High prices are driving more motorists to rent tires

Los Angeles Times ^ | Saturday, June 8, 2013 | Ken Bensinger

[Jyotishi]

Chains such as Rent-a-Wheel and Rimco are seeing business boom. Many consumers pay double or triple the cost of buying and face aggressive repossession policies.

When the tires on their Dodge Caravan had worn so thin that the steel belts were showing through, Don and Florence Cherry couldn't afford to buy a new set.

So they decided to rent instead.

The Rich Square, N.C., couple last September agreed to pay Rent-N-Roll $54.60 a month for 18 months in exchange for four basic Hankook tires. Over the life of the deal, that works out to $982, almost triple what the radials would have cost at Wal-Mart.

[Celtic Conservative]

there have been a few times where I bought used tires from discount tire. They got me through until I could get better ones. once I got 2 front tires which were practically new- they were factory tires that some guy didn't like for some reason and had them changed after a few thousand miles. my bonus.

CC

[Big Giant Head]

If they could afford the 54+ bucks a month for rent,

Exactly. If they can afford 55 bucks a month, they can save for tires ahead of time, knowing full well that tires wear down and need to be replaced. They could have afforded really good tires if they'd started saving on a regular basis.

[central_va]

Tire that auto manufactures uses “factory installed tires” are not made with the same rubber as replacement tires. That is why they look like “real” Michelins etc. but they wear out real quick.

[Big Giant Head]

This is a story about people who can't handle their money, not about rental tires.

yep. Nailed it.

[Big Giant Head]

I drive about 135 miles ever day for work, half of that gravel roads. I buy the heaviest, most durable tires I can find. I end up spending about $650 per set, but I’ve set aside that money over the course of time. Buying tires is not an emergency, it’s a planned expense. The people in the story cannot do math, nor plan ahead. I’ll bet they have unlimited data plans on their multiple smart phone packages, though.

[golux]

It is stuff like this that provide the communists with their followers.

Capitalism will give you the choice to rent your tires from another person. Communism will force you to rent your entire existence from the State.

[freebilly]

Here in NorCal you can always buy a used tire with 15,000+ tread miles left on it for about $25.

[golux]

By the way I’d appreciate what tires you choose for those gravel roads. Thanks!

[digitalbrownshirt]

Many poor people stay poor because they make stupid decisions like this.

[Arrowhead1952]

A new vehicle dealership just north of Austin had employees show up one Monday morning about two weeks ago and there were 42 new cars on blocks with all four wheels and tires missing. No video surveillance in the lot at the time, but I bet there is now.

[Smokin' Joe]

Used tires can still be picked up fairly cheaply

Yep. I have bought sets of good used tires for less than the first month's rent.

[Born to Conserve]

There are always good used tires — especially if you don’t care that they pass inspection.

[paul544]

These are probably the same people who thought Romney was out of touch with their needs... Good for them.

[Rannug]

This is a story about people who can’t handle their money, not about rental tires.

When one does not have any, or enough, money, it is difficult to handle.

[RegulatorCountry]

I had a friend once, bright guy but with a few “issues” lol, could’ve done most anything he set his mind to. But, he enjoyed working repo for Rent-n-Roll. The tales he told, some comical, some scary, some both simultaneously. I think he actually enjoyed leaving blinged out Impalas on cinderblocks.

I never understood renting 20” rims. At least they’re not such a consumable, wear and tear item. But tires? Lunacy. Might as well rent gas.

[RegulatorCountry]

I had a great experience with Michelin LTX on a Tacoma 4x4, the tread lasted longer than the sidewalls, excellent traction, not too loud, goodlooking tires for that sort of vehicle. Routinely got over 80,000 miles out of a set.

[al_c]

Now that’s just stupid. If they can afford the rent prices, then they can afford to set that same amount aside ahead of time until they’ve saved enough to buy a set.

[GreenHornet]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that tires weren't the first consumable that the Cherrys rented or paid high interest rates for, instead of planning to buy outright. This is a story about people who can't handle their money, not about rental tires.

We're talking about the same people who patronize those places where you can get quick cash by putting up the title to your car.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Wow, check out Rental Rims. You're right. I had no idea this existed...silly ole me was happy with the wheels that came on his car.

[Inyo-Mono]

I don't know what tires Big Giant Head runs, but for gravel roads in my part of Nor Cal, I use BF Goodrich All Terrain ATs. Get 40,000 miles out of them running rough roads all the time and no flats. Great on snow covered highways too.