The Michelin Man

Today was drive to Michigan, get new tires, see Nicole, Mandy and Jay Day. And I'm going to tell you about the new tires.

WOW! What a difference 4 new tires, an alignment and balance makes. I went for the quite good, step above mid-range tires, that are good for, supposedly, 80,0000 miles. I'm intending to have my car until it totally bites it, and is of no value to anything except Mr. Scrap Metal. Its fully paid for, all I have to worry about is maintenance, gas and insurance. I think that eight more years is reasonable. I've had it since 2002, its got 65,000 miles on it and is 7 years old.

The old tires, Pirellis, were new when I got the car from Poquet Motors in Minneapolis, 40,000 miles ago. They weren't totally shot, but weren't going to make it through the winter and the right front wheel/tire was out of balance. Once it got fixed, I would need a new tire, and then, well, may as well do it all at once.

The gentleman at Sears was helpful, a good salesman and the fancy-schmancy tires I picked were dramatically on sale. Nicole's grandpa (he knows cars!) was helpful on the phone on deciding that since the car still had 80,000 miles on it, and the 40,000 mile tires were more than half the cost of the 80,000 ones, I should get the 80,000 ones. So I did. And it made a noticeable difference (no more mystery vibrations or rattles!) on the drive back from the Sears.

I will be driving down to Mandy's tonight. Just to try out the new tires.

Does anyone know anything/have an opinion on the fuel system flush/cleaning services offered? It is supposed to make your gas mileage better, and clean sounds better than dirty, but it also seems like it might just be an upsell thing. Please let me know.