© DenLorsTools.com Summary: The Internet has changed the way we make many purchases. When considering your next car or truck tire purchase what are the advantages and disadvantages when purchasing them on-line or at a local tire store?

As I’ve mentioned previously I worked at a small Western Auto store from age 16 to 19 years old (back in the early eighties). One of my jobs was installing the tires that we sold.

There was a small alley just behind the store where I would  use a floor jack and a 4-way lug wrench to remove the wheels. There was no cover from the hot Florida sun or any other elements such as the frequent afternoon thunder showers. Once I rolled the wheels inside, I used an old Coats tire machine.

We surprisingly had a computer wheel balancer but the owners were very frugal to say the least. We had to use the old wheel weights that we removed! Since then I’ve sold and installed thousands of tires at all the places I’ve been employed at. Just like the tires themselves… shopping has changed immensely.

Research

Researching tires has become much easier. No longer are tire shoppers forced to go from store to store to hear what the individual tire salesmen have to say about their particular brand of tire. Although many tire stores do offer many brands of tires today, that wasn’t always the case. I know that the Goodyear store I worked at in the mid eighties would never of sold any other brand back then.

That has changed because many of the competitors had started selling multiple brands of tires under one roof. This has forced tire stores to offer more of a selection to compete. All that being said; researching on-line even if you plan on purchasing locally is much more convenient. And if purchasing the original size and brand that came on the vehicle, the research is much simpler – you’re just shopping price.

Installation / Computer Wheel Balancing

If you are just buying tires without rims, installation may be an issue. Say you find this really great deal on-line, who will you get to install them? Yes, it’s true some on-line tire stores will help you locate a local place to have the tires installed. However, additional installation costs will need to be figured in. Below is what TireRack.com has to say about their approved installers.

All of Tire Rack’s Recommended Installers are carefully screened to ensure they have the right equipment and experience to satisfactorily serve our customers. In fact, to become a Recommended Installer a company must:

1. Use proper mounting and balancing equipment including touchless or rim clamp, European-style tire changers and high-speed computer spin balancers.
2. Employ properly trained technicians capable of safely performing damage-free installations.
3. Be an automotive business that can offer additional services to customers (alignments, complete repairs, auto detailing, etc.)
4. Possess a positive attitude and the ability to treat Tire Rack’s customers with the highest level of professional courtesy.

Only after these criteria are met is a company approved to become one of our Recommended Installers.

Sounds like Tire Rack has their act together.

Warranty

In case of an issue with the tires, getting a resolution could be easier when dealing with a local tire store. Even if the tires purchased on the Internet were installed by an approved local installer, they are not the ones responsible for the warranty. Also a vibration issue may be attributed to a fault with the tire and not the local store’s computerized balance job. I can see where if there’s a problem with the tires or balancing, it could be a little more tricky when dealing with more than one company.

Alignment

OK, the on-line tire stores can’t do an alignment on your car through the Internet. The local tire store or auto repair shop has this one bagged. Anytime you replace tires it’s a good idea to have the alignment checked. Tires are expensive, so it doesn’t make sense to allow faulty wheel alignment to cause your tires to wear unevenly.

Alignment should be checked once a year anyway, regardless of a tire purchase. Hitting one big pothole can affect the alignment. Worn suspension or steering components can drastically affect the alignment and accelerate tire wear.

Conclusion

There’s some great deals on tires available on-line and in the local stores. Here’s what I did. I shopped on-line and then negotiated a very closely priced deal locally. By getting the tires locally, I feel like if there’s any issues I can have them addressed easier. Being smart and considering the different factors you’ll find the best deal available in your area for your specific tire needed.