Discount/America's Tire

Full review
Buying new tires is a chore that most of us put off for as long as we can. With some consumers, the task of having to purchase new tires is so dreaded and so expensive they will postpone it to the very last moment, just before all the tread has worn off the tires on their vehicle and they need to be filled with air daily to keep them from going flat.

As much as I like to keep my personal possessions well- maintained, I admit that buying tires is an annoying chore and I, too, tend to keep putting it off for as long as I can. But recently, I decided that my procrastination had gone too far and I started to look around for a new set of rubbers for my rims. Given the amount of money that I have spent on- line, it should come as no surprise to anyone that my instincts directed me to check the internet first. And the on- line store that I chose to visit was Discount Tire Direct, a web service that helps customers purchase tires for many different types of vehicles.

Features of This Service:

Discount Tire Direct is divided into the following departments:

Tires- This is where I clicked upon first visiting this site. Here, you will discover a search function that helps you find the right tires for your vehicle. You can search by entering the year, make, and model of car or truck you own, or search by size, style, or brand if you already know what you’re looking for.

Wheels- If a new set of rims is what you need, you can find different sizes and styles in this section. Once again, you can search by entering the make, model, and year of your vehicle. You can also search by choosing a size, style, brand, or interactive wheel system.

Suspension- Springs, struts, shocks, and other suspension- related automotive parts can be purchased through this section.

Accessories- Auto parts of many types can be found here, with such selections as seats, steering wheels, spoilers, air filters, mufflers, and more.

Credit- This section allows customers to apply for credit with Discount Tires Direct. If approved, it will allow you to setup a payment plan which may or may not include interest, depending on which plan you accept.

Information Center- This is the help section of the site. Besides giving customers information about how to track their orders, shipping, payment concerns, etc., it also serves as an educational center, with a glossary of terms and editorials on how to understand different tire- related topics.

Methods of Payment:

Discount Tire Direct accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover credit cards. If you want to pay without a credit card, you can use Western Union Quick Collect, money orders, or a bank wire transfer. And, of course, you can select a credit plan (subject to approval) and make periodic payments.

If you live outside of the United States, you must use a credit card to make a purchase. The other payment options are not valid in foreign countries.

Shipping Charges:

Charges for shipping vary widely from one set of tires to the next and from one shipping method to the next. If you opt for UPS Ground, there are usually no additional shipping charges to pay. But if you decide that you cannot wait for your tires to arrive, the costs can be significant. Selecting second day delivery can add $100 to $150 to the overall cost. Choosing next- day air, PM delivery can add $150 to $200 to the cost. And selecting next- day air, AM delivery can add more than $250 to the price of four tires.

Customer Service:

Concerns about the web site can be directed to the company via fax, phone, or e-mail. You can fax a concern by sending it to 480-606-4401. If you would rather place a phone call, the toll- free numbers are 800-589-6789 (for sales questions), 800-385-3322 (for questions about placing an order), or 888-852-7476 (problems with an order already received). You can also e-mail a question or a concern about the site to webmaster@discounttiredirect.com. Yet another option is to use the web site’s on- line, live help, which is available Mon.- Fri, from 9am to 8pm and on Saturday from 8am to 5pm.

Final Thoughts:

Discount Tires Direct offers buyers a place to go on-line to purchase tires and other automotive accessories without leaving the comforts of home. This web service helps customers with finding the tires and other auto parts they are looking for by searching for the ones that are compatible with the vehicle in need.

When I first visited this site, I came here looking for tires. I basically knew what I wanted, but it was nice that the designers of the site included a search mechanism that helps customers find the tires that match their particular vehicle. I logged in planning to search by size and by brand, since I already knew that my tires were 16 inch and I knew the brand I wanted. But when I noticed the search function, I went ahead and tried it out anyway. It was nice to see the other available tire sizes and brand/style options that would be compatible with my car.

Once you are presented with a listing of tires to choose from, you have the option of sorting them by brand, speed rating, or special offers. You can click on the name of the tire to get more information, but don’t expect to get a lot of info. With tires, there just isn’t all that much to say other than telling you the size, treadwear, traction, speed rating, etc. You can also view the tires (three viewing options exist: three- quarter view, tread, and shoulder) and find out if there are any of them available at the distribution center located closest to you (distribution centers exist in Texas, Nevada, Ohio, and Arizona). You can also click on links that let you compare your selected tire with other, comparable tires and you can click on another link that will let you view wheels that are compatible with your chosen tire. If you want to read consumer reviews of your chosen tire, you can click on a link called customer feedback. And if you do this, guess what happens? You are linked into Epinions! If someone at Epinions has reviewed your specific tire, you can quickly read what they had to say.

Some items in this site cannot be purchased on- line. You have to place a phone call to the company’s service center to order them. An example here is suspensions. You can lookup what you like, and view a color photo with a brief description of the product. But you cannot click and add it to your shopping cart. You must call to have the item added to your order.

One of the disadvantages that many people like to point out with on- line purchasing is that you cannot see the physical item you are buying. All you have is an image on the screen to view. Personally, I don’t think this is a big deal in this instance because with tires, there really isn’t that much difference in the appearance from one to the next. It isn’t like an article of clothing where seeing and trying it on is more critical to making a good buying decision. In my opinion, buying a tire is similar to buying a book. It isn’t that critical that I can see the actual tires, in the flesh. Viewing the tread (using the three viewing options) and reading about the ratings is good enough for me.

Prices on big- ticket items in this site are competitive. When I searched for tires for my car, I was presented with a list that included some as low as $52 each (Yokohama) all the way up to $267 each (top of the line Michelan). A good number of the tires for sale include rebates of $25 or $50 if you purchase a set of four. With the least- expensive set, a consumer could purchase four of them for a total price of only $183 after the rebate (Keep in mind that any order you place for tires will automatically include valve stems for each tire, and sometimes wheel installation kits and other items unless you blank them out when you get to your shopping cart). These prices are just as good, if not a little lower, than the prices at stores in my area.

With less costly items, I have found that the prices are not quite as attractive. Items like air filters, for instance, are a little bit pricey. I can get a better deal if I shop at a local store. Of course, part of the premium you pay in a site like this is for the convenience. So, the decision on whether or not to use this site for something like an air filter, oil filter breather, or other lower cost item really comes down to a question of opportunity cost. If your time is valuable, then Discount Tires Direct might be a good place to shop. If your time is not important and the bottom line dollar price is what matters, then you would be better off going to a nearby auto store to make this purchase.

Shipping charges in this site can be very high if you need your tires delivered lickity- split. Even a cheap set of tires can end up increasing in cost by 50 to 100 percent if you select a quick- shipping option. My advice is to skip using this site completely if you cannot wait to get your tires. If the need is that urgent, you are better off going to a local store and buying them there instead. The shipping is too high and it will really cost you a lot of money if you use a site like this and request next day delivery. This service is usually only practical if you go with UPS Ground.

This web service offers bundled packages of tires and wheels often at a discounted price. And, to sweeten the offer a little bit more, these packaged offers include free mounting and balancing at a local authorized dealer. It should be noted, however, that these package deals usually include only a few combinations for your vehicle and they are usually items at the upper- end of the price range. Unless you want the more expensive brands, you would be better off rejecting the package deals options, finding the wheels and tires of your choosing, and then taking them to a dealer and paying to have them mounted and balanced. Even with the additional payment to the dealer, you would still come out ahead.

Shopping on- line for tires and auto accessories is a new experience for me. I have done plenty of web surfing for cars, but never for accessories or parts. I found this web site by searching through a search engine. Little did I know that Epinions had an entry for this on- line store in its database. And from what I have seen, Discount Tires Direct is a very good on- line resource for purchasing tires and certain auto accessories. It doesn’t offer a full- line of accessories and auto parts, like you would find in an auto parts store. But it does offer a wide selection of tires for your car or truck, offered at competitive prices, and delivered right to your front door. It’s a good option for those who don’t mind investing a little bit of their own time to jack up the car or truck and install the tires themselves to save some money.


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