How To Save Money On New Tires

By Brian Alexander, Road Test Editor
Tire shopping used to be a huge, weekend-long series of phone calls and shop visits if you wanted to secure a good deal. But the Internet has changed all that. A simple search of our parts section will show you just how many online vendors are at your disposal, so it’s rather obvious that there are deals to be had if you know how to find them. You may find pricing differences as wide as $150 on a single tire, so a lengthy online search is highly advised. There are a few other ways to get your hands of tires for a bargain, however.
 
Just about everyone is familiar with eBay these days. But don’t let the fact that it’s an online auction turn you off – there are great deals to be had on new tires, not just used. Check the auction sites and see what’s available. If someone’s moving and has been sitting on a shiny new set of tires for a few months, it might just be your lucky day. Also, check liquidation and closeout sites as well. With retailers going out of business, stocks at liquidation companies are unusually high.
 
Not comfortable with the whole online thing? Call around the local shops and ask if they have any used tires available. We know the term “used tires" isn’t exactly confidence inspiring, but a lot of people buy new tires long before they need them, and dealers often put new tires on trade-ins before the old set has worn. You might be able to get 20,000 miles out of a used set, at a significantly discounted price.
 
Obviously, getting the most out of our old tires is important, so rotate them frequently to ensure they wear evenly. If the old set still has a little life left in them, try to sell them. Someone out there must be building a rope swing, right?
 



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