Where do you go change your tires?

[WhoBeDaPlaya]

Sam's is pretty good.

 

[JTsyo]

Just ordered a pair from Costco last week. While they offer the free balance and rotation. I find that their balance isn't very good. After about 65 mph you can start to feel a bit of shaking. I usually have to take it into the dealership to have it balanced again. Their road hazard warranty is great though. Had a few tires replaced with them eating most of the cost.

 

[kalrith]

Buy from Tire Rack and get installed at a small Mexican place near me.

This minus the Mexicans . The shop charges $50 including tax and tire disposal. That coupled with Tire Rack's great prices work out really well for me.

The last time I went there, one of the employees really like my tires (Firehawk Indy 500), and he asked what I paid for them. When I told him $80 each, he asked me where I got them and wrote down Tire Rack's website on a piece of paper. I guess they don't give him a very good employee discount!

 

[hanoverphist]

the run down on mag wheels

Yep, mag wheels certainly didn't exist fitty years ago, except that time when they actually did exist fitty years ago.

yep. those mounting machines have certainly come a long way since then too. the older machines are a definite step down in usability, and a lot of shops with standard mounters wont touch the 20" and up with ultra low profile tires. hell, my friends custom shop farms out the tires because it was such a hassle to mount those suckers. and back in the day, those alloy mags were very easy to pop a chunk off of while mounting. i had some original daisys on my old car back in HS, and one got cracked while being remounted with new rubber. i was watching the guy, he did it all correctly, it just happens sometimes with those older machines.

 

[Gibson486]

I have a number of places just tell me to buy tires from online rather than give me a quote. They just said, "I know you are gonna buy from the lowest price, so just go to Tirerack and send it to us".

 

[Zen0]

I have a number of places just tell me to buy tires from online rather than give me a quote. They just said, "I know you are gonna buy from the lowest price, so just go to Tirerack and send it to us".

Yea, the only time people (should) buy tires in "retail" is when you blow one or two of them and need to get them fixed on the spot (replaced really) with new ones.

Or, when you're just an unscrupulous soccer mom driver going to their dealer and doing exactly what the dealer wants you to, including replacing crappy tires at $200 a pop.

 

[SparkyJJO]

Yea, the only time people (should) buy tires in "retail" is when you blow one or two of them and need to get them fixed on the spot (replaced really) with new ones.

Or, when you're just an unscrupulous soccer mom driver going to their dealer and doing exactly what the dealer wants you to, including replacing crappy tires at $200 a pop.

When I got my tires I compared the price from the shop to the price from tire rack. Sure, the individual price was cheaper from tire rack, but by the time I took shipping, road hazard, and mounting/balancing into account, it was about the same as just paying the little higher price per tire at the local shop. Plus the road hazard is directly through the shop so no extra paperwork to email around and deal with.

Varies on the type of tire and your local shop prices too of course. That was just my experience however.

 

[Zen0]

When I got my tires I compared the price from the shop to the price from tire rack. Sure, the individual price was cheaper from tire rack, but by the time I took shipping, road hazard, and mounting/balancing into account, it was about the same as just paying the little higher price per tire at the local shop. Plus the road hazard is directly through the shop so no extra paperwork to email around and deal with.

Varies on the type of tire and your local shop prices too of course. That was just my experience however.

This might apply to some tires (mainstream, winter, or whatever), but the really GOOD ones... are never carried by locals... or when they are carried, also carry a huge price premium.

 

[alkemyst]

For stock wheels and tires the Costco deals are usually the best...

I don't have stock wheels or tires so have been going to a third generation brake and tire shop since about 1988...

They also will replace your wheel if they ever mess it up...needless to say I don't know of a time they had to honor that.