Owning a car means having car maintenance responsibilities. And if you’ve owned your car for more than 3 years, you’ll probably have the enviable task of buying a new set of tires soon.
I recently had to put a full set of tires on my SUV. I noticed that the rear tire by the gas tank looked like it was cut. The tire wasn’t flat though. A quick check of the other three tires showed quite a bit of wear too. They’ve served us well but now we needed 4 new tires.
My husband said he’d call the dealership to make an appointment.
What? Did he forget my frugal ways?
I told him I would shop around for the best deal while he found out how much the dealer would charge. And that is exactly what I did. I went to 4 local tire shops and I ended up saving over 40% off what the dealer quoted AND I received full replacement warranties which the dealership did not offer! How did I do that?
Follow these 5 easy steps and I assure you that you, too, will not only save money but will get yourself the best deal possible.
- Get the tire size information off your tires or from your vehicle owner’s manual. If you want the same brand, note the brand as well.
- Identify 3 or 4 tire shops near your home or work. You want the shopping experience to be easy and you also want the place you choose to be convenient for you too.
- Go to the first shop and ask for their best Out The Door (OTD) quote on your size, make and style of tires. You want the OTD price because that will include installation, stems, road hazard warranty (if offered), environmental and disposal fees, taxes and whatever else your state may charge. Having the OTD price means you know that if you choose that tire shop you could walk in with that exact amount of cash and not have any hidden fees added on. Get this quote IN WRITING!
- Take this quote to tire shop #2 and repeat. If they don’t carry the same brand make sure the tire brand quoted is comparable. You can always double check ratings when you get home.
- Once you have all the quotes, sit down at home and compare them. If you have questions write them down and call or stop by the shop or check the shop’s website (if they have one) for more information. You don’t have to make a decision on the spot, and don’t let the salesperson pressure you. The quote should be valid for at least a week. Mine were all valid for 30 days.
It took me less than 2 hours to get to all 4 tire shops. The salesmen (yes, all were men) were polite and courteous. I was straightforward with them all, telling them that I am shopping around for the best tires at the best price, that they have one opportunity to give me a quote. Within a few minutes I had a printed quote and was on my way to the next shop.
Saving on tires is easy as 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5! You may not need these tips today, but bookmark this page so when the time comes you’ll be ready to save.
Sara is a busy mom of one, finding ways to make her dreams come true by saving money, time and resources. She blogs about making everyday a someday at her blog Saving For Someday. She is also celebrating her Year of Awesome.
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