Shop Smart: Is It Cheaper To Buy Tires Online Or At A Local Tire Store?

“Is It Cheaper To Buy Tires Online Or At A Local Tire Store?”

Online retail has disrupted many industries, as virtual businesses can reduce overhead and pass the savings onto their customers, while also making shopping experiences easier and more convenient.

But shopping for tires is not like buying groceries, clothes, or electronics. Online retailers cannot offer a true tire store experience; instead, they’re more like virtual tire catalogs, which puts a lot of the responsibility (and expense) back on the consumer.

Read on to preview the hidden costs of online tire shopping and find out how your local TIRECRAFT can save you money on your next set, or use our online tire store locator to book a consultation straight away.

Why Visit A Local Tire Store? Hidden Costs Of Online Tire Shopping

Getting online can be a great way to research different tire options and get a sense of their typical price points, but when it’s time to buy, it’s often cheaper to visit your local tire store.

This is because online tire shopping comes with a lot of hidden costs, including:

• Tire delivery—You might find tires listed for less online, but remember: online tire stores typically charge shipping fees. When these fees are added onto the online purchase price, you could end up paying more than you would at your local tire store. And even if the retailer waives the delivery fee, you will need to wait for your tires to ship, which could force you to drive on unsafe or inefficient tires for longer than you’d like.

  In contrast, when you buy from your local tire store, you’ll have the option of choosing from their existing inventory, which eliminates delivery delays and shipping fees, and gives you the option to install them on the same day.

• Tire disposal—When your new tires arrive, you’ll be responsible for getting rid of the old set. And even if your city offers a recycling program free of charge, you’ll need to spend time and gas money driving out to the facility.

  However, if you get your new set installed at your local tire store, the technicians may take care of it for you, saving you the extra trip and disposal fees.

• Loss of tire support—As mentioned earlier, online tire retailers cannot recreate the tire store experience because they do not provide direct access to tire experts. Instead, they’re more like virtual tire catalogs, and the onus is on you to navigate them to find the right fit for your unique driving needs, vehicle, and budget.

  If you aren’t an experienced tire-buyer, this loss of tire support can really cost you. While you might get lucky and land on the perfect fit, you could also end up ordering something suboptimal, or even something with the wrong size or speed rating, in which case you’ll spend even longer sorting out the return.

• Fewer ways to save—When you buy online, you lose out on our customer loyalty rewards, and you’ll also need to research official rebates and winter tire insurance discounts on your own. In contrast, if you buy from a TIRECRAFT tire store, you can bank discount dollars to spend on future products or auto services, and we’ll help you apply for official rebates and gather necessary documentation to access winter tire insurance discounts.

Get A Free Quote From A Tire Store Near Me: Contact TIRECRAFT

To learn more about our expert tire support and cost-control opportunities, get in touch with your local TIRECRAFT tire store.

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