The Passive Dad » Car Maintenance

Costco Michelin $80 Tire Discount Rebate Through 8/24/08

Scott — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:00:26 +0000

photo credit: flat luxe
Costco is really offering some great discounts this spring and summer for Michelin tires. The Costco Michelin rebate is good towards the purchase of 4 new tires. This might be your last opportunity before the winter to get a great discount on some Michelin’s for your light truck, suv, or sport’s car. It appears the Michelin $80 discount is only good for select models. The Costco Michelin rebate is good towards the purchase of 4 new tires. Here is a list from the Costco website to check if your vehicle qualifies:

Energy MXV4 Plus & S8 (V-rated sizes)
Pilot Exalto A/S (V-rated sizes)
Pilot Exalto PE2 (V-rated sizes)
Pilot MXM4 (V-rated sizes)
Pilot Primacy (V-rated sizes)
Primacy HP (V-rated sizes)
Primacy MXV4 (V-rated sizes)
XGTV4
Pilot Exalto PE2 (Z-rated sizes)
Pilot MXM4 (Z-rated sizes)
Pilot Primacy (Z-rated sizes)
Pilot Sport
Pilot Sport 2 ZP
Pilot Sport A/S
Pilot Sport A/S ZP
Pilot Sport CUP
Pilot Sport PS2
Primacy HP (Z-ratd sizes)
XGTZ4
Agilis
Crossterrain
Diam Aris
Latitude Sport
Latitude Tour
Latitude Tour HP
LTX A/S
LTX A/T
LTX A/T 2
LTX M/S
Pilot LTX
Synchrone
XPS Rib
XPS Trac
X-Radial LT
Energy MXV4 Plus & S8 (H-rated sizes)
Pilot Exalto (H-rated sizes)
Pilot Exalto A/S (H-rated sizes)
Pilot MXM4 (H-rated sizes)
Primacy HP (H-rated sizes)
Primacy MXV4 (H-rated sizes)
XGTV4
Energy LX4
Harmony
HydroEdge
MX4 (S&T rated sizes)
Symmetry
X Radial DT

Remember if you have purchased tires from Costco, to be sure and get your tires rotated frequently as they are free of charge. I have to remind myself to get in early as spots fill up quickly at our local Costco. Also, if yours has a gas station, fill up and save a little more money.

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Costco Michelin and BF Goodrich tire $60 rebate discount through June 2008

Scott — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:57:00 +0000

I just received an email from Costco and they have extended the tire rebate period for Michelin and BF Goodrich to June 29th. You will save $60 instantly on the purchase of 4 new tires. Be sure to call around and find out if any other tire shops are offering the same discount or possibly a better one. And be sure to call Costco and make sure they have your vehicle’s tire in stock. I have a Toyota Prius with a R14, and they run low at times on it. Call ahead and check if Costco has your R14, R15, R16, or even R17′s in stock. They could probably even order larger sizes for you. Just to be safe, call and make sure they hold your tires. Our local Costco is always busy, so it’s probably a good idea to get there early at 10 or 11am and reserve your spot.

Replacing your old worn out tires will also give you the added mileage bonus too. Experts say that tire inflation and proper tire maintenance will save you money and let you drive a little further on your tank of gas. Also, have you noticed the lines at the Costco gas station? Yesterday, a buddy told me the lines were out in the parking lot. Costco gas is the cheapest in our city and beats the discount gas stations by 10 cents. Here’s the link to the Costco website if you want more information on the specific Michelin or BF Goodrich tires for the $60 rebate.

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How to increase gas mileage when gas is $4.00 or more a gallon? 5 ways that could help my family conserve fuel and save some cash.

Scott — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 07:11:00 +0000

I’m not looking for extreme measures like hypermiling, but easy and manageable solutions to save money.

1. Drive your most fuel efficient vehicle. We own two vehicles. A Toyota Prius and a BMW X5. Two totally different vehicles and each vehicle has its benefits and weaknesses. My wife uses a vanpool during the day to commute to work, so we should be using the Prius as our primary family car. The savings in gas would be tremendous for us. If you own two vehicles, are you putting the most miles on your efficient one? I would imagine many families have a minivan and a passenger car. I wonder if the passenger car would give you more fuel economy over the van? Do you know your vehicles mpg?

2. Kids Carpool. My wife uses a vanpool for work, but I could utilize a carpool for my daughter’s school. All it would take is a few phone calls and we could probably arrange a vanpool. I’m sure many parents are already doing this, but for me, it’s more of a convenience factor. I also wouldn’t be able to reciprocate and use my vehicle for carpooling, as I only have room for two car seats. I guess I could offer to purchase gas for them. Do you schedule a carpool or vanpool for your kid’s activities?

3. Plan ahead. I’m guilty of driving sometimes without a clear plan of what I’m going to accomplish at a store. I sometimes bring a list, but usually just try to wing it. I would imagine I waste a few gallons a week by not writing down a list for the store. Many nights I will have to drive out to the store for milk, and get frustrated because I was at the store a few hours earlier. I utilize spreadsheets and lists for budgets and household projects, so I should utilize lists for everyday shopping.

4. Pay attention to vehicle maintenance. It’s interesting that I take better care of my BMW X5, but it’s also the least efficient vehicle. I need to spend more time on the little details for both vehicles, like tire rotation, air filter, tire pressure, and oil service. I do maintain my vehicles, but sometimes I will allow several months to pass before having the tires rotated. One day my neighbor mentioned that a tire looked low on my Prius. It was low. I had been driving on a slow leak from a nail. I wonder how long the tire was low? These little maintenance items could add up to big gas savings for me. Many of these maintenance items are free. Tire pressure can greatly impact mileage. My dad has given me several tire pressure gauges for Christmas, and I need to start using them. I even have an emergency tire station and battery jumper cables that would be perfect to inflate my tires.

5. Walk, don’t drive. This one is going to hurt a little. We have a park about 1 mile from our house. No hills, just flat road. My kids are 4 and 2, and I prefer to drive. My reasons are selfish, as I like to leave quickly if we have a meltdown or if the bathrooms are nasty. We have a double stroller and we should walk more often for exercise and to save fuel. Our family goes to the park 3 or 4 times a week. We could be saving 8 miles a week in gas. How far do you drive to the park or to a local store? Could you walk?

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Wife’s Birthday to-do list. An opportunity to save money?

Scott — Wed, 28 May 2008 20:15:00 +0000

This Memorial Weekend was a time to reflect on our nations history and spend time with family and friends as well as celebrate my wife’s birthday. We were planning a trip to Lake Tahoe, but the weather changed Thursday night and snow was forecast. Our family stayed home and the decision was the right one, as we found out that the roads were closed Tuesday. I really don’t enjoy putting on chains, especially with little ones in the car. My patience has dwindled down to zero and chains would only make me sound like the dad on “A Christmas Story”. Great scene when the father and son are trying to change a flat tire and he asked his family to time his speed. Since we stayed home we had to change our Lake Tahoe plans and create some new ones.

My wife loves lists. Do you enjoy putting together lists to track projects, goals, groceries, or household chores? My wife has a list for almost everything. My wife has lists for everything. I even clean up her old lists that are from projects long ago or from old birthday parties. Since it was my wife’s birthday, I thought I would try and tackle some items on her most recent list.

1. New tires for Toyota Prius
2. Fix Ipod for van pool
3. Organize office and guest room
4. Hang curtains and pullbacks
5. Train trip with kids to Sacramento
6. Attend a Baseball game
7. Hang Pictures in bedroom
8. Do Laundry

I have been putting off two new tires for our Prius for several months now. Back in November of last year, Prius tires on backorder and a 5% discount, Toyota ordered two new tires for my Prius and gave me a 5% discount. I called Toyota and they have the Dunlop tires in stock and can do it the same day. Quite a bit different from going to the BMW dealership and dealing with egos and poor customer service. Toyota is a different story. They are easy to approach and they don’t talk down to the customers.

I waited about an hour and the service desk said my car was ready. I wish is was a little longer as I had fun talking to the sales guys and asking questions about the 2009 Toyota Prius changes. The dealership didn’t have any inventory of the Prius and said that a waiting list is forming again. I can’t believe that just a few months ago I saw several available at the same dealership. As gas prices increase, the demand for the Prius will increase. I also learned that I could probably make some money on my 2002 Prius.

While I was waiting, I was using my Samsung Blackjack to look at my email and read some of my blog subscriptions. I have about 10 blogs that I like to follow and was going through my email and noticed one from Toyota. I read it and couldn’t believe it. A 10% coupon on all service, including tires. The Blackjack is starting to pay for itself and save me money too. Before the discount, two new Dunlop tires cost $249.60, including labor, tax and parts. When I went to pay for the tires, I noticed on the invoice that a 5% discount was given. $14 in savings and I didn’t mention my coupon yet. I explained to the cashier that I just received a 10% coupon email from Toyota and that I wanted to use it. She looked at me and then asked for the printout. I showed her my phone and said it’s on the email on my phone. She was really confused. The service advisor came over and looked at the email, smiled, and then gave me an additional 10% off. It pays to speak up and ask for your discounts. I actually thought for a moment that I should be happy with the 5% discount. But why? No harm in asking and I had the email on my cell phone. I was so excited, I almost went out and bought a new car. Just kidding! My total savings was $29. I really enjoy saving money, especially when I feel like I worked a little to earn the savings. In case you were wondering, we did accomplish my wife’s list and had a fantastic weekend too.

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Costco Michelin $60 tire rebate

Scott — Tue, 13 May 2008 21:24:00 +0000

Last year I purchased 4 new tires for my X5 and utilized the Costco tire rebate program and saved $60. The Energy MXV4 Plus was the replacement tire for my 2001 X5 and ran about $235 each. This included the installation, balance, tire stem, California tire recycling fee, tax, and warranty. Total out the door was $940 for four tires. Since this was a substantial investment for my vehicle I am due back to have my tires rotated again. I’ve been happy with the service at Costco tires, but dread the 4-6 hour wait each time. It sure would be nice if we had the ability to make appointments or if they had a shuttle service. I guess that’s how the stealers charge an arm and a leg to replace tires. I actually need to purchase two new tires for my Prius, but the rebate is only for four tires. This year the rebate ends May 18th, so a few days are left to save some money. As far as I know all Michelin tires are included in the rebate. If you want to be sure, call your local Costco tire center to verify.

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Oil passes $122 barrel. How to save money on gas?

Scott — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:36:00 +0000

With the summer driving season still two months away, you would think that gas and oil prices would be flat for May. Today, Oil touched $122 a barrel for the first time and one analyst at Goldman Sachs has a target for oil of $150-$200. If you are not a wall street trader or oil tycoon and want to find some of the cheapest gas around town, how to save money on gas? Well, besides taking out a hose and using the siphon method from your neighbors car, it’s Gas Buddy.com. I use Gas Buddy.com when I travel or tell friends to check them out when planning a road trip. I have not been paid to review Gas Buddy.com but believe they offer a great resource for consumers who are trying to save a few dollars at the pump. Unfortunately, I own a car that requires premium unleaded gas and it can cost $90 to fill the tank. Gas Buddy.com has data from 180 gas websites on the internet and even has discount stations like Costco gas. My local Costco is where I purchase gas for $3.79 gallon for regular unleaded and $3.88 for supreme.

If you are looking for some suggestions for improving gas mileage, you can check out Penny Wise, Dollar Short. Madison has 15 gas savings tips in her blog and my favorite was #15 Getting Organized. A lot of trips I make are not thought through properly and I waste gas making duplicate trips to the same store. I also have a post about some extreme measures some motorists are trying called Hypermiling Increase gas mileage Fact or Fiction?

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Hypermiling Increase gas mileage Fact or Fiction?

Scott — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:44:00 +0000

I saw an article today come across my Yahoo home page and it caught my attention. “Hypermiling” sounds like an extreme sport for those who want to conserve every drop of fuel from their vehicles. Some of the suggestions for Hypermiling include filling air to maximum tire pressure suggested by the tire manufacture and drifting behind 18 wheel trucks. This and other suggestions found in a Reuter’s article Hypermiling suggest that you can double your gas mileage. Are you a hypermiler? What are your thoughts? Even if it were possible to increase gas mileage, how do I find an 18 wheeler to draft in the city? If you inflate tires to maximum pressure, will this decrease their performance or longevity? Speaking of tires, I need to replace my old rear tires on my Prius. They are getting a little smooth on the outside and I think I might ask the guy’s at Costco tire if they have any thoughts about increasing tire pressure.

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5 Reasons Why I Love My Prius

Scott — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 23:33:00 +0000

I purchased a used 2002 Prius two years ago and feel it has been the best vehicle I have ever owned. It may not do 0-60 in 4.0 seconds or be able to hold 7 passengers, but it has been the most reliable and economical car I have owned in 18 years of driving. My other car is an SUV and far from economical and reliable. I can’t wait for Toyota to make an SUV with Prius technology and then I can trade in my old SUV. Well, I love my Prius for the following reasons:

1. Obvious answer: Great gas mileage. Current gas prices in the bay area are $3.39 for regular unleaded. I’m not going to say I get 55-60 mph but I realistically get 40-45 mph average on highway and city.

2. Carpool lane sticker. Love it! My wife uses the Prius to commute over 100 miles a day and uses the carpool lane with no other passengers required. She does belong to a carpool but on some days she is the only person in the car. Many mornings she saves 30-60 minutes on her commute time.

3. Cheap maintenance costs. I have spent a total of $485 on maintenance over two years. Two new tires: $220. Oil Service 4 @ $29 each. 70k mile service $149. New wipers $20. I could probably even save some money on the oil service but am happy with my relationship with Toyota and my customer service representative. In comparison, I have had four or five customer service reps for my SUV.

4. No smog testing or certificate needed for DMV. As I get older I hate waiting in lines and making appointments, and spending between $50-75 just to get a vehicle smog is a waste of time and money. The Prius is a low emission vehicle and not subject to smog requirements in California.

5. No or cheap brake maintenance. I went to my dealer and asked if they could check my brakes during 70k mile service. The service rep said they would but they have never replaced brake pads on the hundreds of Prius’ sold at their dealership. He then explained the benefits of the Prius technology and regenerative braking. More info can be found http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/tech/TechSnapPrius1_5_01b.pdf

I would love to hear from other hybrid owners and post a comment of what you love about your car.

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Prius tires on backorder and a 5% discount

Scott — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:40:00 +0000

I made it about 20 yards in my Prius before I noticed that the left rear tire was completely flat. I changed the tire and found out that the spare in the trunk is a tiny small dounut of a tire. The Prius tires are small. But, this spare is really small! It even has this really attractive yellow center that makes everyone notice you’re driving with a dounut. I just replaced the two front tires three months ago, so luckily the flat happened on the rear tires. I called Costco and they told me they do not carry the tire I needed, a Dunlop P175/65 R14. Costco doesn’t sell this tire and said they recommend a different tire. Also, Costco won’t replace a single tire at a time. They charge $89.99 to install the tire. I then called Toyota and they said they carry the tire but it costs $110.00 to install and they will replace both rear tires. Total cost $220.00 Unfortunately, after they had my car for a few hours working on oil service and finishing the 70k mile service, they called to tell me that the tires are on backorder and not in their inventory. What? They told me they had the tires in stock and could put them on today. Fortunately, they were able to take a large wood screw out of the tire and repair the leak. The service rep told me the tires are on backorder from Dunlop and they will be available in January. Hopefully, I can avoid wood screws and all sharp metal objects for the next month and a half. I spoke to my service rep and calmly stated that I was frustrated that the tires were not availably after he told me they were in stock. After a short pause, I mentioned that I had an expired coupon that was emailed from Toyota for 5% off service. He quickily told me he would honor that discount and applied the 5% discount to my total of $215 for the 70k mile service. A savings of $10.75. Not a lot, but I’m hoping to get another 5% coupon via email to use on the tires. Or, I could ask my service rep to honor the 5% for the tires too. Spending $200 on my Prius is small compared to my “other” vehicle. I could write for hours on my “other” vehicle. That will be for another day!

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The Passive Dad » Car Maintenance

Costco Michelin $80 Tire Discount Rebate Through 8/24/08

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