Buying tires can be a daunting experience, especially if you are a first-time buyer. If you’re a Costco customer, you may want to take advantage of its bargains on groceries, batteries, and even tires.
But is there an advantage to buying tires at Costco? This post will look at the benefits and perks of buying tires at Costco.
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What are the Advantages of Buying Tires at Costco?
When you shop for tires at Costco, expect to enjoy these advantages:
Low prices
Costco sells tires for low prices. If you have a Costco membership, you can save money by buying your tires at one of their warehouses. The prices of the tires include discounts from the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). So you don’t have to worry about trying to get a bargain or deal when you buy your tires at Costco.
You can schedule an appointment easily
Costco has an intuitive online scheduling service that makes it easy to set up an appointment. Once you’ve made an appointment, you’ll receive an email confirmation that includes all the details. You can also set up to receive reminders of the date and place.
Lifetime warranty
When you buy tires from Costco, you receive a free road hazard warranty for the life of your tires. You also get a mountain and road hazard warranty with no mileage limit. They also offer flat tire repair, pro-rated tire replacement, an alignment check, and a tire balancing service.
Access to Costco experts
Buying tires at Costco gives you access to a team of tire experts ready to help you find what you need. They’ll ask questions about your driving habits so that they can recommend the best tires for your needs.
For example, if you drive in a lot of rain or snow, they’ll advise you about tires with good treads. If you want to save money on gas, they’ll talk with you about fuel-efficient tires.
Nitrogen tire refills
Costco uses nitrogen to refill your tires at no additional charge. Nitrogen has a more stable temperature than standard air, helping to extend the life of your tires. It also prevents corrosion and rust on rims and provides a longer shelf life for stored tires.
What is Included When You Buy Tires at Costco?
When you buy tires at Costco, the purchase price includes a $18.99 installation charge. The payment covers the following services:
- Tire installation
- Lifetime tire balancing
- Road hazard protection
- Lifetime tire rotation
- Lifetime flat repair
You don’t need to purchase a separate service plan for tire installation or other services listed above. However, the installation charge doesn’t cover tire alignments.
Do Costco Members Get Discounts on Tires?
Costco offers its members discounts on tires from various brands, including Bridgestone and Michelin. However, not all makes, sizes, and models are available for a discount. To receive the discount, you need to make an appointment for installation at one of Costco’s locations that has a tire center.
How Much Do Costco Tires Cost?
Costco’s tire prices vary depending on tire brand and type, but they tend to be competitive with other stores. Tire prices at Costco range from $150 – $529 per tire, depending on the brand, type, and size. Below are the different tire brands sold at Costco.
- Bridgestone – Buying a set of four tires earns you a $150 discount. That is, $70 manufacturers discount and $80 if you are a Costco member
- BF Goodrich – You get a $70 manufacturer’s discount and an additional $40 members discount for every set of four tires bought for a total of $110
- Michelin – When you buy a set of four tires, you get a $70 manufacturer’s discount plus an $80 member’s discount totaling $150
- Firestone – A set of four tires also earns you $110 in manufacturer and membership discounts.
You need to have the tires installed at the Costco tire center to get these discounts.
Why Are Costco Tires Cheaper?
Costco offers some of the best deals on tires in the market. They buy in bulk from manufacturers getting great deals and pass them along to their customers.
Costco also offers manufacturers discounts and member discounts on tires. Such discounts reduce the total prices of the tires considerably.
Can You Buy Tires at Costco Without a membership?
You can buy tires at Costco without a membership. But there are some membership benefits that you’ll miss out on if you decide to buy your tires there as a non-member. For example, Costco won’t service your tires if you aren’t a member.
How Do You Buy Tires At Costco?
If you’re buying in-store, you’ll want to make sure that the tire size you need is in stock. You can check the availability of tires at your nearest Costco store by using the Costco website.
It allows you to enter your vehicle’s make, model, and year, then find the right tire based on your results. If the website indicates that they have the tires in stock, you can go to the store and have them installed. A Costco store assistant can help you select the right tires for your vehicle.
To buy online, follow these steps:
- Go to Costco’s website
- Enter your vehicle’s information
- View tires available for your car with prices, ratings, and features
- Select and add the tires you want to your cart
- Check out and schedule an appointment for installation (you can also have them brought to another Costco location if that’s more convenient)
- Get your tires installed at the appointed time
How to Schedule an Appointment at Costco Tires
To schedule an appointment at Costco tires, follow these steps.
- Go to the Costco appointments page
- If you are making an appointment for the first time, click on “Create new account.” Register with your email and password. If you have made an appointment before, use your previous email and password to log in
- Search for your preferred location to schedule the appointment. To select the location, click on the pin on the map or click on “Select site”
- Input your vehicle details, and the service needed. If you ordered online, you may need to provide the order number and the date placed
- Select your preferred appointment time
- Enter your contact information
- Click on “Finalize appointment.” You’ll receive an email confirmation and reminder on the appointment date
Costco tire centers allow walk-ins. The only disadvantage with this is that you may have to wait in line for 3–4 hours for your turn if they are busy.
Can You Buy Tires At Costco Without Installation?
You can buy tires at Costco without having them installed there. In this case, you’ll only pay the tire prices without the $18.99 installation fee charged per tire.
Costco Tire Warranty
Costco’s tire warranty is your guarantee that you’re getting a quality product. It guarantees your tires for five years or until the treads have worn down to 2/32 inches. The warranty also provides a free replacement if your tires get worn out while driving under normal conditions. It also covers the tires if they break before their treads wear out. The warranty conditions include—
- You need to sign a Costco Tire Adjustment form
- The tires must have the recommended pressure at all times
- Carry out regular tire balancing and rotations
- Make sure that any mechanical parts in your vehicle that affect tire performance are in good condition
Costco Tire Center Reviews
Costco tire centers enjoy mixed reviews. Some customers love their Costco tires, while others find that the service is slow and unreliable. Here are some of the reviews on the tire centers.
FAQs
Are Costco tires cheaper than Walmart?
Essentially, buying tires from Costco costs more than at Walmart. However, when you factor in the discounts and perks offered by Costco, their high prices do not seem that significant.
Do tires have an expiration date?
Tires have a shelf life. The expiration date of tires is six years from the date of manufacture. You are required to replace the tires after six years of use.
Does Costco rotate tires for free?
Costco offers free tire rotation services for its members who buy tires from its stores. They also enjoy other perks, such as filling the tires with nitrogen and free shipping and handling.
Can tires be rotated at Costco if you didn’t buy them there?
Costco will only rotate tires bought from them. They also don’t offer other services like balancing for tires purchased elsewhere, even to their members.
Are Michelin tires are Costco the same quality?
The Michelin tires sold at Costco are the same as those bought anywhere else. Their quality, performance, and warranty are also the same.
How often do Michelin tires go on sale at Costco?
Costco has Michelin tire sales two to three times a year. Although, sometimes, they run a special promotion for specific tire sizes.
Does Costco fix flat tires not purchased there?
Costco always fixes flat tires for their members, even if they bought and installed them somewhere else.
Conclusion
Costco also offers its members perks that other retailers don’t provide. For example, they offer free tire rotations and inspections when they purchase new tires.
Members also have access to a wide range of top store brand tires that don’t need purchasing under the manufacturer’s warranty. Also, there’s service from experts, nitrogen refills, and a lifetime warranty.
