I just had my first experience buying tires online. What a great experience and I saved over $200! For me buying tires online caused a little anxiety. I had been given a horror story by a local tire merchant which turned out to be absolutely false but it made me do my homework before making the purchase.
My tires were installed without any problems by a professional installer. I actually had my choice of at least 3 shops that would install them (I only checked with 3). On top of that the online retailer had partners that would do the installation in my area if I needed that.
I'll step you through the process so you can save money as well. You can also check out my YouTube video in which I describe my experience. The bottom line is do your homework - don't fear - and save money! And in my case I was able to get a better tire that was not available in my local area. This tire was rated the best SUV and Light Truck tire and it was cheaper than lesser rated tires but that is the subject of another article.
I had done my research and found the tire I wanted to buy. It was rated best of all light truck/SUV all season radials and it was less expensive - a no brainer for me. Unfortunately - or actually fortunately in this case, the tire was not available in my area. My wife's family lives in Louisville, KY though and we were up there for Christmas so I called around up there to see who had the tire. There weren't many dealers but one dealer did have it and he quoted me a price. I told him I could get the tires less expensively online but he would not budge on his price.
This dealer told me I would never find anyone to put the tires on for me if I did get them online. To the contrary I had no problem finding an installer. Three out of three shops told me it would not be a problem. I ended up saving money, getting the best tire out there and I couldn't be more satisfied. Here is what you need to know though when shopping for tires online.
Steps to Buy Tires Online
Make your tire buying hassle free.
You can save money, have access to just about any tire and make the best and safest decision for your family. There are only a few things you need to do when buying tires online.
Know which tire you want to buy. Buying tires online is a little different than going to the local tire store. You do not have someone behind the counter recommending tires to you. However you do have the benefit of independent, non-biased research. Chances are, the tire store is going to recommend the tire that gives them the best profit. They also only carry certain tires so you do not have access to all the tires available.
Buying online gives access to just about any tire you want. On top of that you can see tests run on individual tires and make you decision based on actual performance. Users just like yourself also rate their tires so you can see other users' experience. Chances are you will have an idea of the brand or even tire you want to buy and all you have to do is find your size. If not check out Consumer Reports at your local library for in depth testing and look here for more test results.
Find your tire size. For this all you need to do is look at the side of your current tire. You will see something that looks like 235/70R16 or 155/65R13. Copy this number down to look up your tire. For some vehicles you can actually just shop by your vehicle's make and model and the online retailer will know the standard sizing. Be aware however that some vehicles are produced with multiple tire specifications so you can not always rely on the retailer to supply the size for you. Give it a try if you are not near your vehicle but your best bet is to just note the size from the tires on your vehicle.
Find an installer This was very easy for me but don't take if for granted. I called my local Honda dealer who said they would put them on. I also called a local tire store who also said they would install them (at their normal installation price). I ended up going to the Wal-mart automotive center and they put them on for me. I was told by one dealer who wanted to sell me the tires that no one would put the tires on for me. That was not my experience but your location will make a difference.
Bottom line is just call a couple places and ask if they will put tires on for you if you bring in the tires. They will most likely stipulate that the tires need to be brand new. In my case I had a very easy time because no one carried the tires I wanted locally. Therefore anyone was willing to put them on. If you are buying a tire that the local company carries you may want to check with someone who either doesn't sell tires as their primary business or who does not carry your tire.
The online retailer will also often have partners near you that will put the tires on for you. If you like you can even have your tires drop shipped to the installer. That way you don't have to handle the tires at all. However, if you decide to do this, just be sure you have someone who has agreed to install the tires for you and be sure you know their fees. It is important to have this planned out ahead of time. You do not want to spend several hundred dollars for tires without planning the installation ahead of time.
(Optional) Comparison shopping In my case I saved a good bit of money buying tires online. You may want to compare prices to get your best deal. I would venture to say that you will find that buying online will save you money almost every time. I actually spent a couple dollars more per tire for my choice of online vendors just because the reliability of my chosen vendor was unquestioned whereas other online vendors seemed questionable.
Order your tires This is as simple as a few mouse clicks. There is a wealth of information when shopping for tires online including extensive research, testing and user reviews.
You can save a significant amount of money and in my case I was able to get a much better tire on top of great savings. I couldn't be more satisfied.
For research tools and links to purchase tires online visit us at
www.BestTiresOnline.com or for more information,
Buying Tires Online