Buying tires from a store is frustrating because rarely is anything in stock that I want, plus the price is higher.

Not to mention, I always seem to get some jackass that tries to sell me something I don't want.

Buying tires in a store just doesn't make sense, if you know what you are looking for. My last three sets of tires have come from TireRack due to price, availability and customer service that listens to what I say, rather then trying to sell me crap with some lifetime warranty I don't want.

 

Summary:

In-store: Wait in line, let some kid drive your car, incorrectly balance and scratch your wheels, Bend the wheel by seating the bead when the tire is still mounted against the machine, crossthread your lugnuts with an air-rachet, mis-torque the lugs.


Online: Order New Tires and Wheels on line from tirerack, they come mounted and balanced (balanced for FREE), shipped to your door for far less than what most places charge for balancing, and tirerack includes free lugs that a tire shop would charge $40 for. I put them the a car using a torque wrench! 'Nuff said?

 

I bought just tires from the tire rack. Only problem is taking them somewhere to be mounted. Usually their recommended installers are fine.

 

I bought a set of tires and wheels from tire rack. The reasons for doing so are pretty much the same reasons I buy anything online.
-Better supply and variety/choice of product than I can purchase locally.
-Lower prices than I would pay locally.
-Specialized online businesses that have expert knowlege of the products they sell.
-In most cases, no sales tax.
-Excellent product waranties.
-Informational online stores that allow me to learn more about the product than I could find in a brick & mortar store.
-With the online businesses I deal with, shipping is fairly priced. If the product is available locally, I will buy it locally if the purchase price + tax is less than the best online purchase price + (tax, if applicable) + shipping. I don't do business with the numerous online stores who rip people off on shipping & handling.

 

Brick & Mortar? Isn't much of that in CA.... just kiddings.... dang B-school speak!

 

I purchase only from Tire Rack. Their prices are the best (even with shipping). They are never "out of stock" of the tires I want/need. Great customer service. Not a whole lot of "yacking" going on.

+1 for TireRack.

 

Another great thing about tire rack is that they have a distribuition center about 10 minutes from my house. It's likely that they have things in stock there, and if they do, I don't have to pay shipping as I can just go pick them up

I do have to pay sales tax though.

 

-1 for nKoan gloating he's lives so close to TireRack.

 

can I gloat .... I work here

 

faiwu, posts like the one above are a business matter between you and Tire Rack and are off-topic for this thread. I would suggest that you first send PM (Private Message) to Luke@tirerack or give Tire Rack a phone call before posting publicly. Thank you.

--
0==WW==0
"…axles of evil…" - george w. bush

 

I just go to Americas Tires. I usually don't plan on getting tires untill I happen to notice them balding..lol. So instead of ordering by phone or online I just pull into Americas Tire in Livermore and have a new set of ES 100's put on. It usually takes about an hour. Granted, I'd probably get a better price from Tire rack, but then I'd have to wait for them to be shipped. I'm too impatient for that...lol. Now now now!

 

I swear... it's hit or miss with America's Tire. Stupid monkeys used hammer-on weights on the inside of my aftermarket wheels and I asked for stick-on. The little buggers keep flying off while driving.

I caught one guy not balancing my wheels to 0 too, and called him on it. I made him look like an idiot in front of the whole crew... 'course I looked like a ***** too .