How to Compare Prices for Winter Tires

Tires are designed for seasonal use. Some tires are all-season, and you can use them year 'round. Snow tires are designed specifically to perform well on snowy surfaces. Snow tires have different tread patterns from those of all-season tires. Because cold increases the rigidity of rubber, the rubber used to make snow tires is specially formulated to remain pliant in cold weather. Snow tire rubber, however, is prone to wear faster than regular tire rubber, so you will want to limit your driving time on snow tires and change them as soon as the season ends. Tire prices vary widely, but you can follow a structured process to compare prices for winter tires.

Instructions

1. Make a list of tire vendors for your price comparison. Include at least one vendor of each type: discount retailers, department stores and tire specialty shops. If you are a member of a wholesale club, include it in your comparison list also.

2. Write down the specifications for your vehicle's winter tires. Include the size and speed rating as specified by your vehicle's manufacturer.

3. Choose a particular tire for your price comparison. Contact a specialty tire store from your list. Call the vendor and speak to a salesperson or visit the vendor's website. Choose a tire that meets your vehicle's size and speed ratings; limit your data to tires having a particular warranty. Warranty information is summarized in terms of miles, such as 50,000 miles.

4. Write down the basic purchase price of a single tire of the type you have chosen. Write down the cost for a set of four if you will be buying four. Write down additional costs. Ask specifically if there are separate costs for mounting, balancing, valve stems or tire disposal. If there are, ask what the costs are per tire and write it down. Ask if the vendor provides a tire protection program beyond the basic manufacturer's warranty. If so, get the cost of the program and write it down.

5. Gather the same set of information from the remaining vendors on your list. Select tires from each vendor with identical specifications to the tire whose prices you gathered first. If you vary a specification, such as comparing the price for a 50,000-mile tire to a 30,000-mile tire, your price comparison will not be valid.

6. When you have price information from all the vendors on your list, compare the costs to determine which tires best meet your needs.

References

• Winter Tire Basic Information from the Federal Citizen Information Center

Resources

• Tire Labeling Information
• Sample Specialty Tire Store: Firestone
• Sample Discount Retailer Tire Vendor: Wal-Mart
• Sample Department Store Tire Vendor: Sears Automotive
• Sample Wholesale Club Tire Vendor: Sam's Club