Tirerack questions

[AzNKiD]

So I been researching on how I should replace my tires soon and I have been debating if I should order them from tirerack or get them local.

1) how does tirerack ship their tires? I been google image searching and youtube searching for unpacking, yet still unable to find out how its being shipped. for example, is it in boxes? shrink wrap? or is it exposed with shipping labels? I ask because I am debating if I should ship them to installer or to my house. I drive a two door couple, not even sure I can fit them in, and if they are not shrink wrap or boxed, I am sure I can't just dump them in the back seat. if I ship to installer, how would I know that they use the exact tires I order, I dont want them to use older ones or slightly used tires of the same brand to scam me.

2) Does tirerack charge tax to california? This could be a deal breaker since the tires I plan to buy are in the $300 each range. Paying for shipping would be cheaper then paying taxes.

3) if i ship from tirerack to authorized installer, does the installer take care of any possible future warranty or replacement if something goes wrong, or am I still responsible for shipping tires back to tirerack?

 

[Mutilator]

I can answer #1. 2 tires are bundled together with 3 plastic straps and usually a couple strips of packing tape over top of the packing labels that are stuck to the tires themselves. And you'd be surprised how many tires you can fit in a 2 door coupe when the need arises.

Not sure about 2 and 3 because I don't live in CA and have never had them shipped to an installer, always direct to me.

 

[phucheneh]

Don't know on the second two.

Answer to first one is 'strapped together as pairs.' Not boxed or wrapped. If you've seen two tires held together with those sturdy white plastic shipping ties (often used for box reinforcement and whatnot), that's how they come.

 

[AzNKiD]

so they ship them like this?

thats like the only generic pics i can find about shipping tires. if thats the case, it'll be a pain in the @#$#@ to put in the backseat. I had to help my brother out last time taking tires to a shop, I was able to fit one whole tire only in my trunk and another on the passenger seat. if they were nice and all shrink-ed wrap, I could at least try to stack them inside my car, but as is, thats way too messy and too dirty for my leather interior and crap. the tires I am getting are huge, 255/35/r18, no way to stack them in trunk.

 

[summit]

they bind the tires with plastic straps. they charge tax to california, however the tires are usually 20-30 cheaper than at the store. ship them to an authorized installer. you will get the warranty cards and such.

 

[smackababy]

Why put them in the back seat? The last time I bought tires online, I had 2 in the front seat and 2 in the trunk.

I've also never received them with the cardboard displayed in the picture.

 

[Mutilator]

Uh that probably has wheels inside those tires for them to ship like that.
All you need is some big black garbage bags and a knife. Cut the plastic straps so the tires are individuals and then figure out how to put them in your car. If your back seats fold down it makes it even easier.

Example: In my 135i I fold down the rear seats and place 2 black garbage bags down on the floor of the trunk/back of the rear seats and then place the tires on their side one infront of the other. OO just like that. If I have 4 then I do the same thing but place one tire on top of those 2 and then the 4th goes up front in the passenger front seat. You can do it. And they aren't that dirty so you can wipe up any messes pretty easy if they do happen to slip and slide off the garbage bags.

And my rears are 255/35/18.

But if it's this big of a deal then just go down to your local Discount Tire and have them get the tires for you.

 

[Doppel]

Mine come like in that pic but I don't remember cardboard, either.

 

[phucheneh]

That pic has wheels. With tires, there's no cardboard and the straps pass through the center.

And new tires shouldn't be dirty. They might pick up some floor dirt here and there, but touching them doesn't turn your hand black, which is probably what you've experienced when touching tires that have been on a car.

And like others have said: trashbags. Or plastic sheeting. Or cardboard. Pretty much anything...it's not that hard to move tires without dirtying up an interior. But as someone else has also already said: they will ship to the installer.

 

[amdhunter]

This is how my tires were shipped from Tire Rack when I blew two of my GLi tires on an uncovered sewer.

 

[amdhunter]

3) if i ship from tirerack to authorized installer, does the installer take care of any possible future warranty or replacement if something goes wrong, or am I still responsible for shipping tires back to tirerack?

They'll take care of the warranty no matter who installs it.

 

[Zap]

if I ship to installer, how would I know that they use the exact tires I order, I dont want them to use older ones or slightly used tires of the same brand to scam me.

You can always call the installer prior to them receiving the tires, and ask to inspect them "to make sure Tirerack sent the right ones." Then you can see what kind of condition they are in, prior to installing.

 

[rsutoratosu]

You should shop around, tirerack isn't the cheapest.. simpletire.com; or www.treaddepot.com .. simpletire.com has facebook page that gives you $20 coupon but shop around

 

[DVad3r]

I bought tires and rims for my dads car just last month. Tires came balanced on the rims and looked like the first pic you posted. I had them shipped to an installer, all they did was put the wheels on the car, $ 20. Very happy with the service and quality of product.

I don't think the installer would rip you off by giving you old tires, if someone found them out they would get bad reviews on the tirerack website as well as complaints against them with tirerack.

If you are buying rims as well you can have them shipped straight to your house and put them on yourself.

 

[iamwiz82]

so they ship them like this?

thats like the only generic pics i can find about shipping tires. if thats the case, it'll be a pain in the @#$#@ to put in the backseat. I had to help my brother out last time taking tires to a shop, I was able to fit one whole tire only in my trunk and another on the passenger seat. if they were nice and all shrink-ed wrap, I could at least try to stack them inside my car, but as is, thats way too messy and too dirty for my leather interior and crap. the tires I am getting are huge, 255/35/r18, no way to stack them in trunk.

that's how they are shipped if you are a tire/rim combo. Just straight tires will come without the cardboard. Rims are shipped in boxes.

 

[T2urtle]

Then plastic bundled my 265/40 tires by 2. I was able to fit it in my trunk. I pulled my spare tire out of the wheel well and dropped a tire there and one in my normal trunk space. Then I placed two tires like back seat passengers wrapped in a old blanket. No damages and marks on my tan leather.

 

[JCH13]

I would not hesitate to have TR ship tires to you or your installer. I have done it both ways, always got fast shipping, got a real-life phone call when tires were back-ordered, and got great tech support when selecting tires.

They are a company worth supporting.

 

[KoolAidKid]

If you have a Discount Tire near you they are always willing (in my experience) to pricematch any online price for a tire that they carry. I have saved up to $80 per tire by doing this, and it comes out cheaper than buying online because you don't have to pay for shipping.

 

[KIAman]

If you have a Discount Tire near you they are always willing (in my experience) to pricematch any online price for a tire that they carry. I have saved up to $80 per tire by doing this, and it comes out cheaper than buying online because you don't have to pay for shipping.

Really? I tried the same and they included the shipping along with the price of the tire. I still saved money but only like $3 per tire, lol.

This applies to America's Tire Company, Discount Tire, Big-O and Les Shwab.

Also, whoever said they charge tax in Cali is wrong. I LIVE in Cali and have ordered from them tons of times and never was charged tax. They always ship from their Reno-nevada location so pay for the cheapest shipping option and it always comes the next day.

 

[Throckmorton]

Just get tires locally.

Not worth the hassle shipping tires to some shop that knows it's hardly making anything from the sale. Isn't there Discount Tire in California? Find a shop with a good reputation. Service matters just as much as the tires. Is Tire Rack going to magically make sure the techs jack your car with the proper points and not overtorque your lugs?

 

[smackababy]

Just get tires locally.

Not worth the hassle shipping tires to some shop that knows it's hardly making anything from the sale. Isn't there Discount Tire in California? Find a shop with a good reputation. Service matters just as much as the tires. Is Tire Rack going to magically make sure the techs jack your car with the proper points and not overtorque your lugs?

Except the guys that install tires aren't making money based on the sale. They are getting paid $10 an hour. They don't care where you get the tires from.