If you are thinking of buying new tires this spring, get ready for some sticker shock.
Trying to compare local tire shops can be as futile as comparing bed and mattress prices.
But there are some things you can do.
When Did Tires Get So Expensive?
Russell Gibson hoped to replace his tires for just a few hundred dollars. But when he checked prices, he found tires were expensive everywhere he looked.
“I noticed that all the prices seemed to be the same, no matter what local store I went to,” Gibson said.
The trade publication, Modern Tire Dealer, says rising prices of oil, rubber and styrene have increased tire prices by 50 percent since 2006.
On top of that, most shops specialize in just one or two brands, such as either Michelin or Bridgestone, but not both, making it hard to comparison shop.
One Man Negotiates Hard
Gibson managed to find lower prices online at TireRack.com. He also ventured out of town.
“I came across the same Firestone tires and they were $50 cheaper per tire. I thought ‘that’s great,’” he said. But it was short lived, he said, “because I realized these tires were at their store 90 miles away.”
READ MORE: NewsNet5.com
Article and Picture Courtesy of WEWS NewsChannel 5
How to Negotiate Tire Prices Despite Their Increase was originally published on wzakcleveland.com
