Time for New Tires: Keeping it Cheap

Automotive maintenance can be intimidating, especially if you’re trying to maximize your budget. Short-term, it can be tempting to cut corners like delaying oil changes or buying the cheapest all-season tires you can find, but keeping to a recommended maintenance schedule and buying quality parts are investment decisions that’ll add years of service life to your car. The flip side is that sometimes the best choices – in terms of quality and long-term investment – just aren’t feasible for all short-term budgets. If you’re researching your options for cheap tires, Cincinnati is the place to be because that’s where McCluskey Chevrolet is. We’re here to help, no matter what your specific needs are, which is why we’re breaking down what you should consider when trying to keep costs down.

While checking out the websites of local tire shops, dealerships, and warehouse stores and sorting their tires by price from low to high is one way to minimize your costs today, there’s a lot more to it than that. There’ll be additional costs at the time of installation – the service itself, disposal fees for old tires, taxes, and additional warranties will come into play. Also, consider the possibility of discounts and coupons, as tire manufacturers and local shops alike will often have special deals available. Finally, check out the treadwear warranties and reviews online to get a feel for how long the tires should last – spending a little more today could save two or three times that over a few years!

The Brand-Name Bust

Everybody knows some of the tire industry’s biggest name brands, like Goodyear, Michelin, and Bridgestone. These household names are a safe bet for high-quality tires that’ll last for a long time, but they also tend to come at premium prices. Similarly, if you know what brand or model tire was on your car when it was brand new, sticking with the same product (or something very similar) is a safe bet for making sure the tire optimizes the performance of your ride, but OEM tires are likely to be on the pricey side.

The good news is that mid-tier tire brands provide similar quality and tread life expectations at half the price of some of their more recognizable counterparts. So if you’ve had your mind set on new Bridgestones but want to maximize your dollar, look for similar tires from discounted brands like Fuzion, Hankook, and General. A tire’s brand name can serve as a warning as well.

As with any product, the cheapest options will often cost you more in the long term due to poor quality, reliability, and durability. So if you’re not picky about the brand of your tire, it’s a good idea to at least check the reputation of a manufacturer before you buy their product. Some brands might save you cash today but are likely to hurt your wallet more in the end. Whenever possible, avoid such disreputable makers to get the most for your money.

Treadwear – More of a Guideline

Let’s talk about treadwear. The word refers to what happens to tires over time – the tread, or pattern, wears down due to friction. When shopping for tires, you’ll often see treadwear warranties or ratings for how many miles they’re certified for. Generally, it’s more of a marketing tag than a scientific evaluation, but you can still be pretty confident that a tire rated to 90,000 miles will last about twice as long as one rated to 45,000 miles. This can save you hundreds of dollars in the long term.

Consider this. One Hankook tire model is rated at 45,000 miles and costs at least $65 per tire. Let’s say you drive 15,000 miles a year, which is perfectly reasonable if you make a lot of trips or commute 20 miles for work, then these tires are likely to serve you for about 3 years. That works out to about $85/year that you need to budget for buying these tires. Another model rated to 90,000 miles costs at least $74. On the day that you buy them, you’ll spend $36 more to get the more durable tires – but if you get about 6 years of service from them, you’ll only need to budget $50/year to replace them, thereby saving money over time.

Above all else, look to professional and online consumer reviews for realistic feedback on how long any given model should be expected to last. With all other things being equal, it’s our opinion that all but the tightest budgets should allow for spending a little bit more today in order to save money over the life of the tires by choosing a longer-lasting product.

Mind the Extras

Unfortunately, the cost of buying tires isn’t as simple as paying the sticker price. Other fees you might have to pay, including installation, disposal of the old tires, new tire stems (a normal requirement when installing new tires), a TPMS reset, extra charges for using nitrogen, and taxes can all factor into the final tally. But there’s finagling that can work to your advantage as well, such as coupons, service specials, and manufacturer discounts or rebates, too!

Some aspects of purchasing new tires are inevitable, like installation and disposal. Depending on the shop, these might get factored into the price that you see in a quote. When you compare the price of the same tire model at several stores, look at the fine print to see what is included on the pricier quotes and what’s excluded from cheaper ones.

Sometimes you can make changes to reduce the price. Consider choosing to have your tires filled with compressed air instead of nitrogen, which loses pressure more slowly but may cost more. Or, if you live in a region like ours close to state borders, you can see what taxes and disposal fees in neighboring states might be and compare the cost in your state.

Also available is the presence of coupons and discounts: options abound. Look at the tire manufacturer’s website for rebate and coupon offers, visit websites that list coupons to find deals, and take advantage of service specials. We are always changing up our available specials, so check out our Service Specials to see what kind of a discount we can offer you on your new tires and installations. Whether they reduce the cost to you or simply get you more for your money, always look around for applicable promos and specials before you decide where to buy.

Road Hazard Warranties

Some tires or centers will provide a standard road hazard warranty free of charge. Others will ask you to pay extra for after-sale services. Now, if you happen to drive exclusively on pristine streets where nothing is ever damaged or broken, you may not need these warranties. However, if your commute includes streets with potholes or frost heaves, if you drive around construction zones or just have a long commute with a higher chance of hitting something that could ruin your tires, you’ll want a hazard warranty to reduce the cost of such incidents later on.

Read the fine print before you buy. Some warranties are only “flat tire repair,” which only cover flats due to slow leaks, and others will have similar restrictions on what kind of damage is covered. Some warranties will be longer than others, while some will include additional services like flat tire repair, towing, tire rotations, and more. If you’ve ever had a flat on your commute before, you know that paying for a warranty may just save you money down the line.

Make it Last

Finally, you’ll get the most out of your tires by making them last as long as possible before you need to replace them again. Safe, defensive driving is the best way to do that. Drive slower with gentle turns and stops to minimize wear. Also, take good care of them. Check your tire pressure and inspect the treads for signs of uneven wear frequently. Rotate your tires on a regular basis to balance the wear pattern too. That’s all pretty simple to do on your own if you have a floor jack, a jack stand, a lug wrench, and an air compressor, saving you service dollars.

While you inspect the thread, use a quarter and penny test to evaluate wear. Put a quarter into the tread with Washington’s head towards the tire; if you can see his hair, then it’s time to start planning for a change. Then grab a penny and do the same – if you can see Lincoln’s hair, then you need to change tires ASAP to reduce your risk of an expensive accident. Finally, consider the age of the tires because rubber changes over time. Tires that are 10 years old should be replaced no matter what condition they’re in, and even at 5 years old, they should be professionally inspected for signs of breakdown.

Tires You Can Trust Installed by McCluskey Chevrolet

People say that it’s expensive to buy cheap things. That’s because the quality controls and engineering that go into producing more expensive tires also make them more reliable and durable. Spending a little more today will save you a lot over several years. If you have the opportunity to plan ahead for your next set of tires, and your budget has a little bit of wiggle room today, you can compare the prices, services, and specials at several shops you can find the best place to work with.

We always recommend professional dealership services like ours because you know you’ll be getting quality service and tires. If you need to get new tires, we invite you to check out our specials or give us a call to evaluate the price and schedule a replacement. We will help you find and install excellent quality tires that will last you many miles to come.