Today, I went to Discount Tire to order another set of my favorite Hankook Ventus Prime 3 195 55r16 87W NOT run-flat tires for my MINI Cooper SE. I was shocked, shocked! when the Discount Tire rep told me Hankook no longer makes Prime 3 tires.
Fortunately, the rep searched and was able to locate a set for me. The $780 was a couple hundred more than the last time I bought 'em, but this time I couldn't flash ads with other dealers' sale prices to get Discount Tire to match. I like the Prime 3s too much to try another brand. They're grippy enough me and, more importantly for city hooning, they're reluctant to squeal.
I briefly thought about ordering TWO sets, but my wife is already unhappy I have a winter set of wheels/tires, a summer set of wheels/tires, and the original 17" Power Spoke wheels/tires that came with the car (I mount them only for Drive Electric week events because I'm so paranoid of curbing the Energetic Yellow stripes on their circumference). Instead, I decided I'll drive a couple more months on my current Prime 3s before mounting the near-unobtanium new ones.
Fortunately, the rep searched and was able to locate a set for me. The $780 was a couple hundred more than the last time I bought 'em, but this time I couldn't flash ads with other dealers' sale prices to get Discount Tire to match. I like the Prime 3s too much to try another brand. They're grippy enough me and, more importantly for city hooning, they're reluctant to squeal.
I briefly thought about ordering TWO sets, but my wife is already unhappy I have a winter set of wheels/tires, a summer set of wheels/tires, and the original 17" Power Spoke wheels/tires that came with the car (I mount them only for Drive Electric week events because I'm so paranoid of curbing the Energetic Yellow stripes on their circumference). Instead, I decided I'll drive a couple more months on my current Prime 3s before mounting the near-unobtanium new ones.