How To Save Money On Tires

Posted by My Dallas Mommy on Thursday, January 8th, 2015 at 5:00 PM
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tires

How to Save Money on Tires

How do you save money on tires? Let’s face it, tires aren’t really all that sexy to buy, at least for me.  I view them more as a maintenance item, not something I go looking to buy, but something I buy only when I need them.

And the intrigue dwindled even more when I was quoted prices! So I went on a quest and learned how to save money on tires.

I knew my car needed tires, but I wasn’t prepared for the sticker shock when I was quoted a price at the dealership! AAAGH, $1200 for 4 new tires and installation!!! WHAT???

At this financial point in my life, I HAD to figure out how to save money on tires.  Of course, I could choose to replace just one or two tires, but I also realize the other two are getting close to needing replaced, so I chose to get all four done.

I should tell you I was looking for tires for my Mercedes C250 Sport.  This will hopefully put it into perspective.  Tires for SUV’s can be even more costly.

tireThe dealership quoted:

4 Continental Tires ~ $1206.83

4 Michelin Tires ~ $1,119.11

In less than 20 minutes I was able to find several ways to save to the tune of over $700! YES, $700!

Here’s how to soften the blow the next time you find yourself in the market for new tires:

1. Shop online

Websites like Discount Tire Direct and Tire Rack offer a huge selection of tires at good prices.  I like these sites…not necessarily for buying tires, but for checking out reviews and getting a good baseline price.

I looked at the tire the dealership quoted me. Each Continental tire cost $220 (without installation). Tirerack quoted $189. Bingo… savings and a good baseline price. You will have to pay shipping, which is usually between $50- $60 for 4 tires and then have a garage install the tires which is another $40 – $50.  More work and some savings and a viable option.

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Since you have a good baseline, I would also suggest calling your local stores and talking with the person who has the authority to cut deals, i.e. the manager. Ask them about upcoming sales, rebates or coupons.  Tell them what you can get it for online and they might match or go lower to get your business.

Also, don’t forget Sears.  I looked online and found Michelin tires quoted at $158 per tire. The dealership quoted $201 on these tires. More savings!

2. Check warehouse stores

Do you already have a membership to a big warehouse store like Costco, BJ’s or Sam’s Club? If so, it could be your ticket to a wide selection of affordable tires! Even if you don’t have a membership, you’ll only have to pay an extra 10 to 15% surcharge to get your tires at a warehouse store, which would still be worthwhile if you found an awesome deal on your tires.  Well, except for the case of Costco as this store will not perform services on tires purchased by non-members.  Often, Sam’s Club also offers free membership days that we post on this site!

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Considering I found four Bridgestone tires for $369 + $15 installation each, it might be in your best interest to purchase a membership if you needed new tires!  Great savings!  The Michelin’s were a little over $600 installed had I chosen those tires.  Still a GREAT savings!

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Does brand make a difference? In my experience, not really. I’m sure there are some very legitimate and fair reasons why people believe one tire is better than the other.   Some people swear by Goodrich, Firestone etc… and maybe it does make a difference.  I’ve owned several brands, and to me, they all simply do the job.  I chose Bridgestone as it met my needs and my pocketbook, plus had a 50,000 mile warranty (which was more than any other being offered.)

So after all was said and done, I paid $460 for 4 tires to be installed.  I would have paid over between $800 – $1,200!  WOOHOO!

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Update: When I went into Costco they suggested I get two different front and back tires.  So they worked with my budget and I spent another $100 to get the best performance tires for more $150.  Still a GREAT savings!

There are still other ways you can save as well.

3. Use rebates

Tire manufacturers come out with rebates all of the time, which can equal some serious tire savings! For example, Tire Rack is currently offering an $80 rebate when buy four Dunlop or Goodyear tires. Keep track of all the latest tire rebates and offers. You can also check your favorite tire brand’s website for rebate offers. Try Michelin, Goodyear and Cooper Tires.

4. Time your purchase just right

If you can wait, some of the best months to buy tires are April or October.  In April the weather turns warm and consumers start thinking about vacations and road trips. Tires go on sale once again in October to encourage people to buy new tires for winter driving.

5. Buy more than one tire… or NOT

A lot of stores and service centers offer you discounts when you buy all four tires at once (or at least more than one tire at a time.) If your preferred store doesn’t offer a multi-purchase plan, don’t be afraid to ask or just call around and find one that does!

HOWEVER… if you don’t NEED all your tires replaced don’t do it.  Tire sales people give buyers the impression that buying tires in pairs or sets of four is your only reasonable option. Not necessarily! Oftentimes you’ll go in because one tire is flat or funky, but the other three still have plenty of miles left. Don’t replace the other three perfectly good tires!

6. Buy used tires

This is an option and I wouldn’t feel right not sharing this!  BUT, Consumer Reports frets about their safety, and I worry about the value. There’s no way to tell if used tires were in good shape or bad in their previous life. So while you may get enough miles out of them to actually save some money, it’s a lottery-like gamble. And you could be risking your life.

7. Price is often negotiable

Just ask. Simply say, “that’s a little more than I wanted to pay.”  Just by saying that, some could cut the price to get the business.

Other notes:

  • Warranty on tires – I don’t buy extended warranties on any product, and warranties on tires are no exception.
  • Buy 3 get 1 free deals – Word of warning on these…  the deal is usually for a higher priced tire and what the tire dealer generally doesn’t tell you is that to get the free tire deal, you have to buy the warranty, which is usually about $60.  After you factor in that it is a more expensive tire and the warranty, it usually ends up being $50 – $100 more than a set of ‘budget’ tires.

 

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