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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Melissa, a mom of 2 boys in Arizona, understands the importance of watching a family budget. After leaving the business world, she dedicated herself to working at home and pursued her passion of helping people.
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Disclaimer: I do not and have never worked for Discount Tire or any tire company, have a pickup and a sports car that both eat tires up. You offer some sound advice for any large purchase, not just tires, but in the end it’s not always just about the lowest price, but also about the service that comes along with it. That’s why I always do my tire business with Discount Tire. I have gotten free tires from them in the past when I had to go back a few times to keep getting the tires balanced and they found that there machine was out of calibration. They compted me the tires for my trouble. They fix all my flats for free whether I bought the tires from them or not, other places want at least $12 and if you want new stems and balancing it’s extra. DT also rotates my tires for free, again whether or not I bought them there or not. Signed a Texas DT fan for life.
Thanks for your comment, Steven. That is very good to know and you are right, customer service is also a huge factor. Thanks for sharing your experience and I hope it can help others, too!
Steven,
Thank you for visiting Melissa’s website and also commenting on my guest post. You’re right about looking at more than just the dollars. And it is just that reason why Discount Tire got my business. I’m glad you can speak so highly of them based on your experience.
Regards,
Sara
.-= Sara at Saving For Someday´s last blog ..How To Get Free Shipping Every Time You Buy From Amazon.com =-.
Not to be a broken record, but I’m also a big fan of Discount Tire! It’s the only place we buy tires for our vehicles, in fact. They’re courteous, quick, affordable, and you just can’t beat everything they throw in – the road hazard warranty, tire rotation, etc. I’ve used the road hazard warranty before, and they didn’t give me a moment of grief about it. They just called me up on the computer, saw that yes, it was one of their tires, and took care of me right away. I think they’re a great combination of price and service, and that’s golden when you’re trying to be frugal.
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