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Should I buy Pep Boys Futura tires or dealer Continental tires for my Mazda 3?

My 2004 Mazda 3 needs new tires. I can get four Pep Boys Futura Touring HR tires with installation and alignment for $416 or four Continental ProContact tires with installation and alignment for $485 from the dealer service station. Pep Boys gets horrible reviews for service, but the Futura tire reviews aren't too bad. The dealership guy says the Continental tires are better, but but a lot of people actually complain about them and I remember having problems with them when newer -- one guy writes on a Mazda forum "I got rid of my tires on a 2002 because of the cupping and resulting noise after 24,000 miles. I thought I had a wheel bearing problem. I purchased a set of Futura tires from Pep Boys here in Maryland. They have just over 50,000 miles on them and are still smooth and quiet." Any advice? I guess I should have mentioned I called around to a bunch of places and Pep Boys was the best deal I found -- but I have been to the dealer service station before and trust them more so that's why they're the other one I'm considering.

Public Comments

1. Continental tires are garbage even the Z rated tires. Not that I'd buy "futura" tires but I'm just relaying common information to you. Everyone should be driving on dunlop tires in my opinion. Edit:do you have any discount tire direct or big o stores in your area. They have decent "chain" brands made by big brands but made in china...:( Otherwise you might try tirerack, and pay to get them installed locally...usually it's cheaper that way (assume 20-30 bucks per tire installed/balanced). H tires are generally 50-60 bucks a pop. I recommend Dunlop (and some bridgestone) but there are other brands that have good bang for the buck like: hankook, kumho, and even sumitomo. Just get the best rated cheap tire you can find from tire rack.
2. Check with some tire shops and see how much then will be charging.
3. I've Futura tires one a couple if my vehicles and never had any problems with them. In fact have them on SUV. [All terrain All Weather] and haven't had any problems with them. If I recall correctly Pep Boys Futura tires are made for them by Cooper Tire Company which is a pretty reliable company when it comes to making tires that hold up. . I've learned the hard way about factory tread [ones that come standard on cars] and Euro-sport tires. They are both bad about hydroplaning on you at speed. And getting away from you on ice and snow at speed . As far as service I've never had any problems with Pep Boys service. You do have to pick your times or make an appointment because they are usually busy in the evenings and weekends.
4. Cooper tires are NOT that great. If I were you, I would go on the "TIRE RACK" web-site, and read their comparison tests. OR just CALL THEM> THey will have tested every significant tire available and will show you your best deal for the kind of driving you do. ALL tire makers have good and bad tires. No tire works on two different cars the same way. I would tend to buy a Michelin "Grren X" tire, befause they improve fuel mileage, as does the Bridgestone "Ecopia." Continental tires that are MADE in Germany are EXCELLENT, if you choose the proper series. German and Asian rubber compounds tend to be better than most. Take my advice, and call the Tire Rack, first!
5. Go with RobertM and tirerack.com or call them. The website is very informative and customer service is very helpful.