I wanted to get a new set of tires for my wife's 07 Chevy Cobalt, so I started calling around. As I generally shop for tires in the area, I hit the net and checked all the local companies. At 11 mile, there's Discount Tire, and then south of 10 mile there's a Belle Tire and a google search turned up Regal Tire as well. So I call all 3 up:
Note, I prefer not to buy 45,000 mile tires, when I can buy a tire that will last longer. (60k, 70k or 80k)
I read the numbers off my tires to the guys on each end and ask what they can sell me and how much it'd cost.
FIRST RULE OF TIRES: CALL AROUND!
I'd gone to Belle Tire for my Wife's last set of tires, so they were first on the list. These guys are solid, and have always been honest with me. If I'm getting my tires rotated, I can ask them to re-balance them if it's been a while and they're always happy to oblige. Long story short, they're worth the call. So the numbers come back and I'm looking at a set of Cooper tires for 457 (might have been 452?) out the door. These were 80,000 mile tires, which blew away the other ranges (50, 60 etc.). Best of all Cooper is offering a special where they give you a $50 prepaid gift card. Double win. Tires for 405ish when all is said and done.
Next I call Discount. I've gone to these guys in the past, they have free flat repair, and they get the job done. My friend used to work there, and they've always taken care of me as well. Their tires came in higher off the first quote, an average of $50 more per set for what I felt was a similar tire at Belle Tire. Their top end set was pushing something like $575 for the set, with a discount that'd bring it to the $525 range.
SECOND RULE OF TIRES: GET OUT-THE-DOOR QUOTES ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR YOUR CAR (if they exist)
Finally I call Regal Tire. I read a good review on google and figured "hey, why not?" Long story short, their numbers are roughly the same. But they had the Cooper Tires for 417. Not a bad deal at all. Then I got the $50 discount on top of that. The woman behind the desk says she can have her son run out to get the tires so they'd be there the same day. First I'm thinking... the price is clearly better, and this woman will send her kid out to get the tires so they can get my business. Clearly these people wanted me to buy from them. Plus, it sounded like more of a family thing. This is not a knock to the guys at Belle, or the (more :( expensive) crew at Discount, it just came across as less corporate, more family, and more hustle for my buck.
THIRD RULE OF TIRES: CALL BACK AND GET VENDORS TO LOWER THEIR QUOTES TO COMPETE FOR YOUR BUSINESS.
I did this once with Belle Tire and Discount (without knowing it). My wife had a Cavalier which needed special (read: Expensive) tires that only came in a freaky size (I think 16.5?). Anyways, I got a quote for 450 for the set from one, then I call the other guy to make sure I had the best price and said the first guys are at $450. So #2 says to me we'll do it for $440 out the door. Cool. So I call #1 to say I won't be make it, #2 offered me $440. #1 says.. hold on, we'll do $430 out the door. So I called #2 back and it dropped to like $420 .. on the phone with #1 and I'm like, this is getting tiring, if you can do $410 I'm in. POOF, sold. Moral of the story, DON'T BE AFRAID TO CALL BACK. The worst they can do for you is say they can't beat the price.
So back to reality. I liked the hustle, I liked that this person would send her own family out to make sure she got my business. I decide I'm going with them. I call Belle back and talk Alignments (they have a snazzy computer, and I've used them before) and mention I'm getting the tires for $417 he quickly offers to match it. I could have had him go lower, but I passed. I thanked the courteous and straightforward guy at Belle, but I still went to Regal Tire, place was empty (it was a saturday around 2:00). I got in, got my tires, poof. The tech even found a bend in my rim, and straightened things out (free). The rep behind the desk even went out of her way to recommend some places I could go to buy a used rim, and explained that we likely wouldn't feel any vibration, but it was an option if I wanted a completely balanced rim
My experiences, summarized: Good price, worked for my business, straight up and honest with me, got me out the door in well under an hour.
Best of all I got to buy American Made tires for a good deal, and support a local business in doing so. WINNING! read more