I believe that the TIRE RACK website is the place to begin in doing a search for new tires. Second, the manufacturers website. Then, purchase through DISCOUNT TIRE for service.
Example: I recently purchased an '01 1500 DODGE Ram. I had a long look at the TR site, and paid special attention to customer comments in the review section. I covered each of the three tire brands chosen (from dozens at the beginning) from every single point TR makes available.
I then went to the manufacturer websites and did the same. Some, like MICHELIN, offered a search function to make tire recommendations per specific vehicle, and this was used to again search, study and consider the tire choices at the TR site.
Once a single tire was chosen, and the complete costs of ordering from TR (plus local mount/balance) was calculated, I put in a call to DISCOUNT. As always (over the past 4-5 years) their quote was within a percentage I found acceptable.
And that accceptability rides on this: a great shop full of well-trained men with good attitudes, appreciative of a customer interested in all aspects of tire balance, mount, wear, etc.
All my questions are answered. Plus, they are trained in the use of the HUNTER GSP-9700 Road Force Balancer which is the final piece of the "percentage acceptable".
Someday, this may not hold. The outstanding manager may move too far away; the shop may decline in service, etc. (I pass more than six closer DT locations to drive to this one). That may tip the balance. But, as DT has national service, the balance remains in their favor for the time.
On someone elses car (who is less involved in it), for my parents car, for a car I am selling, then TR would be hard to beat.