How much for a pair of tires? Here's what I found, and where

I asked for price quotes from these places, and the brand name varies from place to place. . . but when you are buying tires don't you want to go with the least expensive? I do. No way I'm able to afford BFG's or Goodyears all the way around my daily driver and my musclecar.

For 2 tires, 215 60/15 total cost out the door is


PepBoys Cooper Definity 75K mileage warranty ---------------------------$187


Wal Mart DP GT-4 (whatever that is) 40K mileage -----------------------$170 plus tax


Costco Michellin 80k mileage -------------------------------------------------$264


Tire Depot --------------------------------------------------------------------------$166
I like these guys - I always go to them first, for both of my cars- but they haven't won me over like Discount has


EXP tires Cooper SCE 50K -----------------------------------------------------$214
to get your business EXP will match the competition's price. Not good enough for me.


Discount Tires Koumo 50K ----------------------------------------------------$177


And if the price, road hazard warranty fee, and all the goodies that Discount will do for you weren't enough, find the same tire advertised cheaper elsewhere, and they'll beat it.... not like the high price at EXP from step one, Discount has the 2nd lowest price for a pair of tires, and then there's the extra service. I like these guys. That's why I keep going back to Discount tires.
All our TirePrices Include:
FREE Valve Stems
FREE Prorated Road Hazard
FREE Lifetime Rotations

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/searchTiresByVehicleAndSize.do?mk=PONTIAC&rc=CASINT&yr=2000&sw=false&cs=215&rcc=San%2520Diego&vid=004643&rd=15&ar=60

Shell and Dow busted for fixing prices on tire rubber

http://www.rubberworld.com/news.asp?action=showweek

EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes busted 5 companies for colluding to rig prices of rubber ingredients used in tires, Shell was fined €160.9 million and Dow €64.6 million.

Regardless of what the tire reads, who really made it?

Tire guide, probably just for posterity

If these were so good, how'd they go out of business?