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Tuesday, November 12th
SimpleTire takes the guesswork (and the stress) out of buying tires online. You'll have no trouble finding the right tires for your vehicle and setting up an installation appointment with a local shop or mobile installation service - and you'll have plenty of information on any of those providers to help you choose. Tire prices here are very competitive, and every purchase comes with 12 months of 24/7 roadside assistance. This is one of our favorite tire stores, and we give SimpleTire an almost perfect score.
Wheel Hero has over two decades of experience in selling tires. You'll find 40 brands to choose from, and it should be easy to find several dozen options that will work for your vehicle. However, this online tire store is missing some of the bells-and-whistles offered by rivals, and there's definitely a vibe of "you already know what you're doing, right?” as you shop here - it's not well-suited for the average car owner. Plus, despite an "A+” rating from the BBB, this company has gotten some pretty negative feedback from customers - including the fact that the tires they received weren't always brand-new. We give Wheel Hero a below-average rating for all of those reasons.
Buying tires can seem like a daunting task, but with the right approach, you can easily navigate the process and find the best tires for your vehicle. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through it.
Start by assessing your driving habits and the conditions you frequently encounter. Do you drive mostly on highways, in the city, or off-road? Are you dealing with snow, rain, or extreme heat? The answers will help you decide whether you need all-season tires, summer tires, winter tires, or a specialized type like off-road or performance tires.
Look at your current tires to gather important information. You'll find the tire size on the sidewall, which includes a series of numbers and letters (such as 225/65R17). This tells you the tire width, aspect ratio, construction type, and rim diameter. Make sure the new tires match these specifications unless you're making a deliberate change for a specific reason.
Use online resources to research tire brands, types, and models. Many websites offer tools where you can input your vehicle's make, model, and year to get tire recommendations. Read customer reviews and professional ratings to get a sense of how different tires perform in areas like traction, handling, comfort, and durability.
Feeling overwhelmed? We've got a shortcut for you: just shop for your tires online. Most of today's popular tire stores can walk you through all of those things we just mentioned. Enter your make, model, and year (or, for some online stores, just your license plate or VIN), and you're good to go. You'll usually be able to see the research those retailers have done and benefit from their expertise, along with reviews from other car owners, in order to make your choice.
Once you've chosen your tires, the next step is to arrange for installation. If you're an automotive pro and you want to install the tires yourself, you do you (just make sure the store allows for that; some tire shops require professional installation in order to make a purchase). But, if you'd rather let an actual pro do the dirty work, check the options on offer. Usually, the tires will be shipped directly to the installer you indicate, and you can schedule an appointment to have them mounted and balanced on your vehicle. Some online stores even offer mobile installation services where a technician comes to your location to install them.
Still not sure which tire store to use? No worries. Here are a few criteria that can narrow down the options:
Ready to get rid of those worn-down treads? The experts at Top Consumer Reviews have researched and ranked some of today's most popular tire stores. Use our information to find the perfect set of tires for your ride. Let the good times roll!
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