RAE
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
OK, here is the situation. I need 4 new tires for my pickup truck. I went online, found the tires that I want, and priced them out at several places (Amazon, Tire Rack, a couple others). Amazon had the best price.......about $650 for a set of 4 (free shipping). If I buy them online, I will have to have them mounted and balanced by my local garage (cost unknown at this point). The other option is to just order the tires through the local garage, and have them take care of everything (which is easier). So, I get a price quote on the 4 tires I want from the local garage, plus mounting and balancing - $950. Now, I don't mind paying a reasonable amount for the mounting and balancing, but this doesn't this seem way out of line to those of you that are familiar with auto maintenance? I mean, if I can get the tires for $650 from Amazon, I would think that the garage can get them for about the same price (or less), no? And if so, $300 for mounting and balancing 4 tires seems a bit ridiculous to me. I like to do business locally whenever possible, but I just can't justify $300 for mounting and balancing 4 tires. My next step is to ask the local garage what they would charge for just mounting and balancing the 4 tires (that I buy elsewhere).......it will be interesting to see what they say about that.
I'd be interested to hear from others who have bought tires lately - how you went about it, and what your experience was.
I'd be interested to hear from others who have bought tires lately - how you went about it, and what your experience was.