Tires are some of the most important equipment on your car. They’re the only contact point between your car and the road. If they aren’t up to snuff, you could get stuck in the snow, have traction problems in the rain, or if they fail spectacularly at a high speed, could even cause a wreck. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on your tires, and replace them before they’re too worn out.
One way to save some money while shopping for tires is to get them online, and Discount Tire is one of the most popular places to do just that.
Discount Tire has been around since the year JFK was elected president, 1960. It started in a former plumbing store with an inventory comprising all of six tires. Founder Bruce Halle was the only employee, and had such limited equipment that he’d have to borrow an air compressor from a neighboring gas station just to inflate his tires.
Fast forward to today, and Discount Tire has become considerably more successful, with upwards of 1,000 locations nationwide, and a lot more than six tires to choose from. Shortly before his death in 2018, Forbes estimated Bruce’s net worth at around $6 billion.
In late 2021, Discount Tire acquired Tire Rack, another very large tire discounter. The two now operate side by side, but under their own brands.
Along the way, the company started a mail-order arm, Discount Tire Direct, which became one of the two online portals through which you could buy tires. And that’s where it can get a little confusing. You can buy tires from discounttire.com and from discounttiredirect.com. While both websites look very similar, the tire options presented to the shopper can differ between them. More on that later.
Online tire prices are usually less than in store
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Discount Tire has two websites. One, discounttire.com is meant for customers who live near one of the company’s physical store locations. The other, discounttiredirect.com is for everyone regardless of how close they are to a retail store.
Both websites look almost identical and work in very similar ways, but there are a few differences.
The Discount Tire website will charge you up front not only for the tires, but also installation and a fee for disposing of your old tires. That’s because the Discount Tire website is only meant for customers who will go to a brick and mortar Discount Tire store. You don’t have to worry about shipping because the store will handle stocking the tires you buy.
On the other hand, the Discount Tire Direct website doesn’t assume you’ll take your car to a Discount Tire store, so it’ll only charge you the price of the tires. While you still don’t have to pay for shipping if you live in the lower-48 states, you will have to tell the company where to ship the tires. And unless you tell them to ship it to a Discount Tire store (also called America’s Tire in some areas), you’ll have to make your own arrangements for getting that new rubber installed. Of course, you’ll have to pay for that installation, so be sure to factor that into your budget.
A more confusing difference is in the tire selection. Putting the same information into both websites can return very different results. We shopped for tires on one of our cars, a 2016 Lexus ES with 18” wheels. We put in the same information and requirements, but the tire selection we were offered wasn’t at all the same. Here’s a side-by-side of the first tires offered on each site:
Discount Tire Results
Discount Tire Results
Some of the difference in offered tires appears to be based on what’s in stock at the nearest Discount Tire or American Tire store, as moving our preferred store to a different state resulted in a third set of results:
Discount Tire Results (different state)
If you’re close enough to a physical Discount or American tire store, it’s a good idea to shop both websites to make sure you can see all of the available options. We did see some price differences on the same tires across the two websites, but the differences we found were very minor.
For example, the Goodyear Eagle Sport A/S tires we selected for our Lexus test case were offered at different prices on the two sites, but the difference was only four cents.
Both sites have an automated system for helping you select tires, branded Treadwell. It’ll ask you some simple questions about what kind of driving you do, and where you do that driving. The tool will then recommend tires based on your answers. If you use the Treadwell tool and still aren’t sure, you can email the company or call their 800 number for more personalized help.
See our full buying guide for the Best Tires on the market here.
As with any tire shop, the price of tires on Discount Tires websites varies widely depending on which specific tire you’re looking at. On our Lexus example car, per-tire prices ranged from $78 to $125 for tire brands you’ve probably never heard of, all the way up to $278 if we wanted to wrap our rims in Michelin Primacy 3’s.
Shipping time depends first on which site you’re using. The Discount Tire site can range from immediate if the tire’s in stock at your local store, to a few days if they have to bring it in from far away. On the Discount Tire Direct side, the company says shipping usually takes between two and four business days.
If you order from the Discount Tire site, you’ll pay for installation when you order your tires. Then you simply take the car down to the Discount or American tire location you picked on the website to have them installed.
On the other hand, if you order from Discount Tire Direct, they’ll be shipped to the address you give them - often your house. Then you’ll need to bring the tires, and your car, to a shop of your choice to get them mounted.
Discount Tire customers can return their purchases to any Discount Tire or America’s Tire store.
While the company doesn’t guarantee it’ll accept all returns, it does promise to “make it right.”
Discount Tire Direct customers can also return their purchases to any Discount or America’s Tire store, or they can call an 800 number to make return arrangements. Tires returned to the Discount Tire Direct warehouses must not have been driven on or mounted. If you’re returning tires because they were damaged in shipping, defective, or not what you ordered, you’ll get a full credit. If you’re returning them because you changed your mind, you’ll get a refund minus freight charges.
We’ve bought tires through Discount Tire in the past. We’ve had generally good experiences through the company and wouldn’t hesitate to go back if the price and selection were right.
Read more on the Best Tire Deals available here.
Read our full guide about the Best Places to Buy Tires Online here.
See our guide to the 10 Best Tire Brands in 2022 here.
Discount Tire gets pretty good reviews overall online, with a 3.7 out of 5 score at Consumer Affairs. Trust Pilot users are more generous, with an overall rating of 3.7 out of 5 stars. Consumer Reports speaks highly of the company as well.
Discount Tire is not accredited with the Better Business Bureau ,and BBB rates the company an F. We found mixed reviews for Discount Tire on Google because the individual locations each have ratings. We found about 1,300 reviews ranging from 2.3 to 4.6.
See our Deals and Promos page for Discount Tire here.
Online tire prices are usually less than in store
Check Prices
Discount Tire doesn’t make the tires it sells, but it sells tires that represent a wide range of quality. You’ll want to do your research before buying any tire from any store.
Simply choose the tires you want, order, and pay.
If you ordered from the retail site, you’ll bring your car to a Discount Tire for installation. If you ordered from the direct site, you’ll bring your car and the tires to any tire shop for the install.
Tires. You also have the option of purchasing a road hazard warranty for $16 per tire.
You’ll have to talk to a salesperson to try. If you can find the same tire for a lower price elsewhere, you’re more likely to get a discount. Military members also enjoy a 10% discount.
The best month to buy tires is the month you need tires. Don’t drive around on worn out tires in the hopes of saving money later.
Anywhere from around $400 to over $1,400, depending on what you drive and what tire you select.
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When you click on some of the links on our website, we may receive referral compensation. However, you should know that the recommendations we make are based on our independent editorial review and analyses.
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 more than 55 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.
How Does Discount Tire Direct Work?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 “add vehicle” and enter your vehicle’s year, make, model 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.
Once 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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How Much Do Tires Cost at Discount Tire Direct?Compared to other tire stores, Discount Tire Direct’s prices are on the lower end with an average per-tire price of $144. For my 2017 Toyota Camry, tire prices ranged from $70.27 to $192.18 each. 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 $19 per tire.
Consumer Reports polled nearly 50,000 of its subscribers to ask about cost, selection, sales service and perks when it came to purchasing tires. Below, you’ll see how Discount Tire Direct’s average prices compared to other popular tire stores:
Store Median Tire Price Installation Price (Per Tire) Consumer Reports Score Walmart $103 $15 80 Sam's Club $143 $20 85 BJ's Tire Center $144 $20 86 Town Fair Tire Centers $148 $23 83 Firestone Complete $159 $27 87 Discount Tire Direct $161 $22 90 Goodyear $161 $26 88 Tire Rack $163 $24 91 Costco $168 $17 91
As you can see, Discount Tire Direct offers the third lowest price per tire.
Still, 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 “Instant Price Match” 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 over 15 offers, rebates and instant savings available. Among those was a rebate for up to $120 and an instant savings offer of 10%.
How Long Does Shipping Take?Author’s note: According to Discount Tire Direct, there have been reports of shipping delays due to COVID-19.
Discount Tire Direct offers fast and free ground shipping to the lower 48 states. There are three distribution centers (in Arizona, Georgia and Ohio), and your order will most likely be shipped from the nearest location.
Shipping generally takes between 2-4 business days depending on the distribution center from which it ships. You can use the maps below to get a better idea of how long it will take to receive your order based on where you live:
Source: www.discounttiredirect.com/customer-service/shipping-policyIf you purchase a special order item, you can expect it to be delivered within two weeks. And if you need it in a hurry, all in-stock products are eligible for expedited shipping. The cost of expedited shipping is determined during checkout.
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As I mentioned earlier, you can have your order shipped directly to your door or to a professional installer. Be sure to let the installer know to expect the shipment.
Discount Tire Direct also recommends that you get a contact person’s name at the installation location so that you can confirm the shipment has been received.
Shipping is also available to Canada, Hawaii and Alaska, though there may be additional fees and extended wait times during delivery. For more information check out Discount Tire Direct’s Shipping Policy.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
Have you ever bought tires from Discount Tire Direct? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!
More Clark.com Content To Help You Save on Car Expenses: The promise of a low price is the main trick of the scammers.
Some motorists are so afraid of falling for their bait that any offer with a discount is considered a potential fraud by default. But let's not confuse reasonable savings and the search for a fabulous freebie.
Never heard of fake tires. So we consider the probability of buying wheels welded at some underground factory to be minimal.
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Special test: when to change worn tires?
Selling used tires for the price of new ones is also very difficult. Even the minimum mileage quickly deprives them of the “hairs” left after opening the form at the factory, and the color marking on the tread (used to identify the model in the warehouse when the sidewall with all the inscriptions and markings is not visible). On the Internet, you can find a video of how craftsmen cut a new tread on almost bald rubber, but even in this case it will not pass for a new one.
Illegal imports (if it matters to you) in Russia are going to be eradicated with the help of special labels on each tire.
They will not be on the "gray" import, which will give it away. So far, the system has not started working, but as soon as this happens, it is worth waiting for a price increase: manufacturers will compensate for the additional costs. However, even without this, inflation and the falling ruble exchange rate make car shoes constantly grow in price.
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Discount may be due to slow wheel sizes. Please check carefully what you order. It often happens that Internet search engines provide links to similar sizes, and not just strictly specified by you. The easiest way to miss this way is with the width or height of the profile. Buy it, put it on your car, and you will "enjoy" the grinding against the wheel arches in every turn. In addition, you will not pass inspection on such wheels.
Also, when searching via the Internet, be sure to pay attention to the number of offers.
If there are only one or two of them, this may mean either unofficial deliveries (except for one tire store, no one imports), or a very old model (stocks are being sold). In both cases, you will get problems finding a replacement wheel if you damage yours badly. It remains to rely only on online platforms for private ads.
The most common reason to give a discount is the age of the tires. The date of manufacture is indicated on each tire with a four-digit code. The first two represent the week, the second two represent the year. So, index 2319stands for 23rd week of 2019.
Many buyers are sure that they need to buy fresh tires, and even a few months of difference in the date of manufacture plays a role. There are independent studies on this topic, and comments from manufacturers, and legislative acts. The numbers in them do not match exactly, but are close.
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Thus, the Russian GOST speaks of a guaranteed service life of five years.
This means that during this period the tires are known to be safe and do not lose their basic properties. Note: we are talking about structural integrity and driving performance, provided that the tread has not worn out to the limit. With intensive use, of course, you need to look at the state of the working surface, and not nod at the years prescribed by law.
That is, tires can be conditionally considered “new” for up to five years. Although buying tires "in years" without mileage is worth it carefully. If it was stored under the sun in summer and under a layer of snow in winter, it is no longer serviceable.
Age from five to eight or nine years old - borderline. Relatively few wheels survive to such years, retaining an acceptable tread depth. Age-related diseases are already possible here, such as rubber delamination or loss of cord stiffness. Tires will either visually show that it is time to write them off, or hint at this by beating while driving.
Well, after nine or ten years, the recommendations are unequivocal: to throw out.
But such "dinosaurs" are not found in stores. It is unlikely that you will be offered tires that are more than two or three years old.
Good luck saving you!
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