Last Updated on August 3, 2024
Navigating the Digital Marketplace for the Perfect Set of Tires
Buying tires online is significantly different from going to the local tire store. Fortunately, this task is much easier than you might assume, even if you’ve never bought tires.
Believe it or not, buying tires online has many perks compared to doing so at a physical retailer. The key is going into the shopping process with the correct information, most of which can be found with a quick look at your current set of tires and a critical assessment of your unique driving needs. The rest is a piece of cake!
This guide will teach you the proper steps to buy tires online. This includes understanding the tires’ numbers, which brands are ideal for your budget, how to use a tire selector tool, and much more.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
Tire Size
The first (and most important) information you need when shopping for tires online is your size. If you get this wrong, the tires will be useless – as you won’t be able to mount them on the wheels.
The good news is that the size is displayed on the sidewall of your current tires, and you can figure out your exact measurements in seconds; you just need to know what the numbers mean.
Let’s use this example of a typical passenger tire sidewall:
Starting from the far right side, the “M+S” symbol (while not directly related to the tire size) stands for Mud + Snow. This symbol indicates that the tire has all-season capability based on standardized industry testing.
The “P” indicates that it is a passenger tire, typically used on coupes, sedans, and CUVs. If you see a tire marked with “LT,” it is for Light Truck, meaning pick up truck, Jeep, or SUV, rather than a commercial truck or van.
Now, let’s get into the actual sizing of the tire.
- The “215” is the tire’s width from sidewall to sidewall in millimeters.
- The “60” refers to the tire’s aspect ratio, which compares its cross-section height to its width. In the image above, the “60” means that the size equals 60% of the width.
- The “R” means the tire’s construction is radial, meaning the layers run radially across the tire. A “B” marked here indicates a biased construction, meaning the layers run diagonally across the tire.
- The “16” represents the diameter of the tire in inches.
- The “94” is the tire’s load index, which indicates how much weight the tire can handle when properly inflated. A load index chart shows exactly how much weight this number represents. The 94 code means the tire is rated for about 1,480 lbs. (670 kg).
- The “V” represents the tire’s speed rating, which refers to the top speed at which the tire can function correctly.
So, when it’s time to start shopping for tires online, you will need to enter these figures into the tire calculator on the website.
From here, you will see all the options available in your size. Determining your tire size is the most essential part of buying tires online. Be sure to triple-check these numbers before making the final purchase.
Select by Brand
If you are shopping for tires by brand, this is where you will see an incredible amount of variety. Car tires are one of the most (if not THE most) diverse aspects of the auto industry. Hundreds of tire brands are out there, each with pros and cons.
If you want to buy tires from a premium manufacturer, brands like Bridgestone, Goodyear, Continental, Dunlop, Pirelli, and Michelin are among the elites. The cost of new tires from these companies is undoubtedly high, but the products offer superior performance and lead the way in innovative tire technology.
For example, The Dunlop Winter Maxx line is highly regarded for its advanced silica Nano-Fit Rubber tread compound, which has an asymmetric design for extra grip in cold conditions. Moreover, the 3D zig-zag interlocking sipes enhance the block rigidity for optimal traction on snow and ice. This model is also praised for the JointLess Brand Technology within the tire’s internal structure, which provides incredible strength and durability.
- When your budget requires you to buy tires that are more “middle-of-the-road,” brands like Cooper, Achilles, Falken, Federal, and Mastercraft are your best bets. Now, just because these tires are not as expensive as the premium brands, it does not always mean you have to sacrifice value with these options.
- The new Cooper Discoverer AT3 line offers a plethora of new tire technology for impeccable performance on dirt, gravel, sand, or mix terrains, as well as on wet, dry, and snowy roads. In many ways, this tire is right up there with similar ones from premium brands.
If you hope to buy tires online cheaply, plenty of brands offer value comparable to premium ones but at a much lower price. Some examples of these brands are Vogue, Lionhart, Lexani, Doral, Westlake, and Sailun. These will undoubtedly give you a good bang for your buck! On a side note, Sailun is a rare cheap tire brand offering most models’ warranties.
The Lexani LXTR model is a fantastic all-season M+S high-performance tire with an intelligent design with four circumferential grooves. This construction reduces hydroplaning and provides a solid center feel for enhanced cornering at higher speeds.
Regardless of your budget, plenty of tire brands offer fantastic benefits. Research and see which one(s) best fits your needs. You can easily buy tires online based on your desired brand using the Tire Selector Tool.
Remember, the best place to buy tires online is a store with various premium and economical brands.
Select by Categories
When you buy tires online, basing your search on a specific category is one of the most accessible parts of the process.
In a nutshell, the category is closely related to the type of vehicle. There are eight major categories to choose from.
1. Passenger
Passenger tires are models made to fit small economy coupes, sedans, sports cars, and crossovers (CUVs). For the most part, these categories of tires are meant for on-road driving. As most well-known tire brands produce passenger tires, this category has A LOT of variation. To reiterate, Goodyear, Michelin, Continental, Dunlop, Achilles, and Bridgestone lead the way in the quality of passenger tires.
2. Truck/SUV
As the name implies, this category of tires is directed at larger vehicles like light trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. As these vehicles are often needed to function on treacherous roads and in less-than-ideal driving conditions, there is a lot of versatility in truck/SUV tires. Depending on your needs, there are models with capabilities ranging from optimal fuel economy on the highway to the most challenging off-roading conditions – and everything in between. For on-road capability, top brands include Goodyear, Michelin, Continental, Dunlop, Achilles, and Bridgestone. If you need a tire to handle more rugged conditions, Mud Claw is a fantastic truck tire for off-roading.
3. Trailer
When hauling boats, travel trailers, construction equipment, or any other cargo, you need a good set of trailer tires to handle the weight and reduce roll resistance. Using a passenger or truck tire for your trailer won’t do the trick. These tires come in radial or bias ply; be sure you are considering the manufacturer’s recommendation when you buy tires for your trailer. As a rule of thumb, you do not want to skimp on trailer tires. Some top trailer tire brands are Greenball, Milestar, Nanco, TowMaster, Velocity, and Carlisle.
4. Commercial Truck
Commercial tires are designed to carry heavy loads for long distances with increased stability. As commercial trucks drive in all kinds of weather and road conditions, most of these tires are built for excellent performance in rain, snow, and ice, as well as hot and dry roads. Top brands for commercial tires include Michelin, Bridgestone, and Goodyear.
5. Quad/ATV/UTV
Quad/ATV/UTV tires are built to handle just about any terrain you can imagine. Certain lines are designed for snowy mountain paths, desert sands, heavy mud, etc. When you buy tires online, you need to look for the terrain these types of models can handle, as their uses can be pretty specific. Top brands in this category include Deestone, Titan, Greenball, Carlisle, and WDT.
6. Lawn & Garden/Golf Cart
If you are looking for specialty tires for your golf cart or lawn equipment, all kinds of options are available when you buy tires online. There are lots of little factors that come into play that many tend to overlook. For example, if most of the use is on dirt, your equipment will require a different tire than one intended for turf use. Buying tires online for this category requires a complete view of your driving situation and everything it involves. The top lawn & garden/golf cart brands are WDT, Power King, and Greenball.
7. Construction
The variation of construction tires is pervasive. Whether you buy tires online for forklifts, skid steers, backhoes, loaders, etc., there is an ideal tire option to fit your needs. Thankfully, Tires Easy makes it overly simple to pick a model that matches your equipment and desired capability. Popular tire brands for construction equipment include Deestone, Carlisle, and Nanco.
8. Farm
Farm tires have a very distinct category. Tires for agricultural equipment must have hefty load-carrying capabilities, puncture resistance, long-lasting wear, and the ability to push through treacherous terrain. Greenball, Deestone, and Carlisle are among the top brands for farm tires.
The easiest process step is understanding the category you need to buy tires online. To get more specific to your needs, click “All Categories and Subcategories” for more detail.
Select by Car Model
When you buy tires online, many ways exist to start the search. If you purchase tires for your passenger vehicle or truck/SUV, kicking off the process with your car model is very straightforward.
To see the most relevant options to your needs, there are five critical bits of information you must have ready:
- The year your vehicle was produced.
- The vehicle manufacturer.
- The model.
- The style of the model.
- The tire size.
With the potential exception of tire size, all this information can be found in the vehicle’s title.
What happens if you cannot locate the title?
Fortunately, it’s easy to find all the information you need to buy tires based on the car model – even if you can’t find the title. All you need to do is look at the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), a 17-digit number typically found on the side of the driver’s door.
Once you find the VIN, you can enter it into a free VIN check website like autoDNA.com or driving-test.org.
For example, let’s say you drive a 2015 Toyota Corolla LE. As you fill in the information (starting with the year), the Selector Tool will narrow down the options so you are paired with relevant tire models for your vehicle.
Searching by car model is perhaps the easiest and best way to buy tires online for passenger vehicles.
Read Customer Reviews and Ratings
Generally speaking, customer reviews have quickly become a make-or-break factor in purchasing decisions – a reality beyond tires.
As you buy tires online, the reviews should undoubtedly influence your decision-making. Start by listing out your most essential needs, then prioritize them.
For instance, let’s say you drive a small sedan, have a long daily commute, and live in an area that experiences extreme winter conditions. Your list of priorities might look something like this:
- Fuel economy.
- Good performance in wintery conditions.
- Long tread wear.
- Smooth, comfortable ride.
Once you have finalized your list of priorities, let it be your guide as you browse tires and read up on the reviews. For instance, if you look at the Goodyear Ultra Grip Winter tire reviews, you will see several commonalities talking about the capability of snow and grip in different weather conditions.
Conversely, it would be best to investigate certain tires’ less-than-great feedback. Suppose you look at a particular model and see common threads in the reviews about poor fuel efficiency or shoddy performance on snowy roads. In that case, this is a good sign that you should keep looking for a better solution.
Check the Payment Options
Hopefully, by this point, you have done the proper due diligence and have found the perfect tire model to fit your needs. As you move to buy tires online, you want to be sure they accept your preferred method of payment. Most online tire stores accept major credit cards like Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, and PayPal and often offer options for buying tires on credit.
Most websites will show the payment options in the site’s footer or a specific tire finance page.
In addition to the payment options accepted, you should look into the tire financing options if you need to buy tires on a payment plan. Most tire outlets partner with credit providers that allow you to make a series of payments with varying APR percentages.
Tires Easy offers tire financing from Affirm to allow our customers to buy tires on credit, with an easy payment plan (upon approval) that you choose from 3, 6, or 12 months for purchases under $1000 and up to 18 months on purchases over $1000. Rates range from 10% to 30% APR. Affirm has a quick, easy approval process; you can buy your tires and have them shipped immediately.
We also accept PayPal Credit, which you can select at checkout. If you pay off the balance in 6 months or less, you might be eligible for a payment plan with no interest! Check with PayPal Credit for options.
It never hurts to look into tire financing options before you make the final purchase.
The Return Policy
After you buy tires online, there is always somewhat of an unknown – just like any other product you buy online. Ultimately, you never really know whether or not you purchased the right tire until it’s attached to your wheels and you’ve driven around on them.
Mistakes happen. You might enter your tire size incorrectly, accidentally select the wrong style, or make any minor errors that result in getting bad tires. Given this level of uncertainty (no matter how big or small), you need to know the next steps in case you make the wrong choice.
Before you buy tires online, ALWAYS read up on the return policy.
As a rule of thumb, the return policy says much about the retailer from which you buy tires online. A trustworthy tire store values customer satisfaction and has a certain degree of leniency in its return policy.
At Tires Easy, we strive to make the return process as quick and painless as possible. If you aren’t 100% happy with your tires, you have 45 days to send them back for a full refund plus full coverage of shipping costs.
However, there are some exceptions to the returns we accept.
For one, the tires cannot be unserviceable. The term “unserviceable” involves several different factors:
- Impact damage, cuts, snags, or punctures in the tire.
- Cupping or feathering of tread can result from shoddy installation, wheel misalignment, wheel imbalance, improper rim use, improper mounting/dismounting, or misapplication.
- Damage from ANY off-road use.
Additionally, tires cannot be returned if they exhibit the following characteristics:
- Uneven wear.
- Shows a difference of 2/32″ between tire grooves.
If you bought race or competitive tires, they MUST be in brand new condition to be accepted.
Once you contact our customer service department, we will walk you through all the steps to processing your return as quickly as possible!
Shipping
In the e-commerce world, shipping tends to be a pesky expense not added until the end of the checkout process. Depending on where you buy tires online, these costs can be very high. Thankfully, some outlets let you buy tires online with free shipping.
If you buy tires from us, we offer free shipping on most models in our catalog. We will have them delivered to your home or a tire installer of your choosing at no extra cost.
However, larger shipments or hefty orders will likely incur shipping costs. If your order falls into this category, we ensure it is presented early in the buying process. As consumers ourselves, we know how annoying it is when online companies try to hide the shipping fees. When looking for the best place to buy tires online, finding one that sells tires with free shipping is one of the most significant advantages to look out for!
Check for Rebates
Many consumers overlook the potential savings opportunities on premium brands when they order tires online. Many heavy-hitter tire manufacturers, like Goodyear, Cooper, and Pirelli, have seasonal car tire deals on specific models – you can save up to $100 on your order! If you play your cards right, you can upgrade to a better-quality tire without breaking your budget!
The best tire rebates typically occur during the spring and fall seasons. So, if you want the best deals, you must time your purchases accordingly. As one of the more general tips on buying tires, you can score a deal in April or October.
How do tire rebates work?
Each manufacturer’s process for getting a tire rebate is slightly different. In most cases, you must submit your receipt to the manufacturer, who will then mail you a prepaid Visa or MasterCard.
Remember that rebates are often limited to specific models or tire lines, so be sure you are doing your research before submitting.
When searching for tire manufacturer rebates, keeping your priorities in order is critical. As many of these deals are geared toward specific lines and tire models, you NEVER want to overlook your most essential needs to save a few dollars.
For instance, if it is late in the fall and you want to buy a set of snow tires online and see an excellent opportunity to save on a specific model, don’t bypass the negative reviews or elect not to purchase tires that fit your needs. In other words, discount tire rebates should never override your priority list.
Benefits of Buying Tires Online
There are many benefits to buying tires online.
Savings
Most importantly, you can save money on your orders when buying tires online. Commonly, for you to come across deals you cannot find in your local store. With the proper research and due diligence, you can get serious value for your budget!
Giant Selection
Perhaps the most significant upside of buying tires online is the sheer number of options. You have many brands, styles, sizes, and categories to choose from to ensure you don’t have to “settle” on a tire. Moreover, with warehouses nationwide, you never have to wait too long to get your order filled. You get picky about finding what you need for your unique driving situation in an online tire store.
No Aggressive Sales Pitches
Not many people these days like to be bombarded with high-pressure sales tactics. Thankfully, you don’t have to deal with any of this when you buy tires online. You get to shop at your convenience, stick to your list of priorities, and not have a salesperson trying to up-sell you on anything.
Now, this does not mean that you are all alone in the process of purchasing tires online. At Tires Easy, we have highly trained staff to help clear any confusion and guide you to the perfect set of new tires. You are always welcome to contact us with any questions.
Access to Customer Reviews
To reiterate, customer reviews play a monumental role in the shopping process these days. Hopefully, you are going into the process of buying car tires online with a defined set of criteria and needs. Reviewing customer reviews gives you an unbiased, third-party look at what each tire offers and how it can accommodate your driving requirements. Access to customer reviews is one of the biggest (and most underrated) advantages of shopping for tires online. All tire reviews at Tires-easy are from verified customers after they have had the tires for six months.
Hassel-Free Service
After you buy car tires online, you might think they will appear in a big stack on your front doorstep, just like a package from Amazon. While you can certainly opt for this, Tires Easy will ship tires directly to your chosen service shop at no extra cost. If you pick this route, you must bring your car to the shop and have them put your tires on. Easy peasy!
Over to You
Finding the best place to get new tires online is relatively easy. Thankfully, online tire stores have come a long way in making the process as quick and easy as possible. The key is knowing precisely what you need before starting the process. Otherwise, getting overwhelmed with all the options and prices is not hard.
Thanks to the intuitive Tire Selector Tool on Tires Easy, you can quickly narrow your choices and buy car tires for your requirements and driving needs. Hopefully, this guide has given you a clearer view of shopping for tires online and finding the perfect solution. With more than 30 years of experience in the tire industry, our knowledgeable team is always happy to assist further and answer any questions you might have!
FAQs
Is it wise to buy tires online?
Yes, buying tires online can be an intelligent choice. It offers convenience, a wide selection of brands and models, competitive pricing, and the ability to research and read reviews before deciding. However, it would be best if you bought from a reputable online tire retailer to guarantee product quality and customer support.
How long does Tires-easy take to ship?
Shipping times for Tires-easy may vary depending on factors like your location, the availability of the tires you’ve ordered, and the shipping method you choose. Typically, most online tire retailers provide estimated delivery times during checkout. Refer to their website or contact customer support for specific shipping information.
How do you know when it’s time to get new tires?
Knowing when to replace your tires is crucial for safety and performance. Here are some signs that indicate it’s time for new tires:
- Tread Depth: When the tread depth reaches 2/32 of an inch or less, it’s time to replace tires.
- Uneven Wear: Uneven wear patterns can indicate alignment or suspension issues and may warrant tire replacement.
- Cracks or Bulges: Visible cracks, cuts, or bulges on the tire sidewalls or treads indicate tire damage.
- Age: Even if the tread is still good, tires should be replaced after six to ten years, as rubber deteriorates with age.
- Reduced Grip: If your tires no longer provide adequate traction, especially in wet or snowy conditions, it’s time for new ones.
