Buying tires at Tire Rack
Online only, selling tires since 1979, 10,000 partner installers. What tires cost there, what shipping and installation add, how returns work and what customers rate them.
Who owns it
Discount Tire, legally the Reinalt-Thomas Corporation of Scottsdale, Arizona, which acquired Tire Rack in December 2021. Tire Rack was founded by Peter Veldman and stayed family-controlled until then, with Leonard Green & Partners holding a 49 percent stake from 2005. The South Bend headquarters and the Tire Rack brand were kept after the deal.
What you can buy there
Tire Rack stocks 26 major tire brands and 60 wheel brands in more than 2.7 million square feet of distribution space, plus brakes, suspension parts and accessories. The range is deliberately curated around brands it has tested, so the low-cost Chinese and near-no-name imports that dominate the bottom of the market are largely absent. Wheels, wheel-and-tire packages mounted and balanced before shipping, and winter setups are a core part of the business; used tires are not sold.
Shipping
Orders over $50 ship free, and Tire Rack advertises delivery in two days on those orders, shipped from 12 distribution centers spread from South Bend and Denver to Santa Fe Springs, Seattle, Atlanta and Davie. Tires can go to your home or office, to a Recommended Installer, or be picked up curbside at a distribution center to save the freight. Alaska and Hawaii are not part of the free shipping offer, and large orders can be split across shipments when one warehouse is short.
Installation
Tire Rack does not operate installation bays of its own; installation is done by more than 10,000 independent shops in its Recommended Installer program, all of which sign up to a Price Pledge so the installation cost shown online is what the shop charges. Mobile installers who come to your home or office are available in many metro areas through the same program. Prices are quoted per installer rather than as a national rate, and a free two-year road hazard protection plan with roadside assistance is included with most tires, claimed through Nation Safe Drivers.
Returns and warranty
Returns and exchanges are accepted within 30 days of delivery on unused product that has not been driven on or damaged; wheels must not have had tires mounted, so test-fit first. The customer pays the return freight, and refunds are calculated minus all freight charges incurred, which on a set of four tires can eat a large part of the refund. Wheel-and-tire packages also carry a $60 dismount labor charge, special-order items cannot be returned, and items picked up at a distribution center must be returned the same day for an immediate swap.
Where they sit on price
Tire Rack rarely wins on headline price. It positions itself on tested data, deep specifications and its own comparison test results rather than on being the cheapest, and it skips the bargain imports that undercut it. Where it does compete hard is on mounted-and-balanced wheel packages, on manufacturer rebates, and on the value of the included two-year road hazard protection, which competitors usually sell as an add-on.
What it does well
- Independent tire testing on its own purpose-built wet and dry track in South Bend, on a seven-mile road loop, on ice and at a winter site in Sweden, with the results published next to the products
- Consumer survey reviews collected since 1995, so most mainstream tires have real mileage feedback attached
- Free two-year road hazard protection with roadside assistance included with most tires
- Free shipping over $50 with a two-day delivery claim from 12 distribution centers, plus curbside pickup at those centers
- Wheel-and-tire packages arrive mounted and balanced, and the Price Pledge means the installer quote shown online is the quote you pay
Where it falls short
- Prices on individual tires are often above discount online sellers, and the budget import brands that would close that gap are not carried
- Returns are paid by the customer and refunds are net of all freight, so returning four tires can cost more than it is worth; wheel and tire packages add a $60 dismount charge
- No stores or service bays of its own, so everything depends on an independent shop, and reviewers report orders split into two shipments a week apart and inaccurate tracking
- Road hazard claims draw complaints about documentation being rejected on formatting details and about slow reimbursement even after pre-approval
What Tire Rack is rated
Ratings move, so we print the month we read each one. We never average different sites into a single number.
Is this the right shop for you?
Yes, if: Buyers who want to compare tires on measured test data and are willing to pay a little more for that plus included road hazard protection.
Look elsewhere if: Price-driven shoppers hunting the cheapest set of budget tires, and anyone who expects free or cheap returns.
Running right now
$75 instant on Dunlop Blue Response A/S; up to $200 off Firestone sets
Instant savings on 4 Dunlop Blue Response A/S through 9/30/2026 and up to $200 off select Firestone sets; hosts all national brand rebates (Michelin, BFG, Continental, General, Bridgestone via Tire Rack Credit Card bonus). Labor Day sale ran 9/3-9/8. Site returned 403 to automated fetches, so quoted from search snippets.
Their deals page blocked us on the last check, so treat this one as unconfirmed.
The sizes people buy, and what they cost
These are the ten sizes US drivers buy most often. Prices are per tire, what the size actually goes for across the retailers we track, so you can tell a real offer from a marked-up one before you click anything.
| Size | Fits | Budget | Mid-range | Premium | Check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 195/65R15 | Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic | $50–$68 | $72–$98 | $102–$145 | Tire Rack |
| 205/55R16 | Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla | $55–$75 | $80–$118 | $122–$175 | Tire Rack |
| 215/55R17 | Toyota Camry, Honda Accord | $70–$95 | $100–$140 | $145–$205 | Tire Rack |
| 225/45R17 | Hyundai Elantra, Volkswagen Golf | $82–$112 | $116–$165 | $168–$245 | Tire Rack |
| 225/60R17 | Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 | $75–$102 | $106–$150 | $154–$220 | Tire Rack |
| 225/65R17 | Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 | $75–$102 | $106–$150 | $154–$220 | Tire Rack |
| 235/65R17 | Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue | $75–$102 | $106–$150 | $154–$220 | Tire Rack |
| 265/70R17 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500 | $105–$138 | $142–$195 | $200–$275 | Tire Rack |
| 235/60R18 | Honda CR-V, Honda Odyssey | $95–$128 | $132–$180 | $184–$260 | Tire Rack |
| 245/60R18 | Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot | $115–$152 | $156–$212 | $216–$300 | Tire Rack |
Per tire, before installation and before any rebate. All 254 sizes we cover.
Questions people ask about Tire Rack
Is Tire Rack legit?
Yes. Tire Rack has sold tires since 1979 from South Bend, Indiana, employs more than 650 people, and has been BBB accredited since 1988 with an A+ rating. Since December 2021 it has been owned by Discount Tire, the Reinalt-Thomas Corporation. It is one of the oldest and best-documented tire e-tailers in the United States.
How long does Tire Rack shipping take?
Tire Rack advertises free two-day shipping on orders over $50, delivered from 12 distribution centers across the country. Actual transit depends on which center holds your size, and orders are occasionally split when one warehouse is short, which is a recurring complaint in reviews. You can also pick the order up curbside at a distribution center and skip the freight entirely.
Can I return tires to Tire Rack?
Yes, within 30 days of delivery, on product that has not been driven on or mounted. You pay the return freight and the refund is calculated after all freight charges, so a four-tire return can be expensive. Wheel-and-tire packages carry an extra $60 dismount labor charge and special-order items cannot be returned at all.
Who installs tires bought from Tire Rack?
Independent shops in Tire Rack's Recommended Installer program, which the company puts at more than 10,000 locations. Each one signs a Price Pledge, so the installation price you see online is what the shop bills. Mobile installers are available in many areas. Tire Rack has no installation bays of its own, so you are always dealing with a partner shop.
Sources
- tirerack.com
- tirerack.com
- tirerack.com
- tirerack.com
- tirerack.com
- trustpilot.com
- bbb.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- en.wikipedia.org
Checked September 2026. Store counts, prices and ratings change; tell us if you find one of ours out of date.