Owning a vehicle comes many expenses, from car insurance to maintenance to new tires.
Depending on the type of vehicle you drive, replacing a set of tires can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. So saving money on tires is critical for many tire buyers.
Fortunately, there are many easy ways to save money on a new set of tires.
There are countless tire options at many price points, but even the cheapest tires can be expensive. That’s why it’s crucial to leverage these tips to save money on tires.
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The Internet makes shopping and comparing prices easier than ever.
Check out individual brick-and-mortar tire shops’ websites. Look at places like Pep Boys, Tire Kingdom, Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, and Goodyear to find tire prices online and compare them.
You can also see a far more extensive selection of available tires and their prices at large online tire retailers like Tire Rack and Discount Tire Direct.
You can even go outside the tire industry and check websites like eBay or Amazon.
When shopping, keep these variables in mind:
Watch for tire ads that come in the mail or newspaper. These often highlight special offers you may not find anywhere else, like buy-three, get-one-free deals and percent-off specials.
When reviewing these sales, always read the fine print, as they often have limitations and requirements to get the sale price.
For example, a 25% off sale may only be on specific tire sizes, or that buy-three, get-one-free deal may only be for the tire — you still have to pay for balancing, the valve stem, and disposal fees.
There’s not much markup on tires, so the retailers may not offer great sales too often. However, tire manufacturers often offer rebates for meeting certain purchase requirements. For instance, Firestone may issue a $100 rebate if you buy any set of four Firestone tires.
These rebates are generally through the mail, so you must mail the rebate form with a copy of your receipt and wait to receive a check or gift card in the mail for the rebate amount. These rebates often take weeks to process, so patience is key.
You can find the rebates advertised on tire manufacturers’ websites, but you may also find them on a retailer’s site or in a circular.
While used tires are rarely worth buying, takeoffs are a different story. These are tires that a person purchased, used for a few days, and returned within a specific period — typically 30 days or less.
Often, the buyer simply didn’t like the way they rode or handled. The tire retailer will put different tires on their car and place the used tires back on the shelf at a deeply discounted price so long as they’re not defective.
These takeoff tires are still basically brand-new and can save you big money.
Like many retailers, tire service shops use holidays as reasons to slash prices.
You can often save money on tires by shopping around holidays, including:
When looking to save money on buying tires, the last thing you want to do is get just one price quote and get the work started. Instead, get multiple written quotes on the same or similar tires and get the lowest cost through competitive shopping.
Once you have three to four quotes, take the lowest quote from one tire shop to the others and see if they can beat the price. If you get a better price from another shop, repeat the process. Continue repeating this process until you get the best price possible.
Unless you’re a race car driver, you just need a set of quality, long-lasting tires. There’s no need to shop for the big brands. Big-name tire brands like Michelin, Bridgestone, Firestone, Dunlop, and Goodyear are high-quality, but they’re among the most expensive options.
You can get quality tires from lesser-known brands like Kumho and Hankook at significantly lower prices.
Instead of looking at the brand, focus on the tire’s performance and durability. Several other key features are more important than the brand name.
Most vehicles have a recommended minimum speed rating for their tires. This letter rating indicates the sustained speed a tire can structurally handle. For example, a V-rated tire can handle sustained speeds of up to 149 mph, while a Y-rated tire can handle 186 mph.
You can find the speed rating stamped along with the tire size on the sidewall in one of three ways:
The R stands for “radial,” as in radial tires. It comes before the tire size (the tire in this example has a 16-inch diameter).
Load index is the amount of weight each tire can support while inflated. Verify the cheaper tire matches or exceeds the load-index minimum your car requires. You can find the load index requirement in the owners manual or on the tire placard inside the driver’s side door jamb.
The load index is a two-digit code stamped after the tire size on the sidewall. For example, if the tire code says, “225/60R16 92V,” the load index is 92.
The load index ranges from 1 through 112, and the higher the number, the more weight it can support. Tirerack.com has a more comprehensive explainer if you want more details.
Tire treadwear rating is often mistaken for a direct translation to how many miles a tire will last. It’s more of a comparative number.
The baseline treadwear is 100, and a tire with a 200 treadwear rating lasts twice as long in testing before its tread wears out. A 300 treadwear tire lasts three times as long in testing.
Each tire manufacturer performs its own testing on the same 400-mile test track in Texas to ensure uniformity in the treadwear ratings. The tires complete a 7,200-mile test. Every 800 miles, the testers check and adjust the air pressure in the tires, perform an alignment, and rotate the tires.
After the test, the testers measure the remaining tread and compare it to the remaining tread on the baseline 100 treadwear tire.
Compare the cheaper tire’s treadwear rating to that of a more expensive tire. That gives you an idea of how long the cheaper tire will last relative to the more expensive competitor.
But note that while tire manufacturers complete treadwear testing under strict National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rules, each uses its own baseline tires. So a 500 treadwear Kumho tire may not last quite as long as a 500 treadwear Goodyear because they used different baseline tires.
However, the number can still be helpful when making an apples-to-apples comparison.
You can find the three-digit treadwear rating stamped on the tire’s sidewall after the word “Treadwear.”
The warranty may be the single best way to compare a less expensive tire to a pricier competitor when all other variables remain equal.
Most tire manufacturers include some type of mileage warranty on their tires. Generally, these warranties range from 25,000 miles to 80,000 miles. These mileage warranties mean the manufacturer guarantees the tire’s tread will remain above the wear bar for a specified number of miles.
The wear bar is a small, raised section of rubber running across the grooves in the tread that indicates the tire has reached the end of its useful life. If the tread reaches the wear bar early through no fault of the vehicle or driver, the tire company gives you a prorated credit toward a new tire.
For example, if a $100 tire with a 50,000-mile warranty only lasts 25,000 miles, the tire manufacturer owes you $50 — 50% of $100 — toward a replacement tire.
If a less expensive tire has all the same or better ratings than an expensive brand-name tire and a matching or longer warranty, you can save money on the cheaper tire and feel confident you’re getting an otherwise equivalent tire.
In areas where winters get cold and snowy, it’s not uncommon to switch from summer tires to winter tires.
However, keeping two sets of tires on hand can get quite expensive. If you live in a temperate region or one where snow is light and rare, you can get away with one set of all-season tires instead of separate sets for summer and winter, saving you money in the process.
Sure, you can save money when buying tires with the seven tips above, but you can save even more money by helping your tires last longer. There are several maintenance strategies you can use to extend the lifespan of your tires and save even more money.
Tire pressure impacts fuel economy and the longevity of your tires.
Too little pressure can cause excessive wear on the outer edge of your tires, but too much pressure can accelerate tread wear in the center of your tires.
To avoid these issues, check your tire pressure at least once per week and compare it to the pressure recommendations in your owners manual or on the tire placard inside the driver’s door jamb.
Always check and adjust your tire pressure before driving, as time on the road increases the tire’s temperature, which increases its pressure. Adjust the pressure as needed.
Never inflate your tires to the maximum pressure listed on the tire’s sidewall. It’s too much pressure for most passenger vehicles.
Many tire shops will check and fill your tires with air for free, and gas stations usually have air stations that cost around $1 to use. You can also buy a small portable tire pump with a pressure gauge for $20 to $30.
Tire rotation is a maintenance procedure that places each wheel and tire in a different position on the vehicle.
That changes each tire’s angle and rotation slightly to prevent it from wearing unevenly, which can happen if it remains at the same angle and in the same position for too long.
Every vehicle has its own recommended tire rotation schedule in the maintenance schedule section of its owners manual. Perform this maintenance as the manufacturer recommends to maximize your tires’ lifespans.
Tire rotations are often free with oil change services. If they’re not free, they’re still inexpensive, generally $20 or less.
Your vehicle’s suspension flexes with the road, which can sometimes throw its alignment off.
Alignment is the angle at which your wheels sit against the road. Driving with the alignment out of specification can cause excessive wear on one part of the tire, significantly shortening its life.
At least once every six months, have a repair facility check your vehicle’s alignment. If it’s out of specification, the shop can perform the alignment.
That helps maximize your tires’ life.
Alignment checks are often $20 or less. If you need an alignment, expect to pay $50 to $100, depending on the complexity. The shop usually removes the alignment check fee if you complete the alignment service.
Some repair shops offer lifetime alignments for an extra cost. If you plan to keep your vehicle for a long time, it may be a worthwhile investment, as you can get the vehicle aligned as often as you like at no extra cost as long as you own it. Lifetime alignments usually cost $150 to $200.
Tires can be one of the most expensive things to maintain on your vehicle, but it’s worth it. They’re the only point of contact between your car and the road, so you want the best tires you can afford.
That’s why you may want to consider getting a road hazard warranty on new tires. It may not save you money, but it can protect your investment. These tire insurance policies generally cover 100% of all flat repairs and offer prorated replacement guarantees if the tire is irreparable.
By using these tips, you can maximize your tire investment. Then, with the right tire maintenance, you can ensure your new tires last as long as possible, saving you even more in the long run.
Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.
Saving money on vehicle tires doesn’t mean buying the cheapest model. Because today’s tires last longer, over time you’ll save money buying better, higher quality tires. Unfortunately, tires are one of the most expensive vehicle maintenance items. But there are several ways to save hundreds of dollars on them.
Tires are one of your vehicle’s most critical systems, and they take a lot of abuse.
Good tires are important to your car’s overall safety and driving comfort. Driving on bald tires will negatively impact braking and steering control. Here are a few tips to help you buy the best tires for your needs without breaking the bank.
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When comparison shopping for tires, consider these seven factors. Make sure you’re combining all costs of all sets of tires you’re comparing. One set may look like a great deal, but actually isn’t once you add in all the upcharges.
The factors are:
You’ll save money if you buy during Black Friday sales. Other seasonal sale periods include April (before the summer driving season) and October (before winter weather sets in).
Even if you don’t think you need tires during these sales, buying tires when you have to may force you to spend more than you should, or leave you with a brand or model you really don’t want.
Some tires cost more because they come with a “free” road hazard warranty. This is separate from the manufacturer’s warranty. It covers accidental damage, such as a glass puncture or pothole blowout. If you already have this coverage through an auto club or supplemental wheel and tire protection plan, this added coverage doesn’t benefit you and you shouldn’t pay for it.
Brick-and-mortar tire retailers, as well as those online, often offer coupons, coupon codes, mail-in rebates and buy-three-get-one-free deals. These promotions can save you money. But be sure to examine the details to ensure the deal is on the tires you want and there are no hidden fees.
Another money-saver: Taking advantage of a 30-day low-price guarantee.
Many retailers will honor competitors lower advertised price on the same exact make and model tire for up to 30 days after your purchase. If that retailer charges less for some of the upcharges, such as tire mounting, balancing and disposal, you will come out ahead.
While the big box retailers won’t budge on price, dedicated tire retailers can often work with you to lower the cost of your tires to a price you know is a good deal.
Inspect your tires for abnormal wear or damage. And getting your tires rotated and balanced and wheels aligned following your vehicle manufacturer’s maintenance schedule greatly increases tire life.Bob Lacivita
Bob Lacivita is an award-winning ASE and General Motors auto technician, educator and freelance writer who has written about DYI car repairs and vehicle maintenance topics. His work has been featured in The Family Handyman, a Reader's Digest book and Classic Bike Rider magazine. He has been a career and technical educator for 25 years teaching automotive technology, as well as writing state, federal and organizational foundation grants. He also helped design a unique curriculum delivery model that integrates rigorous, relevant academic standards seamlessly into career and technical education.
Against the backdrop of statements by a number of large tire manufacturers about the suspension of work in Russia, the demand for summer tires has noticeably increased among Russians. At the same time, experts remind that it is worth changing the shoes of a car in the spring only with the advent of stable positive temperatures. We tell you when it is time to change tires in Moscow, as well as how to save money on buying them.
Photo: Moskva 24/Anton Velikzhanin
In the capital's Deptrans, the townspeople were advised to postpone the change of tires to summer tires until the weather warms up in the city. When there are temperature drops from minus to plus values at night and in the morning, it is not safe to do this, the department stressed.
"During the off-season, car owners often face the question of when it is better to change the shoes of their car.
We, together with the traffic police, recommend waiting for the onset of stable positive temperatures at night," the message of the Deptrans telegram channel says. nine0003
We recommend changing tires to summer tires at a stable temperature of +7 degrees and above.
from the report of the Department of Transport of Moscow
It is noted that the rubber of summer tires tans in the cold, but softens when the temperature rises. At the same time, winter "shoes" remain soft in cold weather, however, if the thermometers rise above +15 degrees, then the tread wears out a lot.
In turn, Roman Vilfand, scientific director of the Hydrometeorological Center of the Russian Federation, recommended that motorists in the capital wait until mid-April to change tires. nine0004
"It must be borne in mind that rubber has elasticity properties, it is it that determines the adhesion to the underlying surface. If the temperature is below +5 degrees, elasticity is lost for summer tires, so braking is much greater.
Until April 10, you definitely do not need to change tires, you need to listen to the forecasts of meteorologists," the expert said.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Ruslan Krivobok
Maxim Kadakov, an auto expert and editor-in-chief of Za Rulem magazine, recommends purchasing winter tires now if the current tires run out by next fall. According to his forecast, tires will rise in price, so buying in advance will save money. At the same time, prices for summer tires have already risen by 30% over the year and it will not be possible to save on them, the specialist believes. nine0004
According to Kadakov, the rise in prices is being spurred on by announcements by companies such as Michelin, Bridgestone and Continental that they are suspending operations in the Russian market.
At the same time, these companies produce tires in the upper price range and mostly in larger diameters, the expert said. As a result, price increases will be less noticeable in the mid-size tire segment.
“Those who drive 15-inch tires will be able to switch to other manufacturers more easily, there will be a choice. 15-inch tires are on many cars, from Octavia to Rio,” says Kadakov. nine0003
Tires can be optimized by switching from premium tires to cheaper ones, continues the editor-in-chief of Za Rulem magazine. At the same time, any savings affect safety, the expert recalled.
Tires in the mid-price range compared to premium Michelin or Bridgestone tires can be noisier, less wear-resistant, with poorer grip on wet pavement.
Maxim Kadakov
auto expert
Switching to lower quality tires can lead to a forced change in driving style, the expert continues. “If you have a fast car or you are used to driving assertively, almost aggressively, then when you switch to simpler tires, you will feel that the handling has changed. In the corner, the car pulls, the stopping distance increases,” he warned.
Photo: RIA Novosti/Aleksey Malgavko
Auto expert Maxim Kadakov advises against buying used tires in an attempt to save money.
According to him, such a purchase can only be considered as a temporary option in a hopeless situation. He noted that the degree of wear of previously used tires may be too high, so their resource will not last long. nine0003
Buying a set of used tires is a last resort, for example, when you need to resell the car or wait out part of the season. This option is suitable for those who are already riding at the limit, almost on a slick (absolutely smooth tire without grooves. - Ed.), or completely torn the tire and there is no way to buy the whole set.
Maxim Kadakov
auto expert
In addition, when buying used tires, there is a high risk of running into a bad product, since its quality is difficult to check in advance, the specialist warned. nine0004
"Often it turns out that the tire has been stored incorrectly, out of shape and is now difficult to balance. It balances, but it turns out to be a curve. The tire must have the correct geometry.
As a rule, you buy tires not on a rim, problems come out with it when you pump it up: let's go and suddenly a hernia popped out, ”explains the auto expert.
He also recommended buying tires not in small tire shops with goods on the street, but in large stores where there is a large selection of assortment. nine0003
Nosatov Ivan
transportavto
Buying tires is an important thing for a leather car enthusiast. Tires must be re-worn on the river (with a little all-weather tires) according to the rules of the road traffic and seasonality, as well as the hour from hour to hour. Since the prices for these products are not the lowest, then it is absolutely logical to look for simple ways to save on the її pridbanny.
Of course, it is necessary to be timid not for the sake of evil and the safety of the authorities. Aje vіd nadіynostі pokryshok rich in what to lie those, how to drive a car on the road surface.
Internet-shop "Tires and Disks", which is engaged in the sale of car tires and disks, having made a list of joys, for which it is possible to save the budget, but at the same time, take goods of high quality, superior and durable.
Saving money on the purchase of gum is even more relevant in our time, this simple list is needed by car enthusiasts. Varto immediately indicates that the wine is only used for new tires. nine0004
Car tires can be subdivided into three classes: budget, medium and premium. Top brands such as Bridgestone, Continental, Goodyear, Michelin, Nokian are famous brands, the price already includes the payment for the name. After all, you might pay more for such tires. Yakshcho you important prestige and the status of a virobnik, you are guilty but ready to high prices and put up with cim.
If you don't marry names, you can earn respect for budget tire brandy. The stench sounds to belong to corporations, but is oriented to clients, like they are talking about goods of the middle price category.
Ussi stinks may harn the quality, the arrogance of that took on the development of the technological solutions of the leaders. Good options can be found in the middle of the category:
Bad tires can be purchased from the budget class. Up to date, we can introduce inexpensive products of European companies, such as: Orium, Taurus, Strial, Debica, Sava and Kelly. The Chinese tires Sailun, Triangle have also proven themselves to be good. Some models of the gum class of the flooring go far away, which, when tested, remember the names of brandy.
If your financial plan is going through hard times, then you can get tires for your car from a superbudget class. The most popular products are such brands as Belshina, Kama Cordiant and Premiorri, as well as Chinese ones - Hifly, Evergreen. If you have a shortage of money, it is better to take new tires from these companies, to buy a set of accommodations.
With careful thought, you can ride them safely. nine0004
Leather car dealer knows that buying tires may be seasonal. The main drink falls on birch-tree and yellow-leaf fall. I look at a lot of sellers to raise prices for their products in this period.
As soon as it gets drunk, the tire quality also starts to decrease, sometimes you can buy them for a lower price, lower stinks were sold before the season. This is why it is necessary to sell the surplus and buy a new assortment of winter snow tires. nine0004
Tom, if you want to spare the huma for a discount, work out of season. Summer models can be repaired already at the northern ones, and winter models - on the outside, at the red ones.
In addition, buying tires from the mid-season is also a good idea that the client can not hurry up to choose the right option for you, after consulting with the taxpayer. Also, you can not boast that the delivery of the loan will take more than an hour, but it was clear.
Living near a great city, you don't have to deal with the delivery of purchased tires, so you can pick them up by self-delivery, bring them on the road from work. At the city and without any representatives, specialized shops, wholesale warehouses, I can buy from you.
If you live in the countryside, then, better for everything, the choice of tires for the cost of living is not great and you happen to buy them on the Internet, paying for the delivery.
In case you have such an option in your practice, pay attention to the upcoming moments:
It's not easy to work, even if the availability is more complicated, there is a special table of availability. Such moments are necessary and important to protect.
New cars can be sold in basic and premium configurations. Premium transmission of the installation of disks on a sprat of landings is larger, lower in the basic set. If it is still possible to travel with such a diameter, then you still have to switch to a smaller diameter.
Tom can go once to the gum of a smaller diameter, obviously, you can buy more disks, but if you wear it in full, you will really give yourself away. In addition, on our roads with a low profile, it is not easy to drive and it is not safe, you risk damaging expensive tires. nine0004
For the purchase, at our hour, find the purchase of tires directly from the wholesale warehouse of the company, which is engaged in the import of car tires.
What is in the hands of the client?
Yak bachite, the advantages of direct buyers are obvious.
Guidance can be seen, so you request the delivery of car gumi for the help of postal services. Stovidsotkov prepayment allows you to save from 1.5 to 2000 sums of money, as a carrier is charged for the return of the money to the representatives. nine0004
Oddly enough, in such a time, for the sake of it, it is necessary to think carefully and not to pay pennies to the first seller who got caught.
It is important to understand and change, with whom you choose to speak. Perevіrenі, serjoznі ї zavzhdі formalized as a legal person and mаut rozrahunkovy rahunki at the bank, where your money will be transferred.
It's not just the face of an unknown person, who often hears about the hour of registration of a purchase on the Internet. Yakshcho vy kliєnt nadіynoї kompanії - vyavzhdi matimete on hand a check, scho pіdverdzhuє payment for goods or electronic waybill. Tse your insurance, scho in times of guilt of any unforeseen situations, your pennies will not be lost or turn to the card. nine0004
These propositions are also a bad way to save money on buying tires. To lie before them:
I plan to buy, buy from the seller, because the stench may be similar propositions or a loyalty program.
