Where to buy tires
The same tire can cost $60 more at one retailer than another, and the cheap one is not always the cheap one once you add installation. Here is who sells tires in the US, how big each one really is, what they charge to mount them and what their own customers say.
All 17 side by side
Click a column heading to sort. Ratings are the customer score we could verify, with the number of reviews behind it.
| Retailer | Type | Stores | Who fits the tires | States | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 SimpleTire
|
Online only | None | 20,000 partner shops | 48 | 4.3 1,391 on Trustpilot |
 Tire Rack
|
Online only | None | 10,000 partner shops | — | 4.8 10,814 on Trustpilot |
 Priority Tire
|
Online only | None | 5,000 partner shops | 48 | 4.5 3,638 on Trustpilot |
 Discount Tire
|
National chain | 1,275 | Its own bays | 40 | 2.4 125 on Trustpilot |
 Costco
|
Warehouse club | 647 | Its own bays | — | 2.6 3,128 on Trustpilot |
 Walmart
|
National chain | 2,300 | Its own bays | 50 | 1.6 12,979 on Trustpilot |
 Amazon
|
Marketplace | None | A shop you choose | 50 | 1.6 49,425 on Trustpilot |
 TireBuyer
|
Online only | None | 18,000 partner shops | — | 3.2 331 on Trustpilot |
 Tire Agent
|
Marketplace | None | 2,000 partner shops | 48 | 4.8 9,885 on Trustpilot |
 Tires-easy
|
Online only | None | 1,900 partner shops | 48 | 4.5 2,730 on Trustpilot |
 Sam's Club
|
Warehouse club | 602 | Its own bays | — | 1.6 1,404 on Trustpilot |
 Goodyear
|
National chain | 505 | Its own bays | 38 | 1.4 181 on Trustpilot |
 Firestone Complete Auto Care
|
National chain | 1,700 | Its own bays | — | 1.6 286 on Trustpilot |
 Pep Boys
|
National chain | 750 | Its own bays | — | 1.5 295 on Trustpilot |
 Mavis Tires & Brakes
|
National chain | 2,100 | Its own bays | 36 | 4.4 35,209 on Trustpilot |
 Belle Tire
|
Regional chain | 185 | Its own bays | 4 | 2.2 55 on Trustpilot |
 Les Schwab
|
Regional chain | 610 | Its own bays | 15 | 2.8 112 on Trustpilot |
Store counts, installer networks and state coverage are the companies' own published numbers. A dash means we could not verify a figure, not that it is zero. Ratings are the first source on each retailer's page, with the review count and the month we read it.
Online sellers
They ship to your door or straight to an installer. No store to walk into, and usually the lowest sticker price, because there are no service bays to pay for.
Online only - Since 2012 - 20,000 installers 4.3Online only - Since 1979 - 10,000 installers 4.8Online only - Since 2017 - 5,000 installers 4.5Marketplace - Since 1994 1.6Online only - Since 2009 - 18,000 installers 3.2Marketplace - Since 2017 - 2,000 installers 4.8Online only - Since 2004 - 1,900 installers 4.5 Chains with stores
You drive in, they mount the tires the same day. You pay more per tire, and you get free rotations, flat repair and someone to argue with in person.
National chain - Since 1960 - 1,275 stores 2.4National chain - Since 1962 - 2,300 stores 1.6National chain - Since 1898 - 505 stores 1.4National chain - Since 1926 - 1,700 stores 1.6National chain - Since 1921 - 750 stores 1.5National chain - Since 1972 - 2,100 stores 4.4Regional chain - Since 1922 - 185 stores 2.2Regional chain - Since 1952 - 610 stores 2.8 Warehouse clubs
The best all-in price in the country once installation is counted, if you already pay for the membership and can live with a short brand list.
How to read this
Four things decide what a set of tires really costs you, and only the first one is on the price tag.
- The tire price. Online sellers win here, often by $20 to $40 per tire on the same model, because they carry no service bays.
- Installation. Mounting, balancing, new valve stems and disposal run from about $15 per tire at Walmart to $40 or more at a chain, and it is free at the warehouse clubs if you bought the tires there.
- What comes after. Free rotations every 5,000 miles, free flat repair and road hazard coverage are worth real money over four years, and they are what the stores are charging you for.
- The rebate. Most rebates come from the tire maker, not the seller, so they are usually available wherever you buy. Warehouse clubs are the common exception, because they run their own instant deals instead.
What a set really costs, three ways
Same tire, a mid-range 225/65R17 all-season, four of them, bought three different ways. The numbers are typical, not a quote, and they are why the cheapest sticker price does not always win.
| Online seller | National chain | Warehouse club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Four tires | $460 | $560 | $500 |
| Installation | $100 at a partner shop | $0, rolled into the price | $0, included |
| Road hazard | $60 if you add it | Usually included | Included |
| Rotations for four years | $120 at a local shop | Free | Free |
| All in | $740 | $560 | $500 plus the membership |
Skip the extras and the online seller wins at $560. Keep them and the gap closes or flips. Decide which of those four lines you actually want before you compare prices.
Questions about buying tires in the US
Is it safe to buy tires online?
Yes. The tire is the same product wherever it comes from, and the big online sellers ship from regional warehouses in a few days. The part to plan is installation: book a shop before the tires arrive, because a driveway full of tires and no appointment is the one thing that makes the cheap route expensive.
Do I have to use the installer the website suggests?
No. You can have the tires shipped to your home and carry them to any shop you like. The advantage of booking through the retailer is a fixed price per tire and no argument about who pays if something is wrong.
Are warehouse club tires the same tires?
They are the same models, sometimes in a club-specific trim, and installation, balancing, rotations and flat repair are included. The catch is a short brand list, a membership fee and a wait at the tire bay on weekends.
Who has the cheapest tires in the US?
On budget and mid-range brands it is usually one of the online-only sellers, because they carry no service bays. On premium brands the gap narrows, and a warehouse club running an instant deal often beats everyone once installation is counted.
Can I get a rebate no matter where I buy?
Most rebates come from the tire manufacturer, so they follow the tire rather than the store, as long as the seller is an authorized dealer. Warehouse clubs are the usual exception: they are excluded from many manufacturer rebates and run their own instant discounts instead.
How many retailers should I check?
Two is enough to catch a bad price, three if your size is unusual. Check one online seller and one place that installs, compare the all-in number rather than the sticker, and stop there.
Our advice is boring on purpose. Look up what your size costs, decide whether you want the store service or the lower price, and then check two retailers instead of one. See what installation should cost and this month's rebates before you commit.