Download and print a PDF Version of this Online Tire Buying Guide
This guide provides insights of the tire buying process and advice for the consumer, especially as it relates to online purchases.
This guide covers the following topics:
There are many benefits to purchasing tires online:
Researching and buying tires online is very convenient, but it is also important to have a good service shop. You will benefit from dealing with a professional shop in many ways:
| How is TireBuyer Different? TireBuyer.com assures accurate tire and wheel fitment when you input your vehicle information. You will only be shown products that fit your vehicle. For those car enthusiasts who wish to go beyond the factory (O.E.) size, TireBuyer.com allows for proper wheel and tire fitment in an expanded range of sizes. With ability to post reviews for both products and dealers, an online Learning Center with numerous articles, and manufacturer information for each product, you will find the information you need to make a confident tire and/or wheel purchase for your vehicle. TireBuyer.com integrates thousands of certified local tire shops across the U.S. Our dealers are partners of the site and you choose your preferred local tire installation shop at the time of purchase. We pass the entire retail transaction to the dealer, so you are truly buying "local". We ship your tires directly to your chosen shop and they will handle your installation quickly and professionally, and at the fair, published price that you already selected during checkout. |
Pricing is obviously an important consideration when deciding where to purchase.
If you see wide swings in pricing, sometimes it is because the manufacturer is offering a promotional incentive, thereby making prices significantly lower at some retail outlets than others.
You may also notice price differences on tires that appear to be the same brand and style, but if you investigate the tire specifications further, you may find that the specifications such as dimensions, sidewall aesthetics, load and speed rating may be different. That is why it is difficult to compare apples-to-apples on pricing unless you investigate all the specifications to make sure you are looking at the exact same product.
Finally, since tires cannot usually be purchased without having them installed (unless you happen to own your own mounting equipment or you buy a pre-mounted tire and wheel package), it is common for tire dealers to quote you an out-the-door package for the tires plus the necessary installation. In this case, they may adjust the pricing of either the tires or the installation portion in order to remain competitive.
Also, dealers may have a standard installation rate that they quote, but sometimes the rates can vary depending on the type of product being purchased. For example, you may be charged a higher installation rate for larger, heavier tires or extremely low profile tires because they are harder to handle and mount.
These reasons often account for the differing price quotes you may receive from calling several dealers. The quote can be based on the cost of tires plus the installation, which creates challenges for clear comparison.
| How is TireBuyer Different? TireBuyer.com displays certified tire dealers in your area at the time of checkout. Each dealer publishes their complete installation fees, so you can easily compare the installation rates and line item fees for each installing dealer. Your shopping cart reflects your entire "out the door" price, but you also know the breakdown of product prices, installation fees, shipping fees (if any) and taxes (if any). Your Shopping cart relects your entire "out the door" price, and you also see the breakdown of product prices, installation fees, shipping fees (if any), and taxes-so there are no surprises when you go to get your tires installed. We believe this business model benefits both the consumer and the dealer by offering a single convenient and guaranteed transaction. |
Most online sites will charge you shipping when you order your tires. Shipping rates vary depending on the size and weight of the tire. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from about $10-$35 per tire for normal ground shipping (and sometimes even higher) depending on the size and weight of the tire and how far it is being shipped.
Shipping times may vary depending on where the products are being shipped from and where they are shipping to. Usual shipping times in the continental U.S. typically vary from 2-10 days.
If you need products faster than ground shipping can deliver, you can expect to pay a significant shipping fee for expedited or overnight shipping.
Some websites that offer free shipping may have inflated the retail price of the product in order to cover the shipping costs. Thus, make sure to understand the total price of products plus any applicable shipping charges when purchasing tires online and comparing different retail websites.
| How is TireBuyer Different? TireBuyer.com operates over 80 warehouses coast-to-coast. With our own fleet of trucks, we can deliver most orders fast and free of charge when your tires are available in our warehouse in your area and are shipped to a certified local TireBuyer dealer in your area. Because we already provide daily wholesale deliveries to our dealers, we can include TireBuyer orders at no extra charge. In the event that your desired product resides at a non-local warehouse, or you need to ship outside of our service delivery area, your order may be charged a standard ground shipping fee, although our current policy is to ship all orders for free. In this case, if shipping charges are applied, they are generally still reasonable because we will use the closest alternate warehouse where your products are in stock to keep the shipping costs as low as possible. All wheel products ship free, all the time. |
When you purchase new tires, they will need to be professionally mounted onto the wheels and installed on your vehicle. This typically includes precision balancing so that the tire and wheel assembly will rotate smoothly without shaking or vibrating. It is also a good idea to have your vehicle's alignment checked so that your new tires will be in the proper alignment. Tires that are out of alignment will experience premature wear or damage.
If you purchase a complete pre-mounted tire & wheel assembly online, you can save some money by installing them on your vehicle yourself. However, you will pay more in shipping because the wheels add considerably to the shipping weight. And, of course, you have to be willing to do the work yourself. Also, if you do the work yourself and do not take advantage of a professional alignment check, you may end up damaging or shortening the life of your new tires if your vehicle has an alignment problem.
If you purchase tires by themselves (i.e. without wheels), you will need to take them to a professional tire shop to have them mounted on your existing rims and balanced. If you show up at a tire shop with your own tires that were purchased at a site other than TireBuyer.com, do not be surprised if you are quoted a higher installation rate. This is because you did not purchase the tires from that shop and the only opportunity they have to make a profit is on the installation portion of the transaction. So, even if you thought you saved a bit of money by buying the tires elsewhere, you may still end up paying the same or more in the long run, once you factor in the installation fees.
If you call around for pricing, it can sometimes be very difficult to know exactly how much you are being charged because you will often be quoted a complete out-the-door price for the tires plus the installation. Furthermore, the complete installation can consist of mounting, balancing, valve stems, shop fees, and mandatory tire disposal fees or taxes.
Some Internet retailers will allow you to select a local dealer at the time of purchase. You may be able to have the products shipped directly to that dealer. However, this may take some coordination on your part to make sure they are expecting the products that you already paid for and shipped to them.
In addition, you will need to clarify the installation fees of your selected dealer and be prepared to pay for them at the time of installation, unless the installation fee was already included in the online purchase.
| How is TireBuyer Different? There are no surprises at TireBuyer.com. TireBuyer.com displays all its certified tire dealers in your area at the time of checkout. Each dealer publishes their complete installation fees, so you can easily compare the installation rates and line item fees for each installing dealer. Your shopping cart reflects your entire out-the-door price, but you also know the breakdown of product prices, installation fees, shipping fees (if any) and taxes (if any). Because the dealers are integrated with TireBuyer, they receive your products directly from TireBuyer.com, so you are truly their customer. Your online transaction should be treated no differently than a traditional walk-in purchase. TireBuyer.com's Customer Service team will follow up with both you and your selected installer to ensure a smooth transaction. |
Due to the sheer number of brands, styles, and sizes of tires and wheels available, it is impossible for any single tire dealer to carry a complete inventory of product.
For this reason, you may drive in to a local tire shop expecting to have new tires installed on your vehicle, only to find out that they need to order your tires and you'll need to wait or come back at a later time.
A benefit of buying online is that you can shop for the exact brand, style and size you need. Most online sites have a wide array of brands, styles and sizes to choose from.
Buying online allows you to order the products from the comfort of your home or office and at your convenience. When the products arrive, you can schedule an installation time that is convenient for you.
| How is TireBuyer Different? TireBuyer.com operates over 80 warehouses coast-to-coast. We carry a massive inventory of over four million of tires and wheels from the top brands you are familiar with. Chances are, we have your product in stock and ready to deliver within 24 hours of your order. Because of our volume and the number of warehouses across the country, we are able to offer reasonable retail pricing on our products. |
There are typically two types of taxes you should be prepared to pay when buying tires: sales taxes and tire disposal taxes or fees.
Tire disposal taxes or fees are charged in most locations and are typically required by law. Generally, the disposal fees are applied to the new tires you are buying, not the old ones. Thus, at some point when those new tires wear out and need to be disposed of, the fee has already been paid on them. Tire disposal fees or taxes vary by location, and some shops may charge their own disposal fees, sometimes in addition to any mandated governmental fees, due to the time and handling required to dispose of the old tires.
As for sales taxes, at the current time, if you are buying products on the Internet from a company who does not have a physical presence in your state, you can delay paying sales tax, because they are not required to charge sales tax. However, you are supposed to claim these out-of-state purchases on your personal income tax returns and pay the sales tax liability yourself.
Conversely, if you purchase tires on the Internet from a company who has a physical presence in your state, such as a headquarters, a warehouse or a sales office, then most states require the company to charge sales tax on your product purchase. This is why some sites may charge sales tax where others do not. Sales tax rates vary on a state by state basis.
Many states are currently working with the federal government to propose a method to capture sales tax on all Internet sales, even if the sale crosses state lines. However, this type of legislation currently does not exist.
| How is TireBuyer Different? Because of our national footprint, TireBuyer.com is required to charge sales tax in most states. While this may seem to be a disadvantage, the advantage of our footprint allows for free or discounted shipping on most orders, a wider product selection of items in stock, and rapid delivery times. |
Once your tires have been mounted and driven on, you may not be able to return the products unless there is a manufacturing problem with the tire. In this case, you will need to work with the installing dealer to have them file a warranty claim.
If you simply decide you do not want the tires and they have not yet been mounted and driven on, you may be able to return them to the retail outlet where they were purchased.
Some tire manufacturers have a "test drive" program that allows consumers to return tires within 30 days if the tires do not meet the purchaser's expectations.
If you are purchasing tires from an Internet retailer, make sure you understand the returns process and terms. Due to the size and weight of the tires, you may be charged a return shipping fee and/or a restocking fee. Make sure to check the purchase terms and conditions of the website before you purchase.
| How is TireBuyer Different? Returns are simplified with TireBuyer.com because your selected local TireBuyer installer can handle your product return. In the event that you shipped product outside of the TireBuyer dealer network, our Customer Service team will issue a return shipping call tag for your product returns. If your products were originally delivered free to a local dealer, then there is no shipping charge for returning the product. See TireBuyer.com for a complete description of our returns policy. In a nutshell, we will accept product returns within 30 days of your purchase, provided the products have not been mounted and driven on. Once products are received back in resale condition, your product purchase and pre-paid installation fees will be refunded. |
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