Buying tires online vs a shop?
- Thread starter STLRegal
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I buy tires online and then take them to have installed locally since tire selections at tires stores aren't very good or they don't have the right sizes when I need tires.
Depending what you're looking for it can go either way.
I've bought tires via local independent shops, costco, online (discount tires direct & tirerack), and quasi-online ordering through website and picking up in store (sears) depending who had the best sale/options going on.
Buying in person you can check the date codes on the tire to see manufacture week and year. This is more important if buying a discount or odd size tire, since warehouses typically hold tires up to 5 years old.
I've refused tires at an independent dealer before for being too old.. many times those warehouses don't store them the way collectors do who drive on old tires. Rubber dries out, belt issues, etc... no old tires for me at the price they cost these days.
Costco is a good deal if you old out for their free installation and $xx.xx off a set of 4... then it's mounted, balanced, nitrogen filled, free top offs for pressure, etc etc...
I've don't the sears thing ordering tires one at a time with promo coupons on each transaction that gave discount usable on next transaction, so on... got $560 in tires for under $300 on that one.
I'd say biggest issue is your roads and driving habits. If you plan on tire protection plans, drive through construction that leads to nails and such, hit curbs, etc, maybe and local independent is best since they take better care down the road....
I've bought tires via local independent shops, costco, online (discount tires direct & tirerack), and quasi-online ordering through website and picking up in store (sears) depending who had the best sale/options going on.
Buying in person you can check the date codes on the tire to see manufacture week and year. This is more important if buying a discount or odd size tire, since warehouses typically hold tires up to 5 years old.
I've refused tires at an independent dealer before for being too old.. many times those warehouses don't store them the way collectors do who drive on old tires. Rubber dries out, belt issues, etc... no old tires for me at the price they cost these days.
Costco is a good deal if you old out for their free installation and $xx.xx off a set of 4... then it's mounted, balanced, nitrogen filled, free top offs for pressure, etc etc...
I've don't the sears thing ordering tires one at a time with promo coupons on each transaction that gave discount usable on next transaction, so on... got $560 in tires for under $300 on that one.
I'd say biggest issue is your roads and driving habits. If you plan on tire protection plans, drive through construction that leads to nails and such, hit curbs, etc, maybe and local independent is best since they take better care down the road....
If you don't have a guy you trust to install tires you buy online, buy tires at discount tire or Costco or sams club.
I have a guy, but I only trust that guy and not crack smoking monkeys at his shop that work for him, so even if you have a guy, you have to stay on top of him.
With discount tire or sams or costco, if they screw something up, they'll fix it. With no frills mom/pop local shop, maybe not.
Some tires are Too cheap or only available online... so I buy those online and take them to my guy. For "regular tires" I'll go to a big box tire store (except NTB... never go to NTB)
I have a guy, but I only trust that guy and not crack smoking monkeys at his shop that work for him, so even if you have a guy, you have to stay on top of him.
With discount tire or sams or costco, if they screw something up, they'll fix it. With no frills mom/pop local shop, maybe not.
Some tires are Too cheap or only available online... so I buy those online and take them to my guy. For "regular tires" I'll go to a big box tire store (except NTB... never go to NTB)
If you have an independent tire shop usually located at a crappy location hole in the wall shop. Those are the best. Cheap.
Whatever you do avoid the chain stores, Sears, Mavis, Pep Boys, Firestone, Goodyear etc. They will rip you off. There tire prices do not include mounting & balancing, or valve stems, they will try to get you to pay for extended warranties, throw in tire disposal fees x4 and finally the taxes. Rip off
Whatever you do avoid the chain stores, Sears, Mavis, Pep Boys, Firestone, Goodyear etc. They will rip you off. There tire prices do not include mounting & balancing, or valve stems, they will try to get you to pay for extended warranties, throw in tire disposal fees x4 and finally the taxes. Rip off
Yes buy online. I use tirerack.com myself, then take them to my long time Midas guy who charges me $15 per tire off the books for mount and balance.
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