BARGAINS : WHERE THE RUBBER HITS THE ROAD.

Byline: Trisha King & Deborah Newmark

When it comes to buying new tires for your vehicle, it sure pays to shop around. With so many companies competing for the same customers, some businesses are enticing motorists with low prices. But when you actually get the tires, the additional charges can really add up.

However, you can find low prices on most popular brand names and true price quotes at Tires Buy Mark.

For example, a large ``discount'' chain quotes $24.75 for a tire rated to last 30,000 miles. With additional charges for a valve stem, warranty, balancing and handling charge; the actual cost of the tire is $41.99, not including sales tax. That's a difference of over $17 from the original price quote. Multiply that by four tires, and the difference is nearly $69.

You can buy the same size tire from Tires Buy Mark - but made to last 50,000 miles instead of 30,000 miles - for a flat rate of $30 plus tax. The price includes all labor, valve stem, balancing and a warranty. If you ever have a flat, it's fixed free of charge. Plus, every 5,000 miles you should take in your car to have the tires rotated and balanced, which is also included in the price of the tire.

In searching for our own tires (size 225/60/116HR), the difference in price quotes was amazing. We received quotes from five tire dealers: The lowest was $62.99, the highest $150.

We called Tires Buy Mark last and not only received the best price ($75 for Pirellis) and friendliest phone service, but also an education.

With questions in hand, we called the other stores again to see what their prices included. We were quite surprised. For instance, the $62.99 tire was actually $120.99 without tax.

Tires Buy Mark has been selling tires at low prices since 1970. The company relies on word-of-mouth advertising only (a friend told us about them), and most of the people at the store were longtime customers.

When you call for a price quote, they'll let know if the tires are in stock. If the tires need to be special-ordered, they will either be available the same day or the next, depending on the time of day you call.

Tires Buy Mark is at 7510 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Canoga Park; [phone]. Hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Discover, MasterCard and Visa are accepted.

Inside info

If you want to send a video to your friends in Europe, stop by Rubicon Electronics, where they offer foreign video tape conversions for $10 per hour.

For normal video tape duplication, the cost is $8, which includes a two-hour tape.

They also repair VCRs, TVs, CD players and most other electronic devices at competitive prices.

Rubicon Electronics is at 19222 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana; [phone]. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Save time renewing a book you borrowed from any Los Angeles Public Library branch by calling [phone]. As long as your books aren't already overdue, this automated service allows you to renew your book by telephone.