Should i buy tires online

If you want to take advantage of a manufacturer's warranty, you'll need to go through the tire manufacturer. Also, Priority Tire does not offer rebates though it does offer a revolving set of deals listed on its site. Besides cost, you should also consider warranty options and installation convenience when shopping online for tires.

For each retailer, we looked at the following important factors that affect both your bottom line and the amount of hassle you have to go through to get new tires. We considered warranty, installation convenience and cost, then used Consumer Reports' most recent tire retailer satisfaction survey to help determine how happy people were with their purchases from these national retailers, as well as each company's rating on the Better Business Bureau.

The Consumer Reports tire reviews survey looked at nine different sectors across 29 national retailers.

We used CR's estimated cost per tire as a reference point for our comparison, too. We also spoke to Gene Petersen, tire program leader at Consumer Reports, about the testing.

And we connected with Tire Rack's Matt Edmonds, as quoted above, for general tips for finding the right tires for you and saving money in the process. According to Petersen at Consumer Reports, there are more than 33, independent tire retailers in the US. That means there's a lot to sort through when you're shopping for them.

Tire shops can range widely in size and how they sell tires. Everyone from big-box stores like Costco and Sam's Club and Walmart to small, local, independent tire shops offer tires for sale. These days, online retailers are also making it incredibly easy to buy tires online and have them drop-shipped to a location of your choice when you're ready to have them installed. Petersen advises that the best way to make the most of your tire shopping is to take the entire cost of both purchasing the tires and getting them installed into consideration.

The first thing to do when shopping for new tires is to figure out the right size for your vehicle and the features that you want for your specific needs. To find the right size, look at the outside rim of the rubber tire also known as the sidewall and find the number and letter combination that is divided by a slash.

You can also find your tire size by looking at the inside frame of the driver's side door. You should take into consideration things like the environment you'll be driving in snowy, icy, wet , the conditions of the roads you'll be driving on sandy, dirt, paved, concrete, asphalt , the kind of driving you'll be doing sporty and aggressive or cruising on the highway and how much you want to spend on new tires, among other considerations.

Are you looking for an all season tire or one that performs well in very bad winter conditions? One thing to note, according to Edmonds, is that tire pricing is largely determined by a couple of things: the compounds that the tires themselves are made of and how much research and development a tire company puts into creating those tires.

When shopping for tires online, consumers need to take into account the cost of mounting and balancing them. All those things make them perform properly. He also notes that the minimum advertised price or MAP price is the lowest tire price that any resellers are permitted to sell tires at. If you find a discounted tire on sale, it's likely because those tires are older and being replaced by a newer model. He notes that proper storage means that the tires have been stored in a temperature-controlled space inside, out of the weather and sun.

Most tire manufacturers not the resellers offer treadwear warranties, but as Edmonds notes, they tend to be really difficult to take advantage of because there are often a lot of caveats.

You also have to take advantage of the warranty directly through the manufacturer, rather than the tire retailer you purchase it through. Most installers will offer additional road hazard warranties that cover things like a flat tire as a result of a pothole or nail in the road. These vary from company to company -- some offer them for free, while others charge a premium for them.

Be sure you read about the warranties and how to take advantage of them before purchasing tires. One other thing to consider, as Petersen points out: The big difference between purchasing tires at a brick-and-mortar store and an online store is the variety of selection. Brick-and-mortar retailers aren't going to have every model you might want to consider and if they did, all chances are they wouldn't necessarily have them in the size you need," he says.

A big benefit to venturing online to buy tires is the ability to purchase a wide variety of tires and sizes. Ultimately, getting tires has become easier in the days of online shopping and delivery. With plenty of places to choose from, buying tires online can be an equally good choice as getting them at a tire shop as long as the tires you want and need are in stock. While prices can vary slightly, Petersen says, it pays more to haggle on prices for installation, warranties and other things.

Tire prices are largely set in stone by the manufacturer and installers rarely have any wiggle room to negotiate. If you have a hard time finding tires, your best bet is to try online retailers like Tire Rack and have the tires drop-shipped to one of its local installers. If you need tires immediately, you might do better by hitting up a brick-and-mortar shop nearby -- but be sure to check inventory and its installation appointments online before heading out.

Climb in the driver's seat for the latest car news and reviews, delivered to your inbox twice weekly. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic. We delete comments that violate our policy , which we encourage you to read. Discussion threads can be closed at any time at our discretion. Roadshow editors pick the products and services we write about. When you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Roadshow staff. Best place to buy tires online overall Tire Rack. Jump to details. See at Tire Rack.

Best place to buy tires online overall runner-up Tirebuyer. See at Tirebuyer. See at Discount Tire. On one occasion, I decided I wanted a set of mud terrain tires on a whim. I looked on Prioritytire. I had a trip coming up in 2 days and wanted them asap. I paid a little extra for the choice of picking them up right when I wanted them.

Now keep in mind that the prices you see online may not include installation at a local shop. My tire purchase at the local dealer included mount and balancing costs. Save time by ordering online lol? Sounds counterintuitive right? Always call your tire dealer in advance if you think your size might be uncommon to avoid this problem. As already mentioned, we love tire techs and salespeople. The overwhelming percentage of experiences at tire shops are fantastic.

I like being able to trust them with my car, pay a fair price for install, and support a small business. Buying tires online has allowed me to get exactly what I want and have them installed right by my favorite mechanic. Many of the previous problems with online tire buying have been solved over the years.

One of those problems is installation. Most online retailers have contracts with mobile installers that come straight to your home or office. They can perform the entire installation while you enjoy the comfort of your own home. If you factor in the time you save going all the way to a shop, waiting in line, and then waiting there for installation, this deal pencils out.

Tire Rack even has a spot on their site that lets you not only find a mobile installer near you, but shows their reviews from other customers and lists their charges. Many of them can also perform basic maintenance, such as brakes and suspension components. Keep in mind that most online shops will perform mounting and balancing for free if you purchase both items from them. When you visit the tire shop, their job is to get you back on the road as safely as possible.

One way they do this is by ensuring that every tire sold is considered an OEM factory fit. For many of us that drive modified vehicles, this is the last thing we want!

I have had tire shops refuse to install a tire that was too far out of the size range of the original tire. For example, one of my cars is a lifted Subaru Forester. But the people at some tire shops may have policies that prohibit them from installing a specific size on your vehicle. One of our favorite online tire stores Simpletire. For some of us, shopping with a business that we truly believe in and that treats their employees and customers right is a huge deal.

Picking your favorite shop online might be the best option for you to still get the products you want. Some retailers also contribute a portion of their profit to charitable causes. Tire Rack runs a foundation that helps educate young drivers in order to reduce teen-driver fatalities.

We value what other people just like us are saying about a product or service. Buying tires should be no different. Almost every online tire store has reviews that you can read as you shop. They typically show the mileage driven on the tire by each customer, their opinion of performance on a wide range of surfaces, and their overall rating.

What should you look for when buying tires online? Full disclosure: we have arranged affiliate partnerships with some of these retailers in order to recommend their products to you. This means we may earn a small commission if you purchase from them after using our links. This helps us continue bringing helpful information to our readers:. Tire Rack is probably one of the main reasons online tire purchasing has become more convenient.

They took the hassle out of it by offering free shipping, local install options, and competitive pricing. One reason we recommend them to you guys is their customer service. To shop for tires online today click here: Tire Agent. By Tire Agent.

There are many benefits to ordering a new set of rubber from your laptop or smartphone, including the following: Lower prices: The primary benefit to online tire stores is lower price. This is especially true when compared to the cost at the local tire store or car dealership. With online tire buying, you can shop from anywhere including your couch.