Buying tires online?

[Patrick F. Clarin]

Anyone bought tires online from tirerack.com? Thinking of getting some
because it's a lot cheaper than having discount tire get them. Any
comments?

 

[Edward Hayes]

I've had excellent service from tirerack on my two purchases. I do have one
big gripe however: One set of tires I purchased from them did not wear very
well and I contacted tirerack to find a tire center authorized to do waranty
work. The tire center was Sears Auto center. The clerk and then manager at
Sears kept trying to say that the tires were the original even thought I had
tirerack receipts. In the end Sears made it impossible to deal with as then
they wanted proof that the alignment had be checked every 6 months. In
retrospect I should have pursued this to the end but, I gave up. Even though
the tire manufacture warranties the tire service life, most service centers
DO NOT want to honor warrantees since they did not sell you the tires
originally. Have alignment checked every 6 months? I think not as this is
ridicules. JMHO. ed

 

[Todd H.]

Anyone bought tires online from tirerack.com? Thinking of getting some
because it's a lot cheaper than having discount tire get them. Any
comments?

I've done that twice, but won't do it again now that I've learned
that, say, your local Firestone dealer to order whatever tire you'd
like and match the prices from tirerack.com, and give you the benefit
of free rotations and balancing, and one stop shopping for gripes
about the tires rather than fingerpointing that may happen with a
warranty issue.

I could've gotten my recent set of Kumho's direct from Firestone with
1 day turn around for the same price and gotten the benefit of free
lifetime rotations/balancing, which I don't enjoy now because I didn't
buy from them.

Something to think about. Great review database though at tirerack.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Anyone bought tires online from tirerack.com? Thinking of getting some
because it's a lot cheaper than having discount tire get them. Any

Hi,

JMO, but "cheaper" isn't, always! I've looked at tirerack's prices, then
figured the price to have the tires installed locally, looked at
shipping times, making an appointment to have them installed (my closest
installation center is always booked several days to a week ahead), etc.
Then I've wondered what happens if there's a warranty issue as so many
others mention any time (frequently if you haunt several auto forums)
this subject comes up, and figured the few extra dollars to my local
tire dealer is a bargain.

The service my tire guy has given me far exceeds any dollar difference
between his prices and tirerack's, but YMMV.

Rick

 

[Don]

My experience with tirerack was 100% positive. I bought 4 Kumho tires for
my Outback based on the reviews and other information on their site. I had
them dropped shipped to the installer in my area that had the best reviews
on their site. The price was better than anything "local". The installer
worked by appointment. I arrived and they immediately took me and installed
the tires which took about an hour. Can't comment on warranty issues
though.

 

[Ken Gilbert]

Anyone bought tires online from tirerack.com? Thinking of getting some
because it's a lot cheaper than having discount tire get them. Any
comments?

first print out the tires/prices you're going to buy online.

then walk into the local shop and see if they will match.

if not buy online. remember you will still have mount and balance fees vs. tax.

ken

 

[Rat]

Anyone bought tires online from tirerack.com? Thinking of getting some
because it's a lot cheaper than having discount tire get them. Any
comments?

Online tires - better price but no road hazard warranty. Sidewall damage
on a tire will cost you. I had good experience with tirerack but I won't
order online ever again after ballooning a sidewall on one of the tires
(yoko avs sports)
Road hazard warranty is the only way to go.

 

[Todd H.]

Hi,

JMO, but "cheaper" isn't, always! I've looked at tirerack's prices, then
figured the price to have the tires installed locally, looked at
shipping times, making an appointment to have them installed (my closest
installation center is always booked several days to a week ahead), etc.
Then I've wondered what happens if there's a warranty issue as so many
others mention any time (frequently if you haunt several auto forums)
this subject comes up, and figured the few extra dollars to my local
tire dealer is a bargain.

And here's what this tirerack customer didn't know: you don't even
need to pay any more at the local dealer! Just get them to order the
tires you want, and they'll match the tirerack prices. You're out
salestax, but you save shipping. Presto!

The service my tire guy has given me far exceeds any dollar difference
between his prices and tirerack's, but YMMV.

Especially when/if there isn't a difference if you get them to price
match. Often it's as simple as asking.

 

[Todd H.]

My experience with tirerack was 100% positive. I bought 4 Kumho tires for
my Outback based on the reviews and other information on their site. I had
them dropped shipped to the installer in my area that had the best reviews
on their site. The price was better than anything "local".

I got those same tires from tirerack.com installed locally at an
authorized installer that was also a tire seller. When I inquired
about balancing/rotation service they said it wasn't available from
them without per-rotation fees. They offer that only on tires they
themselves sold.

Then, I was told that I could've purchased those same tires directly
from them and they'd have matched the price I paid, and had they
could've had them there on 1 day's notice (rather than 3) even though
they don't stock Kumho's.

I had a good experience, mind you, but next time I'll have an even
better experience and have lifetime rotation/balance at my disposal.

 

[Patrick Fisher]

on a tire will cost you. I had good experience with tirerack but I won't
order online ever again after ballooning a sidewall on one of the tires
(yoko avs sports)
Road hazard warranty is the only way to go.

You can get a road hazard warranty on any tires you buy from tirerack. It's
not that new an offering, either. It costs more, but it's extra at a
brick-and-mortar store too.

I've ordered a couple things from tirerack (2 sets of wheels, 2 sets of
tires, 1 "replacement" tire), and have been very happy. But, it really is a
better deal overall to buy tires at your local place, because, as mentioned
before, most places offer free tire repair (not a road hazard warranty, per
se, but free plugs), free rotation, and free balancing for the life of the
tire. The balancing you won't have to pay for at the shop makes up for the
cheaper price from Tirerack, usually.

Having said that, for more "exotic" tires, TireRack savings can be
substantial, to the point that it's worth having to get them mounted
elsewhere.

And for wheel + tire packages, I'd definitely use Tirerack again, since they
mount/balance for free and have good prices on rims, it's usually a
substantial savings, as long as you don't mind rotating on your own dime (or
elbow grease)

 

[H MURDOCH]

Any

comments?

Yeah, I've bought tires from TireRack a couple of times and had very good
results.

Two things - One is that the TireRack people know *much* more about the tires I
was interested in than the local tire salespersons. Plus their reviews and
tests are more objective than the local salesmen by far.

Second thing - while some dealers may be willing to match TireRack's prices,
the local dealers often don't carry particular tires that may be the best rated
for your car and driving styles. Either because they don't stock them, or
because there may not be a dealer for a particular tire in your area.

But I like to reward the Rack with my business in return for being the *only*
reliable source for accurate info in comparing tires from all different brands,
and for giving very good advice on particular tires that fit your particular
preferences and needs. Again, the local tire dealers I've used over many many
years of driving have generally given very poor advise in comparison (other
than to advise buying whatever they had in stock or advise getting only their
brand of tire - understandable but not best for the consumer).

No - I'm not connected with the TireRack in any way ;-)

Hank Murdoch