This is probably as illegal as all get out, but what about crossing the
border and getting the tires put on the van and driving back across, with
no declaration to customs?  Who's to know that the tires are new, thereby
subjecting oneself to duty, import fees, etc., etc.

Canadians seem to do similar things all the time, at least in this neck of
the woods.  The Niagara Falls (NY) Outlet Center does a majority of it's
business with Canadians.  Folks come down from the metro Toronto area, buy
clothes and the like, take the tags off, throw out the bags, boxes, and
tags, then stuff everything into a suitcase and recross back into Canada.
Customs is none the wiser - or at the very least, turns a blind eye.

I'm sure a tire retailer would not give a darn whether the MXT's are going
on a bus with Provincial tags or US tags.  They get the sale - which is one
more than if you never walked thru the door - and what happens after that
is not their concern.

Alan Bosch
& Phred ('88 Wolfsburg)
Rochester, NY