I also need new tires and also live in NC....

I have been looking at getting the Contis again, but no one seems to carry local and when I mention buying them the local merchants get that look of greed and a SMILE, I don't want to buy from internet and have to try to beg someone to install and then if I have a problem- it could be a big problem.

I live in a small town, I do have a Discount Tire 30 miles away, having said alll of this-

The General Exclaim UHP's:
Are they an all season tire? We do get cold weather here and I want to be able to drive the Xfire yr round, I don't want to hop in the car and lose my tire bead.

Please advise.

Thanks