4. Terms & Conditions Select a Warehouse for Installation Find a Warehouse for Installation Select a Warehouse for InstallationBy Jennifer Riley , Christian Post ReporterBuying tires is a big and costly deal, especially if you like to change all four tires at the same time. Being the bargain hunter I am (see my track record here), I set out with steely determination in my eyes to do my research and get the detailed price breakdown to find out who wins the price war when it comes to cost versus what you get.Anecdotal accounts of family and friends reveal two big-box stores with a strong reputation for low prices – Costco and Walmart. Before driving to the nearest Costco and Walmart for a price quote, I did research to narrow down and select the exact tire I wanted to avoid the chaos of juggling multiple factors.I called up my trusty dad who is a pro bargain hunter (especially when it comes to cars and home improvement), and found out that he recommends Michelin. But being a journalist, the cliché phrase, "If your mother tells you she loves you, check it out," rings in my ears and I can't help but factcheck my dad's choice against an unbiased source.

I turn to Consumer Report, a monthly product review magazine that is trusted by subscribers because it does not accept advertising and pays for all the products it tests, and is a non-profit organization with no shareholders.A 2015 article published in Consumer Report titled, "What brands make the best tires? Consumer Reports rank the top tire maker," ranks Michelin ("Dad, you're right!") as the number one tire brand after careful performance test. Cheap Prom Dresses In Amarillo TxThe magazine boasts that it offers a list of detailed comprehensive test findings on over 170 models."Blinds TorranceAcross the board, Michelin offers nearly a perfect blend of grip, handing, low rolling resistance for good fuel economy, and long tread life," read part of the review.Second Hand Curtain Shops Warwickshire

I decided to specifically go with the Michelin Defender, an all-season tire suitable for family cars with an impressive 90,000 mile warranty. Workers hold a motorsport racing tyre stocked in the Michelin tyre company's factory in Clermont-Ferrand, central France, July 10, 2013. Picture taken July 10, 2013.Now here comes the fun part you've all been waiting for.My local Costco Tire Center (note taken: too busy on Saturday with 2.5 hour wait. Go on weekdays as early as possible) informed me that the total cost before tax will be $541.12. Costco sold the Michelin Defender 205/55R16 for $133.99 per tire but had, at the time, a $70 instant savings for any member who bought a set of 4 new Michelin tires.The store offers a flat rate $15 installation package per tire that includes:• mount and balance • balance and rotation for the life of the tire • new rubber valve stem • inflation checks for the life of the tire • nitrogen tire inflation • flat repairs for the life of the tire • Costco scrap tire disposal • reset tire pressure monitoring system • wheels hand torqued to manufacturer's specifications • mileage warranty • road hazard warranty • manufacturer's defects warrantyAs for Walmart

, my local store does not carry Michelin tires and I would have to order them using the company's website and have them delivered for free. A Michelin Defender tire 205/55R16 costs $136.23 per tire, which is $2.24 more expensive than Costco's price. Moreover, Costco offers the $70 instant discount when you buy four Michelin tires, which is a deal Walmart doesn't offer. That means we are talking about a $78.96 price difference (Costco $465.96 vs. Walmart $544.92) in terms of a set of four tires.Walmart quoted the installation of the tire as including:• balance for lifetime of tire – $9/tire • new rubber valve stem – $3/tire • road hazard warranty – $10/tire • tire disposal – $1.50/tireThis price breakdown means we are talking about an installation package at Walmart of $23.50 per tire, which is higher than Costco's $15 per tire.Just out of curiosity, I went to another popular auto service center, Mr. Tire, which states on its website that it has over 1,000 locations nationwide.

Mr. Tire sold the Michelin Defender 205/55R16 for $169.99 per tire for a total of $679.96 for a set of four.In terms of installation, Mr. Tire says there is no charge for the following: tire mounting and balance, lifetime rotation, new valve stem, and tire disposal. But Mr. Tire charges $23.78 per tire for road hazard coverage and $10.49 for shop supply fee.At the end of my tire bargain hunting, I concluded that Costco won out by a long shot. Check out the price breakdown for yourself.Are Costco Tires a Good Deal? By Heidi Renee Mason, June 27th, 2015 | Costco, the warehouse giant, is notorious for saving shoppers money. Customers can find everything from food products to home appliances and electronics. You can get prescriptions, eyeglasses, insurance, and even a car. Did you also know that you can purchase tires for your vehicle at Costco? The question is whether or not it’s a good idea to purchase Costco tires. What are the advantages as well as the disadvantages of such a purchase?

As someone always in favor of the bad news before the good, let’s begin with the disadvantages. Costco offers no advance appointments for either tire installation or balancing and rotation. This is probably not a deal breaker unless you have one specific day or timeframe in which you are available to get your tires done, or if you are in a hurry. If you show up to have your tires either installed or maintained, you are at the mercy of that day’s schedule. You may get lucky and have no wait time at all. On the other hand, it’s more likely you may have to wait up to two or three hours. You could spend this wait time shopping inside of Costco, but the downside to that is that you will inevitably spend more money. Another disadvantage to buying tires at Costco is a lack of selection. Typically, Costco carries Bridgestone, BF Goodrich, and Michelin tires. There is no denying that these are among the top brands of tires, but you will not have the option of choosing from other alternative brands.

As far as pricing, Costco is generally fairly competitive. However, you could probably research and find lower prices at a discount tire shop. You may end up paying the same price, though, once you consider tire disposal and installation fees. As far as advantages, the number one would probably be the lifetime warranty replacement of tires purchased at Costco. If you experience a flat tire, Costco will attempt to repair the tire or credit you for the amount of tread that is still remaining on your tire if it cannot be repaired. If the tire is fairly new at the time of the flat, Costco will replace it with a new tire. The other perk that goes hand in hand with this is Costco’s lifetime rotation and balancing service. This could save you money over the course of owning your tires. The issue here, like with getting tires installed, is there is no appointment system. That means if you want to get a quick tire rotation, you don’t know how long it will actually take. Costco also inflates tires using nitrogen instead of regular air.

Tires inflated with nitrogen are said to stay better inflated than those tires inflated with air, and properly inflated tires can help save money on gas. Costco also offers cheaper installation prices in comparison to other tire shops, which could allow for a big savings. Like most large purchases, there are pros and cons involved when making a decision. It seems that Costco’s competitive pricing and extended warranty and maintenance services may be worth the extra wait time you may experience by not being able to schedule an appointment in advance. (Photo courtesy of David Goehring) What did you think about this article? (7 votes, average: 3.29 out of 5) Should You Buy A Car Through Costco? Save Gas – Nitrogen Filled Tires Is Costco Open on Memorial Day 2016? Is Costco Open on Memorial Day 2015? Costco Holiday Schedule and Hours 2016 Costco Quietly Raises Membership Prices 2016 Costco Holiday Schedule Is Costco Open on July 4th 2016?