Most offer low competitive prices on name brand tires, and some also offer unique customer benefits, services and programs that really can help you stretch your buying power.
Money-Saving Tire Coupons
Many tire discounters and auto service centers offer money-saving tire coupons on their web sites. During a recent cyber shopping adventure, I found money-savings coupons available for tires, shocks and struts, brake service and a battery checkup. Coupons such as these can significantly reduce your annual operating cost, especially if you own multiple vehicles or if you've neglected routine maintenance because of the high cost of having it done at your local dealership or neighborhood service station.
Store Locators
Another way tire discounters and auto service centers help you save both time and money is with web sites that include convenient store locators. On one site, after simply entering my zip code, I was offered a choice of fifteen different store locations within ten miles of my home. The list also included the address, phone number, driving distance, store hours and a hot link to each location. A click on the hot link then showed me an exterior photo of the store and also offered a mapping function to help me plan the most efficient driving route from my home directly to the store.
Tire and Wheel Search
Some tire discounter and auto service center sites also include the ability to search and even view the tires and wheels they offer. After entering the year, make, model and body-style of my sport utility, I was offered a choice of 16 different wheels from five different manufacturers, at prices ranging from $109 to $196 per wheel. I was also offered a choice of ten different tires from eight different manufacturers, at prices ranging from $80 to $202 per tire. The site then offered a close-up view of each tread design, plus an invitation read reviews about the tire posted by other customers.
Tires and More
Most tire discounters and auto service centers know that the purchase of new replacement tires represent a significant investment on your part. It's not a spur of the moment decision nor is it one to be taken lightly. That's why, when you do purchase, some stores offer unique customer benefits to reward your decision to purchase and possibly convince you to become a customer for life. These unique customer benefits may include:
Lifetime Alignment Checks
Nitrogen Inflation
Lifetime Tire Rotation
Lifetime Spin Balancing
Lifetime Flat Tire Repair
Pro-Rated Road Hazard Warranty
Free Mounting
Free Tire Disposal
Rubber Valve Stems
Hand Torque of Wheels
Light Duty Service and Repair Capabilities
Because worn tires may be a warning sign of other less visible vehicle problems, many tire discounters and auto service centers now offer additional light duty service and repair capabilities. They may include wheel alignment; service for your air conditioning, battery and brake systems; oil and lube service; and steering and suspension components service and repair. Some stores also complete a multi-point vehicle inspection of your vehicle's major mechanical systems before it leaves the shop. By offering additional service and repair, some tire discounters and auto service centers help you save money now by correcting an existing or potential vehicle problem before it compromises your vehicle's performance during everyday driving or endangers the safety of your family during an extended family vacation.
Preferred Customer Clubs
Many tire discounters and auto service centers also offer preferred customer clubs. Once you enroll, you'll receive money-saving coupons and timely service reminders either by mail or e-mail. Both can be especially important if you own multiple vehicles or if you sometimes get too caught up in daily life to remember when your vehicle might need tire rotation, a battery check-up or a coolant check-up to help prepare it for winter driving conditions.
So, if money is tight, and time is money, be sure to take advantage of all the unique customer benefits, services and programs offered by your local tire discounter or auto service center. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at the savings you'll discover.
About Wally Koster, Freelance Writer
Wally Koster is
a retired marketing and advertising executive with more than 40 years
experience in the automotive industry. He now enjoys life as a freelance writer
for Belle Tire and is a published philatelist. To learn more about Belle Tire, please visit: http://www.belletire.com
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
