In Consumer Reports' survey, Costco scored only "Good" on selection, waiting area and installation time.
It scored "Very Good" to "Excellent" in the other four categories. Sam's Club is another big-box, membership-only, warehouse-style retailer that sells and installs tires as well as other goods.
It's owned by Walmart and has nearly stores, though not all of them have tire sales and installation. To buy tires at Sam's Club you use its online portal to choose the right tires for your needs.
You can select tires based on your vehicle's year, make and model, or search by tire size. Once you choose the right tires, the search shows you where those tires might be available in your local area. If they aren't available you can order them and have them shipped to your local Sam's tire center where you can get them installed. Sam's Club says that once you order tires it will email you within three to five days to let you know when your tires arrive.
Then you can schedule an installation appointment. Sam's Club does not offer mobile installation. Like Costco, Sam's Club offers lifetime of the tire balancing, rotating, flat repair, air pressure checks, and new rubber valves and stems. It also includes emergency roadside assistance, as well as road hazard protection, though as always there are some catches, like you'll still have to pay for installation for the new tires if you use it.
Sam's Clubs does run some limited deals and discounts on specific tire packages so it pays to check its website to see what might work for you. Sam's Club does not have a rating on the BBB, and in Consumer Reports' survey, the company scored an 86 out of 91 max. It got good ratings on selection, installation time, waiting area and sales service. It scored "Excellent" and "Very Good" on the other three sectors.
According to Goodyear, there are more than 1, Goodyear tire and auto service center outlets across the country. Goodyear is one of the world's largest tire suppliers and manufacturers. It's also the manufacturer of tire brands like Dunlop and Kelly. Goodyear does not sell tire brands other than those owned by the company at its stores or on its site. You can, however, find Goodyear tires and its affiliated brands' at other tire shops and online stores.
Goodyear offers an online tire selector that you can use to choose the right tire for your vehicle. You can search by vehicle, tire size or even your license plate. The system uses your public vehicle record to match your car to the right tire. If it doesn't find the right tire for you, it suggests that you get in touch with one of its local stores. If the system does find the right tire for you, you can filter for the type of tire you're looking for such as performance, off-road, summer or all season tires , speed and load ratings, and rebate offers.
Most of the rebate offers at the time of this writing include signing up for a credit card. Once you've chosen your tires you can have them shipped to a local Goodyear Tire installer and schedule an appointment through the site. One thing of note: Goodyear only offers tires -- so no custom wheel and tire packages.
A wide variety of warranties are offered by Goodyear on its tires, too. Depending on the type of tire you buy these could include a limited treadwear warranty or a tire replacement limited warranty. Goodyear also offers a day grace period to decide whether you want to return your tires or not -- whether you purchase them online or in one of its shops.
The tire replacement warranty is not a road hazard warranty, however. During the pandemic, Goodyear is offering no-contact mobile installation.
You choose the right tires, check out, and Goodyear sends a mobile installer to your house with the new tires to install them. You pay via credit card so you never have to have contact with the installer. The cost is the same as having the tires installed at a shop and based on your vehicle. Goodyear's return policy is pretty restrictive.
Once you are out of the day window, there are no options to return or exchange the tires unless there is something wrong with them, such as a manufacturing error. If you decide to return the tires before you have them installed, you simply need to call Goodyear and cancel the order. In Consumer Report's survey, Goodyear only scored "Good" not "Excellent" ratings in the categories of selection, free perks and installation time, which is why its score is slightly lower than other retailers.
Like Goodyear, Bridgestone and its partner company Firestone offer a blend of brick-and-mortar and online stores to help consumers get the right Bridgestone, Firestone, Primewell or Fuzion tires for their vehicles. Like Goodyear, Bridgestone does not sell any other brand of tires than those the company makes and it does not sell wheel and tire package sets.
You can find Bridgestone and Firestone Tires at other tire retailers, both online and in real life. The company is slightly larger than Goodyear in that it has more than 2, stores across the country.
Both Bridgestone and Firestone offer an online tire selector to help you find the right tires for your vehicle. You can shop by vehicle type, tire size, tire type or brand on both sites. You can also shop via special offers. Once you've chosen your tires, the site directs you to find those tires locally and set up an appointment with the shop you choose.
When you choose this option, you'll notice that places like Costco show up as locations for installation more on that below. While Bridgestone offers mobile installation at no extra charge in only one place in the country Nashville , Firestone does not offer mobile installation through its site.
You have to take your vehicle to one of its installers. Bridgestone and Firestone both offer a variety of warranties for their tires. Both offer a day try and buy guarantee that lets you return tires if you are unsatisfied with them even if they've been on your car for those 90 days. The only catch is that you have to buy four tires. Firestone offers a warranty that covers any manufacturer defect for up to three years. It calls it its Gold Standard warranty and it comes with the Firestone tires you purchase.
Firestone Complete Auto got "Good" scores on selection, free perks and installation time in the Consumer Reports study. Big O Tires is a brick-and-mortar tire retailer and installer with more than locations, mostly in the West and Midwest. The outlet carries a wide variety of tires and wheels including its own Big O brand and you can search for the right fit for your vehicle. You can search by year, make and model, by tire size or, like Goodyear, by your plate number.
Once you build your estimate you set up an appointment at your local Big O and have the tires installed. It offers a variety of discounts and rebates, as well as a credit card , with rebates and coupons, too. It also offers an upgraded Tire Protection Package for a cost based on the type of tires you buy.
This covers your road hazards and replacement issues, the same way that NTB does. Big O also does not offer mobile installation. Big O does not offer any kind of initial return grace period like the other brick-and-mortar retailers listed here. These tires were hard riding, but also impervious to punctures and very durable -- ideally suited to the rough terrain of the day. Today, tire manufacturers are trying to make the flat tire a distant memory. Today's run-flat tires contain air and are much more complicated in construction than early rubber rings.
But, they operate on the same principle: They are tough enough to run without air if necessary. The above diagram shows the difference in construction between a conventional tire and a stiff-sidewall run-flat tire. In a stiff-sidewall run-flat tire, there is extra sidewall reinforcing rubber that prevents the sidewall of the tire from deflecting. In an inner-liner run-flat, the sidewall is no stiffer than a conventional tire, but a hard rubber or plastic ring inside the tire helps keep the tire's sidewall from deflecting.
There are two different styles of run-flat tires. The first uses very stiff sidewalls that can support the weight of the vehicle in the event of pressure loss.
Several tire companies offer this type of run-flat, and they can typically be driven with no air pressure for about 50 miles However, most cannot be repaired after being punctured. The sidewalls can't be very tall, so most are low-profile designs. Because of this, they are typically used on sports cars, though they're also available for regular passenger cars and minivans. The second style is called the PAX system and was invented by Michelin. The PAX system isn't just a tire. If the PAX system tire loses air pressure, it only drops about halfway down.
At that point, the underside of the tread rests on an inner support ring that runs around the circumference of the wheel. According to Michelin, the vehicle can be driven for miles The PAX system also incorporates a special bead -- the connection between tire and wheel -- that helps lock the tire onto the wheel even if the tire loses air pressure, something traditional run-flat tires -- and regular tires -- don't usually have.
Because the sidewalls of an un-inflated PAX tire don't support the weight of the vehicle in the event of pressure loss, the sidewalls can be taller than on run-flat tires. They also don't need to be as stiff, which means that the ride quality is better.
Fuel economy can be a major factor for some tire consumers. If you're considering buying a tire that can assist in your vehicle's fuel economy, know that not all tires are made alike. Purchasing a tire that is different than the one you had when the vehicle was new may impact the fuel economy, for good or bad. According to Bill VandeWater at Bridgestone Firestone North America, "consumers can see a 15 to 20 percent difference in their fuel economy depending on the tire they select.
Though many consumers consider fuel economy a high priority, it is typically not the number one priority for the consumer. Therefore not all replacement tires are designed with fuel economy as high a priority. According to VandeWater, "If a consumer wants a good fuel economy tire, the best choice is usually the original equipment tire. California and the federal government have passed laws to label tires by their fuel efficiency but, according to an L.
Times article, implementing the standards has been difficult and most consumers don't know that tires can positively or negatively impact a vehicle's fuel economy [source: Bensinger ]. Consumers should also not forget that fuel economy is also dependant on proper air pressure.
Monitoring air pressure regularly, and with proper inflation pressures as dictated by the vehicle owner's manual, is the best route to ensure maximum fuel economy. You've probably seen used car tire piles along the side of the road at some point.
But should you purchase a used tire to save money and will it hold up as long? Most people opt for new tires, but some look to used tires as a way to save money. Consider the fact that some retailers have deals where you buy three tires and you get the fourth free. You may not necessarily need to replace that fourth tire, but you do because it's free.
Used tires that are only slightly worn, like in this situation, may be a good option to save a little money. The flip side is purchasing an old or worn out tire that isn't safe. Used tires may have defects, punctures or tread-wear you may or may not be able to see. When considering purchasing a used tire you can test the depth of the tread by using a penny.
Simply flip the penny upside down and place it inside each of the tire's tread grooves. If the top of Lincoln's head can be seen from any of the grooves then the tread is too low [source: Consumer Reports ]. If the tread is still good, you still need to inspect the tire for any defects. This may be difficult and some problems may not be noticeable until the tire is on the vehicle. Purchasing a used tire that has already been plugged or patched may save money, but is not a good idea.
Worn tires will not stop as fast and will be more likely to skid on wet surfaces [source: Consumer Reports ]. New tires will come with some type of guarantee or warranty that a used tire will not have. If you want a little piece of mind that your tires are in the best condition possible, buy new ones.
Tire longevity is dependent on several factors, which include your driving habits, the elevation of where you live, climate, road conditions and the manufacturer's tire longevity estimate.
The harder the road conditions, the faster your tire will wear down. Curvy roads, pot holes and other road conditions will cause the tread to wear down faster.
If you're the type to make long burn-outs on the road, we probably don't have to tell you that your tires won't last as long as they're supposed to either. The average mileage length for all-season tires is about 40, to , miles 64, to , kilometers [source: ConsumerSearch ].
Other types of tires typically won't last as long. High-performance all-season tires will have a longevity of 40, to 70, miles 64, to , kilometers and top-performance tires don't even have a guaranteed tread life and usually don't last more than 25, miles 40, kilometers [source: Motor Trend]. A manufacturer's estimate on how long a tire should last is based on their testing and not always on real-world conditions [source: Cook ].
Department of Transportation's labeling system for the tread wear, temperature resistance and traction of each type of tire [source: Cook ].
A scale of A to C is used for temperature ratings, and a scale of AA to C is used for traction ratings. Although the UTQG can help you compare tire longevity within a single brand, the grading system can be interpreted in different ways between different brands.
If you buy an average all-season tire, you can probably expect it to last several years under normal driving conditions and even longer depending on what road conditions you encounter, how you drive and what type of tire you purchase. On the next page, we'll learn why it's a good idea to use the manufacturer recommended size and tire type.
We mentioned earlier that vehicle manufacturers often have a recommended tire size and type for each vehicle. This recommendation is based on the size, weight, load capacity, off-road capability and steering for your specific vehicle.
Changing the tire size and type could impact the handling of your vehicle. We talked about how plus sizing a tire can change certain aspects of your driving experience. Changing the tire size can also affect your speedometer reading. For many cars, the speedometer reading is based on one full revolution of the tire on your vehicle.
If the tire size is changed, then the time it takes a tire to make one full revolution will increase [source: Yahoo Autos ]. Since the speedometer rating is calibrated for only one length of rotation, a newer tire that is larger will inhibit the speedometer from reading the correct speed of the vehicle.
If you have an electronic automatic transmission , changing your tire size can also impact the timing of your shifts [source: Yahoo Autos ]. This may impact your fuel mileage, uphill and downhill transmission changes as well as the general shift timing. Downsizing your vehicle's tires can also have negative effects as well. It's obvious that the tires on your vehicle are keeping it up off of the ground. Well, the size of those tires is part of the reason why the car doesn't come crashing down.
If you tried to put a smaller size tire on your vehicle, you would be adding additional stress to the tire that it may not be able to handle. A smaller sized tire may need a different wheel rim to handle the changes.
You can change the size of the tires on your vehicle but these problems must be factored in and adjustments made so that the vehicle will function correctly with the new tires. Changing the tire diameter or the aspect ratio is possible if you can maintain the correct load capacity and adjust other potential problems, like the speedometer [source: Yahoo Autos ].
We all know that maintaining a vehicle can be costly, but what's even worse is paying extra money when you could have dealt with a problem earlier. When you get new tires put on, there are several areas that your mechanic can easily get to while your car is on the lift with the tires off. If you're having problems with your CV joints, tie rods, brakes or any suspension issues, now might be a good time to have some of those problems taken care of.
Your auto shop will do an alignment on your vehicle when you get new tires put on, but if you have bad shocks or other suspension problems, it could cause your new tires to wear out a lot faster than they should [source: Fogelson ]. Before you know it you could be laying down more money for new tires that could be avoided if you had your suspension problems taken care of originally. If your shocks , struts and the alignment are all good to go, having your brakes changed before the tires are put on could save you some money.
Many shops will charge a flat fee just for looking at your vehicle, but if you get multiple things fixed on the car at the same time, you're only charged once. For example, locally the Toyota dealer was advertising a "great deal" on tires which seemed better than the tire store's price.
No way do dealer's do that. Lord Helmet likes this. Don't assume that a dealer wont damage your truck or will be able to handle the work, i have friends that work at dealers some are techs and I trust them when they say that the same monkeys that wrench at bad shops are the same ones working at your local stealership. IMHO America's Tires will probably give you better service and better equipped to handle your tire needs. My friends and family have been going to my local America's tire for 20years with absolutely no complaints.
Expotaco , Oct 6, Joined: May 12, Member: Messages: 6, Gender: Male alberta canada Vehicle: black on black on black 05 trd off road stickers and sticker accessory's.
Rambo54 and ejl like this. Just this past winter I got a rear flat tire, it must have been a screw or nail or something. Anyway, it was pouring down rain and I was laying there in a huge puddle of water trying to position the jack under the axle, then I found that my OEM lug wrench wouldnt fit the lug nuts. I called the discount tire store and they sent one of their guys out about a 20 mile drive with a truck and put my spare on.
None of the ordeal costed me a single dime It's a good bet the dealer wouldnt have done any of that for me. Lord Helmet , Oct 6, Rambo54 and JoefromPTC like this. FWIW, the dealer is the only one other than myself who has removed the wheels from my truck for rotations and all my rims are now scratched around the lug nuts.
DriverSound , Oct 6, I took them to discount tire to get them mounted, and was hanging out in the parking lot watching them work because it was nice out. The manager was a super gung ho guy, and was stoked to get my new wheels and tires mounted on my truck because he thought it'd look bad ass.
Anyways, he calls me over as they're mounting them and I think "well fuck, what'd they break". He points out that tiny blemish, and wanted me to see that it was on the wheel before they mounted them, and that they weren't the cause.
I assured him I knew all about it, and complimented him for noticing. That was my second experience with them, and the first was just as good.
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