Monday, December 2nd
2024 Tire Store Reviews
Tire Rack
- Selection: 26 brands
- Price Range: $73.02 to $284.25/tire on 2021 Toyota Corolla; $350 to $511.98/tire on 2024 Tesla Cybertruck
- Installation Fees: Around $110 for installation at Discount Tire or Tire Rack; independent installation options available
- Extra Benefits: Free shipping, free 2-year tire road hazard protection and roadside assistance, replacement at the current price (up to $599) or repairs reimbursed up to $40
- "A+” rated and accredited by the BBB
- Over 10,000 5-star reviews
- In business since 1979
Starting in Indianapolis in 1979, Tire Rack now serves customers from 10 distribution centers nationwide. They pour tons of money and time into research, complete with a test track at their Indiana headquarters, so that they can give you first-hand insights into any tires you're considering. They've even gone to Sweden to test tires' performance on acres of groomed snow - after not getting all the details they wanted on local ice rinks and their own snowy test track. If you're looking for a tire store that really goes the distance (pun intended) to bring you the right wheels, this is it. (Also, for what it's worth, Tire Rack was acquired by Discount Tire back in 2021, but at least at the time of this review, they still maintained separate profiles online.)
Test case: ample options for both vehicles
Ready to get shopping? You can find your new tires on Tire Rack through the size, brand, category, wheel diameter, or vehicle make/model/year/trim. To see how each tire store on our list measured up, we used a search for a 2021 Toyota Corolla and a 2024 Tesla Cybertruck. Let's see how Tire Rack performed on our own "test track”:
- 2021 Toyota Corolla (LE): 125 options, priced from $73.02 for the Advanta HPZ-02 to $284.25/tire for the Michelin SX MXX3
- 2024 Tesla Cybertruck (base): 12 options, priced from $350/tire for the Kumho Road Venture AT52 to $511.98/tire for the Goodyear Wrangler Territory RT
Helpful for less experienced customers
One thing we really appreciated about the Tire Rack website is how clearly it tells you which tires would have come as the original equipment (OEM) on the vehicle. While some of us are all about the customizations and using optional tire sizes for look or performance, the majority of tire shoppers just shrug and say, "I don't know what I need... can't you look it up for me?”
At-a-glance info
Once you've got a list of results, it's easy to quickly scan through and see the pertinent specs, from the manufacturer's warranty to whether or not the tires are in stock and available for delivery.
In-depth product details
Pick a tire and get rolling (we hear you groaning), because there's so much more to discover on the product pages here. If you want full specs or details on warranty coverage, or you want to look at the test results from Tire Rack's testing, it's all on offer - even down to videos displaying the tire's performance. You can also see reviews from other vehicle owners and see if any of them used the tire on the same car as you.
So many installation choices
Ready for installation? As long as you've picked a tire that's in-stock, you're good to go; otherwise, you can add the tires you want to the cart, and Tire Rack will give you an estimated date for when they'll be available. We saw that happen in a few cases when there wasn't a full set of 4 tires in stock. For the Tesla Cybertruck tires we priced out, we had 3 installation options through Tire Rack in our area: through Discount Tire (who we've reviewed separately, and who we were glad to see featured by Tire Rack as an installer qualified to service electric vehicles) for $110, through an independent installer recommended by Tire Rack, or simply have your tires delivered to your own installer (which might even be yourself). Most of the independent installers on Tire Rack's list were more expensive ($120+ on that Cybertruck), and when you choose installation through Tire Rack or Discount Tire, you also get free life of tire rotations and rebalancing, flat tire repair, tire inspection, air checks, and tread depth checks.
Free road hazard protection and roadside assistance for 2 years
There's a long list of additional benefits you'll get when ordering from Tire Rack. Some are fairly standard, like free shipping on all tires (well, technically on orders over $50). Others are genuinely noteworthy, like two years of free road hazard protection and roadside assistance with most tires they sell. This includes replacement at the current price, up to $599 or repair reimbursement up to $40.
Over 10,000 5-star reviews
Tire Rack's reputation is nothing short of exceptional. The Better Business Bureau has given this tire store an "A+” rating and accreditation since 1988 - longer than most cars on the road today have been around (and many of us too). There were only 133 complaints filed with the BBB in the last three years; contrast that with the 1,500+ reviews left on the BBB site that averaged an almost-perfect 4.83/5 stars. It's the same average when you consider Tire Rack's track record on Google reviews: 95% of ratings spanning 10,000+ entries are a flawless 5 stars. We saw numerous comments from repeat customers who say that this store always sells tires at a fair price and delivers them on time, with no drama when it comes to arranging the installation.
#1 tire store
While Discount Tire and Tire Rack may technically be the same company now, we think Tire Rack is still the leader. By all means, order your new tires through Tire Rack and have them installed at Discount Tire if that's what's near you - but we think Tire Rack's website, selection, and overall customer experience are just a smidge above what we saw with its sister site. The next time you're shopping for tires, Tire Rack will give you as much information as you can handle, excellent customer service, top-notch benefits, and hassle-free installation. We happily give Tire Rack our #1 ranking and 5-star rating.
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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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