Vik888

I'm just curious where most of you buy and install your tires?

I've already decided on Michelin PS2's. The stealership wants around 30% more than the local tire shops. Can you trust local shops to do a decent job? Is there anything you can do to check the job has been done correctly?

costco? sams club? discount tire/america's tire?

buy at tire rack and have them locally installed?

Any advice would be appreciated.

Benz-O-Rama

I buy online and have them shipped to my house. Then I always have the dealer install them, always. They have the Hunter road force balance machine that is crucial for these cars.

Vik888

Interesting. So do all MB dealers use the same Hunter machine?

Vik888

Online at Tire Rack? Is it possible to get defective tires or have to return them for any reason?

Benz-O-Rama

I would think so.

Yes, yes and yes.

I've returned one tire to them before. No problem what so ever.

konigstiger

http://www.gsp9700.com/pub/search/FindGSP9700.cfm

lkchris

I buy mine from Tirerack and install them in my garage. Drive somewhere to have them balanced.

Vik888

You are awesome, as always. Thank you.

Vik888

Hrm, one of the places I wanted to buy the tires from has the GSP 9700 but not the "StraightTrak LFM" .. ugh.

rkao

+1 on Tire Rack for purchase - have always had phenomenal experience with them and have used the same rep for the last few years.

As for installation, for normal installs I use a local tire specialist.

If for more exotic application, there is a very good tire shop further away that specializes in specialty fitments and the local PCA members seem to have had good experience with them.

apl175

I've gotten tire and rims at Tirerack....great service, and they did a good job mounting and balancing.

I've taken my cars to both BJs and Costco in the past for tires. They do a remarkably professional job for a wholesale club, but maybe I'm lucky in finding the tire tech that knows what he is doing.

Took the Volvo to Sears once for some Contis.....they could not get the balancing right after trying twice. The dealer had to balance for me.

bigben320e

I get my tires at Discount Tire. Always do, for several reasons:

1. The prices are lower.
2. I don't have to bother with taking tires around with me. (*-I know you can get drop ship.)
3. They have the warranty certificates that no one else offers at the same price. The road hazard from Discount Tire is not pro-rated as others are, you get the tire replaced. Period.
4. As found on the Hunter website that Konigs posted (Thanks Konigs, you are awesome ) Discount Tire has this equipment.
5. Not to mention the free lifetime balance and rotation.

vettdvr

Sams club store. About the same price as Tirerack but total cost is less with installation and balance. I get nailed for about $125 to have 4 tires installed and balanced. Sams does it for about $40 because I buy the tires there.

With Tire rack I have to pay a $2.00 tire disposal fee which gets double charged when I have them installed. The installer has to dispose of the tire not Tirerack and therefor I have to pay the installer an additional $2.00. I don't have this duplicate fee at SC.

gaazmon

Never had a problem with costco, they always honored the warranty. Also, discount tire has good service from what I hear as well.

Flash Gordon

Costco is better than tire shops in both price and the installation service. The only problem with Costco is the wait time whenever they have a tire promotion. By wait time I mean just to get your order processed, not the tire installation time. The Edison, NJ store only has one guy to service the customers.

NickR41

Can you tell me your reps name? I will look at new tires in near future. Thx.

MBE550

I have used the same NTB shop for all my cars.
I can negotiate and have them beat TireRack price. Sometimes a lot cheaper.
Service and warranty is excellent for life time of the tires.

lig

Tire Rack.

Have them shipped to either of two shops run by friends. Very inexpensive but careful - and they have the latest Hunter gear.

nopcbs

Either the local Discount Tire store getting them to match the Discount Tire on-line price...or Tire rack with install at a local service station.

- GRL

IGetIt

Bought mine @ Tire Rack and had them mounted at a local BMW Performance shop with a Road Force balancing machine. I'm pretty sure they are Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus.

rkao

Roger - ext 627, good guy.

Andre91

I use a local tire shop, they can occasionally beat Costco and Tire Rack depending on the make/model of tire. I've been going there for years and always had great service. Since they do a lot of aftermarket wheel business they have the proper touchless tire changer to prevent scratches on wheels and techs experienced in mounting low profile tires.

e350forme

does no one else buy tires second hand? have had great luck with ebay and craigslist for the occasional temporary set.

edit: oops, the above pertains to my second car which is not as picky about tires

Andre91

I've bought a couple of sets of winter tires and wheels used, both sets practically new. Usually when someone trades their car in, if their winters won't fit the new car they'll sell them instead of letting the dealer take them. Most new cars come with a winter tire and wheel package now anyways, especially this time of year.

Tire shops that do a lot of aftermarket wheel business sometimes have brand new OEM take offs available from people upgrading right after buying a vehicle. Mostly truck tires and wheels from what I've seen in my area, though.

cetialpha5

You realize this thread is 10 years old? Someone brought it back by mistake.

Costco usually has a sale on Michelin tires every other month or so, they seem to rotate back and forth between a Michelin promo and a Bridgestone promo. It's worth it for the 5 year road hazard and free rotation, balancing. You don't normally get that with other tire stores.