Where do you tire shop?

[BBatesokc]

Tires can be a huge expense and if you get the wrong ones it can be a costly lesson. I'm wondering where users here tire shop? Big names like Hibdons, Sears and Discount Tire or the little guys like Freddies and Big Discount Tire?

I've also considered ordering tires online from some place like the tire rack? Anyone here do that? Did you save enough to make it worth the hassle of having them shipped and then mounted and balanced somewhere else?

I need tires for my Ford Edge SEL+. I'm getting prices from $550 - $1,300 for all 4.

In the past I've been a Hibdons shopper (tires only, they suck at repairs). However, I recently became annoyed when I literally called 5 Hibdons and all 5 gave me a different price for the exact same set of 4 tires (prices differed by $125) and two didn't even mention the tires have a $50 rebate (Visa debit card). None of the prices matched the price quoted online.

So, where do you shop and what tire brands do you prefer?

[MikeLucky]

Discount Tire for me.... Shop online for prices and see all the reviews... select my tires and put my order in on the website for Discount tire and set an appointment. In and out with new tires in 20 minutes. Always tell them no on the warranty and they will drop some money on the tires when you are there and then I get the warranty at a cheaper rate. You already get free lifetime balances and rotations even without the warranty.

[Just the facts]

I use tirerack.com. I have bought my last 3 sets of tires from them and I will never use anyone else - period. The tires are at least half the price of any tire store which will allow you to save a lot of money or you can spend the same amount and get a much better tire. Shipping is around $10 per tire and you can have them delivered to your home or drop shipped to any tire store (including Wal-Mart). Instillation and mounting is less than $10 per tire. They ship via UPS ground and I had my last set delivered to my home in less than 48 hours. I put them in the car and drove to Wal-Mart who installed then for $40 total. I save nearly $500 on the set of 4.

To answer your other question - I have Yokohamas on my car and our SUV has Michelins. Tirerack.com also an extensive user review section and buying guide. Do yourself a favor and check it out. You will learn more than you ever wanted to know about tires.

[Dana]

Swanson's is a great place especially for women they not only sell tires but they can work on your car also. They will not tell you that you need something you don't and their prices are great. They have been in business for about 100 years and they are good honest people. When it comes to mechanics, prices, and honest people this is the best place in the city.

[BBatesokc]

JTF: I hear people rave about TireRack.com, but I just don't see the savings. I guess it definitely depends on the tire you need.

I'm looking at Michelin LTX for my Edge.
TireRack.com: $1,110.05 ($948 for the tires + $58.56 shipping + $63.49 for road hazard + $40 to have a 3rd party mount & balance).

Discount Tire: $1,124.60 (all four tires mounted balanced with road hazard).

That's only a savings of $14! Plus if I buy local I don't have to wait for them to arrive via the mail, I don't have to use someone incompetent from WalMart and Discount Tire has free lifetime balance and rotations. Not to mention, if you use the TireRack road hazard you pay for repairs upfront and wait for compensation.

I tried a few other tires and none saved me more than $100.

[Midtowner]

Swanson's is the best.

[Wambo36]

As someone who buys tires for 4 vehicles, 2 boat trailers and 2 other trailers, I've settled on Discount Tire. Also, occasionally SAM's will have a deal on them of you're buying a set of 4. The last several sets I've bought have come from one of these two. It pays to research every time, though.

[Just the facts]

JTF: I hear people rave about TireRack.com, but I just don't see the savings. I guess it definitely depends on the tire you need.

I'm looking at Michelin LTX for my Edge.
TireRack.com: $1,110.05 ($948 for the tires + $58.56 shipping + $63.49 for road hazard + $40 to have a 3rd party mount & balance).

Discount Tire: $1,124.60 (all four tires mounted balanced with road hazard).

That's only a savings of $14! Plus if I buy local I don't have to wait for them to arrive via the mail, I don't have to use someone incompetent from WalMart and Discount Tire has free lifetime balance and rotations. Not to mention, if you use the TireRack road hazard you pay for repairs upfront and wait for compensation.

I tried a few other tires and none saved me more than $100.

You forgot to include the $70 Prepaid gift card on Michelin tires from tirerack. Not sure if you are getting that from Discount tire or if they are keeping that for themsleves. However, tirerack might not be for everyone. Personally, I would order them today, have them installed this weekend, and pocket the $84 difference ($14 price difference + $70 gift card) - but that is just me.

[BBatesokc]

Im a penny pincher but even with the visa card that I'd have to wait to arrive in the mail the $84 difference isn't even a 10% savings. Throw in the onsite roadhazard, and lifetime rotation and balance and in 18 months the TireRack savings is gone. I'm an avid rotate and balance kinda guy. I checked my Infinity FX35 and the difference was about the same for it too. However, I did check on my son's SUV and the difference was about $225 (28%) and I will definitely consider online when those go to be replaced. Called Sears and they were way higher.

[Pete]

Brian, don't you save sales tax by using Tire Rack?

[BBatesokc]

Called Swansons, so far the lowest price and price included road hazard, and lifetime balance and rotate.

[BBatesokc]

Brian, don't you save sales tax by using Tire Rack?

Yeah, but I included tax in my price comparisons. And, technically, you're supposed to pay that tax they dont charge you when you file your taxes.

[MadMonk]

My last two sets of tires came from Discount Tire and I've been very happy with them. I used to shop at Hibdon's but the last time I went in there, I was ignored for a good 10 minutes while standing at the counter. Oh well, their loss.

Concerning Tire Rack, they are great for shopping and comparisons, but I've never been able to justify buying from them. The difference in price for the tires I've shopped has never been anywhere near 1/2 price; and even when you factor in shipping vs. tax, mounting and balancing costs, tire disposal fees, etc, it's not worth waiting for them and hauling them to the tire store yourself. Also, if there's ever a problem with the tires, I'd much rather have someone I can go to and speak with face to face. In fact, when I purchased my last set of tires from Discount Tire, they matched the total cost when I told them I was considering purchasing from Tire Rack. The only additional cost to me was for the road hazard, which Tire Rack didn't even have available (LT-rated tires).

[Pete]

I think it's a simple matter of tire shops having to adjust their prices to compete with the internet.

It wasn't that long ago that Tire Rack prices were much better than you could find locally, and I bought from them several times. But I haven't done that for quite some time for all the reasons mentioned here.

[swilki]

I just went to Discount Tire for the first time last week.....I am never going back to Hibbdons, or should I say Tires Plus. I think the great value/service that was once Hibbdons is now officially gone since the Tires Plus name was tacked on. Did you know that Discount Tire will also give you money for any of your tires that are still usable? They gave me $25 bucks for one of the tires I was replacing. Not bad IMO.

[Roadhawg]

Discount tire for me

[rcjunkie]

I buy all my tires through Marc Heitz Chevrolet in Norman, very competitive on prices and excellent service. You might try checking you nearest Ford Dealer to see what they offer.

[MikeLucky]

JTF: I hear people rave about TireRack.com, but I just don't see the savings. I guess it definitely depends on the tire you need.

I'm looking at Michelin LTX for my Edge.
TireRack.com: $1,110.05 ($948 for the tires + $58.56 shipping + $63.49 for road hazard + $40 to have a 3rd party mount & balance).

Discount Tire: $1,124.60 (all four tires mounted balanced with road hazard).

That's only a savings of $14! Plus if I buy local I don't have to wait for them to arrive via the mail, I don't have to use someone incompetent from WalMart and Discount Tire has free lifetime balance and rotations. Not to mention, if you use the TireRack road hazard you pay for repairs upfront and wait for compensation.

I tried a few other tires and none saved me more than $100.

Exactly what I found when comparing tirerack and discount tire. Any difference there was in price was very easily worth having it done locally vs. internet.

But tirerack is a GREAT place to read A LOT of reviews of tires. My first tire replacement on my current car (Nissan Altima) I went the less inexpensive route and got the Falken Sinceras. They really weren't too bad and lasted almost 50,000 miles, with a rotation done at every oil change (since it was free). My second tire replacement was with Yokohoma AVID tires and they are FANTASTIC. Both done at discount tire and I have, so far, had nothing but great experiences with their products and service.

[redrunner]

I don't shop for tires since I drive a company vehicle but Bates have you looked into Sam's Club?

[BBatesokc]

I don't shop for tires since I drive a company vehicle but Bates have you looked into Sam's Club?

Yeah. That was one of my first calls. My Edge uses an odd size and Sam's would have to special order them. Price was the same as Discount Tire. I don't really like the Sam's by me (MWC). The tire dept staff is not customer service friendly and seems to be clueless. I took one of my cars (Infinity FX35) in to them to have the tires rotated and they simply moved the ones in the front straight to the back and the ones in back straight to the front. Didn't make any sense and when I pointed it out the guy said "that's what we always do." I showed him the recommended pattern to follow from the owner's manual and they redid them. I only knew how they did it because I mark my wheels with a grease pencil before dropping the car off (I know, sorta OCD of me).

[MikeOKC]

Yeah. That was one of my first calls. My Edge uses an odd size and Sam's would have to special order them. Price was the same as Discount Tire. I don't really like the Sam's by me (MWC). The tire dept staff is not customer service friendly and seems to be clueless. I took one of my cars (Infinity FX35) in to them to have the tires rotated and they simply moved the ones in the front straight to the back and the ones in back straight to the front. Didn't make any sense and when I pointed it out the guy said "that's what we always do." I showed him the recommended pattern to follow from the owner's manual and they redid them. I only knew how they did it because I mark my wheels with a grease pencil before dropping the car off (I know, sorta OCD of me).

No, actually that's a very good idea!

[windowphobe]

I swear by Tire Rack; they always have what I need, and they drop-ship right to A to Z at 10th and May, my installation (and suspension work) shop of choice.

(Current rubber: Dunlop SP Sport Signature in 215-55VR16. List $152 each. Total including shipping, mounting and, yes, nitrogen fill: $495.)

[JayhawkTransplant]

I bought tires last week, and price shopped. Jackie Cooper was the best price for the tire I got (a low-profile Goodyear...I was matching 3 tires to one new one that came with my car). They do free rotate/balance for the life of the tire as well.

[ben]

I personally just shop online on places like Tire Rack, and then have Discount Tire price match them! Always works out GREAT for me because Tire Rack DOES have great prices. P

[SkyWestOKC]

I go to Freddie's Discount Tire on Reno, east of Portland / I-44. Good service, quick, and they won't rake you over the coals.