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. | - 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. | $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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Where do you go for the best price on tires for your vehicle? Share your thoughts in our Clark. com Community!
The price of car tires may surprise many novice motorists, especially if they plan to buy them in a big city.
The cost of rubber can reach from several hundred to several thousand dollars for one tire, if these are tires of a well-known manufacturer, they have a large radius and are sold in the season.
From this article you will learn:
However, the buyer needs to know that the same tire can be bought much cheaper if you know where to find it and at what time to buy it. Many factors influence prices.
The cost of rubber primarily depends on its radius - the larger the radius, the more expensive the tire is. The owner of each car always has a choice - to take tires with a slightly larger radius, or a slightly smaller one.
Secondly, this is the seasonality of the tire - winter tires are usually more expensive than summer tires, due to the nature of production and the materials from which winter tires are produced.
Thirdly, this is a brand of a tire manufacturer - tires from well-known manufacturers can be sold for two, and sometimes three times more than their obscure counterparts.
Fourthly, the cost of car tires, like the cost of any other seasonal product, depends on the season of sale. If tires are sold during the season, as a rule, their prices increase greatly.
In order to buy tires as cheaply as possible, the buyer needs to look for small-radius summer wheels from an unknown manufacturer and buy them in winter.
But seriously, the buyer can actually save a lot if he decides to buy tires out of season.
Car tires are a very seasonal and very inconvenient item. They weigh a lot and take up a lot of storage space.
In addition, buyers begin to buy tires in large quantities only in autumn and spring, and the rest of the time sales are greatly reduced.
Therefore, before the shopping seasons, sellers fill their warehouses to the maximum with tires corresponding to the coming season, and at the same time inflate prices.
Buyers in general do not think much about the fact that by the next season they still do not have tires, either from laziness, or from forgetfulness, or - more often - from lack of money.
Therefore, when the season comes, long queues line up for tires, which is used by sellers who want to make money on the hype.
But, at the same time, it is very undesirable for sellers if, before the sales season, for example, winter tires, summer tires remain in stock, since no one will buy them for sure.
And if they suddenly remain - the seller can often greatly reduce the cost of rubber, so that the remaining tires are bought as quickly as possible, and they do not take up space in the warehouse.
Any buyer knows that the same tires can be bought for different money. In order to buy them cheaper, you need to remember a few rules.
The first thing to remember is the right time to buy tires - winter tires should be bought in spring and summer tires in autumn.
This is the golden time of discounts on car tires, and at this time you can buy very good wheels from eminent tire manufacturers at a price at which unknown wheels are sold during the season.
True, stock may not be complete and a set of 4 wheels will have to be looked for in different stores, but large discounts may well justify a little more time.
The second thing to remember (works in major cities) is buying tires from the right places. For example, in specialized online stores, tires are often cheaper than in large parts stores.
The third thing to remember is choosing the right tire manufacturer.
If you need to save a lot of money, then you can try to buy tires from manufacturers that produce tires under license.
There are companies that buy production lines for discontinued models of well-known tire concerns and sell tires under their own brand. These tires are usually much cheaper.
Of course, in order to save money in this way, the buyer will have to study a sufficient amount of information about specific manufacturers and models of tires, but the buyer will be able to buy tires from a well-known manufacturer at a very low price.
An example of this savings on rubber costs is the tires manufactured by Firestone, which works closely with the Japanese manufacturer Brigestone to produce discontinued models of Brigestone tires under its own brand.
Comments welcome!
Konstantin Ishchenko
an experienced car enthusiast
The biggest hit on the budget of a motorist is when you have to buy both summer and winter sets of tires within one year.
For example, the popular Nissan Qashqai is equipped with 225/45 R19 tires in the maximum configuration, a mid-range kit will cost about 50,000 R.
But there is an option to save money and buy used tires. This article will tell you how to safely buy used tires and when you shouldn't.
Let's say the tires are worn out, worn out, or the season has changed. We wrote in detail about how to assess the condition of tires and understand when they need to be changed in a separate instruction. Before you start looking for tires, it is important to be able to read their parameters. The most important in this situation are the size, manufacturer and model of the tire.
If the task is to buy a set of four tires, then it is important to respect the size. If you damaged one tire, you will have to look for exactly the same one: two wheels of the same axle must have tires with the same tread pattern, and this is possible only in the case of tires of the same model.
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How to save on buying car tires and wheels?
Tire parameters important for the search: width, profile height and rim diameter Tire manufacturer and modelAccording to Avtostat, an average car in Russia drives 17,500 km per year. Let's take the average wear resistance of tires according to the Treadwear index - 320 and calculate how long a new set of summer tires could theoretically last.
Every 100 index units is 12,500 km, which means tires are rated for 40,000 km. Assuming that the summer kit is used for 6 months out of 12, the mileage for six months is 8750 km, and the kit is enough for 4.5 seasons.
If the annual mileage is 30,000 km, then the summer kit should wear out in 2. 7 seasons. But I have not met people who change tires in the middle of the season: either they change them in the spring, or they drive them until autumn.
Judging by Yandex Market, the average popular tire 205/55 R16 costs 5500 R, which means that the set is 22 000 R. Let's round up 2.7 to three full seasons. One season costs Rs. pay more than 14,000 R. How to evaluate the tread depth on a used tire, we will tell a little later.
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These are very average values, but still usable. There is no perfect formula, operating conditions and driving style are very different.
Buying used tires will allow you not to get into a loan if a new set is too expensive. Or it will help those who know for sure that at the end of the season they will change the car: there is no point in buying new tires for the next driver. However, the theoretical calculation does not take into account your travel time for the next purchase and the risks of buying a bad kit. If you plan to drive a car for at least two years, buy new tires.
At first glance, selling tires is illogical. Tires need to be worn out completely and then disposed of, but the market for used rubber is huge. It has several types of sellers with very different offers.
Companies that sell used tires from Europe and Japan. Despite the ban on the import of used rubber, which has been in effect in the Eurasian Customs Union since January 1, 2010, this business is booming. The main thing is to prove that tires are not hazardous waste and they are not imported for recycling. Therefore, on Avito and various sites, many offices offer used tires of various brands, sizes and models.
| Benefits | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Huge selection of summer tires Advice available, professionals know their product Usually there is a tire service on site Safer online shopping. Many trade by bank transfer as a full-fledged online store Tire warranty until the first tire fitting, a defective tire will be replaced with a good one or money will be returned | There is almost no choice of winter tires: no studded and little friction - Velcro. You can only buy "euro-winter" for mild climatic conditions. Consultation will not always be truthful and in the interests of the buyer. Everything is like on the market in the bad sense of the word Tires can be of the old year of manufacture |
Here are some of the benefits of a specialist shop that sells used tires:
But there are also disadvantages:
Dealers and tire shops. They differ from the first ones in scale - they are much smaller, and also in that they trade at best on the scale of one city. Often the base for such activities is a tire shop. They buy cheaply at Avito or from tire fitting clients, sell more expensively at Avito or other tire fitting clients.
There are also not very pleasant scenarios: an unscrupulous tire fitting worker offers to dispose of a completely normal set of tires “out of friendship” and gets it for free. For another client, the same kit “very much nothing, two seasons will definitely pass” costs 15,000 rubles.
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A typical tire shop that sells rubber for emergency replacement of a damaged tire. The choice is small, storage is not according to the rules: direct sunlight damages tires. But there are situations when there is no choice
Individuals who sell unwanted tires for a variety of reasons. Here are the main ones:
| Advantages of | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| You can search tires by car make and model, not just size With a little luck, you can make a super bargain | You will have to choose among ads for a long time and carefully Many do not know what they are selling (mistakes in tire names, sizes and models are normal) A rare seller agrees to tire fitting in his presence, everything will have to be checked by himself and by hand Many scammers: they can offer to leave an advance payment and disappear or send an erased set instead of what is in the ad No warranty on tires |
Here are the benefits of buying used tires from individuals:
But there are also disadvantages:
Universal ad platforms: Avito, Yula and others. Here is the largest selection of used tires. Both private traders and professionals sell. Despite the convenient application and filters, it takes a lot of time to search. Don't expect every seller to list the model correctly. Bridgestone Potenza can become just "Bridge Stone" - and this is not the worst option.
You will have to scroll through a huge number of ads with completely worn-out tires that are only suitable for recycling. Unfortunately, no filters will save you from this. Looking for tires on Avito is like looking for a treasure: you have to dig a lot, and no one guarantees a reward, but some are lucky.
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Adjust the filter by size - so you will have a better chance of finding the tires you need You can no longer drive on such tires: they are worn out to the limit marks, this can be seen even in the photo. Plus, the sidewalls are very worn out. But the seller still thinks that he can get 3000 R for them Websites for car sales announcements: "Avto-ru" and "Drom". There are few private ads here, mainly specialized stores operate on such sites.
Droma has the largest selection of used wheels and tires from Japan in the country. Drome offers a good customer protection service and acts as a guarantor of purchase: if they send you worn or damaged tires, the site will return the money. If everything is fine, they will be transferred to the seller.
At the time of writing the article on Avto-ru, there were only five private ads for the sale of tires of the common size 205/50 R17 throughout Russia. It makes no sense to look for tires from private traders on this site. Source: Avto-ruCar club sites: forums, chats, Drive-2 — places where representatives of car clubs communicate. Sometimes it can be difficult to find the site itself. This can be a group on Vkontakte, a chat on Telegram or WhatsApp.
There are fewer offers here, but they are more interesting, more likely to find a good set. It is not customary to post completely junk for sale in communities or to greatly inflate the price: the ad will be discussed, criticized, or even deleted altogether.
But don't forget about safety. You should not buy something without verification or send the entire amount to a stranger in another city. It is usually customary to ask a friend of a teammate to go look at the kit and make sure that the tires are sent. Here, as a rule, you can place your ad on the purchase of the necessary tires and wait for responses.
There is a flea market on Drive-2. It is not very popular, but it is worth looking into it: there are filters separately for disks, wheels and tires, you can specify the dimensions.
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Special online stores and auto disassembly. In most cases, such sellers open an official representative office on Avito, but some sites are also still working. They may have rare tires or a more interesting price. Large auto-dismantlers rarely sell tires - they mainly sell sets of wheels. The condition of the tires on the rims is most often mediocre: a car is not sent to scrap on good tires.
Tire shops and car services. It's hard to find interesting deals on tires here, it's not their business. Tires in a tire shop are usually bought in emergency cases: when one or more tires are damaged, but you need to somehow drive a couple of weeks to pay.
Price. Before buying used tires, it is better to check the price of new tires of the right size. Tires from young Chinese brands are very cheap, and the market for used tires is overheated and overpriced. It is impossible to unequivocally answer which is better: a new tire from an unknown manufacturer or a used tire from a well-known brand. But it is necessary to compare, study reviews and weigh everything.
At first glance, an excellent offer. A set of fresh tires 215/55 R17 with 20% wear for 18,000 R. But the indicated balance of 6 mm is about 30% wear. The remaining tread of the new tire is 8 mm, the tread limiter bar has a height of 1.Manufacturer, model, size, indices and other details. Be sure to check all the characteristics of the tires - everything that is indicated on the sidewall. The seller may not understand tires well or deliberately lie. Carefully inspect each tire. For example, you can accidentally buy a set of four tires, where three will be with runflat technology and one without it. If buying tires remotely, always ask for individual photos of each tire in full detail, or even better, a video.
Tire year. Among the advertisements of specialized stores, there are often tires that are more than 5 years old. Tires may have excellent tread residue, but it is better to refrain from such a purchase. The older the tire, the worse its properties and the greater the chance of hidden damage: cracks, delaminations and ruptures.
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The tire release marking always looks like this: the first two digits are the week of production, the second two are the yearTread depth. It is not necessary to measure the residual depth “by eye”, it is better to buy a special device or use a caliper. The standard tread depth of new summer car tires is 7-8 mm, winter tires are 8-10 mm.
About tires that are long overdue for disposal, they wrote above: summer tires less than 4 mm or winter tires less than 5 mm should not be bought "for the season", it is not safe.
Digital Tread Depth Gauge is a simple and cheap instrument. It will help to accurately measure the residual tread depth and adjust the price of a set of tires. Source: Yandex Market Tread condition, damage and repairs. Do not buy tires with uneven tread wear. They will not be able to provide a complete drainage of water from the contact patch with the road, it is unsafe to ride on them. Severe cuts or even the absence of individual tread fragments will also be a reason to refuse a purchase. Without a specialist, you run the risk of buying a tire that you cannot use.
But do not be afraid of well-repaired punctures. Tires with patches on the inside of the tread part can be bought, this will not affect further operation. You should not buy tires on which punctures were repaired with a tourniquet.
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Obviously, this tire is no good: there is almost no tread, the studs are completely worn out. The central part is almost completely missing, and the sidewalls are less worn. Maybe the tire was pumped. Surprisingly, they also sell such Cracks and delaminations. Long longitudinal cracks, along the circumference of the tire on the sidewall or small cracks in the tread area - in any case, bad. Either such a tire was poorly stored, or it is very old. This is a particularly dangerous case, because such a tire can collapse while driving and cause a terrible accident. Cracks are not repaired, so you will have to refrain from buying.
Sidewall condition, damage and repairs. Hernias of any size, side cuts and patches on the side of the tire are good reasons to keep looking. You can't buy these tires.
Carefully inspect and feel the sidewalls of the tires. Unfortunately, not all defects can be found on a tire without a disk and without air inside. It will be ideal if you can mount tires on rims in a tire shop. Ask to balance the wheels and only then pay.
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If in doubt that the tires are intact, look for another option. Remember that it is the tires that connect your car and the road.
The surface adjacent to the rim may also be damaged on the tire.Presence of spikes and their condition. It is not necessary to count every stud on a tire, it is difficult and time consuming. Just look at the tire: if it seems that there are about half of the studs on it or less, you do not need to buy a tire. Studded tires without studs won't get Velcro, so don't just look at the tread.
Studs on a tire that has already been driven for a couple of seasons look very different from new ones. They were worn off along the way, the seats were broken. In the background, you can see that the tire has already begun to lose studs. Even with sufficient tread, you can be left without spikes very quickly, it is better to look for another option Ads often offer used tires at an inflated price. We have made a special calculator that will help you calculate the fair value of tires, regardless of the manufacturer, technical parameters of tires and their number in the kit.
