Learning how to save money on tires is based on the same principles as saving money on most things – do your research, shop around, and dig for the best deals you can.
The major thing to remember is that buying quality tires is important. You'll pay a little more upfront, but it'll last you for longer and pay for itself over time. Don't skimp out, but do try to get the best deal you can.
Here are tips for saving money on your next set of summer or winter tires.
Key Takeaways
- Before bargain hunting for the cheapest tires you can find, make sure you know exactly what you need for your care and your driving habits.
- Try to stick with quality, reputable brands rather than saving a few hundred bucks on a brand you don't trust.
- Always do your research and compare prices at several different stores, including online options.
9 ways to save money on tires
Here's a list of easy ways to save money on your tires every time you need to buy them.
- Mount tires on a set of rims. If you have 2 sets of tires (common in Canada), mounting each set on a separate set of rims to avoid installation costs each season is smart. You’ll end up paying $20 - $50 instead of $50 - $100 for each season.
- Check out local tire sellers. They have VERY low margins on tires. And if you buy from a local mechanic shop, they may treat you well with pricing on other items and services which can even out in the end.
- Check out online discount tire stores. Don't just narrow your focus to brick-and-mortar stores. Try some online shopping on sites like discounttire.com, blackcircles.ca, 4tires.ca, and more to find even better deals.
- Try your luck on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji. There are plenty of reasons someone may try to sell their like-new tires online, so don't be afraid to check your local listings and see if you can get an amazing deal.
- Consider brand names that may not be so well known. Much like anything these days, some "off" brands can allow for excellent savings while still giving you a great product. Just remember to look at reviews to make sure they can still be trusted.
- Consider a roadside warranty. Some retailers offer this as part of the deal with the tire. Make sure you read the terms and conditions. A small investment could offer great insurance down the road, but it could also go very wrong if you don’t adhere to your end of the bargain.
- A "touring" tire will generally give you longer life, compared to a “sport” tire. Make sure you fully understand your needs and pick the tire that is appropriate.
- Negotiate the price. Especially if you're open to buying used tires, remember that you can always negotiate the price.
- Get the full details of the kind of tire you need. If you do buy used, understand what the measurement of the full tread depth is and have something on hand that you can use to compare. Often, a dime or a quarter can do this job nicely.
Tire price comparisons
To demonstrate the importance of price comparisons, here's an example of how much you could save if you shop around. Our example will look at tires for the following two vehicles:
- Winter tires for a 2018 Ford F-Series (assuming 2DR, 6-foot bed, XL - 245/70 R17)
- All season tires for a 2018 Honda Civic (assuming a LX model, 215/55 R16)
Let's start with the summer tires for your Ford. Here's what prices I found when looking at 4 different tire dealers.
| Tire | Canadian Tire | Costco | 4tires.ca | BlackCircles.ca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price for Bridgestone - BLIZZAK DM-V2 | $211.99 | $249.99 | $240.99 | $240.99 |
| Rebates? | $140 rebate when you buy 4 tires | $50 off a set of 4, plus installation included (assumed $100 savings) | $100 mail-in rebate | N/A |
| Total cost for all 4 tires (pre-tax) | $708 | $850 | $863.96 | $964 |
Making sure you don't just go with the first option you find can net you savings of up to $256 when it's all said and done – and that's all while getting the exact same product. I'm sure you can think of many things you'd rather spend that money on.
And we can see a similar example when checking out all season tires for our Honda Civic:
| Tire | Canadian Tire | Costco | 4tires.ca | BlackCircles.ca |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price for Bridgestone - TURANZA QUIETTRACK | $279.99 | $259.99 | N/A | $262.99 |
| Rebates? | N/A | $100 off a set of 4, plus installation included (assumed $100 savings) | N/A | N/A |
| Total cost for all 4 tires (pre-tax) | $1,120 | $840 | N/A | $1,052 |
This time, Costco ended up having the better deal and Canadian Tire actually had the worst. Doing your research (and NOT relying on brand loyalty) can save you up to $280 in this case.
How to choose the right tire for your car
Learning to find the right price for your new tires starts with learning what tires you need in the first place. Luckily everything you need to know can be found right on your current site of tires, including the size specifications.
Let's say you go out to your car right now and you see this set of numbers and letters: P215/65/R15. Here's what those mean:
- P = Passenger car tire
- 215 = The nominal width of tire in millimeters
- 65 = Ratio of height to width (aspect ratio)
- R = Radial
- 15 = Rim diameter code
You can use these numbers to search for your tires on many tire websites, though they usually let you search by your car's make and model as well.
You'll want to make sure you choose the right size tire for your ride since the manufacturer has done extensive testing to ensure that ride, fuel economy, and overall vehicle experience aligns well with the original tire provided. Doing things like going up in size or choosing a drastically different tire for your ride can impact fuel economy, life of suspension components, handling, and so on. So, if you want to do this, make sure you fully understand what will happen as a result of the changes.
The tire will also specify numbers related to the following terms:
- Treadwear: Generally with treadwear, the higher the number, the longer life the tire will have. Not all brands are exactly the same when it comes to the UTQG (Uniform Tire Quality Grading).
- Traction: When it comes to traction ratings, the highest is "AA" and the lowest is a “C”. The more inclement weather you'll be driving the tire in, the more traction you'll want.
- Temperature: Temperature grades range from A to C, with A being able to keep cool the best. If you live in a hot area or you tend to drive "hard," it may be wise to look at going with a higher grade.
What's your favourite way to save money on tires?
Choosing the best tire really boils down to…
- research,
- reading reviews, and
- taking your driving situation into consideration.
...hopefully saving you money, hassles, and headaches in the next several years.
Do you have other tips? Tell us in the comments below.
FAQ
What's an easy tip to save money on tires?
One of the easiest money saving tips is mounting both sets on their own set of rims. That way you can avoid the installation costs every time you go to switch between your winter and summer tires.
How do I know which tire fits my car?
If you're buying online, most sites will automatically show you tires that fit your car – all you have to do is input your model information. Once you do that, you can check out what size they recommend and use that when shopping at the store. Most of the information is also provided on the tire itself – which you can learn to read here.
What's the best place to save money on tires?
In our research, Canadian Tire came out on top sometimes, while Costco took the crown other times. The most important tip when learning how to save money is to always shop around, no matter what.
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