I've been buying tires from tirerack longer than I can remember. I like their selection and their prices. However, I might be shopping locally. My son paid about $550 for a set of Michelins. I saved him some money by picking them up from TireRack, and I put them on myself using a $44 tire machine from Harbor Freight. For some reason, I found it very difficult to get the tires onto the wheels. I got two done, but brought the third to a place in town - tire and bare wheel. That cost $10. I gave up on the fourth wheel, and I brought that to a place closer to home. He had to remove, replace, and balance, and that cost $20.

When it comes time for me to get tires, I'd have to add $20 to the cost of each tire. The Michelins cost $131 each, yet I could get them installed and balanced locally by Mavis Tire for $127. They also get rid of the old tires, saving me the cost of paying to leave them at the recycling center.

 

I have found that by the time I add in shipping and pay for mounting, balancing and old tire disposal, the price advantage seems to have evaporated.


I did order my snow tires from them because I bought the wheels there and had them mount them. Not sure I'd do it again, though, as I had to have all four re-balanced locally (and one of them still can't be completely balanced).

 

I've gotten the tires mounted on the wheels from them, so that's convenient. Also, I asked if they could mount the tires if I went there to get them, and they said yes. I don't know if there would be a charge for that, though.

 

its also cheaper if you buy online from Mavis and have it delivered to your local Mavis.

 

Good to know.

 

Tire Rack does the same thing, they have contracted installers who will receive the tires for you. My local guy charges 15 bucks each for the mount and balance.