Just a thought, but with the current exchange rates so favorable to us
here in the States, would there be any advantage to purchasing a set of
tires from, say, Canadian Tire or Sears in Canada?

Would I be subject to duty or some sort of tax? At US$1 = CN$1.50,  a
$400 set of Michelin MXT's or Yokohama Y-370's would only set me back
about $270. That's almost enough difference to consider planning a trip
to Vancouver BC, always a neat place to go during the summer anyway! I
could drive up there, buy new tires, save a bunch of money, and have a
small vacation all at the same time. The difference in tire cost could
almost pay for the gas!

Am I missing something? Should I feel guilty about exploiting the
relatively strong US dollar by using it to purchase tires up north? Is
it this kind of consumerist attitude that contributes to the rest of the
world labeling us "ugly Americans?" (they're just tires, after all)

I don't want to offend anyone, least of all the nation of Canada. But a
favorable exchange rate is a favorable exchange rate! One must be
practical, especially when one drives a vehicle for which cheap,
garden-variety tires simply will not do.

Dan