Replacing the tires on your car is an unavoidable expense. Still, there are ways to make sure you’re getting the best available deal.
In this article, I’ll take a close look at Discount Tire Direct, which I found to be an affordable online tire store. I researched the process and pricing at Discount Tire Direct to get an idea of what you can expect when buying your tires from the online retailer.
5 Things To Know About Discount Tire DirectDiscount Tire Direct is an online tire store that’s been in business for over 25 years. On the website, you’ll find tires and wheels from 60 manufacturers. Among those, you’ll see major brands including BFGoodrich, Continental, Cooper, Firestone, Goodyear and Yokahama.
While you’ll find a great selection and prices, there are some key differences to keep in mind between ordering your tires online and buying them in-store. Before you order your next set of tires, consider these five things to know about Discount Tire Direct:
Below, you’ll find detailed information about Discount Tire Direct including how to place your order, how the prices compare to other tire centers, where to have your tires installed and ways to maximize your savings.
When you first visit Discount Tire Direct online, you’ll see the option to shop by vehicle, size or brand. For most of us, shopping by vehicle is the easiest way to find a selection of tires that will fit your car. To get started, click “shop by vehicle” and enter your vehicle’s year, make, model, trim and tire size. (You should be able to find the intended tire size for your vehicle in the owner’s manual.) You can see below where I’ve added a Toyota Camry and have the option to add more vehicles.
Source: www.discounttiredirect.comOnce you’ve entered your vehicle’s information, you’ll be able to browse tires, wheels and accessories that fit. Discount Tire Direct also offers tire and wheel packages.
After you’ve made your selection, you’ll be able to enter your billing and shipping information. If you plan on getting your tires installed by a local professional, you can have your tires shipped to the installer (just be sure to call ahead of time and let the installer know).
Still, Discount Tire Direct recommends that you have your purchases shipped directly to your door.
When you’re ready to submit your payment, you can use an American Express, Discover, MasterCard or Visa card as well as PayPal. Discount Tire Direct also offers year-round financing promotions.
As you shop for tires at Discount Tire Direct, you’ll find a great selection, low prices, free shipping and more. Unfortunately, you won’t find many perks such as installation or tire maintenance. Keep in mind that you will have to schedule and pay for these services separately after.
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2. How Much Do Tires Cost at Discount Tire Direct?Compared to other stores, Discount Tire Direct offers low-to-average prices on tires with a median per-tire price of $161 according to Consumer Reports. For my 2017 Toyota Camry, tire prices ranged from $85 to $245 in December 2022.
To get a better idea of how Discount Tire Direct’s selection compares to other tire retailers, I looked up the prices of two specific popular tires at each store.
Then, I checked out the range of prices and availability of tires for two popular vehicles.
In the table below, you’ll see prices for a Bridgestone Turanza Quiettrack 215/55R17 tire that fits my 2017 Toyota Camry and for a Michelin Defender LTX M/S 20″ tire that fits the popular Ford-F150. Prices are accurate as of December 2022.
| Cost of Bridgestone Turanza 215/55R17 Tires | Cost of Michelin Defender LTX M/S 20” Tires | Price Range for Tires That Fit a 2017 Toyota Camry | Price Range for 18” Tires That Fit a 2020 Ford-F150 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costco | $216.99 | $262.99 | $136.99 to $250.99 (18 options) | $234.99 to $295.99 (9 options) |
| BJ’s Tire Center | $216.99 | $262.99 | $133.99 to $285.99 (39 options) | $221.99 to $297.99 (14 options) |
| Tire Rack | $216.99 | $262.99 | $115.07 to $245.17 (110 options) | $184.25 to $349. 99 (91 options) |
| Sam’s Club | $256.96 | $262.99 | $94.62 to $256.96 (51 options) | $157.62 to $304.44 (33 options) |
| Discount Tire Direct | $217 | $179 (T+H)* | $85 to $245 (125 options) | $85 to $245 (139 options) |
| Walmart | $216.99 | $267.15 | $72.29 to $242.96 (169 options) | $136.20 to $328.99 (218 options) |
If you choose to have your tires installed at one of the company’s partner brick and mortar stores you’ll find that the installation prices average around $24 per tire. However, you can probably find cheaper installation at Walmart, Costco, or BJ’s Tire Center. Walmart is the only tire center among these four that will install tires purchased elsewhere.
In addition to great prices, Discount Tire Direct says it also offers price matching if you find a better, advertised deal on an identical item. To get the price match, you can call a sales specialist or submit a lower price online.
Just click the “Found it Lower?” link by a product’s price on the website. Once you submit your information and a link to the lower advertised price, the company’s website says you’ll be contacted within a business day with Discount Tire Direct’s offer.
Finally, be sure to check out the promotions page to take advantage of current deals and rebates. At the time of writing, there were 7 offers, rebates and instant savings available. Among those was a rebate for up to $100 and an instant savings offer of $110.
3. How Long Does Shipping Take?According to Discount Tire Direct’s shipping policy, you can expect fast and free shipping with your order. The company primarily ships via ground services and has warehouses throughout the country. To ensure the fastest possible delivery time, your order will likely be shipped from the warehouse closest to you.
Customers in the 48 contiguous states will receive free ground shipping on all in-stock tires and wheels according to the website.
If you need expedited shipping, the additional cost will be calculated during checkout for next-day or second-day shipping.
For more information on Discount Tire Direct’s shipping policy, including information on shipping to Hawaii and Alaska, visit the company’s website.
4. Where To Have Your Tires InstalledOf course, you can’t have your tires installed by an online tire center. Instead, Discount Tire Direct has several brick & mortar partners that can install your tires for an additional fee.
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According to Discount Tire Direct’s website, “The installation of your tires and wheels can vary in price based on the installer you decide to use. Discount Tire offers the most competitive pricing at the highest quality industry standard, but you can use any installer you prefer.”
Before deciding where to have your tires installed, be sure to call the tire center ahead of time to find out exactly how much tire installation will cost.
If you live near more than one installer, it never hurts to call a few of them and compare prices before placing your order.
To find partnering installers near you, including Discount Tire stores, enter your ZIP code online.
5. Discount Tire Direct’s Return Policy and WarrantyAccording to Discount Tire Direct’s website, all tires come with the standard manufacturer’s warranty which covers workmanship and material defects.
Additionally, you can purchase “Certificates for Repair, Refund or Replacement” that cover your tires for up to three years regardless of a road hazard or wear as long as they have at least 3/32″ of tread depth. When I shopped around for tires that fit my car, the certificates ranged in price from $8-$15 per tire. Of course, this price can vary based on tire brand, type and size.
But the standard manufacturer’s warranty should be enough to cover your tires. In fact, Consumer Reports argues that tread life warranties are next to useless, and money expert Clark Howard never buys extended warranties.
“My position on extended warranties remains the same always,” says Clark. “I don’t like them, and I don’t buy them at any store.”
If you aren’t completely satisfied with your order, you will have 30 days from the date of purchase to return it. You’ll have to call Discount Tire Direct at 1-800-385-3322 to get a return label. At that time, you’ll also be able to make arrangements for your return, and packaging materials are available upon request. If you use the tires at all, you can’t return them.
You can find more information on the company’s return policy online.
Final ThoughtsOverall, Discount Tire Direct is a great place to shop for tires online. You’ll find a great selection of popular tire brands and low prices, on average, compared to brick and mortar tire centers. The shipping is fast and free, but you will have to schedule and pay for installation separately.
If you decide to purchase your tires from Discount Tire Direct, follow these tips to maximize your savings:
In addition to these tips, be sure to check out Discount Tire Direct’s Learning Center. There, you’ll find helpful articles and videos on how to take care of your tires so that they’ll last as long as possible.
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Have you ever bought tires from Discount Tire Direct? Tell us about your experience in our Clark.com Community!
| What is included in the tire installation price? |
There is a $99. 00 service charge for all mobile services. This includes the service call, tire installation, flat tire repairs, wheel balancing, and TPMS services. |
| Is mobile installation and services available in my area? |
| We service Cache Valley, Utah including Amalga, Avon, Benson, Cache Junction, Clarkston, College Ward, Cornish, Cove, Hyde Park, Hyrum, Lewiston, Logan, Mendon, Millville, Mt. Sterling, Newton, Nibley, North Logan, Paradise, Petersboro, Providence, Richmond, River Heights, Smithfield, Trendon, Wellsville and Young Ward. |
| Is mobile installation and service available on weekends and evenings? |
We provide mobile installation and services Monday through Saturday from 8am to 6pm, and we are closed on Sundays. |
| What if I need to schedule something else as well as tires? |
| Our mobile van’s provide tire installation, flat tire repairs, wheel balancing and TPMS services. For all other services please visit our website www.webtires.net or give us a call (435) 787-1844 to schedule the service in our store. |
| Can I have my tires installed at the store instead? |
| If you would prefer to have your tires installed at Discount Tire & Automotive, simply find your local store at www.webtires.net/locations |
| Should I change all four tires at once? |
| Most manufacturers of four-wheel drive vehicles recommend that you change all four tires at once. For front or rear-wheel drive vehicles, it’s advised that you change tires in axle pairs – either both of the rear or front tires for optimum performance on the road |
| Can I get other services done? |
| Our mobile van’s provide tire installation, flat tire repairs, wheel balancing and TPMS services. For all other services please visit our website www.webtires.net or give us a call (435) 787-1844 to schedule the service in our store. |
| How long does Tire Installation take? |
Typically changing a car tire requires at least 30-40 minutes per tire, although there is no set time per tire. The reason it is difficult to provide an exact time is that each tire installation can vary depending on a tire size, the size of your vehicle’s wheels and the vehicle itself along with the space available to our mobile technicians. |
| What is Mobile Tire Installation? |
| Our contactless mobile tire installation service is the quick, efficient alternative to getting your tires changed. Our skilled, experienced mobile tire installers come to you at home or your workplace within a pre-arranged time window. Maybe you've got a flat tire and have had to leave your vehicle somewhere. Mobile tire installation is the perfect solution, just as it is if you can't afford to take time off work. Or if you just don't want to drive on dangerous tires. With our mobile tire installation service, you get to carry on with your life without losing precious time.
|
| When do I pay? |
| You can pay prior to your appointment or after so the process remains contact-free! When you purchase new tires at www.mobiletiresolutions.com, you can schedule your appointment and pay within minutes. For all additional tire services, you can be sent a link to your cell phone where you can pay with a debit or credit card. If you need to cancel your appointment for any reason, you will be refunded your payment. |
| What forms of payment are accepted? |
Credit & Debit cards are the forms of payment accepted. |
| What is the average installation time for 4 tires to be installed? |
| Installation of each tire typically takes about 15-20 minutes. We will have your vehicle completed by the end of the time slot you have reserved. |
| Can you perform the tire installation on any type of ground surface? |
| Vehicles must be parked on level ground, on pavement with room around the vehicle to perform the install. Mobile Tire Solutions is committed to the safety of our certified mobile tire technicians, our customers and their vehicles. If a vehicle is not in a safe location to perform the mobile installation, we will ask for the vehicle to be relocated to a safe location. |
| How much room do you need around the vehicle? |
Vehicles must have 6′ of clearance on each side so our certified mobile tire technicians can safely raise the vehicle, remove, and install the wheels and tires. Please ensure there is also a space for us to park our mobile tire van (our tire shop on wheels). |
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How do you know when tires are completely worn out and it's time to change them? Everything is simple. For summer tires, the limit is 1.6 mm of residual tread depth, and for winter (or all-season tires used in winter) - 4 mm. Modern summer tires can travel from 40,000 to 70,000 km, depending on driving style and vehicle characteristics. An average motorist rolls such a mileage on summer tires in 2-3 seasons. Moreover, wear implies not only a decrease in tread depth. For millions of cycles of deformation, the strength of the carcass and its adhesion to the layers of the rubber compound are violated. In short, every 2-3 years you should buy a new set of tires.
In case of irreparable damage to one of the tires and a relatively high total mileage of the kit, it is also worth considering replacing it.
Well, or about buying at least a pair of new tires, which, for any type of drive, should be installed on the front axle. We put two tires back - the most decent of the remaining ones.
Many motorists drive only a few thousand kilometers a year. This does not mean that the tires will serve you for several decades. According to Russian requirements (GOST 4754-97), the service life of passenger car tires is 5 years from the date of manufacture. And for example, Continental recommends that all car tires (including the spare tire) older than 10 years old should be replaced with new ones. Therefore, with small runs, you can navigate for ten years. The date of manufacture of the tire is indicated on the sidewall. Usually it is an oval with four numbers. The first two are the ordinal number of the week in the year, the last two indicate the year.
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We can advise you to carefully use the tires and, most importantly, to store them correctly in the off-season. First of all, during storage, it is important to exclude direct sunlight from hitting the tires, which greatly age the rubber. Tires without rims should be placed vertically, and stacked on rims.
And before installing tires on a car at the beginning of the season, evaluate their condition. There should be no cracks in the tread and sidewalls. The tire should not be dry, it should remain rubbery and not look like baked plastic.
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Winter tires have a much shorter life span. They almost always fail due to the wear of the treadmill, because the tread of a new tire is 7–8 mm, and only 3–4 mm remain working height. If the tires are studded, then with such wear there are very few metal elements left, and the tire will not provide adequate safety when driving on a winter road.
However, not only spikes, but also Velcro, with such a degree of wear, also lose most of their capabilities.
The real life of winter tires rarely exceeds 30,000 km. "Bald" winter tires without studs can be re-rolled in summer, but their grip on hot road surfaces will be very poor. This must be taken into account, especially when braking.
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So: tires that have not yet worn out along the tread (that is, up to 1.6 mm tread depth for summer tires, 4 mm for winter tires) are changed either ten years after the date of issue, or when the rubber layer cracks tires or damage.
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Consumer disputes over the age of tires have not subsided for several seasons. Buyers are excited that the warranty period for tires is limited to 5-6 years according to GOST, and after the expiration of this period, the rubber becomes unusable.
Is this really the case, read this article.
Manufacturers of most brands for their products set a shelf life of 5 years and a service life of 5 years as well .
The shelf life of a tire is the period during which it retains its performance when properly stored.
The end of this period does not mean that the tires have become unusable . A shelf life of 5 years is given by manufacturers because, by law, they cannot set a shelf life higher than the service life. Tires over 5 years of storage cannot be called damaged or defective, their technical characteristics may be slightly reduced.
American researchers argue that the period of storage of "shoes" must be at least 10 years. Experts from Germany are sure that it cannot exceed 6 years.
The expiration date of tires is the warranty period during which the manufacturer is responsible for the quality and condition of the tire if it was used for its intended purpose without violating the operating rules.
According to Russian legislation (GOST 5513, GOST 4754-97) , the service life of tires is 5 years from the date of manufacture.
How can I find out the date of manufacture of tires?
You can find out the age of tires by a special DOT code. Tires manufactured after 2000 in the DOT code contain two pairs of numbers, where the first pair indicates the week number of the year, and the second pair indicates the year. Earlier tires before 2000 have 3 numbers in their composition, where the first two digits are the week number, and the last one is the year (see the transcript in the photo).
Determination of the average shelf life of a tire according to GOST and operating conditions.
- The symbol ZR denotes tires for high-speed cars. They are recommended to be used at speeds over 240 km/h. up to 6 years
- Tires with the H symbol are used at a maximum speed of 210 km/h. within 5 years.
- The sign S symbolizes the maximum permissible speed of 180 km/h. and operational period of 4-5 years.
Most tire manufacturers do not agree that tire life is limited to 5 years. Each company has its own opinion on this matter. We analyzed several of them and the information they posted on their official websites.
Michelin
The French tire manufacturer Michelin has become famous for its active fight against the perception of the rapid aging of tires as a perishable product. Her information campaign "Tires Are Not Bananas" created a lot of noise in the automotive environment.
According to the representative office, several test trials were carried out in Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Germany. As a result of testing, no difference was found between new tires and tires stored for 3 years. They were tested for various characteristics such as rolling resistance, high speed durability, etc. Tires with a year life were approximately equal in performance to 10-year unused tyres.
Michelin focuses the attention of car owners on the fact that tires are not a perishable product, their shelf life is not as important as the service life is important, starting from the date the tires are installed on the rims. It is from this moment that the tire is subjected to all tests: pressure, temperature changes, wear, contact with uneven and sharp coatings, etc.
Continental
On the Russian official website of Continental, we found the following information on the expiration dates of tires.
“When a tire is stored in the correct position and under the recommended conditions, it will not lose its original balanced performance for 5 years from the date of manufacture of the tire.
A properly maintained, unused tire less than 5 years old can be sold as a new tire and used normally.
Continental recommends replacing all tires (including spares) with a sidewall date greater than 10 years.
Nokian
The following information is posted on the Nokian official website:
“Tire life is not defined by law, but tires can only be considered “new” if they have been manufactured within the last five years. The recommended service life of tires is six years and the recommended maximum period is 10 years.
The opinion of our specialists, based on many years of experience, coincides with the opinion of manufacturers: the shelf life is 5 years + the service life is up to 10 years. Moreover, more "adult" tires, in our opinion, are of better quality.
To keep tires as long as possible, they are stored in compliance with all rules and recommendations. The main condition is a cool, ventilated, darkened room away from oils, paints, ozone, and heat sources.
Rubber products tend to lose their performance over the years. To prevent and slow down this process, manufacturers add polymers to the rubber compound. They prevent oxidative processes that occur due to the interaction of protectors with oxygen and ozone.
The following are the main conditions for the proper storage of tires in accordance with GOST 24779-81:
Maintaining a constant regime without sudden jumps, slight temperature fluctuations from -30°С to +35°С are allowed;
Provide a low humidity level of 50-80% in a dry, ventilated cool room;
Avoid direct sunlight, use darkened hangars, shield heat sources;
Keep away from sources of heat;
Tires should not come into contact with corrosive, copper materials.
Avoid kinking, loading or positioning on an uneven surface.
Avoid contact with oils, organic solvents, acids, alkalis, fuels and lubricants on the tire surface. It is forbidden to lay tires on a wet and dirty surface.
In the warm season, when storing tires outside, they should be covered with light-tight material and raised above ground level to ensure ventilation and prevent the occurrence of the greenhouse effect.
Storage on reflective, light and heat absorbing surfaces is prohibited.
Keep away from chemicals, oils, paints, open flames, electric motors that produce ozone.
Used tires must be washed and dried.
Tires without rims should be stored upright.
The service life depends on many factors: the load on the car, the quality of the roads, the driving style, the distance traveled, tire damage, etc.
To increase their service life, follow these rules:
Check tire pressure every 2-3 weeks. With reduced pressure, tire wear increases by the equivalent of a % reduction. For example, a 15% reduction in pressure can result in a 15% reduction in service life. Inflated tires are less scary.
The wear of the front tires is always significantly higher than the rear ones, so it is recommended to swap them after some time, carefully watching the direction of the tread pattern and the direction of rotation.
Proper alignment of tires in relation to rims. If the direction is not the same, then performance is significantly reduced.
To prevent damage to the sidewalls of tires, avoid close proximity to curbs and high ledges.
Wash off dirt from the surface of the rubber and from deep grooves with special cleaning agents.
Adhere to an even driving style without harsh brakes and quick starts.
This is because a discrepancy between the tires can cause issues with the power sent to each wheel, which in the long run can lead to a burn out of the drivetrain. For the advice of your specific manufacturer, please check your owner’s manual.
