In an era when cars need much less maintenance than they once did, it can be easy to forget the role tires play in a smooth, safe ride.
When they’re in good shape, treads help avoid skids in the rain or ice, improve gas mileage and make driving more pleasant. When they aren’t, here’s the scoop on how to pick the right ones, how to maintain them properly and how to nail the lowest costs from either local or online suppliers.
Tires need replacing when they wear down to 1/16 of an inch of tread. They’ve reached this level when the tire tread is even with the wear bars built into it. You can also measure the tread with a penny: Insert it Abraham Lincoln-head first in a tread groove, and if the treads don’t cover part of the president’s head, they are worn down too far.
Those who don’t drive often might need to replace tires before the tread wears out, as tires dry out with time, reducing performance and safety. Many manufacturers recommend replacing tires after six years no matter the tread wear. Regardless of that or age, though, replace a tire if there’s a bulge or blister on the sidewall. If there are cuts or cracking, have an expert inspect it.
Tire buyers can choose from specialty outlets, online sources, independent shops and new car dealers. Undercover shoppers for nonprofit Twin Cities Consumers’ Checkbook collected prices on popular name-brand tires from local and online operators and found it pays to shop around. Customers can save hundreds of dollars for the effort, and Star Tribune readers can access Checkbook’s full report on tire stores, plus all of its ratings and advice, until Feb. 5 at Checkbook.org/StarTribune/tires.
Checkbook’s shoppers found:
Major price differences
For example, prices for a set of four Bridgestone Alenza Sport tires for a Toyota Highlander ranged from $930 at Costco to $1,622 at Westside Tire, a difference of $692.
Overall, Costco, Sam’s Club, Tires Plus and surveyed locations of Firestone Complete Auto Care had the lowest prices, but Checkbook’s shoppers also found deals when shopping at some independent tire dealers, repair shops and even new-car dealerships.