There are few things more important to your car than its tires, which is why keeping them in good shape is so critical to staying safe on the road. And when your tires are at the end of their lifespan, it's important to know where you can buy the best replacements out there. Most people default to the nearest auto shop or brick-and-mortar tire store, but there are plenty of great places online that can get you back on the road quickly, affordably and safely.
But what if you decided to order new tires in advance, maybe to have one on hand if you run over a nail? Or perhaps you know your existing tires are due for a change. That's why many people are now trying to seek out the best place to buy tires online for their cars, SUVs and trucks. If you decide to go the online tire store route, you can usually have them drop-shipped to a local tire shop of your choice and installed. (Bonus: This means the shop will take care of tire rotation, wheel alignment and tire disposal when switching out the old for the new.
) Keep reading for the best place to buy tires online, as well as some tire-buying tips and an explanation of how we arrived at our selections.
Tire Rack
If you're an automotive enthusiast, you're likely familiar with the offerings from Tire Rack. The Indiana-based online tire retailer and wheel seller has been the go-to for that hard-to-find wheel, offering tire sizes for everything from classic cars to trackable vehicles. Tire Rack tests tires on its track and on a road course. It also uses a hockey rink for ice driving and winter tires testing. It rates the tires on its site and you can browse its results to find a quality tire and best tire deals that fit your needs.
Tire Rack's site has a Tire Decision Guide, a tool that helps guide you to the right tires for your vehicle. The survey suggests the right tires for you based on the answers that you supply.
You can prioritize pricing and performance and find the best tire brand option for your needs. You can also search by type of tire such as summer tires, winter tires or all season tires. If you prefer to search by brand, you'll find a wide selection including Bridgestone, BFGoodrich, Goodyear tires, Michelin tires, Cooper tires options and more.
According to Matt Edmonds, executive vice president at Tire Rack, if you order a tire that doesn't appear to fit the vehicle you own, one of Tire Rack's customer service representatives will reach out to double confirm that you want the tires you have chosen. That's because returning tires that don't fit is not easy. Tire Rack does allow returns within 30 days of your tire purchase, but you'll need to call its customer service line to find the best solution to return tires that aren't right for you.
Tire Rack also offers a free two-year road hazard warranty on all the tires it sells (on top of the manufacturer's warranty for whatever tires you choose).
If you get a flat thanks to a road condition like a pothole or hit a nail on your way to work, Tire Rack will cover your tire repair or replacement with limitations. Conditions do apply, so be sure to read the details of the warranty.
For tire installation, Tire Rack works with local installers all over the country that have been vetted by the company. You choose your tires and can have them dropped shipped to a local tire center that is a Tire Rack-approved installer. Installation costs vary based on location and types of tires. You can also utilize Tire Rack-approved mobile installers as well and have the tires drop-shipped to your home. Tire Rack offers free shipping on orders over $50.
The Indiana-based company also does offer sales and discounted tires. Edmonds notes that nothing is wrong with the tires the company has on sale, and in many cases the tire deals are offered at a discount because there are new versions coming in, or the tires have been sitting in climate-controlled storage and are two years old or more.
In Consumer Reports' Tire Store report, Tire Rack performed well across the nine categories that CR readers were asked to assess and scored a 89 out of a max score of 92 on its rating scale. The online retailer was knocked for its lack of "free perks," which included free add-ons like free tire rotation, tire balancing and tire mounting. It does, however, have an A-plus Better Business Bureau rating.
See at Tire Rack
Tirebuyer.com
Tirebuyer.com offers similar features to Tire Rack and Discount Tire (below) by allowing you to purchase tires online, ship them to a local installer, and get them installed. Tirebuyer.com is owned by one of the largest tire distributors in the US, American Tire Distributors.
If you buy your car tires at Tirebuyer.com, it'll ship them free to one of its 10,000 installers all over the country.
However, the online tire retailer will also ship them to your home free of charge. Because it is part of such a large network of tire distributors, Tirebuyer says you can get your tires to your installer within 24 to 48 hours of ordering.
Tirebuyer does not offer a robust sizing tool to choose the right tires like Discount Tire and Tire Rack do, but should you end up with the wrong tires, you have a few options to return them. If you had the tires shipped to an installer, returns are free and handled at the installer. TireBuyer has its own network of trucks, which makes it easier to handle these kinds of returns. If you had the tires sent to your home or a non-Tirebuyer shop, you'll need to use FedEx to ship. The return shipping fees (usually $7.50 per tire when you drop the tires off at a FedEx location, or $15 per tire when you arrange a FedEx pickup) will come out of your refund.
Tirebuyer.com also offers a relatively liberal return policy for tires that have been used.
You have up to 45 days to return tires, though there are some rules (they can't have been used off-road, they can't have uneven wear, etc.) that you can learn more about here.
One thing to note, when we tried to find tires for our 1989 Volvo 240 DL Wagon, Tirebuyer.com had no suggestions in or around the Los Angeles area. Also, Tirebuyer did not show up on Consumer Reports' survey, but like Tire Rack it has an A-plus BBB rating.
See at Tirebuyer.com
Discount Tire
Discount Tire is a bit of a hybrid in the online/brick-and-mortar tire space. While you can purchase tires online through its site Discount Tire Direct, you can also have them drop-shipped to your local Discount Tire or America's Tire shop (the name is different depending on where in the country you live).
You can also choose to shop in-store for the right tire at a Discount Tire as well.
You can choose to shop for tires at one of the local shops or you can shop online, have the tires drop-shipped to the Discount Tire or America's Tire local shop of your choice, and have them installed.
If you aren't sure which tires would work for your vehicle, Discount Tire offers Treadwell, an in-house developed system that uses data from customers as well as real-world testing data (like that that Tire Rack creates) to help you find the right tires for your needs. You put in your vehicle year, make, and model; how many miles you drive per year; and the ZIP code you drive in, then the system gives you a number of suggestions based on your input. You can prioritize handling, stopping distance, the life of the tire and comfort and noise, from which the system will give you a recommended list. Discount Tire offers free ground shipping in the 48 contiguous states.
The site also allows you to make an appointment online to have your new tires installed.
Discount Tire offers a handy tire size calculator in case it seems like you can't find the exact size that is currently on your vehicle.
Discount Tire says that if you're not satisfied with your purchase, it will do its best to make it right. If you've purchased tires online and they turn out to be wrong, you can return them, but the language in the return policy is a bit strict for Discount Tire Direct. You have to repackage them correctly with the original packaging or you could forfeit your return.
The tire vendor also offers a pretty robust road-hazard warranty, too, for a price. While it offers a pro-rated and free road hazard coverage, it also offers a warranty that extends for three years. It covers road hazard damage including tire repair for the first three years of tire ownership with its Certificate program that you can opt for when you purchase and have tires installed at one of its shops. The prices can range from $10 per tire to as much as $100 per tire, depending on how pricey the tires you purchased are.
For those on the hunt for cheap tire deals, Discount Tire does offer rebates and promotions for cheap tires that are always changing. You can see more about the most recent discounts and promotions here.
Discount Tire finishes high in the Consumer Reports survey, garnering 90 out of a max score of 92 on tire reviews, but, like Tire Rack, it also scored lower on the Free Perks scale. Its lower BBB rating is a result of 23 complaints against the company and failure to respond to 21 of them, as of this writing. Most complaints, however, deal with specific Discount Tire locations.
See at Discount Tire
Amazon
You guessed it: You can, in fact, buy tires online at Amazon from brands including BF Goodrich, Good Year and many others. You can buy both tire and wheel assemblies as well as tires, and it will ship them to a local store or to your home depending on what you prefer.
You should know which tires will fit the vehicle you are shopping for before you start poking around on Amazon. Unlike Discount Tire and Tire Rack, Amazon offers a very simple series of drop-downs to estimate which tires might work on your vehicle. If you are a Prime member, you do get free shipping and, depending on the tire you buy, free returns.
Amazon also offers installation locations at tire shops and home installation through its less well-known Amazon Home Services platform. You can choose to use the installation service regardless of whether you purchase tires from Amazon, too. Amazon works with highly rated (on its site) local businesses to connect you with the right installer for your needs. Installation cost is based on which company you choose to go through and can range anywhere from $40 for two tires to be installed, to $100 for four tires. The service gets 4.8 out of 5 stars on more than 1,200 reviews.
The warranty question gets a bit muddier with Amazon, too.
Essentially, Amazon does not offer any kind of road hazard protection like Tire Rack and Discount Tire, it offers the warranty that comes with the tire from the manufacturer, which only covers things like faulty materials or uneven wear (but only under very specific circumstances). Many buyers on Amazon complain about the fact that they struggled to get warranty information from Amazon despite their purchases. You'll need to register your chosen tires with the manufacturer to utilize the manufacturer's warranty. Additionally, each installer will offer various warranties, so check with the installer you choose to find out what might be covered and what won't be, should you decide that you want a road hazard warranty.
Returns are handled the same way that you would handle returns for any item you purchase from Amazon, which also means that return policies are largely up to the sellers of each specific tire. In most cases you can take the tires to an Amazon Locker, UPS location or another mailing facility to return them if they don't fit your vehicle.
Be sure to read about the return policy on the specific tires you are purchasing before deciding to drop a bunch of cash, though.
Sales and discounts on Amazon are a bit hard to find since it will vary widely based on both the manufacturer and the seller. If you choose to go with Amazon it's best to really read the fine print and know what you are signing up for when purchasing tires via its online platform.
The BBB rates Amazon as a whole an A-. It does not offer scores for the Amazon Home Services platform. Consumer Reports' Tire Survey did not include Amazon.
See at Amazon
Priority Tire
Priority Tire is your basic online tire seller. Unlike Tire Rack, Discount Tire and Amazon, Priority Tire focuses solely on tires and does not offer wheel and tire packages.
Priority Tire also does not offer to ship the tires to a local installer. It only ships tires to your home, and you'll need to haul them to an installer or find a mobile installer who is willing to come to you to do the work. It ships free via FedEx Ground, and while it does offer shipping to places like Alaska and Puerto Rico, it charges for those locations (around $150 to $200 per tire).
If you happen to live near one of the three warehouses located in Florida, Pennsylvania or Texas, you can order tires and pick them up at the location. Priority Tire says it offers some promotions for local pickup.
Like Amazon, Priority Tire offers a basic tire selector that defaults to the tire brand manufacturer's suggested tire size and type. If you want anything more robust, you'll need to use one of the other sites to choose a different size or type of tire that will still fit your vehicle.
Priority Tire does offer a 90-day window for returns, and like Tire Rack and Discount Tire, it will work with you to make things right if you get the wrong tires.
One significant thing of note is that, like Amazon, Priority Tire does not offer a road hazard warranty at all. If you want to take advantage of a manufacturer's warranty, you'll need to go through the tire manufacturer. Also, Priority Tire does not offer rebates though it does offer a revolving set of deals listed on its site.
See at Priority Tire
Enlarge ImageBesides cost, you should also consider warranty options and installation convenience when shopping online for tires.
Tire RackFor each retailer, we looked at the following important factors that affect both your bottom line and the amount of hassle you have to go through to get new tires. We considered warranty, installation convenience and cost, then used Consumer Reports' most recent tire retailer satisfaction survey to help determine how happy people were with their purchases from these national retailers, as well as each company's rating on the Better Business Bureau.
The Consumer Reports tire reviews survey looked at nine different sectors across 29 national retailers. We used CR's estimated cost per tire as a reference point for our comparison, too. We also spoke to Gene Petersen, tire program leader at Consumer Reports, about the testing. And we connected with Tire Rack's Matt Edmonds, as quoted above, for general tips for finding the right tires for you and saving money in the process.
According to Petersen at Consumer Reports, there are more than 33,000 independent tire retailers in the US. That means there's a lot to sort through when you're shopping for them. Tire shops can range widely in size and how they sell tires. Everyone from big-box stores like Costco and Sam's Club and Walmart to small, local, independent tire shops offer tires for sale. These days, online retailers are also making it incredibly easy to buy tires online and have them drop-shipped to a location of your choice when you're ready to have them installed.
Priority Tire offers an impressive range of affordably priced tire options.
Priority TirePetersen advises that the best way to make the most of your tire shopping is to take the entire cost of both purchasing the tires and getting them installed into consideration. "It's not like a TV," he said. "You buy a tire and you still have to have someone put it on your car."
The first thing to do when shopping for new tires is to figure out the right size for your vehicle and the features that you want for your specific needs. To find the right size, look at the outside rim of the rubber tire (also known as the sidewall) and find the number and letter combination that is divided by a slash. You can also find your tire size by looking at the inside frame of the driver's side door.
You should take into consideration things like the environment you'll be driving in (snowy, icy, wet), the conditions of the roads you'll be driving on (sandy, dirt, paved, concrete, asphalt), the kind of driving you'll be doing (sporty and aggressive or cruising on the highway) and how much you want to spend on new tires, among other considerations.
Are you looking for an all season tire or one that performs well in very bad winter conditions?
One thing to note, according to Edmonds, is that tire pricing is largely determined by a couple of things: the compounds that the tires themselves are made of and how much research and development a tire company puts into creating those tires.
Enlarge ImageWhen shopping for tires online, consumers need to take into account the cost of mounting and balancing them.
Tire Rack"Tires are like a lot of other products, you get what you pay for," Edmonds says. "When you are buying a tire that is more expensive, that tire has more engineering and technical development behind it. All those things make them perform properly."
He also notes that the minimum advertised price or MAP price is the lowest tire price that any resellers are permitted to sell tires at. If you find a discounted tire on sale, it's likely because those tires are older and being replaced by a newer model.
"There's nothing wrong with 2-year-old tires that have been properly stored before being sold," Edmonds says. He notes that proper storage means that the tires have been stored in a temperature-controlled space inside, out of the weather and sun.
Enlarge ImageOlder tires being sold on closeout are fine as long as they've been stored properly.
Tire RackMost tire manufacturers (not the resellers) offer treadwear warranties, but as Edmonds notes, they tend to be really difficult to take advantage of because there are often a lot of caveats. You also have to take advantage of the warranty directly through the manufacturer, rather than the tire retailer you purchase it through.
Most installers will offer additional road hazard warranties that cover things like a flat tire as a result of a pothole or nail in the road. These vary from company to company -- some offer them for free, while others charge a premium for them.
Be sure you read about the warranties and how to take advantage of them before purchasing tires.
One other thing to consider, as Petersen points out: The big difference between purchasing tires at a brick-and-mortar store and an online store is the variety of selection. "Online retailers provide lots of different models and sizes of tire that are likely to fit your car. Brick-and-mortar retailers aren't going to have every model you might want to consider and if they did, all chances are they wouldn't necessarily have them in the size you need," he says.
Enlarge ImageA big benefit to venturing online to buy tires is the ability to purchase a wide variety of tires and sizes.
Tire RackUltimately, getting tires has become easier in the days of online shopping and delivery. With plenty of places to choose from, buying tires online can be an equally good choice as getting them at a tire shop as long as the tires you want and need are in stock.
While prices can vary slightly, Petersen says, it pays more to haggle on prices for installation, warranties and other things. Tire prices are largely set in stone by the manufacturer and installers rarely have any wiggle room to negotiate.
"I always tell people to look at the total cost of getting new tires," Petersen says. "Regardless of what tires you get, you can usually save money on the installation, warranty, rotation, alignment or other offers that the installer provides."
If you have a hard time finding tires, your best bet is to try online retailers like Tire Rack and have the tires drop-shipped to one of its local installers. If you need tires immediately, you might do better by hitting up a brick-and-mortar shop nearby -- but be sure to check inventory and its installation appointments online before heading out.
Written by Abigail Bassett for Roadshow.
When you’re looking for the best place to buy tires, there’s certainly no shortage of options.
But between warehouse clubs, online tire merchants and independent tire retailers, the prices and quality of service can vary quite a bit.
In this article, I’ll cover where to find affordable tires, highlight which retailers do it best and cheapest, and I’ll take a close look at the top six places to buy tires.
I’ve researched the prices and process of buying new tires at a variety of popular tire retailers to see where you’ll get the best deal and the best customer experience.
If you’re looking for a quick answer on where you should shop for your next set of tires, I recommend checking out Costco, Sam’s Club or BJ’s Tire Center first. Even if you factor in these warehouse clubs’ annual membership fees, you may still get the best value.
For a great selection online, check out Tire Rack or Discount Tire Direct. Finally, for a balance of low prices and a huge selection in-store or online, Walmart Tire Center is another great option.
If you plan on purchasing tires soon, you’ll want to consider the price of tires that fit your vehicle as well as a few other factors such as the cost of installation and additional services.
“Buying tires has never been so cost competitive, so it’s very important to comparison shop,” money expert Clark Howard says. “Service after the sale is really important, especially if you live in a city with lots of potholes.”
Based on our research, Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Tire Center offer some of the best overall tire-buying experiences including low prices, free services after the sale and convenience.
I’ve found these six tire retailers to be the best places to shop.
| Store | Installation Price Per Tire | Key Features & Services | Selection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart | $17 | - Cheapest tires on average - Biggest selection of brands - Road hazard warranty available for $10 per tire | Firestone, Michelin, Cooper Tires and 69 other brands |
| Costco | $19. 99 | - Installation charge is included in the quoted price - Best road hazard warranty (5 years) - Free lifetime maintenance | BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Michelin, Firestone |
| Sam's Club | $20 | - Third-cheapest tires on average - Second-best road hazard warranty (4 years) - Flat repairs on members’ tires even if purchased elsewhere | GoodYear, Pirelli, BFGoodrich and 8 other brands |
| BJ's Tire Center | $20 | - Free lifetime maintenance - 3-year road hazard warranty - Installation is automatically added during checkout | Michelin, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone and 12 other brands |
| Tire Rack | $25 | - Biggest overall selection of tire sizes and models - Online-only with fast and free shipping to you or an installer - Get a discount if you pick up your tires from a distribution center | BFGoodrich, Kumho, Michelin and 27 other brands |
| Discount Tire Direct | $22 | - Second-cheapest tires on average - Online-only tire store - Second-biggest selection of brands - Fast and free shipping to you or an installer | Bridgestone, Continental, Michelin and 58 other brands |
Below, you’ll find additional information on each tire retailer and head-to-head comparisons of tire prices, selection of brands, cost of installation, free services and warranty information.
To find the best places to buy tires, I considered various popular online and in-store tire retailers and then weighed several factors in my own research. These factors included tire price, cost of installation, selection, free services and warranty information.
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In 2019, Consumer Reports (subscription required) surveyed nearly 50,000 of its subscribers to ask about cost, selection, sales service and free perks when it came to purchasing tires. The magazine collected data on 31 tire stores.
I compared those 31 tire stores to the retailers where our team at ClarkDeals.com has found the best deals. Then I narrowed the selection down to 10 retailers that were all highly ranked by Consumer Reports. Here’s the list of 10: Walmart, Sam’s Club, Discount Tire Direct, BJ’s Tire Center, Town Fair Tire Centers, Firestone Complete, Amazon.com, Tire Rack, Goodyear and Costco.
From there, I researched the prices and process of buying tires at each store. In my experience, you can find some of the best prices and overall buying experiences at Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, BJ’s Tire Center, Tire Rack and Discount Tire Direct.
To determine which place is ultimately the best choice for purchasing your next set of tires, I took a closer look at the following factors:
Additionally, I entered information about my own car on each retailer’s website to see where I’d end up getting the best deal.
While there are many factors to take into account when you’re deciding where to buy tires, cost is certainly a big one. Of course, prices vary and change all the time. You should shop for the best price on tires that fit your vehicle specifically.
Then, once you’ve found the best price, make your final decision based on the factors I’ve outlined below.
To get an idea of how to accurately price compare across top tire retailers, I looked at the current prices of two specific popular tires at each store. Then, I checked out the range of prices and availability for 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 September 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) |
In addition to the prices above, it’s worth noting that when I searched for the Bridgestone Turanza tires, there were promotions available at Discount Tire Direct and Tire Rack. Discount Tire Direct offered a $70 mail-in rebate on a set of four tires with installation, while Tire Rack also offered a $70 mail-in rebate plus an additional $30 discount if you use a Tire Rack credit card.
In the past, I’ve also seen savings of $110-$150 on a set of four tires with installation on the same tires at Costco and BJ’s Tire Center. With sales and rebates available throughout the year, you’ll likely be able to grab a great deal.
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After adding the purchase of all four tires, adding the cost of installation (which we’ll look at next) and subtracting the discounts available in September 2022, here’s what my subtotals would be at each tire store for a set of Bridgestone Turanza tires to fit my 2017 Toyota Camry:
As you can see, promotions and rebates can make a huge difference in the total cost of your purchase. This is why it’s important to comparison shop.
Of course, prices vary greatly and change often.
For these reasons, I recommend that you follow these steps to find the cheapest tires for your vehicle:
Once you know where you can get the best prices on tires for your vehicles, it’s time to consider the following additional factors.
In addition to purchasing your tires, you’ll likely also need professional installation.
That usually means you’ll be looking at an additional charge, so take that into account before you make your purchase.
As of September 2022, here’s how much you can expect to pay for tire installation:
| Store | Cost Per Tire | Total Cost |
| Walmart | $17 | $68 |
| Costco | $19.99 | $79.96 |
| Discount Tire Direct | $22 | $88 |
| BJ’s Tire Center | $20 | $80 |
| Sam’s Club | $20 | $80 |
| Tire Rack | $25 | $100 |
If you plan on having your tires installed at Walmart, know that installation will cost an additional $11 per tire if you bring in tires that you purchased elsewhere. And if you want the road hazard protection warranty, the cost of installation for tires purchased at Walmart is $25 each.
At Costco, the cost of installation is included in the quoted price of the tires. This may be one reason that the initial prices seem higher than competitors on some tires, but after factoring in installation, Costco could be one of your cheapest options.
Since Discount Tire Direct and Tire Rack are online tire stores, you’ll need to choose a place to get your tires installed. The price in the table above is the average cost of installation at the companies’ partnering installers, but you can take the tires anywhere.
At BJ’s Tire Center, the cost of installation is automatically added when you check out. Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, you can expect this payment to be required upfront with the purchase of new tires.
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Based on this information, Walmart offers the cheapest installation, but if the total cost of your tires is cheaper at Costco than the total cost of tires and installation at Walmart, Costco may be your best bet.
Whether you’re loyal to a certain brand or you know exactly which tire you’re looking for, selection may be another important factor to consider when shopping for tires.
Generally speaking, you’ll find the biggest selection of tires at Walmart which carries 72 tire brands. Discount Tire Direct offers the next-biggest selection with 61 brands followed by Tire Rack which offers 30. BJ’s Tire Center carries 15 different tire brands, while Sam’s Club carries 11 and Costco carries only four.
Below, you’ll find a full list of tire brands (listed alphabetically) carried by each retailer:
Perhaps one of the most important factors to consider before buying new tires is the maintenance and aftercare that you’ll be paying for.
Based on my research, Costco offers some of the best free services, lifetime maintenance and road hazard warranty available. With a tire purchase at Costco, you’ll also get free lifetime inflation pressure checks, tire balancing, tire rotations and flat repairs. Plus, the road hazard warranty covers tire repairs and replacements for up to five years.
Sam’s Club also offers great services and aftercare with the purchase of tires. No-charge services include balance and rotations, air pressure and tread depth checks, 50-mile re-torques and other services for your vehicle such as wiper blade installation, battery installation and battery checks. The warranty lasts up to four years and covers repairs and replacements. However, flat tire repair is a Sam’s Club membership benefit no matter where you bought the tires.
At BJ’s Tire Center, tire purchases come with free lifetime tire rotation, wheel rebalancing, flat repairs and inflation checks. The full road hazard warranty lasts up to three years and covers repairs as well as replacements.
Walmart includes lifetime balance and rotation every 7,500 miles and 50-mile lug re-torques with the installation. For $10 more per tire ($25 per tire total), you can also get the road hazard protection warranty that covers flat repairs and eligible replacements.
Coming in last for services and aftercare, Discount Tire Direct and Tire Rack each offer a 30-day return policy on unused tires that you aren’t satisfied with. Beyond the return policy, tires are covered by the standard manufacturer’s warranty which includes workmanship and material defects. Warranty lengths vary by manufacturer.
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Based on my research including the selection of tires and cost of installation as well as included services, here are more details on the top six places to consider making your purchase.
Walmart TiresScreenshot from WalmartIf you’re strictly looking for a good price, Walmart may be worth considering early in your search for tires.
The tire center offers a huge selection of tires with some of the lowest available starting prices. Plus, Walmart offers the cheapest installation at $17 per tire.
You can choose from a huge selection of brands including Firestone, Michelin, Cooper, Goodyear, and BFGoodrich. Plus, you can shop online or in-store.
According to a 2019 study by Consumer Reports, Walmart’s sales, service and installation quality earned average ratings, though customers agree that the installation time is longer than average and there’s a substantial lack of free perks. Still, it can be a great place to purchase cheap tires.
Walmart also offers its Lifetime Balance and Rotation Plan for $14 per tire. For that price, Walmart will rotate and rebalance your tires at no charge for the life of the tires.
Compared to the other retailers on this list, here are a few of the biggest benefits and drawbacks to keep in mind if you’re thinking about buying tires from Walmart.
Pros:
To learn more about Walmart Tires, including what you can expect while making your first purchase, check out these five things to know.
While Costco may not be cheapest option on the list, it is one of the highest rated. Plus, several times a year, the warehouse club will discount select brands of tires by $40 to $80 and offer installation for just a penny per tire (regularly $19.99 per tire).
Costco’s selection may not be the largest, but there’s a big emphasis on staple brands like Michelin, Bridgestone and B.F. Goodrich. Plus, with every installation, you’ll receive free inflation pressure checks, tire balancing, tire rotations, flat repairs and a five-year road hazard warranty.
“I buy my tires at Costco when they offer the double discount of penny installation and an additional incentive for using my Costco Visa card,” Clark notes. “That works out to be a savings of $130!”
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Here are a few of the biggest advantages and disadvantages to be aware of when it comes to buying tires from Costco.
For more information, check out these five things you should know before getting new tires at Costco.
Sam’s Club also offers very competitive prices on popular tire brands including Michelin, BFGoodrich, Goodyear and Pirelli. Installation averages around $20 per tire depending on your vehicle and location.
Members can order tires online and get them installed at a nearby Sam’s Club, or you can buy the tires in-store.
Customers who participated in the Consumer Reports survey said that the installation quality was very good and rated the free perks as excellent.
Tire installation at Sam’s Club includes 24-hour emergency roadside assistance, road hazard protection, rotation, balancing and flat repair for the lifetime of the tires.
You’ll also find promotions, discounts and rebates available year-round on select tire brands. For these reasons, it’s definitely worth paying the difference compared to cheaper tires at Walmart.
Here are a few of the biggest pros and cons when it comes to buying tires from Sam’s Club.
Pros:For more information about buying tires at Sam’s Club, check out these five things to know.
BJ’s Tire Center is another great option for buying cheap tires. You’ll find mail-in rebates and discounts available throughout the year, and installation costs $20 per tire.
Customers agreed that the product selection and installation time at BJ’s are good and gave sales services and installation even better marks.
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What makes BJ’s one of the best options are all the free perks you get with tire installation. You’ll receive tire rotation, wheel rebalancing, flat repairs, inflation checks and a full road hazard warranty all at no charge.
BJ’s also offers a three-point tire promise, including an incredible value with a $20 installation, top-brand quality and premium service.
Based on my research, here are the biggest pros and cons for buying tires at BJ’s Tire Center.
Pros:
If you’re a BJ’s Wholesale Club member, be sure to check out these five things to know before buying BJ’s tires.
If you’re comfortable shopping for tires online, you’ll most likely find what you’re looking for at Tire Rack. This online tire retailer offers the biggest selection of tire models. When I checked out the selection that fit my Toyota Camry, there were 104 tires to choose from.
Additionally, you can find a pretty good deal compared to traditional brick-and-mortar tire stores. On average, Tire Rack’s prices are on par with Goodyear and Costco. You can also check out the tire sales and deals page for current promotions and rebates.
When you order tires from Tire Rack, you can have them shipped to your door or straight to a recommended local installer.
You’ll also have the option to pick up the tires yourself from the nearest distribution center for additional savings.
Here are the biggest pros and cons that I found with Tire Rack.
Pros:Discount Tire Direct is another great tire retailer that offers affordable tires online. You’ll find mail-in rebates and discounts available on popular tires throughout the year and installation averages around $22 per store. Additionally, you’ll nearly always find deals and rebates available, which is a great way to get the best price.
Customers agree that everything from the selection to the sales service to shipping is excellent. Discount Tire Direct carries more than 60 tire brands including Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear and Michelin.
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As with any online tire retailer, the installation price and services can vary depending on where you choose to get the tires installed, and you won’t be getting many free perks with an online retailer.
Compared to the other tire stores on this list, here are a few of the biggest pros and cons that I found with Discount Tire Direct.
Pros:If you’re thinking about buying tires online, here are five things to know before shopping at Discount Tire Direct.
You’ll most likely find great prices on tires at Walmart, Tire Rack or Discount Tire Direct, but be sure to find out what’s included with that price. For a more inclusive purchase, consider shopping at Sam’s Club, BJ’s Tire Center or Costco.
Also, be sure to keep an eye out for deals, promotions and rebates online. In my experience, these can lead to a major difference in the total price. You’ll most likely find the best deals at warehouse clubs like Costco, BJ’s Tire Center and Sam’s Club.
However, online stores like Tire Rack or Discount Tire Direct (as well as Walmart Tire Center) offer the largest selection of tires. Plus, I’ve seen great deals and rebates at Tire Rack and Discount Tire Direct in the past.
If cheap tires and installation are your priorities, Walmart may be the best place to shop. However, prices vary greatly and change frequently. Plus, every vehicle requires specific tire sizes and types.
For these reasons, it’s important to comparison shop yourself to determine where you’ll find the best price.
In addition to price, you should also consider free services, lifetime maintenance and general aftercare. In these categories, Costco and Sam’s Club come out on top. Depending on what kind of conditions you drive in, these may be the most important factors to consider before buying new tires.
Each of these retailers allows you to purchase online and have the tires shipped and installed at your nearest location, and that’s a great way to get the best price.
Of course, it’s important to keep up with regular tire maintenance. Know when your tires will need to be changed and plan ahead. You’ll likely find more deals just before the seasons change around April and October. Either way, you’ll have more time to compare prices if you know the purchase is coming up!
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Konstantin Ishchenko
experienced motorist
Much depends on the condition of the suspension, springs and shock absorbers, but tires provide direct grip with the road. Wrong or worn tires can cause accidents. In this article, we will tell you how to avoid this.
In the spring - from winter to summer.
There are no strict requirements in the regulatory documents: it is recommended to use winter tires from December to February, and summer tires from June to August. There are requirements for studded tires: they cannot be used from the first of June - for this they can be warned or fined 500 R. From winter to summer, they change shoes at an average daily temperature above +7 ° C. After this mark, winter tires wear out quickly and hold the road poorly. nine0003
Rules of the Customs Union "On the safety of wheeled vehicles"
In autumn - from summer to winter. It's time to change tires if the average daily temperature drops below +10 °C: summer tires become dull, grip becomes worse. In autumn, it is much more difficult to sign up for a tire fitting: the closer the frost, the longer the appointment. People are afraid of ice, the prospect of hitting someone else's car or flying into a ditch.
What to do? 02/21/20
Wheels scratched at my car service
Car tires are consumables.
In addition to seasonal replacement, it is important to replace them as soon as they are worn out or seriously damaged.
When the tire is worn. Each car tire has a wear indicator - a special jumper between the tread islands. As soon as the tread wears off and matches the level of at least one of the indicator jumpers, it's time to change the tire. Such a tire is dangerous, especially on wet surfaces. nine0003
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Insufficiently high tread poorly removes water from the tire contact patch with the roadway. Where you can confidently drive 70–80 km/h on new tires, on worn tires you can lose control of the car already at a speed of 55–60 km/h.
Indicator bar on a tire that has been through a season and a half Some manufacturers apply their own wear indicators in addition to the standard ones. For example, on Nokian tires, numbers are cut in the middle of the tread: the larger the number, the deeper the cut.
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A relatively new tire will have a lot of numbers, a worn one or two will remain - the rest will be erased. A drop with a cross is applied to the sidewall of the Continental tire. As soon as it is worn down to half, the tire should be considered worn out and replaced. But all these are rather exceptions - most tires do not have such indicators.
Wear may be uneven. If the tire has been inflated, the center of the tread will be worn off. If the tire pressure was too low, it will be relatively fresh and the sidewalls of the tread will be worn out. nine0003 Non-standard wear indicators. From left to right: Nokian with numbers - summer and winter, Continental summer - with a drop and a cross Tire that was pumped over: wear on the central part of the tread is much stronger
It also happens that either the inner or outer side of the tread wears out on one wheel. This means that the camber is broken - the angle of the wheel relative to the vertical plane. In this case, it is important to sign up for wheel alignment - this is a service during which the wheel alignment angles are adjusted.
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It happens that the angles of the wheels are not adjusted. For example, if the car has been in a serious accident and its power parts of the body or suspension parts are deformed. In this case, you will have to eliminate these malfunctions, and then go to the wheel alignment stand again.
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Sawtooth or comb wear occurs on winter tires if the toe-in is broken - the angle of the wheel position in the horizontal plane. Sign up for a wheel alignment so that the same wear does not appear on the new tire. nine0003 Uneven tread wear. The tire was on a wheel with unadjusted camber Comb-shaped tread wear. Source: mashintop.ru
When the tire is damaged and it is noticeable. It is quite easy to damage a tire: cut the sidewall, run into a piece of reinforcement or get hit, in place of which a hernia will come out. All sidewall damage is a good reason to buy a new tire: repairs will be expensive and ineffective.
Damage to the working part of the tire - the tread - is less critical. nine0003
When damage is present but not visible. Hidden damage may appear on the back of the wheel. For example, a driver caught a hole, felt a good hit, got out, saw that everything was in order, and drove on. And on the reverse side, a piece of rubber was torn out and the cord became visible - the metal carcass of the tire. Such damages are found only when inspecting the chassis or at a tire fitting, and this is bad: they can cause an accident or serious damage to the car.
Service life of car tires. nine0044 The tire life recommended by most manufacturers is five years, but this does not mean that they cannot be used for the sixth year. The expiration date is not limited by any documents.
GOST R 52900-2007
Tire manufacturers estimate tire service life differently. Nokian provided the most detailed explanation: “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 tire life is 6 years and the maximum is 10 years. Then the tire loses its consumer properties: grip deteriorates, vibration may appear on the body or steering wheel. nine0003
5 years
tire life recommended by most manufacturers
Storage location - less than a meter away from direct sunlight and heaters. In the sun, near the battery and in the rain, the tire will quickly lose its properties: the rubber will dry out and collapse. Permissible temperature - from -30 to +35 ° C, humidity - 50-80%. Do not leave the wheels dirty; they must be thoroughly washed before seasonal storage. Tires can be stored under a canopy in the open air for no more than a month. nine0003
GOST 54266-2010
The method of storage depends on the set: either tires separately or wheels as an assembly. Tires up to 205 mm wide can be stored in even stacks up to 2 m high. Tires from 210 mm are stored vertically - on edge.
Every three months, all tires, regardless of width, should be rotated to change the footprint.
GOST does not explain how to store the wheels as an assembly, but Nokian has a visual manual for storage. Continental recommends hanging wheels by rims or storing them in a stack, similar to tires, turning them over every 4 weeks. It is advisable to reduce the air pressure in the tire to 1-1.5 atm and not make stacks of wheels - a tire plus a disk - more than four pieces. nine0003
Nokian Tire Storage TipsPDF, 2.1 MB
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First of all, you need to decide which tires are suitable. All important characteristics are written on the sidewall of the tire.
It is important to consider the dimensions of the tire when selecting it for a specific car and rim.
All options provided for by the design of the car are written on special plates. nine0003
Depending on the brand of car, they can be found on the gas tank flap or on the B-pillar in the driver's doorway. The recommended tire pressure is also written here.
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Decal with Mini John Cooper Works tire parameters in the doorway: size and recommended pressure at different loads Decal on the gas tank flap Skoda OctaviaTire sizes are indicated in the format xxx/xx Rx. They are on the sidewall of the tire. nine0003
The first parameter is the tread width in mm. The size step is 10 mm, always 5 at the end. Next is the tire profile, or its height as a percentage relative to the width. The width of a tire with parameters 235/55/R16 is approximately 129 mm, and for a tire 195/55/R16 it is 107 mm.
R - an indication of the type of tire, in this case, that it is radial. There are also diagonal ones, but this is an outdated design.
These have not been used for cars for a long time. The difference is in the design of the cord. A popular misconception is that R is a radius. nine0003
The last two digits are the diameter of the rim in inches, on which the tire can be placed.
It is undesirable to deviate from the tire parameters recommended by the car manufacturer. This can adversely affect handling, as well as cause the tire to rub against the wheel arch or suspension parts: this will damage the tire and increase the likelihood of an accident.
It happens that on the front and rear axles from the factory there are disks for rubber of different sizes. Usually we are talking about the width - the rear wheels can be wider than the front. In the people, such a set of disks is called a different-wide one. nine0003
Tube or tubeless construction. Previously, a car wheel consisted of three main parts: a disc, a tube, and a tire. The tire was responsible only for traction and overall strength, the chamber was a container for air.
This design had serious drawbacks:
Now you can find a tube tire on a car only in a museum or in your grandfather's garage: the technology is outdated.
Modern tubeless tires do not have these drawbacks. Special protrusions in the disks — hubs, for which the tire clings, help to maintain the tightness of the tubeless wheel.
Manufacturers still mark tubeless tires with a special tubeless mark, and those intended for use with a tube - tube type, but now these are only rare domestic models Cord construction type. Each tire is multi-layered, a single rubber product will not be able to provide the desired shape and strength.
Therefore, inside the tire there is a cord - a kind of carcass. The cord can be metal, synthetic fibers or textile threads. According to the method of laying the cord, tires are divided into radial and diagonal.
| Bias tire | Radial tire |
|---|---|
| 2 or more cords | 1 ply cord |
| Smaller footprint | Larger road contact patch |
| Tire heavier than | Tire lighter |
| Used on commercial vehicles | Used on passenger cars |
| Cheaper than | More expensive |
Bias
Radial tire
2 layers of cord or more than
1 layer of cord
Less contact stain with an expensive
SPECTION with an expensive
tire
Lighter
are used on commercial equipment
used on cars
Cheaper
More expensive
Radial tire cords are parallel to the wheel circumference, on top of each other.
For diagonal tires, the cord layers overlap each other diagonally. Source: Kolobox DOT marking. The name comes from the American Department of Transportation - an analogue of our Department of Transportation. In 1978, this department approved mandatory labeling for all automobile tires, which includes Treadwear, Traction, and Temperature grades marked on the sidewall. Now most manufacturers use this system, selling tires without such marking is illegal in the USA. nine0003
Treadwear. Some people want tires to last as long as possible, others want good grip. So far, these qualities have not been learned to combine in one tire.
The wear rate of a tire is indicated by the Treadwear index. Typically, for products for passenger cars, this parameter ranges from 100 to 600. In terms of kilometers, this is approximately 10,000-15,000 km per hundred points. For example, index 240 corresponds to 24,000-36,000 km.
At the end of the range there will be tires that were used with a calm driving style. nine0003
Traction also shows the grip class, but unlike Russian traffic rules and technical regulations, the classification is based not on distance in meters, but on the deceleration coefficient - G, which the tire can provide. According to Traction, all tires are divided into classes according to their ability to effectively stop a car on wet asphalt and concrete: from the best AA to the worst C.
| Class | G on asphalt | G on concrete |
|---|---|---|
| AA | More than 0.54 m/s² | 0.38 m/s² |
| A | More than 0.47 m/s² | 0.35 m/s² |
| B | More than 0.38 m/s² | 0.26 m/s² |
| C | Less than 0.38 m/s² | 0.26 m/s² |
Class AA
G on asphalt
More than 0.
54 m/s²
G on concrete
0.38 m/s²
Grade A
G on asphalt
more than 0.47 m/s²
G on concrete
0.35 m/s²
Class B
G On the asphalt
more than 0.38 m/s²
G on concrete
0.26 m/s²
Class C
G on asphalt
less than 0.38 m/s²
9000 G on concrete0.26 m/s²
Temperature curve, Temperature. nine0044 All tires are divided into three classes according to resistance to heat generation during movement: A, B and C. Class A tires effectively remove heat at speeds over 185 km / h, class B - from 160 to 185 km / h, class C - from 137 up to 160 km/h. For passenger cars, there are almost no tires on sale, except for class A.
Runflat. This rubber has a thick and stiff sidewall. It can be driven up to 80 km at speeds up to 80 km/h after a puncture or side cut with a complete loss of pressure.
It is important that the machine is equipped with a tire pressure system, otherwise the driver may not recognize a flat tire, exceed the recommended speed, or drive more than 80 km, which at best will lead to damage to the rim, and at worst, to an accident. nine0003
Many vehicles come with runflat tires from the factory. Especially on those who do not have a spare tire. Such tires are 1.5-2 times more expensive than ordinary ones, they make driving less comfortable: due to the hard sidewall, such rubber smooths out bumps much worse and is heavier than conventional tires.
But you don't have to call a tow truck: you can almost always get to the tire shop on your own. If you drive on a relatively flat road, there will be no damage to the alloy wheel: it is still a few centimeters from the road surface. nine0003
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Load and maximum speed indices. Load Index is a two- or three-digit number that indicates the maximum weight that the tire can support.
The speed index is denoted by a Latin letter. It shows the maximum allowable speed that the tire can withstand. All indices are summarized in tables.
| Speed index | Maximum speed, km/h |
|---|---|
| L | 120 |
| M | 130 |
| N | 140 |
| P | 150 |
| Q | 160 |
| R | 170 |
| S | 180 |
| T | 190 |
| U | 200 |
| H | 210 |
| V | 240 |
| W | 270 |
| Y | 300 |
| Z | 300+ |
Speed index
Maximum speed, km/h
If you want to know how to read the load index, find your value in the table.
Load index
Mass per tire, kg
100
800
101
825
104
900
105
925
106
950 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 108
1000
109
1030
110
1060
111
1090
112
1120
113
11502
114
1180
115
1215
116
1250
117
1285
118
1320
119
1360
120
1400
121
14000 22222 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000 9000,000,000,000 9000,000,000 9000,000,000,000 9000,000,000,000 9000,000,000,000,000,000
| Load index | Weight per tire, kg | Load index | Weight per tire, kg | Load index | Weight per tire, kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 265 | 83 | 487 | 104 | 900 |
| 63 | 272 | 84 | 500 | 105 | 925 |
| 64 | 280 | 85 | 515 | 106 | 950 |
| 65 | 290 | 86 | nine0187 530107 | 975 | |
| 66 | 300 | 87 | 545 | 108 | 1000 |
| 67 | 307 | 88 | 560 | 109 | 1030 |
| 68 | 315 | 89 | 580 | 110 | 1060 |
| 69 | 325 | 90 | 600 | nine0187 1111090 | |
| 70 | 335 | 91 | 615 | 112 | 1120 |
| 71 | 345 | 92 | 630 | 113 | 1150 |
| 72 | 355 | 93 | 650 | 114 | 1180 |
| 73 | 365 | 94 | 670 | 115 | nine0187 1215|
| 74 | 375 | 95 | 690 | 116 | 1250 |
| 75 | 387 | 96 | 710 | 117 | 1285 |
| 76 | 400 | 97 | 730 | 118 | 1320 |
| 77 | 412 | 98 | 750 | 119 | 1360 | nine0183
| 78 | 425 | 99 | 775 | 120 | 1400 |
| 79 | 437 | 100 | 800 | 121 | 1450 |
| 80 | 450 | 101 | 825 | 122 | 1500 |
| 81 | 462 | 102 | 850 | 123 | 1550 |
| 82 | 475 | 103 | 875 | 124 | 1600 |
Pressure index is another name for the load index.
Euro label. Manufacturers put special stickers on tires. They have three parameters that are not written about on the bus itself. These stickers appeared in 2012. Since then, they have been on any tire sold in the EU.
Label according to EC Regulation 1222/2009. This is a complex document with formulas and parameters like rolling resistance - it does not have the usual values like fuel consumption or braking distances. The sticker describes the tire according to three characteristics: noise level, fuel economy class and wet grip class.
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Noise level shows the noise level in decibels. One black sound wave is 3 or more decibels below the 2016 European norm. Two waves - at the normal level or quieter, but less than 3 decibels. Three - noisy tire, out of limit. nine0003
Fuel economy class. A is the most economical.
The lower the class, the more the tire resists rolling and the higher the fuel consumption. There is a 7.5% difference in fuel consumption between the most economical class A tire and the most "wasteful" class G. That is, for an average car with a consumption of 10 liters per 100 km and an annual mileage of 25,000 km, class A tires will save up to 187 liters of fuel - 8000 R.
Road grip. The same letters, but without color indication. This estimate was obtained when checking the braking distance on asphalt. The shorter the stopping distance, the closer the letter is to the beginning of the alphabet. The difference between A and G is more than 18 meters: A is the minimum stopping distance, B is plus 3 meters to A, C is plus 7 meters to A, D is plus 10 meters to A, E is plus 12 meters to A, F is plus 18 meters to A.
Sticker on a new tire Color markers on tires. There are another colored stripes on the tire tread - these are technological marks, they are of no use to the buyer.
These drawings guide the production line, and they can also show the batch and release date.
The most pedantic car owners may try to buy a set of new tires with identical stripes, but it is better to focus on the stamp with the release date on the sidewall.
Features of the choice of all-season tires. Theoretically, they can be ridden all year round. The rubber compound works in the temperature range from -7 to +15 °C. In severe frosts, rubber hardens like summer tires at temperatures below +10 °C, and in hot weather it becomes softer, like winter tires at temperatures above +7 °C. In any case, all-season tires are not suitable for either hot asphalt or ice ruts.
All-season tires are chosen when they want to save on tire fitting and buying an extra set of tires. This is true for crossovers and SUVs with relatively low annual mileage. nine0003
Features of the choice of summer tires.
There are models for quiet city driving. Such tires will help save fuel, please with a low noise level and will last three to four seasons. At the same time, they will not tolerate overheating, will not provide perfect grip on the road and will not allow you to drive a car with great comfort.
The opposite - tires for those who like to push the gas to the floor. Such tires will make noise, increase fuel consumption and wear out in one or two seasons. In return, the driver will get excellent grip and driving pleasure. nine0003
Features of the choice of winter tires. There are three types of winter tires.
The studded tires are good for driving on ice and packed snow. They have relatively hard rubber, deep tread and studs. And they also hold the road well on asphalt: the spikes have been hidden in the tread for a long time.
Ideal conditions - ice cover above -15°C. The ice is soft enough for the spikes to grip most effectively.
Disadvantages: they are very noisy, they have a low speed index. Usually, you can drive on studded tires no faster than 160-180 km/h. And they are also banned in many European countries because they spoil the asphalt.
Scandinavian style friction tires, aka Velcro, studless and made for harsh winters. Rough tread pattern, soft rubber compound and many sipes - horizontal slots on the islands of the tire tread.
Ideal conditions are snow and ice below -15°C. They are noticeably quieter, you can move at a much higher speed on them. nine0003
Disadvantages: such tires wear out quickly, almost do not hold the car on melted smooth ice at temperatures above -5 °C. There is a small distance between the tread islands, such tires do not drain water well from the contact patch with the roadway.
Alpine type friction tires without studs and made for mild winters. There are 1.5-2 times fewer sipes on the tread, the grooves for water drainage are much wider.
This is the most wear resistant winter tire.
Ideal conditions - puddles, asphalt, -5 to +3 °C. Well remove water from the contact patch with the roadway. nine0003
Disadvantages: poor grip on any ice and packed snow.
According to the Rules of the Road, different tires cannot be put on one axle of a vehicle. This is considered a malfunction in which the use of a car is prohibited.
p. 5 of the Traffic Regulations of the Russian Federation: wheels and tires
At the same time, the rules do not prohibit installing tires of different brands and models on different axles of the same car, but it’s better not to do this. The car and all its systems are designed for the same tires with the same grip. nine0003
This is especially true for modern cars with many electronic assistants: stabilization systems, brake force distribution. You can drive on such a combination of tires, but no one knows how the car will behave in an extreme situation.
Like everywhere else, there are premium brands and there is something cheap. But cool brands have failed models, while budget brands have successful ones.
There is a lot of research and testing behind famous brand tires. Before entering the market, large companies test each new model in the most extreme conditions. Tires can be rolled on arctic ranges or in the desert. nine0003
Often, rubber is tested in the conditions of sports competitions and only then the technology is sent to the mass market. The more famous the manufacturer and the more expensive its products, the greater its budget for the development of new models.
There are also very cheap tires, often from China. They can directly write that they copied the tread pattern of a prestigious model, but this is not enough: there is also a rubber composition, cord design and other parameters.
Prices for tires of the same size may differ by multiples. The smaller the profile and the larger the width, the greater the difference.
nine0003
To look at something other than the brand and choose what you need, there is an algorithm:
Specialized stores. There is a large selection, manufacturers' catalogs and competent advice. This will appeal to those who buy car tires for the first time or are simply not very interested in the technical side of cars. There is a service here - there will be a guarantee for tires, there is tire fitting and seasonal storage.
The one-stop principle works: you can arrive on spikes and leave on a new summer and with an empty trunk. nine0003
Online hypermarkets and warehouses. Rubber is sold by large Internet sites and small shops. The option is suitable for those who want to find cheaper, are ready to take risks and waste time for this. Here, the entire responsibility for checking the parameters of the tire, the date of its release and, in general, compliance with the order lies with the buyer. If something goes wrong, you will have to take all four tires to no one knows where and change them. Tire fitting and storage is the buyer's concern.
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Flea markets, car club forums and ad services. Avito, Yulia and specialized automotive forums offer a lot of rubber. You can buy a completely fresh set at a good price, or you can buy rubbish and expensive. There is a great risk of buying tires with hidden damage: the fact that the tire is crooked will only be opened at a tire fitting, many hernias will be visible only on an inflated tire.
Sometimes the ability to measure depth and read parameters does not help. To put the correct year on an old tire, there is a special stamp. The tread depth can be machined, and a tire that is white from old age can be treated with ink. nine0003
With the help of special equipment, you can even remove the remnants of the old protector and stick a new one. It remains to hope for the reputation of the seller and look at the goods that he sells or sold. I try to avoid those who sell used rubber all the time.
First of all, the size. The larger the diameter, the more expensive. But at the same time, the lower the tire profile, the more expensive it is. This may seem counterintuitive, as less material is used. nine0003
Tire inner layers and construction play an important role. Due to the low profile height, the sidewall of such a tire must be much stronger than the same tire with a high profile.
Tire make and model affected.
Rubber from large, famous brands with a century of history is more expensive, but the budget lines of well-known companies will allow you to save a lot. Tires of young, unknown manufacturers, especially Asian ones, will cost even less.
Tires with runflat technology are more expensive than conventional tires, because their sidewalls have special requirements. nine0003
Is it worth buying retreaded tires? It is almost impossible to buy such tires for a passenger car in Russia in 2021. The cord design of car tires for projector restoration is not intended, unlike truck tires, for which this is a very popular service. In some countries in Eastern Europe, you can buy retreaded tires in popular sizes, but their properties are mediocre: long braking distances, poor handling. nine0003
When is the best time to buy tires? The popular theory that tires are best bought between seasons is no longer relevant.
You won’t be able to save money this way: the price of tires almost does not change throughout the year.
The tire business is seasonally cyclical, and it is not worth hoping for discounts on studded tires and its wide selection in June. For the next winter season, it will be delivered in August, and summer tires in March.
But by the season, the freshest tires will be on sale. This is true for those who drive very little, or for sports tires. The fresher the tire, the better the grip will be: the rubber compound loses its properties over time. nine0003
Always make sure that your tire pressure is correct: it is critical to tire health. If you lose pressure, do not continue driving on an empty wheel: this may destroy the tire.
Try not to store tires and the car within half a meter of heaters.
Old tires cannot simply be thrown in the trash or buried. This is hazard class 4 waste, they must be disposed of.
nine0003
GOST 12.1.007-76
Tires can be sold on Avito or other ad service. It will turn out if there is no serious damage and the tread depth allows them to be used further.
Old tires are readily picked up by a tire shop. Free if the tread is enough for the season. If the rubber is completely worn out, they will accept tires for recycling and take 100-250 R for one tire.
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Tires can also be recycled on your own. There are organizations that accept used tires for recycling and do not ask for money for it. It happens that they organize special collection points, containers, or come for tires.
Container for recycling tires
Often, motorists face a difficult choice - to buy cheap Chinese tires or expensive ones from famous brands? As a rule, budget tires are much worse than premium tires in all driving characteristics, but the price gap between budget and premium tires is not always justified.
Logistics costs, intermediary markup, raw materials and even the brand name - all this is reflected in the final price. And in order to choose the most profitable option in terms of price + quality, you need to make a lot of effort. How can you navigate dozens of tire manufacturers, and is budget rubber worth at least its money? Let's try to figure it out. nine0003
Important! The article considers Chinese brands, not tires made in China by other manufacturers (Michelin, Pirelli, Kumho, etc.).
Tires from the Middle Kingdom are a very sensitive issue for any dealer or tire fitter. Often, a client, when requesting a Chinese tire, hears something like “well, China, you understand”, “it seems nothing, even though it’s China”, etc. Definitely a dishonest approach to both the buyer and the manufacturer. Yes, the lion's share of Chinese brands specialize in inexpensive tire products, but this entire huge market segment should not be generalized. The tire market consisting of Chinese tires has its leaders, outsiders, middle peasants, like any other.
But certain patterns that can help pick up tires , yes.
Counterfeiting any tire products is not a very profitable occupation, and even more so for Chinese. 
Therefore, when buying, you must carefully inspect the wheels. 
Also, Chinese wheels have recently begun to be included in the lists of tested models. An important point is the data of international certification. If the manufacturer is certified according to all the basic requirements, rubber can be bought, if there are none, in no case. It is also worth noting that Chinese rubber tends to have few reviews. Here you can refer to the experience of foreign motorists, if you have certain English language skills, or try to get information from the seller. As a rule, an experienced seller, especially a wholesaler, can say more about Chinese rubber than anyone else. nine0012 As you can see, both advantages and disadvantages are worthy of attention. However, why are Chinese tires better than budget tires from a European manufacturer? Consider the above advantages and disadvantages in comparison.
Differences of Chinese tire products from budget products of European (American, Korean, Japanese)
| Advantages of | |||
| Price/quality | yes | not always | not always |
| Wide range | yes | not always | yes |
| Dynamic growth in quality | yes | no | no |
| No fakes | yes | not always | no |
| Permanent brand new on the market | yes | yes | no |
| Drawbacks | |||
| Probability of manufacturing defects | yes | not always | no |
| Lack of modern developments | yes | yes | no |
| Poor product information | yes | not always | nine0187 no|
It is very difficult to navigate tire brands, and even more so in Chinese ones.
The names seem monotonous, there is no identity. Below in the table you can see which brands are united by belonging to one manufacturing plant or concern. As a rule, the lineups of brands belonging to the same manufacturer are identical.
| Triangle Tire | Triangle, Diamond Black | ★★★★☆ |
| Hengfeng Tires | Hifly, Sunfull, Mirage, Ovation, Ushield, Cachland, Hengfeng, Roadwing, Onyx | ★★★★☆ |
| Aeolus Tires | Aeolus | ★★★★★ |
| Doublestar Group | Doublestar, Kumho | ★★★★★ |
| Shandong Yongtai Chemical Group | nine0187 Durun, Banners, Goldway, Bennaf★★★★☆ | |
| Sailun Jinyu Group | Jinyu, Evergreen, Sailun, Rovelo, Blacklion, Blackhawk, RoadX, Maxam | ★★★★☆ |
| Shandong Fengyuan Tire | Farroad, Saferich, Yeada, Arcron | ★★★★☆ |
| Qingdao Fullrun Tire | Fullrun, Autogrip, Fullway, Turnpike, Antyre, Carbon Series | ★★★★☆ |
| Shandong Guofeng Rubber Plastics | Goform | - |
| Shandong Huasheng Rubber | Huasheng, Kapsen, Habilead, Taitong, Terraking, Roadboss | ★★★★☆ |
| Qingdao Keter Tire | Intertrac, Keter, Neoterra | - |
| Sentury Tire | nine0187 Delinte, Landsail, Pantera, GrandSpeed - | |
| Shandong Haohua Tire | Lanvigator, Aplus, Compasal, Royal Black | ★★★★☆ |
| Shandong Linglong Tire | Linglong, Leao, Infinity, Atlas, Hubtruck | ★★★★☆ |
| Shandong Yongsheng Rubber Group | Rotalla, Tracmax | - | nine0183
| Trendsetter Torque Tires | Torque | - |
| Qingdao Sunwide Tire | Sunwide, Aventus | - |
| Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber (ZC Rubber) | Westlake, Chaoyang, Arisun, Goodride, Trazano | ★★★★☆ |
| Best Choice International Trade | Mazzini, Autogreen, Delmax, Sunew, Gowind | - |
| Prinx Chengshan (Shandong) Tire Company | Prinx Tires, ChengShan, Fortune, Austone | - |
Zhejiang PDW Industrial Co. Ltd (PDW Group) | Altenzo (designed in Australia, made in China) | ★★★★★ |
| Zeta tires | Zeta, Pace | ★★★★★ |
| Zafco (UAE company, but manufacturing facilities in China) | Zeetex | ★★★★★ |
| Guangzhou South China Rubber Tire | Aptany, Wanli, Sunny | ★★★★★ |
| Shandong New Continent Tire | Composer, Roadcruza | ★★★★☆ |
Are Chinese tires worth the money paid for them? Of course. However, it is worth considering the risks and being careful. They fully justify their price. Chinese tires are not categorically bad products. Do not forget that each brand has its own characteristics and credibility, you should also listen to this. nine0003
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