Where's the best place to get tires?

[Catshrink]

I don't needs super-duper high performance tires - I don't drive in snow or ice - and I drive like an old lady. (By backing off the gas pedal, I increased my mileage from 33.5 to 39 mpg so suck it, Big Oil.)

I have a Civic and drive about 15,000 a year, mostly highway, and it gets really really hot here in the summer (but I drive less then).

I had good luck with Discount Tires when I had a blow out last year and had to replace one (couldn't afford the rest and didn't really need to replaced them all) but I'll need to replace them all in the next month or so.

Advice?

[Blue-Jay]

1. Does your local big-box store carry tires?

Some do, some don't.

[Catshrink]

2. Maybe...

I avoid Sprawlmart. Besides the tire stores, there's Sears and Costco. I think I'd prefer Costco for a fair deal - I don't think they get commission on what they sell. I hate being taken advantage of because I'm a woman and don't know better.

[Blue-Jay]

3. Get a price from Costco.

Then call your locally-owned tire shop and ask them to match or beat that price.

Most places have set prices for tires, so this isn't a case where they'll likely take advantage of you because you're a woman.

[Catshrink]

5. Thanks for the advice.

I guess I worry about being oversold - buying more tire than I need. I'll stop by Costco today - it's a good day for samples too!

[pokerfan]

14. This

I also do this for skiing equipment. I clip ads from the big stores and take them to my favorite local store who is willing to deal.

[MicaelS]

4. Discount Tire is best

NTB will usually price match them, IF they both carry the same tire. Tire Rack is the best place online to do research into tires. Don't get fooled by the prices, because you have to factor into delivery and so forth. Tire Rack does ship to local places, though.

[Catshrink]

6. Thanks...

they did take care of me pretty fairly I thought when I replaced the one that blew.

[old mark]

7. From my experience, I'd avoid Sears and NTB. I have had outright fraud from Sears

and total incompetence from NTB (They broke a stud on a wheel replacing a tire and didn't tell me - just put the wheel cover back on - I wondered what that noise was when I was doing 75 on the highway....)Costco seems like the best idea - Kmart used to have tires, too - they were pretty good.

mark

[Blue-Jay]

8. K-mart & Sears are the same company.

Shop smart. Shop S-Mart.

[old mark]

10. In fairness, my bad experience with Sears was well before they merged....

30 years ago or more...

but I never forgot.

mark

[azmouse]

9. Stick with Discount Tires.

We needed tires on 3 cars late last year... ouch! We got good prices and we're well taken care of there. And whenever we have a flat or any problem they always take good care of us.

[LeftyMom]

11. Local tire shop. No contest.

I could suggest two really great ones if you lived in my area. Since you don't, try yelp for reviews. I saved a ton on my clutch job by trying a place with fantastic reviews on yelp.

[doc03]

12. I hate to say this but Wal Mart. I bought a set of tires for my truck

last fall. I was impressed with their service, my pet peeve is tire shops that tighten lug nuts to 500 lbs. torque and over-inflate the tire by like 30 lbs. As always when I got home I checked my lug nut torque and tire pressure, the torque was 85# and the tires were properly inflated to 29# just as the owners manual recommends. I paid for the lifetime rotation and balance. I took the truck back last week and as always I checked the torque and tire pressures and they were right on spec again. Sears and NTB both suck.

[david13]

13. Check your pressure. Civic should be about 30 or 32. And check

the torque. If you have a torque wrench. Should be about 100 for steel, and 74 for alloy (EX model.)
America's Tire Store? Or where ever. But I do recommend Michelin. I think they are the best. But don't get the cheapest ones. Get a good set.
dc

[OhioChick]

15. I always got more bang for my buck at NTB

:)

[doc03]

17. I bought tires at NTB for years until Sears bought them out.

The last tires I bought there they told me I had a bad tie rod and I would have to fix it or the warranty wouldn't be any good. The day after I bought the tires I took the car and had the tie rod replaced and an alignment. The tires had a tread-wear warranty of 50,000 miles I think. After the tires had about 20,000 miles on them they were worn out. A couple days before taking the car to NTB I took it to Meineke for a brake job and I had them check the front suspension and was told everything was good. So when I go to NTB they tell me I had a bad tie rod when I bought the tires so I showed them the receipt for the tie rod and the alignment. They still said I had a bad tie rod and refused to give me any allowance on new tires. Even after showing them the receipt from Meineke stating that my front end was OK they still wouldn't give me anything. I told the manager where he could put his tires and I would never set foot in his f---g store again. That was probably 10-15 years ago. Someone did tell me NTB is no longer owned by Sears, doesn't matter to me they still have the same manager. So maybe it could be just the mangement but I won't ever set foot in their store again so I guess I will never know.

[On the Road]

16. I Have About 30 in My Backyard

You're welcome to as many as you can carry.

[Po_d Mainiac]

18. Heard the same thing from my wife last wek

Told her to deal with it...(she's in town daily..me, not so much)

She came home with 4 new Goodyear's, underneath a new chassis.......me and my big mouth