Car tires through Amazon

[njhowie]

I was just pricing a new set of tires online through Pep Boys to be done at my local shop. They're always running some promotion or discount. For the heck of it, after I priced it out, I did a google search and found that you can purchase tires through Amazon, and they will include shipping and installation...and for me, at the same Pep Boys location.

So I went through the entire order process with Amazon, and the total with installation, tax and everything was $304 versus $456 pricing it out through Pep Boys with their current promotions. Same tires - $67.50 each after promotion through Pep Boys, $49.95 from Amazon. Installation $117.96 from Pep Boys, $79.96 from Amazon. Again, same Pep Boys location, same tires.

Unbelievable.

 

[pb4uski]

I would never had thought of Amazon for tires.

 

[Niuatoputapu]

Wow, great savings! Makes one wonder about the non-Amazon business models and what they need to do to stay competitive. Three years ago, I bought a set of tires at costco.com and had them installed at the local Costco. It was about $50 less expensive than the price at the store for the same tires. Had to wait a week for the tires to arrive, but that was easily worth the $50.

 

[RetiredAt55.5]

Just be careful that you're not getting tires that although new, are a couple of years old (sitting in a warehouse somewhere).

A couple of years ago, I bought tires from tirerack.com that were already 1.5 years old. After complaining, they gave me a discount.

To me this is a big deal since I'm a low mileage driver, so the tire age issue does come into play.

 

[HF63]

I bought several sets at Amazon and submitted the discount on line works well.


I normally choose the Amazon and not a third party supplier in case I run into any problems.

 

[njhowie]

Just be careful that you're not getting tires that although new, are a couple of years old (sitting in a warehouse somewhere).

A couple of years ago, I bought tires from tirerack.com that were already 1.5 years old. After complaining, they gave me a discount.

To me this is a big deal since I'm a low mileage driver, so the tire age issue does come into play.

Fair point.

It is a new model tire from Cooper that was introduced under a year ago.

Additionally, the tires were "Sold by Amazon" - not some merchant selling through Amazon. So, I have to believe that the inventory is fairly fresh considering the amount they sell.

 

[skipro33]

I got my tires on line from Walmart. Shipped to Walmart. Mounted at Walmart. They were half the cost of any conventional tire store at a little under $400 for a set of 4.

Walmart will mount any tire you bring in for around $12 including balancing I think.

 

[RAE]

Yeah, I ordered a set of 4 Michelin tires from an Amazon affiliate store a year or so ago - they were delivered right to my house. I had one of the local garages mount them on my truck for me, and they were glad to do it. Just for the heck of it, I priced out what the cost of the same tires would be if I purchased them through a couple of the local garages here (tires plus mounting) and it was FAR more than what I paid ordering them myself (something like 30% less total cost). I did check the date on the tires when I received them, and they were fresh........just manufactured a couple months prior to that (the affiliate is a huge tire store in N. Carolina, so apparently the move a lot of tires). I guess a lot of folks don't want to go through the hassle or ordering their own tires, but for that kind of cost saving, I will do it again!

 

[Bamaman]

I usually buy tires at DiscountTireDirect.com or TireRack.com and they're usually here in a day or so. A local tire store installs them for me. I've never beat their prices, and often get gift cards or rebates too.

My problem has been the tire life on certain brand/model cars--40 series ultra high performance tires. My Hondas and Lexus' eat tires alive. I bought two tires for the Lexus yesterday, and they're expensive. My future vehicles will have 60 series sidewalls that last at least 50K miles.

 

[pb4uski]

The other issue with low profile tires is an increased chance of damaging a rim if you hit a pothole or debris in the road. A friedn recently bought a new vehicle with low profile tires and said if he busted a rim that between the rim and tire he would be out $1,200!

 

[street]

Wow! I would of never thought that.

 

[aja8888]

The other issue with low profile tires is an increased chance of damaging a rim if you hit a pothole or debris in the road. A friedn recently bought a new vehicle with low profile tires and said if he busted a rim that between the rim and tire he would be out $1,200!

Lots of independent shops fix rims anymore. Way cheaper than buying a new rim from a dealer. Tires, that's another story.