It all comes down to the total cost and service. The shipping is NOT free no matter how you slice it. Even buying locally, they are not shipped there for free. If sales tax was added to ALL internet sales that would also level the playing field. Tirerack is still the benchmark for all the rest. Best selection, information, service. Many, many times I have ordered tires from them before noon, and 24 hours later they are here. Makes a huge difference when you need a tire/tires asafp. The rest can't touch that. But, it is always good to shop around.
best places to buy tires online
- Thread starter ram_man
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Decide what tires you'd consider suitable and then shop all of the listed sites since relative pricing and shipping charges will vary.
Any one of these sites will sometimes be the cheapest for a given tire after shipping charges. You'll usually have to pay sales tax with DTD, incidentally.
TR often has tires on special or closeout and these can be a real deal.
I've had no issues with shipping from DTD, TR, TD or T-E.
You usually get your new tires within a couple of days from any one of them.
TR does have an awesome selection which is useful as a reference even if you intend to purchase locally. Lets you know what's available and what it should cost.
T-E lists a lot of tires, but a number of them are no-names most of us would probably avoid.
Any one of these sites will sometimes be the cheapest for a given tire after shipping charges. You'll usually have to pay sales tax with DTD, incidentally.
TR often has tires on special or closeout and these can be a real deal.
I've had no issues with shipping from DTD, TR, TD or T-E.
You usually get your new tires within a couple of days from any one of them.
TR does have an awesome selection which is useful as a reference even if you intend to purchase locally. Lets you know what's available and what it should cost.
T-E lists a lot of tires, but a number of them are no-names most of us would probably avoid.
I've used discount tire direct twice with no complaints. One set of tires only and one set mounted and balanced on new rims. Both were substantially cheaper than I could obtain locally.
That being said, I've never found a set of tires on tirerack that I couldn't beat the price locally once shipping was factored in.
My personal choice is to buy locally first, but I haven't had any issues the two times I did not.
That being said, I've never found a set of tires on tirerack that I couldn't beat the price locally once shipping was factored in.
My personal choice is to buy locally first, but I haven't had any issues the two times I did not.
I hope this is not getting too far off topic, but there seems to be a lot of experience here, with buying tires online. While I have visited a few of these websites, particularly TireRack.com, I have never ordered tires online.
I really appreciate all the great information that Tirerack.com provides, and feel guilty for not buying tires from them, after using all their resources. But I have never been able to get past a few concerns. Any explanations here would help me understand.
First, what is it like going in to a tire shop and asking them to mount tires that you didn't buy there? Isn't there a little bit of attitude involved? It seems that the shop would tend to treat you as a second class customer, after their loyal customers, who buy tire from them.
Second, how do you get warranty service? I usually buy road hazard warranty with my tires, and it pays off. If you get a damaged tire that cannot be repaired, who warrants it? If Tire Rack, how does that work? Obviously, you want to get back on the road immediately.
Third, if you get an issue such as a bad balance, isn't there an issue with the shop and Tire rack both blaming the other?
Last, what about ongoing services that are typically provided from a tire shop, such as free rotation and balance? Flat repair? Is a tire shop really that excited about providing such services on tires that were bought elsewhere?
These are the sort of questions that have always kept me from ordering tires.
I really appreciate all the great information that Tirerack.com provides, and feel guilty for not buying tires from them, after using all their resources. But I have never been able to get past a few concerns. Any explanations here would help me understand.
First, what is it like going in to a tire shop and asking them to mount tires that you didn't buy there? Isn't there a little bit of attitude involved? It seems that the shop would tend to treat you as a second class customer, after their loyal customers, who buy tire from them.
Second, how do you get warranty service? I usually buy road hazard warranty with my tires, and it pays off. If you get a damaged tire that cannot be repaired, who warrants it? If Tire Rack, how does that work? Obviously, you want to get back on the road immediately.
Third, if you get an issue such as a bad balance, isn't there an issue with the shop and Tire rack both blaming the other?
Last, what about ongoing services that are typically provided from a tire shop, such as free rotation and balance? Flat repair? Is a tire shop really that excited about providing such services on tires that were bought elsewhere?
These are the sort of questions that have always kept me from ordering tires.
Originally Posted By: ram_man
I am able to mount balance rotate amd repair the tires so none of that is of much concern to me. I just was wondering if there was a cheaper site. Tire rack isnt that cheap.
I'm sorry, if you're able to mount and balance tires yourself now, then how did you get into the mess that you were in with the Cooper tires a couple months ago? Were you doing it yourself then? It sure seemed like on that one, that you were talking third person, as if you were dealing with a shop.
Other than that, I'm staying out of this one. When you're apparently too stubborn to pick up a phone and do the right thing, and call Cooper when you ran into the problems that you did... then I give up.
I am able to mount balance rotate amd repair the tires so none of that is of much concern to me. I just was wondering if there was a cheaper site. Tire rack isnt that cheap.
I'm sorry, if you're able to mount and balance tires yourself now, then how did you get into the mess that you were in with the Cooper tires a couple months ago? Were you doing it yourself then? It sure seemed like on that one, that you were talking third person, as if you were dealing with a shop.
Other than that, I'm staying out of this one. When you're apparently too stubborn to pick up a phone and do the right thing, and call Cooper when you ran into the problems that you did... then I give up.
BHopkins,
I can t answer all your questions but I can answer some. Just be aware that my experience is from the tire manufacturer's point of view, but what I am commenting on is based on people talking to me about their experience as well as my trying to deal with those experiences.
I am warning you that I am NOT a fan of ordering tires over the internet unless you have to. And if you read below, you'll see why.
Originally Posted By: BHopkins
....... It seems that the shop would tend to treat you as a second class customer, after their loyal customers, who buy tire from them......
There are some that truly act that way. This can be a problem. Obviously selecting a shop that will work with you is important. But even then, when push comes to shove, theirs a certain amount of loyalty involved and it can quickly evaporate.
Originally Posted By: BHopkins
.......Second, how do you get warranty service?.......
This is where it hits the fan. Officially, the warranty should to go through the selling dealer. You can sometimes get the mounting dealer (or some other dealer) to do it, but there are a ton of bad experiences doing it this way, that says internet warranty doean't work very well.
Originally Posted By: BHopkins
....... I usually buy road hazard warranty with my tires, and it pays off. If you get a damaged tire that cannot be repaired, who warrants it?.....
There are 2 different road hazard warranties - one through the tire manufacturer and one through the dealer. In the case of the manufacturer road hazard warraty, in theory it can be taken care of by any dealer that carries the product 9and there are way around that, too!)
But in the case of a dealer issued road hazard warranty, you absolutely will not find any other dealer honoring that warranty.
Originally Posted By: BHopkins
.......If Tire Rack, how does that work? Obviously, you want to get back on the road immediately.....
Tire Rack doesn't sell its own road hazard warranty, so we are only talking about the manufacturer's road hazard warranty - and that is usually taken care of through a local dealer, not the internet retailer. But this can create problem, in that some dealers truly resent having to deal with warranty of tires they did not sell.
Originally Posted By: BHopkins
.......Third, if you get an issue such as a bad balance, isn't there an issue with the shop and Tire Rack both blaming the other? ......
Absolutely. Even worse is when the mounting shop damages the tire in mounting - you should watch the finger pointing that takes place. I've been involved with a couple of those. It can get nasty very quickly. No one comes out of those without some stink on them.
Originally Posted By: BHopkins
.......Last, what about ongoing services that are typically provided from a tire shop, such as free rotation and balance? Flat repair? Is a tire shop really that excited about providing such services on tires that were bought elsewhere?......
You are absolutely right. Mounting dealers are NOT going to do those things for you for free, unless they do it for EVERYONE for free. Some do, but most don't.
Originally Posted By: BHopkins
.......These are the sort of questions that have always kept me from ordering tires.
If I didn't get my discount by ordering through the internet, I would go to the local dealer to buy tires. It's bad enough having to deal with a warranty situation, but to deal with one where there are 4 parties involved is beyond complex.
I can t answer all your questions but I can answer some. Just be aware that my experience is from the tire manufacturer's point of view, but what I am commenting on is based on people talking to me about their experience as well as my trying to deal with those experiences.
I am warning you that I am NOT a fan of ordering tires over the internet unless you have to. And if you read below, you'll see why.
Originally Posted By: BHopkins
....... It seems that the shop would tend to treat you as a second class customer, after their loyal customers, who buy tire from them......
There are some that truly act that way. This can be a problem. Obviously selecting a shop that will work with you is important. But even then, when push comes to shove, theirs a certain amount of loyalty involved and it can quickly evaporate.
Originally Posted By: BHopkins
.......Second, how do you get warranty service?.......
This is where it hits the fan. Officially, the warranty should to go through the selling dealer. You can sometimes get the mounting dealer (or some other dealer) to do it, but there are a ton of bad experiences doing it this way, that says internet warranty doean't work very well.
Originally Posted By: BHopkins
....... I usually buy road hazard warranty with my tires, and it pays off. If you get a damaged tire that cannot be repaired, who warrants it?.....
There are 2 different road hazard warranties - one through the tire manufacturer and one through the dealer. In the case of the manufacturer road hazard warraty, in theory it can be taken care of by any dealer that carries the product 9and there are way around that, too!)
But in the case of a dealer issued road hazard warranty, you absolutely will not find any other dealer honoring that warranty.
Originally Posted By: BHopkins
.......If Tire Rack, how does that work? Obviously, you want to get back on the road immediately.....
Tire Rack doesn't sell its own road hazard warranty, so we are only talking about the manufacturer's road hazard warranty - and that is usually taken care of through a local dealer, not the internet retailer. But this can create problem, in that some dealers truly resent having to deal with warranty of tires they did not sell.
Originally Posted By: BHopkins
.......Third, if you get an issue such as a bad balance, isn't there an issue with the shop and Tire Rack both blaming the other? ......
Absolutely. Even worse is when the mounting shop damages the tire in mounting - you should watch the finger pointing that takes place. I've been involved with a couple of those. It can get nasty very quickly. No one comes out of those without some stink on them.
Originally Posted By: BHopkins
.......Last, what about ongoing services that are typically provided from a tire shop, such as free rotation and balance? Flat repair? Is a tire shop really that excited about providing such services on tires that were bought elsewhere?......
You are absolutely right. Mounting dealers are NOT going to do those things for you for free, unless they do it for EVERYONE for free. Some do, but most don't.
Originally Posted By: BHopkins
.......These are the sort of questions that have always kept me from ordering tires.
If I didn't get my discount by ordering through the internet, I would go to the local dealer to buy tires. It's bad enough having to deal with a warranty situation, but to deal with one where there are 4 parties involved is beyond complex.
As a tire installer, 75% of my business comes from the internet. I treat all my customers 1st class. I have no inventory, low overhead and pass the savings and careful installation to the customer. The tirerack does have a road hazard program. I do not care for road hazard warranties. My tire wholesaler used to offer it, and I would pass the cost to the customer at only $3 per tire, but after installing 1000 tires with no claims I figured I had 250 customers that just wasted 3000 bucks. I personally have driven for over 40 years without destroying a tire. The tire dealer always had some guy taking advantage of them wrecking a tire every few months, but it was never the newest one they had replaced. If I had to do free rotations, with a few hundred customers, that's all I would have time to do everyday. It is offered to get you back in to try and sell you something else, not to be nice.
By the way I am just a 1 man installer. Everything is by appointment and prompt. I only do 1 or 2 sets of tires on any given day so I don't have to try and beat the clock. If takes 2 or 3 hours to do a perfect installation that's what I do.
By the way I am just a 1 man installer. Everything is by appointment and prompt. I only do 1 or 2 sets of tires on any given day so I don't have to try and beat the clock. If takes 2 or 3 hours to do a perfect installation that's what I do.
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Originally Posted By: Traction
I do not care for road hazard warranties. My tire wholesaler used to offer it, and I would pass the cost to the customer at only $3 per tire, but after installing 1000 tires with no claims I figured I had 250 customers that just wasted 3000 bucks. I personally have driven for over 40 years without destroying a tire.
Really? You yourself, and none of your customers have ever had a side wall puncture? I personally have had this happen twice. Most everyone I know who is my age (old enough to have 40+ years of driving experience) has at one time or another had similar experiences.
I do not care for road hazard warranties. My tire wholesaler used to offer it, and I would pass the cost to the customer at only $3 per tire, but after installing 1000 tires with no claims I figured I had 250 customers that just wasted 3000 bucks. I personally have driven for over 40 years without destroying a tire.
Really? You yourself, and none of your customers have ever had a side wall puncture? I personally have had this happen twice. Most everyone I know who is my age (old enough to have 40+ years of driving experience) has at one time or another had similar experiences.
I just bought 4 tires online from simpletire.com. Communication with them was awesome, and the tires arrived in 2 business days (I must be close to a warehouse or something). Their price + shipping was $35 cheaper than the next best place I could find online. None of the local shops could come close no matter what brand tire they offered. Took them to wally world and had them mount/balance/install with lifetime balance and rotation for $74. Why wally? Accesibility, you can find a wally tire center everywhere.
So, listing the online tire shops I looked at...
tire rack
discount tire direct
simple tire
vulcan tire
tread depot
tire buyer
tires-easy
performance plus tire
right tire
there are more but I'm not recalling them at the moment. Those are the bigger ones, I'd suspect. Vulcan tire has good prices and shipping, better than tire buyer or tires-easy in my experience.
So, listing the online tire shops I looked at...
tire rack
discount tire direct
simple tire
vulcan tire
tread depot
tire buyer
tires-easy
performance plus tire
right tire
there are more but I'm not recalling them at the moment. Those are the bigger ones, I'd suspect. Vulcan tire has good prices and shipping, better than tire buyer or tires-easy in my experience.
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