Buying tires is one of the most mundane tasks in auto maintenance - until you're hit with a $500 bill, at which time it seems downright tiresome. If you get a grip on what you're buying, and shop around until you find the right place, you'll be a lot happier and safer in the long run. Safety is probably the number one concern when purchasing tires, because the wrong tire--or a worn tire left on your car too long--can cause an accident faster than some cell phone-yapping jerk cutting you off on the Interstate because he wasn't paying attention to his blind spot.
But, how do you start? First, choose what your climate and budget will allow:
Cheap radials: The more money you pay, the more mileage you get out of tires. But if you're planning to trade a car in the next year or just don't drive that many miles, why spend extra money on something that's guaranteed to last 60,000+ miles?
3-season: Maybe you don't get a lot of snow and ice where you live. Maybe you have snow tires for your vehicle. What do you run on the rest of the year? Quality three-seasons, that's what.
4-season: A good year-round tire isn't necessarily ideal for any season. Then again, you can drive them into the ground and only have to worry about rotating them.
Summer Performance: If you live in Arizona, park your convertible in the garage for the winter. Or, if you can afford separate summer/winter sets (see #5), high-performance summers can make driving your vehicle an absolute joy by enhancing handling and response. These are usually a luxury item; they're not a realistic choice for the average family.
Summer/Winter sets: In New Hampshire where I live with my family, certain vehicles demand snow tires because they're downright dangerous in three-season radials once the roads slicken up even a little. Cost really isn't a factor when safety's an issue, which led our family to purchase a separate set of Nokian Hakkapellita snows for a van we drove year-round. Believe it or not, springing up front for a $250 set of additional rims saved money in the long run, because getting those snows mounted and unmounted from the set that came with the van at the beginning and end of each winter really adds up over the life of a set of snow tires. Another option for front-wheel drive vans and cars would be a pair of tires for the front; for our Nissan Sentra we used Michelin Alpines, a very solid tire.
Then, figure out where to buy them:
Tire chain store: In New England, there's a regional chain called Sullivan Tire, and of course there are national chains such as NTB, Big O, and Tire Kingdom (all three serve different U.S. regions but happen to be related to one another). They're probably the most popular choice. Pluses include best--or close to the best price on a wide variety of tires and speedy service. Minuses would be low-paid, sometimes disengaged help that is installing a part on your car that can influence safety, handling, and gas mileage. Smart shoppers who use these places will know up front what tires they want, what they cost, and sometimes, if the location they're going to has them in stock.
Wholesale club: Places like Sam's, BJ’s, and Costco offer no-frills, best-price service. While it's easy to buy into the "if they're selling it, it must be a good deal" idea, don't. Call around and compare prices to what they offer, and decide if what they have is what you really want, anyway--because they might not be that cheap, and you might prefer a different tire anyway, after you've read up on your options.
Dealer: All the amenities of the place that sold you your car new, half the tire selection, and extra markup. What could be worse?
Web/Mail order: Even with shipping and independent installation factored in, there are some smoking deals to be had at sites like tirerack.com, if you know all the sizing and ins and outs of the different brands and applications of tires--which can be overwhelming. The inconvenience really isn't worth it, in our opinion, unless you want or need a type or brand of tire they don't sell in your market. In that case, these outlets are a godsend.
We like the local independent tire shop best, eschewing the sometimes less-expensive chain-store, dealership, or mail-order options we could utilize. After building a relationship with them over several years and several vehicles, we can trust them to give us good long-term advice that keeps safety first and also respects our home economics instead of gouging us for a quick sale. They tell us when tires are bad versus when we can stretch another year out of them, and they are always happy to patch a flat in their expert way when it's feasible from a safety point of view.
Spray Glo Auto Refinishing & Body Repair Duluth, GA 30096 (770) 476-7048
Buy 3 tires, get 4th FREE!
Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo & Firestone FR710 tires only. See store for complete details. While supplies last. Coupons may not be combined with any other offer. Coupon void if altered.
Bridgestone Dueler A/T Revo & Firestone FR710 tires only. See store for complete details. While supplies last. Coupons may not be combined with any other offer. Coupon void if altered.
Tires Plus Total Car Care Alpharetta, GA 30005 (770) 521-8644
Computerized Wheel Alignment $15 OFF!
Set caster, camber, and toe to exact manufacturer's specifications where applicable. Shop fee will apply. Not valid with any other offer. Coupon void if altered.
Set caster, camber, and toe to exact manufacturer's specifications where applicable. Shop fee will apply. Not valid with any other offer. Coupon void if altered.
Wood & Fullerton Goodyear Gemini Norcross, GA 30092 (770) 246-0012
$10 OFF Interstate Battery
65-,75-, or 85-month Interstate battery. Please visit website or see store for complete description & details. Coupons may not be combined with any other offer. Coupon void if altered.
65-,75-, or 85-month Interstate battery. Please visit website or see store for complete description & details. Coupons may not be combined with any other offer. Coupon void if altered.
Firestone Complete Auto Care Morrow, GA 30260 (770) 968-1020
Don Fluckinger, the Cranky Yankee, is a freelance writer based in Nashua, N.H. 
Would you like to comment on this article?
