Online Tire Purchase

An often overlooked aspect during the Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package research process is the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Starting with the 2008 model year, Federal regulations require TPMS on all passenger vehicles. Most use a direct system which attaches a pressure sensor to the vehicle's wheels. An in-vehicle receiver warns the driver if the pressure in any tire falls below a predetermined level. Direct systems are typically more accurate and reliable and most are able to indicate which tire is underinflated. To learn more about the differences in TPMS sensors, read "Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems."

While these sensors vary in price, they are worth the cost as they provide a safety feature to your driving experience. While not required in most states, it is recommended that you maintain the system with your winter tires and wheels. In some locations, vehicle inspection regulations require operating tire pressure monitoring sensors on every vehicle that came with TPMS as Original Equipment. The following states require the TPMS to be functional in order to pass inspection:

• Hawaii
• Rhode Island
• Vermont
• West Virginia

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has also recently modified how installers must deal with these systems when it comes to swapping wheels and tires. To help verify the latest information for your application and how these rules may affect your vehicle, contact one of our sales specialists for assistance. 

Tire Rack works with wheel manufacturers to develop aftermarket wheels that accommodate direct tire pressure monitoring sensors. This results in our ability to provide a wider selection of aftermarket alloy wheel styles that accept Original Equipment direct system components. Our fitment specialists also carefully determine which wheels will be compatible with the vehicle and system installed for customers purchasing Tire & Wheel Packages or wheel upgrades. Search results on our site include notes regarding TPMS sensors and sensors can confidently be purchased online with wheels.

At the 2012 SEMA Show/Global Tire Expo in Las Vegas at the Cosmopolitan on October 29, 2012, Tire Rack's Pete Veldman will be inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Tire Industry Association (TIA).

While initially skeptical about starting a mail-order tire company, Veldman quickly saw a need for customers to acquire specialty tires easily and efficiently. Thus Tire Rack was founded in 1979 and has established itself as the leader in the direct-to-consumer tire business. Veldman's forward thinking ensured Tire Rack was one of the first tire companies to have an online presence in 1996 that today provides over 50 million annual website visitors the test results, tire selection, reviews and fast shipping options they need to make an informed tire purchase.

His hard work and dedication to giving customers optimum customer service and convenience has led to the announcement that he will be inducted into the Tire Industry Association Hall of Fame. "The TIA Hall of Fame recognizes the achievements of innovators and leaders who have shaped the tire industry over the past century," TIA stated. "By honoring the individual accomplishments of manufacturers, dealers, retreaders and suppliers, TIA celebrates the diversity and rich history of the tire industry."

Tire Rack and all of its employees would like to congratulate Pete on this well deserved honor!

 

Tire manufacturers often use rebates to help attract buyers to their brand. Tire Rack participates in these special offers when possible. Here are answers to some of the most common questions we receive regarding rebates and promotions:

Q: Does the tire I want have a rebate available? Products that have a rebate or special offer will generally be noted right on the screen when you're viewing the product's price. If you want to see an overview of current promotions, see our special offers page.

Q: Is the dollar amount of the rebate for a set? Or for each tire? The rebates generally apply to a set of four tires. In most cases, if you qualify for a $50 rebate, this would mean you'd receive a Reward Card valued at $50 by mail-in rebate.

Q: I have different sizes on the front and rear of my car, does that still count as a set of four? Yes, it does. As long as the four tires are the same model and for the same vehicle, they count as a set of four.

Q: I reside outside the United States, do rebates still apply to me? Most rebates apply to U.S. residents only, as determined by your billing (not shipping) address. APO addresses are generally considered part of the U.S. Check the official terms and conditions page of the offer for specific details.

Q: I bought two tires last year and want to buy two more now. Does that count as a set of four? The four tires must be purchased during the current rebate period to qualify.

Q: There is a rebate on my tires, but the price in the cart is the regular price. What is going on? Most of the tire makers have mail-in rebates. After you order, watch your mailbox. You should receive the rebate form in about 1-2 weeks. Fill it out and submit it to receive the advertised offer.

Q: If I buy more than one set, do I get more than one rebate? It depends on the terms and conditions set by the manufacturer. Make sure to read them carefully if considering multiple sets to determine your eligibility. We make all of the terms and conditions available online.

For more information on special offers and promotions, visit our FAQ section.

 

Many vehicles are offered with optional sport packages which usually include upgrades to the engine, wheels, tires and braking system. When replacing your current rotors be sure you're getting the same level of performance from your new rotors. Centric takes the guess work out of purchasing Original Equipment replacement rotors.  
 

If you own a performance vehicle like the Audi RS4, Porsche 911, Corvette or BMW M3 that came with factory cross-drilled and vented rotors, the Centric Plain 120 Series Rotors will be made to the exact specifications.
 

Plain 120 Series Rotors feature a layer of Electrocoating that provides long lasting corrosion protection. The black Electrocoating is applied to the entire rotor with the exception of the braking surface which gives a more attractive rust-free appearance when compared to your Original Equipment rotors.
 

Centric also offers value-added benefits such as balancing, split castings for better heat transfer and a double disc ground braking surface for a non-directional friction area.
 

When looking for brakes online, be sure to shop by vehicle.

While Tire Rack has been in business for over 30 years, the idea of ordering tires by mail order is new to many people. When looking to buy a new set of tires, there really are only four easy steps:

1. Research - With the best trained sales specialists in the business, combined with tire test results, tire survey results and tire reviews, nobody has more information available to help with choosing the perfect tire for your vehicle.


2. Buy - Once you've found the product(s) you're looking for, you can purchase online or over the phone. We accept VISA, MasterCard, American Express and Discover, as well as money order, wire transfer and Western Union.


3. Deliver - With six strategically located distribution centers, most customers live within proximity of one to receive their order within 1-2 business days. We'll work with you to have your order shipped where it's most convenient, whether that's your home, your mechanic or one of our Recommended Installers.


4. Install - With a nationwide network of over 8,000 Recommended Installers, finding one near your home or office is easy. With our Price Pledge program, installers display exact quotes for installation services based on tire aspect ratio. Additional or optional related installation fees are also displayed. Find a Recommended Installer to handle your Tire Rack purchase here.

In our 32 years of helping drivers get the right tires we've had many opportunities to build relationships with loyal enthusiasts. We thank you all for coming back and referring your friends and family. With all these referrals, we get quite a few calls and emails from drivers that are new to Tire Rack and want to know how our business works. 

Take a look at the four easy steps to finding the right products for your vehicle:

Research

We test approximately 40 different tire models every year which provides us detailed and objective information to use throughout our website. And, with feedback from thousands of drivers, we have over 2.7 billion miles in Consumer Reviews. With all this data and a large inventory of products, questions may arise. To get answers you can contact one of our sales specialists or use our website to research the products you would like to purchase.

Buy

With several different options for making a purchase, such as major credit cards, PayPal (domestic online orders only) or other forms of payment, Tire Rack makes it easy for you to complete your purchase. It's important to note that if you're going to pick up your order, you need to contact one of our sales specialists to place your order.

Deliver

Most of our customers are within one to two business days of our Indiana, Nevada, Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana or Georgia distribution centers for quick, cost-effective delivery of purchase. Freight options and shipping charges can be seen after you've added an item to your cart and entered your ZIP Code when prompted. To see shipping costs before you add items to your cart, use the "Shipping Quote" option in search results.

Install

Tire Rack customers generally ship to one of our independent Recommended Installers, their own mechanic, or their home or a dealership. With a national network of over 8,000 Recommend Installers, you're sure to find one that can handle your installation needs near your home or office.  

For example, I've spoken to many Seattle customers who rave about Omni Brake and Alignment (Recommended Installer since 1999). Using the hypothetical situation of Sally who drives a 2009 Volvo C30 T5 with a Direct TPMS and 205/50-17 tires, Omni charges $21 to mount and balance a 50-55 series tire, $2.50 for a rubber valve stem (in this case a TPMS valve core) and $2.50 for disposal. Therefore, her installation cost is $26 per tire. Since Sally chose to have her tires installed at Omni, she also had them shipped directly to them. The Installer receives an email from Tire Rack alerting them of Sally's order, while she receives a shipping and delivery email confirmation from us. At this time, Sally contacts Omni and makes an appointment to get her tires installed and she's on the road with a new set of tires in no time!

How Does Ordering from Tire Rack Work FAQs:

1. What about warranties? We're an authorized dealer for each of the 17 brands we sell and therefore the tire manufacturer's warranty applies to your Tire Rack purchase.
2. How old are the tires that I'll receive from Tire Rack? With our automated pulling process, we can't pull a specific DOT Tire Identification Number but we can estimate dates based on recent shipments. We'll record DOT Tire Identification Numbers at the end of the shipping process. Let's say Sally orders the Kumho Ecsta 4X, the last four codes we received were 3011 and 3211 which means two of these tires were made during the 30th week of 2011 and the other two during the 32nd week of 2011, which means Sally's estimated DOT code is 3111.
3. Can I pick up my order instead of having it shipped? Yes, if you're close to any of our distribution centers, other than Delaware, you may pick-up your order when placed via phone. We don't have a retail license at our Delaware warehouse, therefore retail customers are unable to pick up at this location. Tire and wheel installation is available for $15 per tire at our South Bend, Indiana distribution center but not at our regional warehouses.

The Bridgestone Blizzak WS70, Michelin X-Ice Xi2 and Continental ExtremeWinterContact tires are three of the top contenders in the Studless Ice and Snow category. The old approach to winter was that tires with aggressive tread patterns and studs were the best way to handle winter driving. It's been our experience that the advanced Studless Ice and Snow traction technologies have surpassed the studded tire. Watch "Testing Winter Weather Specialists - Studless Ice and Snow Tires" to see how tires in this performance category deliver excellent traction in winter's worst conditions. The following three tires offer slush, snow and ice traction that easily surpasses even the best all-season tires:

Bridgestone Blizzak WS70

Michelin X-Ice Xi2

Continental ExtremeWinterContact

Take a look at what some customers are saying about their experience with the Blizzak WS70, X-Ice Xi2 and ExtremeWinterContact:

"This snow tire never disappointed during last winter's record snow fall (98 inches) here in eastern Massachusetts. As long as I had ground clearance they went through every drift and snow bank they were challenged with. My driveway has an upward-sloping incline which frequently ices over, and these tires always made the climb without slipping or losing grip." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2010 Volvo XC70 3.2 AWD (Bridgestone Blizzak WS70)

"For years I considered the G35 as a car requiring two lanes to safely drive in the snow. I purchased the X-Ice Xi2 with the expectation that I could at least endure driving in snow. Honestly, I was greatly surprised at how easy to drive in the snow this car has become and feel like now I could thread a needle with it. A greater surprise is how great the car performs on wet pavement. Definitely these tires transformed the car from barely livable in the winter with all season tires to a point where I do not care much about the type of winter weather I will encounter." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2005 Infiniti G35 Sedan (Michelin X-Ice Xi2)

" I just purchased these [Continental winter tires] and had them installed Saturday. Sunday night the first freezing rain and snowfall hit. By Monday morning we had a few inches of slush and snow sitting on a layer of ice. I tried to get these tires to slide in a corner and couldn't. I tried slamming on the brakes to engage ABS, and instead the car just stopped. It was like driving with my summer tires on sticky pavement. There were accidents all around me, but I had zero issues." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review, 2007 BMW 335i (Continental ExtremeWinterContact)

And when it comes time to make your tire buy online, shop by vehicle to find the perfect winter / snow tire for your vehicle.

Despite what some automotive experts say, I really like the new Volkswagen Jetta. And, if the original Jetta tires and wheels are not to your liking, some aftermarket car rims and tires could really increase the vehicle's style.

As you try to envision how a given wheel will fit on your car, keep in mind that the offset spec effects the overall look. How would the 17x7.5 5-112 bolt pattern 45mm offset Bright Silver Enkei Tuning Fujin look on the car, even though your Original Equipment wheels are 16" in diameter and 6.5" with a 50mm offset? To help you gain a better picture of how these Enkei rims would sit on your vehicle, look at where your valve stems sit and picture them moving 17mm (roughly 3/4") out towards the fender.

Manufacturers will determine what sizes of wheels they'll make, as not all wheels come in all sizes. However, when you purchase wheels from Tire Rack, you can be assured the wheel you order is a perfect match for your vehicle. To see how we get the proper fitments for each vehicle, read "How We Know What Fits."

Since I am a big fan of the Jetta TDI let's use this application as an example. For 17" wheels you can choose Volkswagen tires in either 225/45-17 or 235/45-17. If I were picking tires to use here in Indiana, I'd get the 225/45-17 Michelin Primacy MXM4 for its combination of great steering response, wet grip and efficiency.

Since the new Jetta uses the indirect Tire Pressure Monitoring System with ABS sensors, you don't need to get separate sensors. And when you're looking at our online tire prices for the Michelin Primacy, create a Tire & Wheel Package with the Enkei wheels for $1388* plus shipping.

17x7.5 Bright Silver Enkei Tuning Fujin

225/45-17 Michelin Primacy MXM4

Create the perfect Tire & Wheel Package for your Jetta today!

At Tire Rack we pride ourselves on real-world testing data that we gather through testing tires on the street and on the track. We also take over a local ice rink and test our vehicles on the ice to simulate packed snow that has become glazed over and turned to ice, as these conditions are very common at intersections during the winter months. To get a better understanding of how we test winter / snow tires, read "We Know How They Go in Ice and Snow."

We have performed quite a few tests on the ice rink, with our rear-wheel drive BMW 3 Series and all-wheel drive Porsche Cayenne. This season we decided to use one of the more popular front-wheel drive vehicles in the U.S., the 2012 Honda Civic. The Civic was equipped with traction control and ABS, as well as front-wheel drive.

We ran two separate tests with one comparing the winter capabilities between a vehicle equipped with four all-season tires against a vehicle with four winter / snow tires. The test results prove that a set of winter / snow tires will make your winter driving much easier as they accelerated quicker and stopped in a shorter period of time. For full results, watch "Are Front-Wheel Drive and All-Season Tires Enough for Winter Driving?." 

Think you can get away with purchasing only two winter / snow tires? Take a look at "Why Gamble With Winter Tire Selection When Four of a Kind Always Beats Two Pair?" and see why you should buy winter tires in a set of four to make this winter your safest yet.

And when it comes time to price tires online for this winter season, shop by vehicle to find the right winter / snow tire for your vehicle!

If you have a 2006-2011 BMW 3 Series, odds are you're considering run-flat winter / snow tires in 225/45R17. For the upcoming winter season, there are only two options left in stock: the Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 RFT and Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero Serie II RFT. 

Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 RFT

Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero Serie II RFT

How Do They Compare? 

The Pirelli Winter 210 Sottozero Serie II RFT would be a noticeable step down in terms of snow and ice traction but would provide better dry grip and steering response compared to the Blizzak LM-25 RFT. In other words, a set of Blizzak LM-25 RFTs would offer your vehicle better winter traction than a set of these Pirelli car tires, but not quite as much dry grip and handling. 

While both options are quality tires, if you live in a light snow area and prefer a tire with better dry grip and faster steering response, but are willing to give up some snow and ice traction to get it, then you should purchase the Sottozero Serie II RFT. However, if you see more mixed conditions, or simply want a safer tire for better traction on ice and snow-covered roads, then I'd suggest the Blizzak LM-25 RFT.

Decision is Made, What's Next?

Buy tires online through Tire Rack, of course. Or, as always, contact one of our sales specialists for pricing and availability. Need an installer? Learn more about our Recommended Installer program by checking out my blog titled, "How Does Our Recommended Installer Program Work." 

Better yet, select a combination of winter / snow tires and rims (wheels) to create a Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Package so you can do the installation yourself.

Since 1996, when Tire Rack introduced the industry's most up-to-date website to the world, consumers have been able to research their performance product purchases and confidently buy online. Even as the industry continues to grow, our goals remain the same: offering quality performance products, expert advice, exceptional pricing and fast shipping. In fact, most customers are within one to two business days of our six distribution centers to ensure a timely delivery.

Our shopping tools make sure your experience on our site is as efficient and enjoyable as possible. View all shopping tools here.

While our name suggests we're an online tire retailer, Tire Rack is also an online wheel store. With over 40 different brands to choose from, choosing rims and tires online at one retailer is simple.

And when you choose to shop by vehicle you can be sure you are getting a wheel that is an exact fitment for your car. Through research and testing, our fitment engineers match wheels to particular applications. Items we measure or verify include:

• Bolt pattern
• Centerbore diameter
• Hub diameter
• Load capacity
• Lug hardware
• Suspension components clearance

Read "How We Know What Fits" for detailed information on what we measure. And when you're finished, shop by vehicle to see all the wheels that will fit your car, light truck or SUV.

With over five million miles reported on, the General Grabber UHP is still the number one-rated tire in its category. Whether you're looking to buy SUV tires for your sport utility vehicle or buy truck tires for your high performance pickup, this Street/Sport Truck Summer tire from General provides traction, handling and control in both dry and wet conditions.

When it comes time to make your online tire purchase, shop by vehicle to find the tire that works best for your vehicle.