Costco Tire Experience - Handling Aftermarket Wheels?

I have new SCS F5s in need of being installed, mounted, TPMS, etc. with new wheels from Costco (KO2 265/70/17).

Do you use Costco or have good/bad experience with them handling wheel and tire installs? It'd be easy to document any damage given the wheels are BNIB.

Our Costco deals with tons of Tacomas and approved putting these tires on the truck. It's about $320 (edit) in addition to tire purchase. Two reputable shops want between $550-700 to do the same service (I live on an island with limited options).

I didn't think twice about using Costco, but SCS cautioned against using them having feedback from customers of having their wheels damaged by the techs. They recommended their dealer on island. While I agree a speciality shop is better, I could use the savings and convenience..

Thanks!

 

No way. Higher likelihood of issues.

The headache of an issue is not worth the savings. Honestly I'm surprised they would even do it.

It doesn't have to be a specialty shop, but a dedicated tire shop is ideal. Not somewhere that sells hotdogs and TV's.

 

I don't have spiffy wheels on either vehicle. Tacoma is steel, but RAV has nice OE alloy.

I've had no problems with them for fresh tires or rotation/rebalance

BTW, catching the right sale can get you a 1 cent per corner install. Including dismount, mount lifetime balance lifetime rotation. Worth waiting for if you can.

I could be wrong, but it strikes me that their tire staff (at least at my store) is a couple of clicks up from the Walmart crowd, and on par with most chain shops working normal tires. Plus, Costco staff does no other work. No mufflers, oil changes, not even battery changes for ones you buy there.

 

$240 just to install the wheels with TPMS? That seems very high, Toyota quoted me $90 for same service.

 

Actually I did math wrong, it’s $20/tire to install and $60/sensor so more like $320. Toyota wants $120 for sensor + install fee. I live in Hawaii if that helps explain the high prices.

 

I’m getting the run around today myself. So as I said Toyota quoted $90. I show up and the advisor is like she told you wrong it’s $180. So I left, went to another place $142. I’m waiting now at the third independent shop and it’s $92 including new valve stems with TPMS swap. Lucky I guess I don’t live in Hawaii!

 

I helped my buddy put a lift on his jeep and Costco had no issue with 35s and his aftermarket wheels

 

it is a dedicated tire shop. it's not like the employees serving hot dogs are also installing tires.

 

My half-assed point is. I buy appliances from a appliance store, not best buy.

I suggest buying tires from a proper mechanic shop.

Up here they don't even need to have a single licensed mechanic. Ideally I want a lead that can properly teach and show them how to do their job carefully. They all have the same credentials as a hotdog employee.

I recommend costco for oem rims and tires all day. But I'm saying for an aftermarket wheel and tpms, no.

 

that’s good to hear! So no scratches or damages to the wheel on installation. Our Costco is pretty lenient with aftermarket wheels & larger tires so thankfully that wasn’t an issue

 

don’t ask me how much it was to ship the wheels here lol. Most shops use aftermarket TPMS for $60-70 and OEM is $120, plus install.

 

Never had an issue with Costco's tire shops. Discount Tire caused several thousands worth of body damage to a prior vehicle and the wheels and tires had to be rebalanced at another shop after the repairs. F up's can happen anywhere. It's the installer not the shop.

edit: Now that I think of it I had a bad experience with a Toyota dealer screwing up a set of wheels too.

 

Thanks for your feedback, I get what you’re saying. Fwiw I think we must be the Tacoma capital of the world (the majority of the techs probably drive modded Tacoma themselves lol). It’s a false assurance I know, and that it comes down to the tech.. I’ll keep calling around and seeing if I can get a decent deal elsewhere.

My tires are shot and need to get back on the road asap for work. Some shops can’t get me in for another 1-2 weeks and Costco has a Monday opening, and it can all be done there. I know it’s risk management at this point but I was hoping to hear if people have personal experience - both good or bad - with Costco handling their wheels.

 

I would ask to talk to the tech assigned your work before he starts. Tell him good work gets a nice tip, a screw up gets a problem for the shop manager. And follow through with the tip.

 

Just had my F5s installed with KO2s I ordered through Costco.

they charged me $49 per sensor and the $110 to install minus the 4% cash back as an exec member and their Citi card.

I had zero issues with the install. Not a scratch on the wheel. In fact, I just cleaned them up and just finished coating them.

 

Sweet! What wheel coating did you use?

 

I had some of a bottle of CSL that was leftover that I needed to use up. Will use exo tomorrow as the topper.

 

Wheels were BNIB and came out free of any damage, yeah.

this was a Costco in a nicer area so I'm sure they were quite experienced but ymmv

 

The Costco in my area cannot seem to handle stock wheels let alone aftermarket. Several sets of tires purchased, over the years, on several of my cars and they still cannot get the balancing right. I always have to go back and have them redo it. These are trained and certified 'tire only techs'!
They will not work on aftermarket anything since they only sell tires by factory specs. Shame. Did i mention unprofessional and subpar compared other shops i have tried!
Plenty of better tire shops out there.

 

Have used Costco before. They stand behind their work. Zero problems!