Buying tires on-line vs. in store

[Slvr RnR]

I'm less than 2 weeks from installing my lift (9/12/09 :jump which means I'll be slapping on some new rubber as well. I've always used places like tirerack.com as a reference tool (and a great one at that), but I've never ordered from an on-line vendor.

Obviously the tires are cheaper, but is it worth it from an overall perspective: cost of install, shipping, alignment... I'm sure there are more things to consider.

Post your experiences and preferences. If you buy on-line, do you have a preferred site?

Thanks all!


FYI, please check in here on 9/12. You all know waaaay more than me and I'm going to have questions/issues. I need you!

 

[GMZ]

Ive bought from Tire Rack before. No complaints, but lately I have been trying to patronize local businesses and many will (in this economy) match an online price.

 

[Uneek]

I normally buy tires in store.

But I've had good experiences with reputable online retailers for other major purchases and would not rule out getting tires online.

If there is no tax, I will definately consider online, unless the local tire shop tries to rip me new one on mounting and balancing for not buying it from them. Tax is almost 10% where I live--it hurts.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Discount tire will price match their own on-line site in store which is quite a bit cheaper than their in store prices. I'll be saving almost $150 on m my next set of Nittos with the on-line price plus you don't have any warranty and rotations and fix-its are nice to deal with when you aren't dealing with a 2nd party installer.

 

[alaskaman]

I do it in the store. nothing like getting a grip on some rubber.:flamethrwoer2:

 

[bt216]

discounttiredirect.com

 

[K.C.]

I've always purchased my tires at a store.

Anywho...I use to purchase my tires at Costco, because their prices include installing, lifetime rotation, balance & road hazard warranty.

I don't go to Costco anymore, because they don't sell Bridgestone & they only install OEM sizes.

My last set of tires on the 4Runner was by a shop & I got to install them too!! Because my friend runs the shop, installed them myself, so it's done correctly.

So my conclusion...factor what's important for you, some shops may or may not include free installation.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

discounttiredirect.com

Does anyone have any suggestions for which online retailer?





:gun5::lmao:

:hatsoff:

 

[bt216]

^just trying to save members money.

 

[riverwolf]

As other have mentioned, I've never had trouble matching or beating TireRack's price (including shipping) at my local shop...no negotiating was even required. YMMV, but I think people are too quick today to assume online is always cheaper than local. When you consider the benefit to your local economy and a potential long term relationship with a vendor, I think it's worth spending a few extra bucks, if necessary, to "act locally".

-Brent

 

[bt216]

As other have mentioned, I've never had trouble matching or beating TireRack's price (including shipping) at my local shop...no negotiating was even required. YMMV, but I think people are too quick today to assume online is always cheaper than local. When you consider the benefit to your local economy and a potential long term relationship with a vendor, I think it's worth spending a few extra bucks, if necessary, to "act locally".

-Brent

yeah check the prices on discounttiredirect.com, then call your local shop and report back.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

^just trying to save members money.

I know, for some reason it cracked me up

 

[bt216]

Discount Tire...

Discount Tire Direct...

 

[riverwolf]

yeah check the prices on discounttiredirect.com, then call your local shop and report back.

Not sure why you feel so defensive about DTD.

Tires are commodity items so pricing ends up being about a given vendor's desired margin. Local dealers sit on very little inventory and are likely having their tires shipped from the same distribution centers that an online vendor uses. You're going to "pay" for that shipping whether you buy it local or online. "Free shipping" just means DTD builds it into the price.

A quick comparison between DTD and TireRack for 265/65-17 (stock size on my 2K3). First of all, shows DTD doesn't have a very good selection...only 11 tires in that size compared to TR's 51. As my local dealer put it, if it's round, black, and rolls...he can get it for me. Secondly, a cursory glance says TR pretty well matches on the few items they both carry and neither shows a signficant difference even when factored for shipping. Since (A+B)+C = A+(B+C) the last time I checked, if my local dealer is meeting or beating TireRack, he's doing the same with DTD...no reason for me to check and report back.

And that's without getting into the advantages of keeping what little profit there is in commodity items in your local economy, especially given present unemployment figures. People complain about sending money to China or Japan yet don't think twice about their next door neighbor when they can save 10% by going online. If you ask nicely, you can usually get that 10% and then some.

My .02.

-Brent

 

[bt216]

I could give two sh!ts about DTD. I just found them to be by far the best price for tires in my recent search. You can go spend you money wherever you want, I was informing the other members of how much cheaper DTD was for me.

Oh by the way TR does not carry that tire in that size.