Help with buying tires

[whirlwind]

I just found out I need to buy a new set of tires for my car. This will be the first time I do this myself, so I need a bit of help. Should I buy the least expensive ones or should I buy a more expensive set that are supposed to last longer? How do I determine which is best. My car is a 2005 and I think I will have it for another 4 years or so. How long do tires usually last? Does this make a difference in what I should buy? Also, where is the best store to buy tires. Does it make sense to pay a little more to buy from a tire store that has a good reputation in case something goes wrong, or are tires tires no matter where you buy them?

[Drake3287]

I have this problem every time I need to buy tires but in the end I always buy a higher end (maybe not the best) from a tire dealership that provides free service down the road such as tire rotations, free flat repair and things like that. I just recently bought a set a tires for both my Honda and 4X4 F150 and spent a small fortune.

I looked into Costco and the other discount places but in the end I returned to our local Big O Tire store and I know I'll be happy in the long run. I also looked into the online tire stores but I like the service the locals guys provide. The tire's I recently bought came with a $70.00 Visa gift card so that took some of the sting out of it.

[cypher1]

It depends on your budget, tire size, location/seasons (for summer, allseason, or winter tires), FWD/RWD/AWD, driving habits and commute, just to name a few. If you're planning on keeping this car for 4+ years I wouldn't go cheap or used. However the definition of "cheap" can vary a SA site.

Do you have Discount Tire in your area? I recommend them for excellent customer service and reasonable prices. Also www.tirerack.com may be useful for selection of different tires and pricing. I've also heard Sam's Club or Costco have good deals.

Keep in mind there's also tire disposal fee, mount and balancing, extended warranty options per tire depending on service. These aren't expensive but good to be aware of which can add up.

And yes, there are different brands/model that can be superior over the other, but that varies with cost, name, size. I would start with the current tire size, and determining if you want or need all season, or summer tires depending on road conditions/weather. For example I'm in MN, and I have all seasons for my CRV which is 4WD. And my TSX has two sets of wheels/tires, both allseasons and winter.

[greenskeeper]

don't go cheap on your tires....those 4 small contact patches are the only thing keeping you on the road. Watch out for chinese tires as well. I'd buy a name brand tire with good reviews for your car. Since you are keeping the car for 4 years I'd pay a little extra for a tire with a higher tread life rating.

[Leo]

Great advice from the previous posts. I would recommend to at least buy a brand with good reputation or review. You don't need to go for the most expensive tire and you don't need to for the cheapest tire as well. It really depends on a lot of factors and your needs. Shop around and see where you can get a good deal. I usually buy my tires at Discount/America Tire because they have free rotation and balancing for life and the one in my area has an excellent customer service. Checking Walmart or Costco or even your own dealership wouldn't hurt. Other store like Pepboys and Autozone sell tire as well. Always check the mileage warranty of a tire also. My current set of tire has no mileage warranty and its already worn 20k miles. Mileage warranty will only probably give you a quarter of the tire worth but at least you're getting $ back.

[feh]

Visit tirerack.com

Even if you don't buy tires from them, they have great tools for comparing tires suitable for your car.

I also buy from them - even after shipping and installation, they are almost always cheaper than going to a tire store.

[JoeP]

I'm getting into the habit of buying snow tires and steel rims off craigslist. Sometimes they come separate and sometimes the tires are already mounted. So you might be able to find a good set of tires there.

Don't skimp on tires. When you're in a panic situation or you hit some water and start hydroplaning, most of us would gladly (if we could stop time) part with $100 or more to avoid an accident.

[snafu]

Welcome to SA.

A good starting point is to workout what's needed as outlined by cypher1. Check your car's manual to verify existing tire size is correct. I suggest stopping at the library to read Consumer's magazine/annual report for tire recommendations. It's easy to check on line for distributors of Consumer's 'Best Buy' brand. The on-line ads for tire outlets usually give best prices and warranty details. When you call to make an appointment and verify they have the correct size in stock, ask about their add on costs like tire recycle, install, balance and tax. I'm guessing Drake would pay a premium for his added service.

It may be a good time to review your auto insurance which may have road service as an inexpensive add on or you may be an AAA member.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I just found out I need to buy a new set of tires for my car. This will be the first time I do this myself, so I need a bit of help. Should I buy the least expensive ones or should I buy a more expensive set that are supposed to last longer? How do I determine which is best. My car is a 2005 and I think I will have it for another 4 years or so. How long do tires usually last? Does this make a difference in what I should buy? Also, where is the best store to buy tires. Does it make sense to pay a little more to buy from a tire store that has a good reputation in case something goes wrong, or are tires tires no matter where you buy them?

My opinion is that you get what you pay for with tires.

A road hazard warranty might not be a bad idea either, but don't lose the paperwork.

[97guns]

shop online. discount tires direct and tirerack are the 2 best, you will be amazed at the cash you save, you dont pay tax but you have to pay to mount/balance

i have bought online since 1997, i usually buy before i need them when they are runnning a rebate, im riding on $60 tires right now and my mom has $75 michelins on her caddy

[autoxer]

I am really picky about tires, because I have had some really awful ones and some really great ones. Every characteristic is a tradeoff, if you want good fuel mileage it may not have great traction. If you want good performance on wet roads, it may not be as good on dry roads. If you want the best dry road performance, it may be noisy. If you want the best snow & ice performance, then it will wear out quickly on dry roads.

I also buy them online and find a local installer.