How to Get a Good Deal on Tires

Last Updated: May 5, 2021 References Approved

Did you know you can haggle when you're buying tires? That's right — you should never have to pay full price. After deciding what brand you want, go to a dealer and put your haggling skills to the test. Make sure you do some online research first, since you'll often find a better deal online than you could get in person. Getting prepared before making a purchase is the best way to ensure you're getting a great deal.

Steps

1
Decide which brand of tire you want. A specific brand dealer will be able to get you a much better price on the brand his store is owned by, because he gets them direct from the factory. When you try to get a brand different from the one the dealer has, he buys them from a tire wholesaler, and then marks them up 20% to 30%. Many companies have stopped selling direct to dealers and department stores, instead marketing their tires through a larger wholesaler and controlling the price level by having dealers join an alliance program.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- Big-box stores such as Sears and Walmart, and warehouse stores such as Costco and Sam's Club, often have low but probably non-negotiable prices on tires.
2
Do your homework. Know which tire you want when you walk in. They will be pushing their top-of-the-line tire at the moment because the salespeople get more commission per tire on those.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- Also have a second and even a third choice as a backup to your first choice. You may be able to get a better tire for a lesser price today
Advertisement
3
Try not to accept the first offer. Tires are marked up, and most salespeople will work out the quote with the suggested retail price. This can be anywhere from $5 to $50 over store cost per tire. Make sure the quote includes installation and balance.
4
Be polite. A common sentiment among salespeople is that "Discounts vary upon customer attitude."
5
Get quotes from other dealers before stepping into the store. The best way to do this is call and ask for prices on the tires that you have decided to purchase. They will try to sell you another brand that they claim is a better deal (which is sometimes true). Getting quotes from multiple dealers will help you determine when dealers are being honest and when they are simply out for more money.^{[3]
X
Trustworthy Source
Consumer Reports
Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing
Go to source}
6
Always consider buying from an online tire store. You may find a better deal than any brick and mortar store, even after you add shipping charges. This is especially true for less popular brands of tires and/or high-performance tires.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Online stores will often ship the tires directly to a mechanic of your choice, who will perform the actual installation.
- Online stores such as Tire Rack will often provide numerous reviews of different kinds of tires and ratings of various aspects of their performance such as ride, wet and dry traction, fuel consumption, and longevity.
- TireRack.com will also give you prices for local tire installers (go to the installation section).
- Remember that installation and balancing is an additional cost.
- Any warranty claims are with the online retailer and not the installer.
7
Check comparisons on reputable websites like "safercar.gov"
8
Consider carefully the lifespan of tires. Bear in mind that a tire that lasts twice as long will cost half as much to buy and half as much to have mounted, have the old tire disposed, etc.^{[5]
X
Research source}

Community Q&A

Question

What are the typical indicators to let you know it's time to buy new tires?

Community Answer

Do the penny tread depth test on the tire, use a Lincoln penny to confirm the tire's tread depth. If Lincoln's entire head is visible, the tire is worn to approximately 2/32" and is considered legally worn out in most states.
Question

Why don't tires have an expiration date?

Community Answer

Manufacturers recommend replacing tires after 8-10 years, if they last that long. They don't have an expiration date because in order to expire, they would need to actually be "broken." At eight years, your tire sidewalls are much stiffer than when you bought them, and they don't give to the same degree. This means you're more likely to experience a blowout.
Question

Why do retail store tires do not have the manufacture date marked on the tires?

Community Answer

All manufacturers have the date the tire was made printed on them, as tires are only designed to be used a maximum of 10 years. The establishment at which you got your tires may have mounted the tires in a way you can't see the date.

Warnings

Proper air pressure can be found on the vehicle placard on the inside of the driver door, in your glove box, or in your owner's manual.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 5 Not Helpful 5
Under/over inflation will also cause irregular wear, which will void any mileage warranty.^{[7]
X
Research source} Tires that fail due to under inflation may also be excluded from any road hazard protection plan you might have purchased.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
The most important thing in tire safety and longevity is air pressure. Check this at least once a month.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
An under inflated tire runs hotter and will wear faster and unevenly. Tires are also more likely to fail if they run too hot for an extended period.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0