Should i buy tires off Amazon?

I’ve been purchasing tires from Amazon for some ten years now for all “my” vehicles. Not exclusively, I have also purchased from Online Tires and Treadwright. I get them installed by local used-tire shops. But I take the wheels to them as opposed to having them bolt them to the vehicle cause they don't properly torque the lugs - they almost always over-torque with their air guns.

Otherwise, I have not had any install issues. I also ask that they use the press-in weights, not the stick-on’s cause those tend to fall off over time.

 

I’ve used Wally World a few times, local pickup and or returns, if needed. Had DT mount them, zero issues.

 

I will have to hold off on Amazon. The dealer they deliver to won't install 285 75 16s. discount tire is 250 miles away and the only local chain is Town fair tire. Townfair sucks. Not a chance of me walking into Sams or Walmarts. I most likely will have my old shop throw on a set of Falken wildpeaks with 20k on them. I just lifted truck last Monday so i need an alignment asap.

 

I always get my grappler from Amazon. No issue.

 

Get it delivered to your house or nearest fed/ups center, load it up and take it to your local tire shop.

 

I got my Falken Wildpeak at3w 255/80-17s off of Amazon. At checkout it gave me the option to have them shipped and installed at the local Pep Boys. I think for like $78, but I can't remember for sure. I just had them shipped to my house then mounted and balanced to the wheels I bought by my dealer when they did the install of my Pro Grille.

 

I always do. My wife spends $1100 for tires for our van at the local store

I spend $150-250 less, and spend the saved money on a new spare.
I don’t care about roadside hazard, or warranty, just keep a new tire or two, and have cash for plugs and patch jobs at shops should you get a nail

 

another vote for discount tire. they beat everyone hands down in my area (pdx oregon) and service was fantastic. they have a customer for life til they screwup, as the other tire dealer did and lost a customer for life.

 

Labor day sale at Discount Tire.....they are my new go-to for tires after using tire rack since 1989 (back when you had to use a phone to place an order).

 

Wildpeaks on my Taco and Wrangler are from Amazon. Zero issues.

 

I would have said yes, but I got screwed on my last set. One tire had a defect (tread separation) that appeared at 11k. Amazon said they only have a 30d defect period and were completely unwilling to even help with a warranty claim through the manufacturer.

Thankfully after a good discussion with the MFG, they went out of their normal policy to get me a replacement tire.

For this reason, I will still buy tires online but not from Amazon.

We have been buying tires online for about 20yrs. First negative experience but a big one.

 

They put 265/75/16s on my sr5 no question asked. They were ordered to the store and paid for already. Maybe that made the difference Maybe it was just that store. I have been told that at BJ'S wholesale and other places too like pepboys and NTB before though. That was sometimes an issue with my old Liberty CRD with a lift on it. I wanted to have 245/75/16 but the stock size was 225/70/16. Lots of chain tire places would not install what I wanted even if I already had a worn out set of them on the vehicle. They always site liability or something. When I have faced that I just say thanks for your time I'll find someone who will do what I want and leave.
If that Walmart would not have installed them then in that case the tires were mine already. I would have loaded them up and found someone to mount them.

 

Besides the fact that Bezos doesn't need any of my money, I've had problems with buying tires on line and having issue and it leaves you nowhere to go. They were actually Wildpeaks, they shook like mad, wore crazy and were dry rotted when I replaced them at under 25K. They were rotated every 5k on a new truck that was aligned on installation and yearly. And wow on that price, I was $550 for 4 mounted and balanced. Nuts.

 

I did it while I was living in Germany. Pretty convenient

 

As much as I hate Amazon have gotten some really good deals for my Tacoma that weren’t available in town and got free shipping to Alaska despite them being oversized items. I ordered toyos and got free next day air shipping to Alaska somehow. The total came out to almost $400 cheeper than anywhere in the state for 5 tires and they were delivered to my door. Checked the date code and they were manufactured 2 months prior.
Definitely ensure you can find a shop that will mount tires they didn’t sell you. The tire shop I usually use wouldn’t do it, but the mechanic I have used for a decade has a tire machine and mounted/balanced them on rims I provided for a nominal fee.
In specific cases Amazon can definitely be a much cheaper option for the exact same product.

 

I bought my 35" Kendas on eBay and dropped them off along with the wheels at a local shop, no issues. Paid about $100 for mounting and balancing. Not tying up a lift, the shop turned it around quickly.

 

Discount Tire stores around me have been fantastic for many years. Started with just one, now they are like Starbucks.

They go out of their way to earn my business ever time I go there, even I told them I'm not buying anything.

I kept my original tires and wheels when I went to 18" wheels as winter back up. I put them on yesterday, felt shimmy around 60-70mph. I took the truck to one of the DT stores this morning, told them I need to have the tires re-balanced. Half hour later they handed over my keys, no charge. Only thing the guy said was these tires were from mid 2018, shelf life is around 6 years, I should keep an eye on them even there are still plenty of tread on them.

 

You would need to check the tire manufacture dates on them if a good deal or not. Most tires when on sale at those places like Amazon are older tires. You know what older tire sidewalls can end up looking like.