

Our system is more of a tyre pressure 'warning' system (TPWS) where the ABS system monitors the rotational speed on each wheel relative to the others. If there is a sudden change in one of the speeds (i.e. rapid deflation reduces the rolling diameter, causing one wheel to rotate faster) the warning will come on and alert you of a potential flat tyre.

We DON'T have actual sensors in our wheels to tell us the exact pressures of the tyres or anything. There's the difference.

[johnnydad]

Originally Posted by purifyer

The problem is that the prices here are exorbitant, but I don't think the tyre shops are making a killing

Wages are too high for essentially unskilled labour
Property prices (and too a lesser extent commercial property rental) is quite high as well
Many/most do not import directly from supplier, but work through distribution chains with their own mark up

So they see you bringing your imported tyres along as the eventual death of their way of life.

I do not see why we should haev to subsidise such a prehistoric model of goods delivery though...

Worth checking local prices - I ended up paying Tirerack $325 each for PS2 in 225/45 17 but a nearby tyre shop subsequently quoted $350 a corner fitted. Nothing in it....

[E92325i]

Originally Posted by purifyer

May 31, 2011 2:35 PM Clearance delay DERRIMUT AU
May 30, 2011 7:38 PM In transit ALEXANDRIA AU
May 28, 2011 9:41 PM In transit ALEXANDRIA AU Package available for clearance

Doh... I honestly thought customs were stupid enough to forget to charge me GST.. oh well

either that or they found the kilo of crack wedged in the sidewall

i got the clearance delay as well (only ordered 2 tyres though) and they were stuck there for 2 days from memory but arrived with no issues. Hopefully your delay is not due to taxes/duties