How to Save Money When Buying Replacement Tires

Shoppers in the market for new tires are often open to changing brands, according to a new survey of Consumer Reports members. We found that most get free perks, and they may save money if they are up for negotiating over prices. Their experiences can help you with your next tire purchase.

Consumer Reports surveyed members who bought tires in the preceding 12 months and asked them about their overall satisfaction with 23 tire retail chains. We also included independent retailers and car dealerships as two separate groups. Over 15,000 members responded to the survey conducted in fall 2020.

More than two-thirds of surveyed car owners switched brands when buying replacement tires for their vehicle. An additional 10 percent bought the same brand of tire but chose a different model. In addition to replacing tires out of necessity, consumers are also replacing them to get better winter grip, handling, and ride, based on the survey.

Price was a driving force in their brand selection; it was a motivating factor in a third of all purchases. Tread life and brand trust were almost as important.

To get the price they wanted, 14 percent tried haggling. Among them, 70 percent were successful at getting a deal, with the median savings being $96 per set of four tires.

Michelin is by far the most purchased tire brand among CR members. It's no wonder: Michelin holds the top position in many of the categories we test. Michelin tires often cost more, with prices above many other household names, but the added cost can often be justified when comparing track performance and projected treadwear. Survey respondents showed that, in fact, some other brands were more expensive, on average. The brand median price paid for tires was $167, up significantly from our 2018 survey when the median price was $148. The median cost for installation this time was about $24 per tire.

Beyond shaving money off the purchase price, 81 percent of customers who purchased or installed tires received at least one free perk or service. Half of all tire buyers got free tire balancing, and 49 percent got free tire rotation, which can lead to significant savings over time. Other freebies mentioned by members included tire mounting, tire disposal, and a road-hazard warranty.

A road-hazard warranty—protection that typically provides a prorated replacement for tires damaged before their traditional tread life has expired—is another fairly common perk. Twenty-seven percent of tire-buying members received one free of charge. Only 1 in 5 tire-buying members (19 percent) purchased a road-hazard warranty along with their tires.

The percentage of members who got a free warranty varied significantly by retailer, from just 2 percent of Amazon customers getting one compared with 53 percent for BJ's and Les Schwab Tire Centers customers. Other places you should consider shopping if you're looking to get a free tire warranty included with your tire purchase are Costco, Sam's Club, and Tire Rack. Around half of their customers reported receiving this perk.

"You may be able to get the coverage you want bundled in with the tires," says Gene Petersen, who manages the Consumer Reports tire-testing program. "In some cases, such as when you get a great deal on tires themselves but they don't include a road-hazard warranty, it may be worth paying extra for that protection."

Petersen suggests that buyers read the small print before assigning too much benefit to these programs, because the coverage does vary. In our experience, the cost is often less than $20 per tire, and the investment is often worth the peace of mind.