Correction...... what I thought was a cut on the sidewall turned out to be cosmetic. There was a screw in the tread causing the leak. How did I find out? I got such a run-around at the tire stores that I decided to stop looking for a "bargain" and went to my neighborhood mechanic. If it was going to cost $100 for a tire, I would rather give him the business.
Within 2 mnutes he had found a leak - screw in the tread. Sidewall was just a cosmetic scratch from scraping the curb. Total charge $15 plus I gave him some extra $$.
The lessons here for me are to only do business with people you trust, and there is no free lunch.
Now, about the tire store run around....
Every one of them I called on the phone had a different story and price when I showed up.
For example.... one $55 tire over the phone at Big O Tires ended up being $107 after tax, balance, installation and recycle fee. The "4 for
2" special now being advertised by Big O Tires turned out to be four $55 tires plus extras, totaling over $400: two tires at $70 each plus $40 times 4 for balance, installation, tax and recycle fee, plus the "required" super deluxe lifetime front end alignment for $110.
I made some calls yesterday and for P215-HR7014, 40K miles and more, prices were $50-70 per tire. Add $30 each for tax, balance, mounting, Calif fees. No one said they had any sales coming up this weekend.
This time I have a leak and can't spend too much time looking around or ordering online.
Thanks, fellers!
SJ