12 Best Places to Save on Tires

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There are a number of places where you can buy tires easily. Convenience can cost a pretty penny, though, and you’ll want to make sure the tires are of good quality.

There’s no way I would skimp on quality when it comes to tires.

So, where should you go for the best prices, sweetest deals and best track record?

Consumer Reports polled over 50,000 subscribers who purchased tires and came up with a list of 33 retailers who had the best and worst tire change services.

After looking at that, we’ve created a list that only includes the best places to buy tires at an affordable cost.

Where To Buy Tires Near You

Discount Tire, Goodyear, and Costco top the list of the best places to buy tires and have tires installed. They carry a large inventory of tire brands and tire sizes.

Even if your tires just have low tire pressure, most of these places will fill your tires for free.

1. Discount Tire

Discount Tire gets high marks from users for its fair prices and easy payment plans. It has free Wi-Fi while you wait, too. Customer service, however, was ranked lower.

Still, according to reviewers on ConsumerAffairs.com, many have experienced the best bang for their buck with Discount Tires.

That’s not to say that their tires are not expensive, though. The average cost for a brand new set of four tires is $500+.

Within the past 18 months, Discount Tire has initiated a payment plan for those needing extra time to pay for their brand-new wheels.

2. Goodyear

Goodyear has been in the tire business since 1898; 60 years after Charles Goodyear discovered a process manufacturing rubber suitable for intense use.

If you’re a football fan, you’ve surely seen the famous Goodyear blimp flying over games. But Goodyear’s main claim to fame is selling quality tires.

The average price per good year tire comes in at $178. However, much of the reason for higher average tire prices lies in the fact that Goodyear offers a lot more choices.

They’ve got a lot more higher-end and performance tires for auto needs of all kinds.

You can find Goodyear tires at Goodyear stores or various other tire retailers, such as Walmart.

3. Big O Tires

Big O Tires is the second-largest tire retailer in the country. It’s helped millions of Americans since 1962 and has some of the most affordable options for tires.

The average cost is $168 per tire. Most tire sets purchased with Big O Tires have allowed users to get up to 60,000 miles of wear and tear.

Similar to Discount Tire, Big O Tires offers a payment plan for buyers who need more time to pay for tires.

According to WalletHub, it’s not a terrible deal, especially if your credit score is lower than the average American’s. You need only a fair credit score to qualify.

But don’t let that excite you too much. Late fees are $38 a pop, and the average interest rate is 16%. Ouch.

4. Sam’s Club

Shopping at warehouse clubs can save you big money. And Sam’s Club offers great deals for tires for your car.

The average price per tire hovers around $155 dollars. Note that you must be a Sam’s Club member to shop for tires here.

All Sam’s Club tire installations include 24/7 roadside service for tire issues, tire waste disposal, and lifetime balance, rotation, and flat repair.

Related Article: How To Get A Sam’s Club Membership For Free

5. Costco

Affordability is the most common concern for Costco shoppers.

The average price per tire comes in at around $160, bringing Costco’s total in at $600+ for a new set of tires, according to Consumer Reports.

For the average shopper, this is a bit steep. But in return, you get the convenience of dropping your car off while you shop for bulk grocery items.

6. Les Schwab Tire Centers

Les Schwab Tire Centers are located in ten states, all in the western U.S. Their prices are steeper than what you’ll find elsewhere, but their customer service is top-notch.

You can’t actually purchase these tires online, but you can do all of the shopping and browsing in advance and then schedule installation at a store near you. They also accept walk-ins.

Perks include:

  • Flexible financing available
  • Free flat tire repair, tire disposal, tire rotation, tire rebalancing, tire replacement, and more with purchase

Top Places to Buy Tires Online

Many larger franchise tire centers and retailers offer monthly deals. These deals typically involve purchasing three tires and getting the fourth free.

Look for percentage-off discounts around various holidays, too.

Generally, the best time to purchase new tires is between April and October, especially during the summer months. The year-end holidays are another time to look for specials.

Here are some retailers and franchisees with the best deals throughout the year.

7. TireRack

Tire Rack operates much like TireBuyer.com. The difference here is that the rebate deals are offered directly by tire manufacturers such as Goodyear and Michelin and some smaller shop franchises like Firestone.

These rebates require you to mail in your information instead of completing it online.

Mailing in your rebate means it may take longer for your “money saved” to truly feel like it’s been saved. This doesn’t mean it isn’t worth it, however.

Tire Rack also has some deals where you can get a Visa gift card with your purchase.

8. Priority Tire

Priority Tire works slightly differently than other tire companies listed here. They sell brand name tires directly to you at up to 55% off retail.

The tires ship directly to your house, and then you can bring them to your favorite tire shop to have them installed.

Priority Tire sells top brands such as Goodyear, Firestone, BF Goodrich, Bridgestone, and more.

The company ships all orders to the contiguous 48 U.S. states for free. They provide a 90-day return policy for unused and unmounted tires as well.

If you live in Allentown, Pennsylvania, or Dallas, Texas, you may be able to pick your tires up on the same day you order. However, there is no discount for pick up as opposed to having them shipped.

9. SimpleTire.com

SimpleTire is an online tire retailer that was born out of years of experience in Josh and Andy Chalofski’s family tire installation business.

The brothers knew that their family’s brick-and-mortar business could grow exponentially in the e-commerce world, so they founded SimpleTire.

SimpleTire carries over 300 brands of tires. You can browse by brand, by tire size, or browse SimpleTire’s coupons and deals section.

SimpleTire is easy to use: Find your tires using the SimpleTire link above. Schedule your installation at a partner service center near you–or have the tires shipped to your home.

SimpleTire offers flexible payment options to help with any budget. Non-mounted tires can be returned within 30 days of purchase.

10. TireBuyer.com

Like Discount Tire, this online retailer has a search tool that lets you set specific parameters around the kind of tires you’re looking for, including an average price based on your make and model.

Where Tire Buyer differs is that besides delivering a full set of results that you can choose from, it also offers a limited set of recommended tires.

It says it chooses these recommendations based on 120 characteristics, including best sellers in your area, customer reviews, performance characteristics, mileage warranty information and value.

Bonus: They currently offer 10% off on any set of 4 tires through this link!

11. Amazon Tires

Amazon sells pretty much everything under the sun these days, including tires. You can purchase any type of tire imaginable from its online inventory.

Amazon Prime customers, in particular, can score some fantastic deals. The lowest price for a tire is $26 — talk about a deal!

The biggest downside to purchasing tires through Amazon is the amount of searching you’ll have to do.

The parameters to help you narrow down results are nowhere near as detailed as those on other tire retailer websites. Regardless of this, Amazon offers big money-saving opportunities.

12. Walmart

Walmart offers tires both online and in their Auto Care Centers. You’ll need to have a good idea of what you’re looking for and your vehicle’s specifications if you shop online, but they have a wide selection and reasonable prices.

Keep in mind that if you shop online, delivery will be to your door, and you’ll need to set up installation separately. Their Auto Care Centers offer installation for $15 per tire (basic package) and additional services like oil changes, batteries, and fuel system services.

Perks include:

  • Free delivery on many items

I’ve used Walmart for other services (batteries and oil changes) and it has taken a while for them to finish, but the price was right. This may not be the most convenient option, but it’s typically one of the cheaper ones.

Tire Installation Costs

Tires are only part of the cost when you take steps to replace your current tires.

It’s important to keep in mind, too, that mechanics will charge to align the tires, dispose of the original tires, and put your car back together if the seats were taken down.

Whether you pay a mechanic or have a shop install the tires for you, it’s best to remember that you’ll spend more on the entire process than just buying the tires.

Related Post: 15 Ways to Sell Old Car Batteries for Cash

How Do These Tire Companies Compare

CompanyTrustpilot (Out of 5 Stars)
Discount Tire3.6
Goodyear 2.1
Big O Tires1.9
Sam’s Club1.6
Costco1.5
TireRack4.8
Priority Tire4.5
SimpleTire.com4.1
TireBuyer.com3.2
Amazon Tires1.9

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most common questions when buying tires.

What is a good price for 4 tires?

Prices for a set of 4 tires vary based on the size of your car, type of car and what type of tires you need. The average price for a full set is around $600.

How many tires should I buy?

First, have your local tire store check all the tires to see what you truly need. If you need just one tire and the other in great shape, that might do the job.

Most recommend getting a set to make sure the tires balance each other. If you need three tires, then the wise choice is to get four so all tires are balanced.

Do more expensive tires last longer?

Studies show tires that are made with better quality tend to last longer and offer longer warranties. Make sure you research to check brand names, makes, and models.

Should I get an alignment after replacing all four tires?

Yes, when replacing two or even four tires, you should have your local tire company do an alignment. This will give you peace of mind knowing your car is aligned.

Most tire stores recommend getting your tire alignment done once a year. Some even offer this for free.

Summary

The price of car tires and installation has changed over recent years as tires have become more complicated. Tires now expire in six years.

While it’s not illegal to keep older tires, many shops will refuse to repair them if they’re damaged.

There’s no way around it: Good tires are expensive.

Discovering new ways to save on big-ticket items like new tires is valuable for those on a tight budget or anyone who just doesn’t want to spend a lot on tires.

One of the best ways to save money on your new set of tires is to time your tire purchases between April and October.

Then look for retailers offering installation deals, speak to your local shop mechanic when that doesn’t work, and do your research before you buy tires for your vehicle.

Sources: Consumer Reports

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7 Comments

  1. Jeffrey Nichols says:

    I think the best place is exactly what you list–Discount Tire. I went and called ALL over town and the guys at Discount Tire not only had the best price, they seemed the most knowledgeable and passionate about tires. I think it’s worth mentioning that the company has a guarantee where it will not only match but beat any lower price you can find (online included). This is a rare win-win situation here. Quality and best price (for those looking for it).

    1. Jess Nardini says:

      So glad you had success with it. We love hearing people’s feedback!

  2. Ritu Rawt says:

    This is very helpful information about car tires. I bought Apollo Alnac 4G tires for my car on Amazon. It is the very best to deal for me.

    1. Glad to hear you had success with your tire purchase!

  3. This is much appreciated! This information was really helpful and will surely serve me well.

  4. Two things I don’t skimp on, for obvious reasons, are sport shoes and tires, but not necessarily in that order, LOL! Safety, wear and comfort, and a quiet smooth ride are paramount. Properly installed tires are a must. Stay on top of tire pressure, rotation, etc. Cheers!

    1. Those things make sense! Thanks for your comments and viewpoint. 🙂