Where do most people buy their tires?

[Nathans_Dad]

I got my Euromeisters in the mail today (YAY) and I'm looking to get some rubber on them. I was looking at tire rack and that seems to be the cheaper alternate rather than going through the local Discount Tire or NTB.

The car will wear 255/40/17 on the rear and 225/45/17 on the fronts. I found some Sumitomo summer tires on Tire rack for $392 shipped to me total. Both NTB and Discount Tire quoted me about $100 to pull the old wheels, remove the old tires, mount and balance the new tires and give me back the old wheels so I can sell them.

Is this the best route or is there another avenue I should explore?

[74-911]

I have used Tire Rack and been happy with them. Even after paying freight their price beat any locals.

[Nathans_Dad]

Yes, looks like there will be about $15 disposal fee. The tires are 10 years old so no point in keeping them.

[aschen]

Tire rack is fantastic. Ive ordered tires from them forever. They usually show up in almost hard to belive time. I just put new tires on my car and my wifes car. Both sets showed up 2 days after the order was placed. One set I had sent directly to an authorized installer instead of my house. Even easier. 80$ is the going rate to mount and balace a set of tires. 100$ seems close enough.

[Noah930]

I've purchased from both Tire Rack as well as Discount Tire Direct. In the end, they cost about the same. I have a local America's Tire that does the mount & balance for $80 if I purchase from Discount Tire Direct, so that's the way I've gone the past few times.

[Rusty Heap]

Discount tire, my wallet shops local

Where is Tire Rack going to be for a free flat repair and/or lifetime balancing?

So you save a couple bucks, you're still going to have to pay mounting and balance, regardless of where you buy your rubber.

[pete3799]

I've purchased two sets of tires (8 total) from Tire Rack.
Ordered them one day.... they where here the next both times.

[Nathans_Dad]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

Discount tire, my wallet shops local

Where is Tire Rack going to be for a free flat repair and/or lifetime balancing?

So you save a couple bucks, you're still going to have to pay mounting and balance, regardless of where you buy your rubber.

Discount tire is nearly $200 more to buy through them vs through tire rack and having Discount Tire mount and balance them.

Buying local is great and I usually try to do this, but I can repair a lot of flats for $200! Also, I believe the lifetime balancing is included if you have them mount and balance the tires in the first place.

[Aragorn]

Tire Rack is fast and good. Have used them for years.

My local NTB is good at install but usually try and up-sell me on something else like an alignment.

[scottmandue]

I shop around but always end up at Americas tire... I think they are affiliated with discount tire.

Edit to add... and they have stores all over, I have seen them in Los Angeles, Portland OR, and Las Vegas.

[Jrboulder]

Discount tire, my wallet shops local



Where is Tire Rack going to be for a free flat repair and/or lifetime balancing?



So you save a couple bucks, you're still going to have to pay mounting and balance, regardless of where you buy your rubber.

Usually you can talk them down on price or they have a sale not listed on their website. I added it up and my last three tire purchases at discount tire each came in a bit less than tire rack.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

Discount tire, my wallet shops local

Where is Tire Rack going to be for a free flat repair and/or lifetime balancing?

So you save a couple bucks, you're still going to have to pay mounting and balance, regardless of where you buy your rubber.

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I shop around but always end up at Americas tire... I think they are affiliated with discount tire.

I purchase from Discount Tire Direct. I get the tires mounted at America's Tire for $80, which is as cheap as it can get in my area. America's offers free lifetime flat repair and M+B.

[Mike80911]

I always use Tirerack usually works out the cheapest. Just a bit of advise. Take the road hazard warranty. I just put a set of tires on my sons car from Tirerack and did not take the $48 Road Hazard protection. Naturally he hit a pot hole and cut one of the 2 week old tires so had to buy another one at $145. Live and learn from now on I will always take the warranty.

[Jim Richards]

I've used Tire Rack for my last few purchases. Before that, I used a local supplier who also provided my track tires.

[recycled sixtie]

Since November I have bought 4 a/s Michelin from a local tire shop and 2 Pirelli snow tires from my indy shop. Tirerack does however have a recommended shop here to install them. I went to the above shops because I want my rims looked after.
My indy shop knew how to get the security bolts off with a damaged security socket.
Got rid of those suckers. Tirerack would have been cheapest but sometimes saving $$$ on tires is not everything.

[aschen]

The advantage of online tire purchase is mostly selection and the opportunity to comparitive shop alot of sizes and brands in one sitting.

I would actually happily pay the premium for convienence if I could drive to a local place and get exactly what I want in stock right away. Usually they dont have quite the right size or tire in stock. If they are going to have to order it anyways I might as well do it myself.

[GWN7]

Tire Rack was $115 per tire cheaper than local for my 98 truck. Indy shop dismounted old tires, mounted new and balanced for $25 per. Even paying freight and driving to the border to pick them up I saved over $200.

Old tires went to a tire recycling place about 20 minutes away. They make rubber mats out of them. 0 cost other than some gas to recycle them.

[JavaBrewer]

My experience has been that Tire Rack prices are lower but once the shipping, mounting, and balancing are factored in they are pretty close to Discount Tire. Maybe Discount will "discount" closer to match if you show them the price difference?

I used TR 4 years ago and was satisfied. All my recent tires were purchased at DT and the shops local to me have been outstanding. I waffled on the extended tire warranty for my son's Explorer and the guy knocked 35% off without blinking an eye. Done. 3 weeks later Zack drove over some metal on the road and got a free replacement tire.

[JavaBrewer]

Zack's tires priced this afternoon.

[biosurfer1]

I usually end up at America's Tire (Discount Tire). Tire Rack is usually cheaper for the actual tire but after everything is said and done, it usually evens out.

I NEVER get the tire warranty. In Mike's case it would have worked out but I have not purchased it for the last 4 sets of tires I bought ($16/tire) and saved myself $256. America's Tire will fix and flat for free so the warranty is basically only good for a very bad flat or the tire shreds. Since that has never happened yet, I figure I'm money ahead and can deal with it if it does happen.