Is it cheaper (wiser ) to buy tires on line and pay someone to balance and mount them only?

Question

Please advise if you have experienced doing this. I have a 2004 Volvo s60 , if that matters

Answer 1

I work at a tire shop

Tire installation (labor, weights, valve stems, disposal, tax) comes to about $78 where I work

Shipping for four tires is outrageous.

It is wiser to see if you can get a better deal by shopping around your local tire shops.

Many places will not want to install the tires you bought on line and may charge you more for the hassle.

Also most stores will do free flat repairs and tire rotations when you buy new tires. If you bought your tires online and not at my store, I charge $20 for a tire rotation and $16.19 for a flat repair.

And one more thing, If one of your internet tires blows out and is covered by some type of warranty, you have to send it back and a new one comes in the mail. Drive around on your spare for days and pay for installation again.... WHAT A HASSLE!!!!

Answer 2

Most shops charge extra to mount tires you bring in from outside. Add that and the shipping cost and you will usually find that you can get the same or a better deal locally. The exception would be if you were getting something rare and exotic not readily available locally but your Volvo takes relatively common and widely available tire sizes.

Answer 3

Your vehicle does not normally have special rims on it, so I would suggest that getting it done that way can be ok. However, many shops charge more to mount and balance a tire done seperately from from a tire purchase, and in many cases, will not offer road hazard protection for tires not purchased thru them. If you are still with standard rims for your Volvo, then it would make more sense to get the tires locally, mounted and balanced, with road hazard protection, all in one package. In the event that you have special rims, ie oversized rims like 22's or something equally odd, then many shops locally dont have the special equipment for those larger rims. You will then have to find a specialty tire shop or speed shop locally that may be able to help you find the right shop for that installation. Good luck.

Answer 4

I wouldn't, tires are something that you should see before buying, at most if not all tire stores, mounting and balancing is free with purchase. Pep Boys offers buy 3 get one free any make tire.

Answer 5

Probably not. You'd have to pay much higher shipping than someone who buys them by the truckload and you'd have a pretty hard time with any warranty claims.