Buying Tires Online
When most people need tires they go down to their local tire store and buy any set of tires the sales person recommends (that fits their car and is within budget). Most tire salesman have not tested any tires and don't really have a clue about the pros and cons of each of the tires they are selling. They just sell them based upon price or what the store manager tells them to sell.
Rarely do customers research the tires they will buy ahead of time. This is quite interesting considering the fact that many people will spend over $400 for their tire purchase and that tires have a big impact on the safety of their vehicle. People will on the other hand research other expensive purchases such as flat screen tv's, computers, and other such purchases. With the ability to now comparison shop and read reviews about tires online this is rapidly changing. See below for the pros and cons about purchasing your tires online and having them shipped to a local installer in your area. The Good: 1. You can research which tires have the best reviews 2. The cost is less than in stores, as there is little overhead 3. You also save money in most states with no sales tax 4. There is a much greater selection to choose from The Bad: 1. You need to wait a few days to have your tires shipped 2. Sometimes there are shipping costs (if applicable - around $50) 3. Some people like to 'kick the tires' and feel them / see them in person Buying Tires Online vs In Store I did some research to compare the process buying tires online versus the Big O Tire shop. I plugged in a popular make and model, the Michelin Defender size 205/65R15 for comparison.
Conclusion: The lower prices online and no sales tax make it well worth paying the $60 for shipping. Every now and again there are deals for free shipping depending on the website you purchase from. At the end of your checkout online, you select a tire installer in your area (they have a network across the US and had 3 in my area). I looked at a few other examples including the Pirelli P4 all season tire and GeneralTire Altimax HP to see if there was a difference in cost. I compared Tire Rack to Big O Tire and another tire store called Big Brand Tire. The average savings buying online for the Pirelli P4 was $68 and the average savings for the GeneralTire Altimax HP was $55. It is not a huge amount, but enough to go out to a nice dinner on your new tires! |
All Season Performance Tires
Excellent response and handling in wet and dry conditions, as well as light snow. 
Performance Summer Tires
Low profile tires provide great handling and traction for both dry and wet conditions. 
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