What are peoples thoughts about buying car tires at a warehouse club like Costco or Sams Club? I have a 2004 Honda Accord that is in desperate need for tires. I've checked with Discount tire, probably the biggest retail tire store here in Colorado and found some that I liked. My wife asked if I had checked Sams Club or Costco. I haven't because I've heard that they usually aren't that much of a savings. Also, if you're on a road trip and have a problem with a tire, a lot of tire stores won't touch a warehouse club tire. Is that true? Any one have any thoughts or experience with warehouse club tires?

What are peoples thoughts about buying car tires at a warehouse club like Costco or Sams Club? I have a 2004 Honda Accord that is in desperate need for tires. I've checked with Discount tire, probably the biggest retail tire store here in Colorado and found some that I liked. My wife asked if I had checked Sams Club or Costco. I haven't because I've heard that they usually aren't that much of a savings. Also, if you're on a road trip and have a problem with a tire, a lot of tire stores won't touch a warehouse club tire. Is that true? Any one have any thoughts or experience with warehouse club tires?


Only issue I see is the warranty and free tire rotation if offered.... Warehouse stores offer road hazard... but usually it is a trip and a wait to get to the store.... while Firestone, Discount tire etc may have closer more convenient locations.... I personally use Firestone if all other things are equal so I can get the free rotations when I get my oil changed...

I went ahead and got tires at Costco. They ended up being the same price as Discount Tire for a tire that got better reviews and ratings. Also, I thought about it and figured that we really don't take many road trips. Costco does offer the free balance & rotations, air check, etc. Plus they're open on Sundays where Discount Tire and Big O Tires are not open on Sundays. So if I get a flat on a Saturday night, I can get it repaired on Sunday and not have to worry about it in the middle of the work week. Plus we're at Costco every couple of weeks so getting it in for a balance and rotation isn't too big of a deal. Just might have to spend a little longer at Costco and mooch off the free samples... :)

I guess the point is moot now but I used to buy my tires from Sam's club and sure it came with road hazard, tire rotation and all the usual stuff, but as soon as I switched from Sam's to Costco, Sam's wouldn't honor the warranty because I had to be a member in order to get the service.

I'm a discount tire guy now.

I have purchased tires from both Costco and Discount Tire.
I prefer Discount Tire and presantly have three cars outfitted with tires from them. (Even though I am a member of both Sams Club and Costco and think Costco's is a great company .)
The "clubs" are great places..... but tires and rims is all Discount does, and they're good at it.

1.) SLICK DEALING.
At Discount Tire, I always am able to haggle with them to get the same or equal tires at or usually always below any presant deals at the "clubs". There is no haggling at the "clubs", just whatever deal is going on.

2.) Discount has an extra upgrade protection plan you can purchase (charges $10-$14 per tire) that covers everything for the life of the tire. This includes replacing the tire for free with a completely new tire, if they cannot repair it. Fantastic for Michigan, where potholes eat tires.
If you purchase a tire that has an 80,000 mile warranty (which they never last that long), and you hit a pothole at 79,000 miles (or whatever), and they cannot repair it (sidewall damage or not safe to patch), they give you a brand new tire to replace it FREE.
NORMAL POLICIES ARE TO JUST GIVE YOU A PRORATED DISCOUNT ON THE NEW TIRE.
It includes the usual free stuff that they all give you, lifetime free balancing, tire repairs, valve stem replacement, etc. Now I realize the clubs probably have a comparable upgrade plan that they willl sell you, but I always haggle and get Discount to give it to me for FREE. You cannot haggle with the "clubs". DISCOUNT has replaced (most of them had about 30,000 miles on them) and given me 5 brand new free tires to date.

3.) Discount has many more facilities all over the USA, all linked by computer. I can go anywhere and get my tires serviced. The "clubs" are only in limited cities and states.

4.) Discount locations have more sevice bays, with more employees working in them at all times. I know when I pull into Discount that I can be out of there in an hour, max, even when they are crowded. Usually my car is in the stall in 12 minutes after arrival and I'm leaving in 25-40 minutes after arrival. I tried to have my mom's tire repaired at costco yesterday, and the wait was 2 hours before they could get to it. (they were running a coupon deal on a saturday with only 4 guys working in the whole tire center.)