R-Spec Summer tires

[acoga]

My local dealer has a couple of R-Specs, both equipped with summer tires, a $1400 option. A couple of questions:

1) Do the summer tires affect ride comfort?

2) Are they installed at the factory or by the dealer? I.e. can I opt out of them even if the car is sitting on the summer tires, or is it too late at that point?

 

[newman]

My local dealer has a couple of R-Specs, both equipped with summer tires, a $1400 option. A couple of questions:

1) Do the summer tires affect ride comfort?

2) Are they installed at the factory or by the dealer? I.e. can I opt out of them even if the car is sitting on the summer tires, or is it too late at that point?

I cannot comment on the comfort of the bridgestone potenza's. But as for point 2 - it is a relatively simple operation to switch the tires.

If you think that you might want them but are not sure, tell them to remove them and they might throw them in or come down in price.

Bear in mind that 1400 is for replacing the stock tire, not for a second set. Therefore I would recommend keeping the stock and purchasing a set of summer tires aftermarket so that you have two sets for less than 1400.

You may even consider, as I have done, purchasing aftermarket wheels and tires. Then you have the option of swapping yourself without the mounting operation. Or you can sell the stock as I plan to do.

Cheers
Newman

 

[trotti]

2) Are they installed at the factory or by the dealer? I.e. can I opt out of them even if the car is sitting on the summer tires, or is it too late at that point?

They show up as an option for the R-Spec on the Hyundai build site - my guess is that they're shipped to the dealer like that from the factory.

 

[acoga]

my guess is that they're shipped to the dealer like that from the factory.

That's really my key question. At least on other cars, there are some options that are dealer installed. I'm wondering if this is just a way for them to squeeze a little more profit out of their R-Specs.

 

[rwlewis]

Assuming you are in the US...Dealer installed garbage is displayed on a separate sticker from the factory sticker. This is a requirement by the Monroney Act. The dealer cannot legally alter the factory sticker...

If the summer tire/Bridgestone Potenza option is listed on the main Hyundai sticker then it came from the factory with them.

Richard

 

[newman]

They show up as an option for the R-Spec on the Hyundai build site - my guess is that they're shipped to the dealer like that from the factory.

After reading Trotti's post I think that he is right and that I was incorrect.

If the Bridgestones come from the factory then you probably have less negotiating room - particularly due to the popularity of this vehicle. The best that you might shoot for is to take a bit off of the price or content yourself to wait for a model that does not have them. Assuming of course that you do not want the summer tires.

Cheers,
Newman

 

[acoga]

Assuming you are in the US...Dealer installed garbage is displayed on a separate sticker from the factory sticker. This is a requirement by the Monroney Act. The dealer cannot legally alter the factory sticker...

If the summer tire/Bridgestone Potenza option is listed on the main Hyundai sticker then it came from the factory with them.

That's the key info I was looking for, and of course in retrospect that should've been obvious. They had a separate sticker for some extras like nitrogen in the tires, but I can't recall if the summer tires were there or on the main sticker. But at least now I know what to look for.

 

[TEF]

Unless you really believe these summer tires are 1400-dollars better than standard ones, tell your salesman to get an R-Spec without this factory option. Chances are slim he'll find one, but instead give you the tires rather than losing the sale. As someone has already mentioned, one can buy new summer tires of his/her choice for less and still have the use or exchange value of the standard tires. Unlike gps or upgraded audio systems, the manufacturer assumes no additional labor charges for installation, since the cost to mount, balance and install summer and standard tires is the same. In short, this tire option seems a great way for Hyundai to make some easy money.

 

[acoga]

First, to answer my original question, the tires are most definitely NOT a dealer installed option. They show up as part of the factory Monroney sticker.

Unless you really believe these summer tires are 1400-dollars better than standard ones, tell your salesman to get an R-Spec without this factory option.

I wanted the R-Spec in grey, and while my dealer doesn't have any in stock they are due to receive one in 2 weeks and it's not showing summer tires on their system. Sounds good, right? But get this: they cautioned me that the tires are a port installed option (which I'd never heard of). According to them the receiving port can add the tires and generate a new Monroney sticker! I have no idea if that's bullshit or not, but I can't imagine why they would make that up.

EDIT: here's some info from the Kelly Blue Book site. What this doesn't say is if the port has any leeway in deciding what options to install. Like, does the factory add the summer tires as an option when the car leaves the factory but they're just installed at the port? Or does some Hyundai agent at the port decide how many cars get the summer tires?

 

[TEF]

I don't purport to be an expert, but in the case of real imports (such as the Genesis), the "factory" window stickers may be applied at the port of entry by the importer/distributor. In this case, Hyundai USA. I say this because window stickers usually bear the name and address of a specific dealership - a level of detail more likely relevant to the importer than the factory in Korea. Moreover, whether upgraded tires are installed at the port or in Korea they remain a factory option, if appearing on the window sticker. A similar example was the Nissan 350Z made in Japan, but fitted with certain factory options (spoilers and stone guards) at the port of entry. Even if I am dead wrong, it seems academic. If a dealership wants to sell a car, they will generally offer the vehicle desired by the customer and, if not, make some concession (i.e. discount). Why would one settle for less when buying a car costing more than $40K?

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[Dr_jitsu]

The Potenzas are a good tire and can be had for $1200. Considering that they are replacing tires that are most likely worth over $800 (I am guesstimating) the extra charge should only be $400 or so.