Monday, December 2nd
2024 Tire Store Reviews
Mavis Tire
- Selection: Over 100 brands
- Price Range: $191.99 to $222/tire on 2021 Toyota Corolla LE; no tires for Tesla Cybertruck
- Installation Fees: $40 plus extra for balancing
- Extra Benefits: Price matching, can also have other automotive services done during tire installation
- In business since 1949
- Over 1,400 locations in 26 states
Mavis Tire has been selling tires since 1949, currently with 1,400 locations in 26 states. They offer a bunch of services at those locations, from oil changes and brake service to state car inspections and wheel alignments. Should you buy your tires here? Read on and decide for yourself.
Easy to find the right tires
You've got four ways to shop for tires on the Mavis website (which we love): tire size, brand, vehicle, or license plate. That last option is great for those of us who don't necessarily know the trim level or tire size of our gets-us-there everyday ride, so thanks to Mavis for that.
Test case: disappointing selection for Corolla
We looked up tires for a 2021 Toyota Corolla LE and a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck at each store on our list, as a fair comparison across all of them. How did Mavis do? Honestly, we were disappointed: for the Corolla, which is the most easy-peasy, options-rich vehicle for most retailers, Mavis only offered us three results. Those were the Pirelli Cinturato P7 for $191.99/tire, the Bridgestone Driveguard Plus for $205.99/tire, and the Continental ProContact for $222/tire - all of which were considerably more expensive than most of our tire choices elsewhere, but at least Mavis offers a low-price guarantee you could take advantage of. Maybe the limited options were because we indicated our preferred shop before moving forward, but that shouldn't stop Mavis from providing alternatives that might be offered somewhere else in the network. And, it certainly didn't live up to the "Mavis Difference” of offering the "largest selection of tires for any vehicle”.
Test case: nothing for the Cybertruck
And that Cybertruck? We appreciated that Mavis correctly identified the two different tire sizes that would fit, both the OEM and the second option, and even showed us where to look on the tire if we needed to double-check the size. Unfortunately, this tire store came up empty with no results for the Tesla truck.
Information isn't the most helpful
The tire descriptions at Mavis are... interesting. Instead of giving you a graphic that displays the average tread life or stopping distance in dry or wet conditions, this tire store tells you how often it was installed for some brands, the average miles on the tires it was replacing, and the most common time of year it was purchased. Not sure that's super relevant, but at least you can scroll down and see any available customer reviews.
Watch out for extra charges
You're not going to be super-excited when you get to the checkout here: Mavis charges extra to balance your tires during installation, while most rivals include that in the price. On the Pirelli tires we quoted for the Toyota Corolla, balancing was an extra $79.96 and installation was $40. The only perk we noticed is the ability to schedule other services during our tire installation appointment, like an oil change or a brake check.
Might be able to buy road hazard protection
The one bright side we discovered after digging into the warranty section of the Mavis Tire website is that there's a road hazard limited warranty option. We didn't see it offered during checkout, and we assume it's an add-on cost, but at least it's something you can ask about at your local shop.
Poor reputation with the BBB
When we looked up Mavis Tire's reputation with the Better Business Bureau, it wasn't a good sign to see a "D-” rating. That was for the tire store's failure to respond to 6 complaints and to resolve 11 others. That's not so bad, but there were also more than 1,100 complaints filed with the BBB in the last three years. And, beyond that, over 700 people came to the BBB to leave a review (instead of a complaint), and those only averaged out to 2 out of 5 stars.
Look for your local store's ratings
Then again, on Trustpilot, Mavis had an excellent average of 4.7 stars out of 5 that spanned more than 26,000 reviews. What we can say is this: your feelings about Mavis will likely depend mostly on your experience in the shop and not much on your online shopping. If you can check out the reviews for your local Mavis (like on Yelp or Google reviews, in addition to the reviews shown for that location on the Mavis website), it might go a long way to tell you if it's a good idea to get your tires here.
Last place tire store
We're just not impressed by Mavis Tire. The selection is really lackluster compared with literally every other tire store on our list, the pricing isn't competitive, and customer feedback is too mixed to give us a lot of confidence here. Plus, with the company only available in 26 states, almost half of the nation won't even be able to buy tires from Mavis. This is our least-favorite option among tire stores.
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The 10 Best Tire Stores
Which Tire Store is the Best?
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.
Tire Store FAQ
Continued from above...
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:
- Selection. Does the tire store carry options suitable for your vehicle? Most websites have options for the vast majority of vehicles, but if you have something higher end or unusual (hello, Tesla Cybertruck), your choices may be fewer.
- Installation options. Do you plan on going the DIY route, or would you prefer a professional? Is mobile installation something you need?
- Costs. The price of the tire isn't the only thing you should take note of. How much will the installation be? Are there any other fees that work their way into the process?
- Benefits. Some tire stores sweeten the deal by offering free roadside assistance or maintenance over the life of the tire, like balancing, repairs, and pressure checks.
- Reputation. What are people saying about the tire store? Does it get reviews from repeat customers who wouldn't even consider going somewhere else? What does the Better Business Bureau think of the company? Also look at customer feedback on specific tires as you browse the tire store's inventory.
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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