Verdict on Sam's club or other big box tires?

[evident]

about to purchase michelin primacy mxv4 at sam's club.I'm getting a state inspection done in two weeks and wanted the local mechanic to install my tires for me, but i was quoted around $780 after taxes for the 4 tires installed. seems pretty high to me.

Sam's club is offering the same for about $649 after taxes and installation. does this seem like a no brainer ? I've had tires done at sam's club on my dad's toyota and my gf's cr-v w/o any issues before. Tirerack has the 4 tires for $556 (but i guess i would have to pay someone to install them and i would have to pay taxes and shipping too, right?)

There wouldn't be a chance that sam's club would use a cheaper substitute for the tires, right?

 

[Throckmorton]

I think Wal Mart uses cheaper substitutes, so presumably Sam's would too

 

[evident]

I think Wal Mart uses cheaper substitutes, so presumably Sam's would too

So you think if i went to sam's and bought the exact same tire thats listed on tirerack, same model number, load and speed rating etc i should expect it to be of lesser quality?

 

[Throckmorton]

http://autopedia.com/bbs/tires/messages/5956.html

 

[fbrdphreak]

So you think if i went to sam's and bought the exact same tire thats listed on tirerack, same model number, load and speed rating etc i should expect it to be of lesser quality?

Likely so, but the question is will you notice the difference? Probably not. Unless you're very picky or use a high performance tire on a high performance car, you shouldn't have any problems. That said, I prefer to buy from Tire Rack and have it sent to a local shop that I trust to do the installation.

http://autopedia.com/bbs/tires/messages/5956.html

Source validity not found

 

[joutlaw]

I would have no concerns on a tire with the same mfg, model, etc...

Beware of tire models that are only sold at big box retailers. I have a set of Goodyear AT/D2 that are only available at Sam's Club and possibly other big box stores. I also bought a pair of Goodyear GPH's from Sam's Club. The GPH's wore much faster than the advertised mileage rate and the tires aren't warrantied by Goodyear. They are warrantied by Sams and good luck getting them to warranty a tire. The AT/D2s are all terrains but sound like buckshot mudders on the highway after 10K miles. So far they are keeping their tread better than the GPH's though.

I would shop around with Tire Rack and other online sources. Tire Rack can ship the tire to a shop with a set rate for mounting and balancing etc.. You may come out better and get better service than the big box stores.

 

[LTC8K6]

Well, Tire Rack would be a discount store, so it would get the cheapest tires, according to the logic at that link.

 

[kami333]

The only thing I'd be worried about are the tires age.
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4822250&page=1

 

[JulesMaximus]

I put a set of Riken Raptor ZR tires on my Maxima about 20,000 miles ago, my third set of tires on this car and they still have a lot of tread left and are wearing evenly. They tend to wander a bit over grooved pavement but nothing that really bothers me. Dry grip is excellent and wet is also very good. They cost me a little under $500 for all 4 tires mounted and balanced IIRC.

 

[Paperlantern]

Only thing I would have a problem with is supporting Wal Mart... I'd still go local mechanic/shop.

 

[MovingTarget]

Haven't really had issue with them in the past. I typically get a full set of 80k mile Michelin radials, and the service has been okay. Free balance/rotation is a plus, but the wait time to get them to do anything is not so great.

 

[kornphlake]

It's no secret that big box stores badger well known manufacturers to sell exclusive products, Toys R Us does it, Best Buy does it, Wal-Mart does it, it's hard to tell anymore but I'm sure Home Depot and Lowe's are doing it too. Some times the exclusives are the same product with a different box, or it may be something that looks the same but isn't quite the same quality. Usually the exclusive products have a different model number, I'd look a the actual tires and make sure the model numbers printed on the sidewall are the same between stores.

What's the installation charge? Sam's may be cheaper on labor alone.

I'm like Paperlantern, I'd go somewhere else just to keep the business away from Wal-Mart.

 

[angry hampster]

I've bought several sets of tires at Sears and Sams and have never had a problem. If they carry a warranty, they're good enough for me.

 

[Meghan54]

The only thing I'd be worried about are the tires age.
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4822250&page=1

Why? Just look at the date code on the tire's sidewall. It's not like it's a secret or anything, just stamped on every tire and there to be read.

 

[Bignate603]

I had an auto tech at Sam's forget to tighten the lug nuts on one wheel, they were just hand tight. It destroyed the rim. I went in and raised some hell, they ended up giving me the tire free and paid book price for a new rim. If I remember right book price was $250. I found a replacement at a junkyard for $50

 

[jlee]

I had an auto tech at Sam's forget to tighten the lug nuts on one wheel, they were just hand tight. It destroyed the rim. I went in and raised some hell, they ended up giving me the tire free and paid book price for a new rim. If I remember right book price was $250. I found a replacement at a junkyard for $50

One of our local garages did that...except on both rear wheels, and one fell off.

 

[Bignate603]

One of our local garages did that...except on both rear wheels, and one fell off.

It was ok at first but eventually started making this thump every time I went around a turn. By the time I got to where I could stop the studs had turned the holes in my aluminum wheels to ovals.

 

[Pneumothorax]

Primacy mxv4 are great passenger tires. Very quiet and handle good for all seasons. Wifes accord has had them for 20k miles without much visible wear. In regards to your question, I would let Costco or sams install 55 up medium to high profile tires. Low profile , z rated tires, run flats I would go to a dedicated shop. Also invest in a torque wrench, every time a shop does my tires or rotates wheels, I always retorque the bolts in the parking lot before driving off. Keeps rotors from warping and gets me weird stares at the Costco lot.

 

[angry hampster]

I had an auto tech at Sam's forget to tighten the lug nuts on one wheel, they were just hand tight. It destroyed the rim. I went in and raised some hell, they ended up giving me the tire free and paid book price for a new rim. If I remember right book price was $250. I found a replacement at a junkyard for $50

You certainly can't blame the chain for this though. Unfortunately this is an all-too-common tale. Dealers, service centers, and discount stores overwork and underpay their technicians, and things like this happen because of it. This is another reason why I always try to support my local independent guy when I can.

 

[evident]

I had an auto tech at Sam's forget to tighten the lug nuts on one wheel, they were just hand tight. It destroyed the rim. I went in and raised some hell, they ended up giving me the tire free and paid book price for a new rim. If I remember right book price was $250. I found a replacement at a junkyard for $50

similar thing happened to me... at a honda dealership when they were rotating my tires, they scratched my rotor somehow, and then accused me of lying to them to get a new rotor and attempted to charge me for a new rotor. i was gonna take it up to the regional honda person before they finally set me straight. i think most places have horror stories, but i admit, i'd trust the skills of a trusty local mechanic over a sam's club, but so far i'm 3 for 3 w/ my experiences w/ them. i dunno, i'm gonna have to look at the prices again and make sure they are really what they are.

 

[herm0016]

tires at sams and costco are usually a pretty good deal. same tires you get everywhere else, if you don't pick their exclusives.

 

[Raizinman]

I have been a big believer of purchasing tires at Sams and/or Costco for the following reasons:

1) For most common sizes, they will have a good, better best selection for you to choose in stock. They can check stock of their other warehouses. Otherwise, they can order anything you want.

2) I have found their techs better than reasonably trained. They use seat protectors, paper floor mats, and fender covers to protect your vehicle.

3) They use Nitrogen to inflate their tires. Some tire shops are still using regular air.

4) When you pay for mounting and balancing, you can come back every (I believe it is every 6,000 miles to have your tires rotated and balanced for FREE. If you just purchased a 80,000 mile tire, that is more than 13 free rotates and balances.

5) They strickly adhear to using torque wrenches, retightening schedules, and encourage customers to return after 100 miles or so to have their wheels retorqued. Of course for free.

6) Should you pickup a nail in your tire or break a valve stem, they repair this for free.

7) Shopping while your tires are being put on is much better than sitting in a waiting room for hours watching a 19 inch blurry TV and reading old magazines.

8) Price - I have found Sams and Costco very competitive in pricing. Normally I'll call both Sams and Costco and their prices will be within a few dollars. I have always found them MUCH cheaper then any of the local tire stores.

9) Often either Sams or Costco will run extra specials such as purchase 4 Goodyears and get $100 back, or something like that. You can save even more when you time your tire purchase with one of their sales.

10) Yes, just like any other shop, they can forget to tighten a wheel or perhaps inflate the tire to the proper pressure, but these things also happen in highend dealerships. People are human and will always make mistakes. It's how the mistake is handled is which sets one shop apart from another. Sams and Costco tend to side with customers much more than other shops. Their huge size and buying power allow this.

11) In my business, I have easily purchased over 100 sets of tires at Sams and Costco. Not each purchase has gone perfect, but it has done much better than Tire Rack, Goodyear shops, and other tire retailers. I will be a loyal Sams/Costco tire and battery purchaser for years to come.

 

[Bignate603]

I have been a big believer of purchasing tires at Sams and/or Costco for the following reasons:

1) For most common sizes, they will have a good, better best selection for you to choose in stock. They can check stock of their other warehouses. Otherwise, they can order anything you want.

2) I have found their techs better than reasonably trained. They use seat protectors, paper floor mats, and fender covers to protect your vehicle.

3) They use Nitrogen to inflate their tires. Some tire shops are still using regular air.

4) When you pay for mounting and balancing, you can come back every (I believe it is every 6,000 miles to have your tires rotated and balanced for FREE. If you just purchased a 80,000 mile tire, that is more than 13 free rotates and balances.

5) They strickly adhear to using torque wrenches, retightening schedules, and encourage customers to return after 100 miles or so to have their wheels retorqued. Of course for free.

6) Should you pickup a nail in your tire or break a valve stem, they repair this for free.

7) Shopping while your tires are being put on is much better than sitting in a waiting room for hours watching a 19 inch blurry TV and reading old magazines.

8) Price - I have found Sams and Costco very competitive in pricing. Normally I'll call both Sams and Costco and their prices will be within a few dollars. I have always found them MUCH cheaper then any of the local tire stores.

9) Often either Sams or Costco will run extra specials such as purchase 4 Goodyears and get $100 back, or something like that. You can save even more when you time your tire purchase with one of their sales.

10) Yes, just like any other shop, they can forget to tighten a wheel or perhaps inflate the tire to the proper pressure, but these things also happen in highend dealerships. People are human and will always make mistakes. It's how the mistake is handled is which sets one shop apart from another. Sams and Costco tend to side with customers much more than other shops. Their huge size and buying power allow this.

11) In my business, I have easily purchased over 100 sets of tires at Sams and Costco. Not each purchase has gone perfect, but it has done much better than Tire Rack, Goodyear shops, and other tire retailers. I will be a loyal Sams/Costco tire and battery purchaser for years to come.

I stopped reading at your comment about nitrogen. From the studies that have been done the benefits are tiny compared to the inconvenience of not being about to refill your tires regularly at home or at the gas station.

 

[kami333]

Why? Just look at the date code on the tire's sidewall. It's not like it's a secret or anything, just stamped on every tire and there to be read.

But how many people actually do, and how many technicians will actually look and say "hey, this tires 4years old already so you should pick out another set?" Having information available is useless if no one utilizes it.

It's just like with lugnuts, the technicians should properly torque them down and the customer should always check themselves before they start driving, but how many people actually do?

 

[alfa147x]

I think we have a new fleabag