Be aware, unless you know someone in the tire business(in which case you should've gone through them anyway), you will probably save little-to-no money by buying online. You'll still have to pay someone to mount and balance the tires, and let's be honest - they're not making any real money on your cheap ass :) so they won't be going out of their way to do outstanding work, and they absolutely *won't* stand behind the tires you bought elsewhere.
I spent several years in the tire business, and I always got pissed when someone bought out from under me and expected me to give them the "hook-up" on mounting.
I recently bought a couple of tires from tirerack.com, but that was because the MR2 takes 205/60R14(a very unusual size these days, although once common) for the rears, and nobody locally had anything worth buying. I had a friend still in the business mount them for me, but it still cost a couple of lunches.
Juuuust a little food for thought.
check your wheels to see what kind of shape they're in. Minnesota potholes will damage many wheels and tires as well.
If he had wheel damage, he'd know it every time he drove 55-70mph :) My wife's Miata(used) came complete with one bent wheel, and it's the only car I'll ever drive 80 on the freeway in - because if I slow down just a little, it wobbles like a mother :p
As to the actual tires you purchased, they look good. I haven't kept up with new tire models, but they look like a quiet tread with good contact, and I have always been impressed with Continental's sportier tires.
