Tire Rack Review: A Complete Guide

About Tire Rack

If you are shopping for tires, there is a high chance you will come across Tire Rack. Launched in 1979, this Indiana-based wheel and tire seller offers a wide range of tires and wheels for almost all types of cars.

Tire Rack is one of the few tire companies that test the tires it sells, and then posts reviews on its website, based on how those tires perform under different conditions.

For installation, it partners with a network of more than 9,000 installers, based in almost all parts of the country. You can also opt for mobile installers if you live in an area serviced by ASAP Tire.

Shipping is free for all orders, as long as they are worth more than $50. And if you are unsatisfied with your order, you can return it to Tire Rack, as long as you do it within 30 days of purchase.

In terms of customer satisfaction, Tire Rack performed well according to Consumer Reports. It earned an average score of 89 out of a possible score of 92, which is one of the highest in the industry.

Wheels and Tires

Tire Racks mainly deals in wheels. However, it also sells various vehicle accessories like brakes, suspensions, wipers, batteries and exterior accessories, among others.

Tires

Its tire collection is divided into 5 main categories. These include touring tires, performance tires, winter and snow tires, all-terrain tires, as well as track and competition tires, among others.

Touring Tires

Under touring tires, you can choose between grand-touring all-season, grand-touring summer, standard touring all-season, crossover and SUV touring all-season, passenger all-season and highway all-season.

Performance Tires

If you are looking for performance tires, Tire Rack has a wide range of options to choose from.

They include extreme performance summer, ultra high-performance summer, max performance summer, high-performance all-season and high-performance summer.

Other tires under performance tires include performance all-season, street truck and sport truck all-season, street truck summer and sport truck summer.

All-Terrain Tires

Tire Rack also sells numerous all-terrain tires, drawn from some of the leading tire manufacturers in the industry.

Its all-terrain collection features on-road all-terrain, off-road all-terrain, off-road max traction, on-road commercial traction and off-road commercial traction.

Winter and Snow Tires

For winter and snow tires, you can choose between studless ice and snow, studdable winter, studdable snow, light truck studless Ice and snow, as well as SUV ice and snow.

Other tires in this category include performance winter tires, performance snow tires, SUV performance winter and snow, light truck performance winter and light truck performance snow.

Track and Competition Tires

Since 1995, Tire Rack has been the official title sponsor of the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) National Solo Program. As you may expect, it also sells track and competition tires to sports car enthusiasts.

Its collection of track and competition tires features various types of tires for racetrack, autocross, wet racetrack, and drag racing tires.

Wheels

Tire Rack has a vast selection of wheels, sourced from some of the leading names in the industry.

They include Alpha Wheels, American Racing, American Eagle, American Force, Starke, Ultra Trailer Wheels, Radius, Walker Evans Racing, Method Race Wheels, Focal, and Ford Performance, just to name a few.

How it Works

Purchasing tires at Tire Rack is an easy and fast process. When you visit its website, you will be given the option of shopping for tires either by vehicle, size, tire type or brand.

Shopping by vehicle is arguably one of the easiest methods for most people. You simply need to enter your vehicle’s make, model, year and tire size.

Once you’ve entered that information, you will have a chance to browse a wide range of available tires.

And if you are still not sure which tires you should purchase for your vehicle, you can use Tire Rack’s tire decision guide.

The tire decision guide will ask you to provide your vehicle’s make and model as well as the tire size. From there, you will be asked to choose whether you will be using the tires during winter, summer or all seasons.

Tire Rack will then go ahead to ask what you prioritize when it comes to purchasing tires.

The options include wet road handling, winter traction, dry road handling, ride comfort, tread life or price. Once you’ve indicated what you prioritize, Tire Rack will recommend a few select tires.

For each of the recommended tires, you will be able to see its customer reviews, total miles reported, its suitability to different terrains and conditions as well as its treadwear performance.

Shipping and Delivery

After you’ve chosen the right tires for your vehicle, you will then need to make arrangements pertaining to where you want the tires to be delivered.

You can either choose for the tires to be delivered to one of its installers or to another location of your choice. For instance, you can request the tires to be shipped to your home or your preferred auto shop.

Regardless of whether you request the tires to be shipped to one of Tire Rack’s installers or your home, you will not incur any shipping fee. Shipping is free for all purchases worth over $50.

According to Tire Rack, delivery takes approximately 1 to 2 business days, from the time you place the order. You will see the delivery time as you browse the different products on the site.

You can easily track the status of your order online via Tire Rack’s website. You simply need to enter your order number and your postal code.

Pickup Orders

Tire Rack also gives you the option of picking the tires yourself at one of its distribution centers countrywide.

And if you pick the tires yourself from one of the locations, you will be eligible for a pick-up discount.

So, if you live near one of the distribution centers, then Tire Rack can arrange for you to pick up your tires, wheels or other accessories. Currently, Tire Rack has 10 order pick-up locations in the following areas:

• South Bend Indiana
• Windsor, Connecticut
• Midway, Georgia
• New Castle, Delaware
• Atlanta, Georgia
• Shreveport, Los Angeles
• Seattle, Washington
• Sparks, Nevada
• Denver, Colorado
• Minneapolis, Minnesota

Your credit card will only be charged when you go to pick up your order. So, you are at liberty to change the pickup location anytime, based on your preferences.

Installation

Tire Rack has a network of more than 9,000 independent recommended installers. And your order can be shipped directly to your preferred installer.

All you have to do is schedule an appointment with your preferred installer and then take your vehicle for the tires to be installed.

You will see the exact installation cost when viewing the installers in your neighborhood. Also, you will see the additional tire services that they offer, as well as their operational hours.

According to Tire Rack, all its recommended independent installers have taken the price pledge.

Therefore, when choosing an installer, you will see a breakdown of their installation prices. And what you see is what you will pay at the shop, meaning there are no hidden fees or charges.

Tire Rack also offers mobile installation services through ASAP Tire. With this approach, ASAP Tire will send one of its technicians to pick your tires at Tire Rack and then come to install them at your home or office.

All tires installed via ASAP Tire mobile installation service are covered by its Tire Road Hazard Protection for 24 months.

Deals and Discounts

On average, tires cost approximately $100 per tire. So, if you were to purchase a set of four tires, you will spend approximately $400 at a go.

Fortunately, Tire Rack offers several deals and discounts, which can help to cut down costs on tire purchases.

The deals and discounts run for set durations, mainly for 30 days or so. Some of the deals that Tire Rack is currently offering include:

General Tires $70 Prepaid Visa Card

If you buy a set of four General Tires passenger tires from Tire Rack, you will unlock a $70 General Tire Visa Prepaid Card, offered via mail-in rebate.

Tires that are eligible for the $70 mail-in rebate include G-MAX AS05 and G-MAX RS. And if you purchase a set of four AltiMAX T-Speed, V-Speed or H-Speed rated tires, then you will be eligible for a $50 rebate.

Tire Rack will send you a copy of the rebate form within 1 or 2 weeks, which you will then need to fill and send together with a copy of your invoice. You can also download the redemption form directly from the offer page.

Goodyear $75 Rebate

Goodyear will give you a discount of $75 via mail-in rebate if you purchase a set of four select tires on Tire Rack.

And if you purchase your set of four select tires using a Goodyear credit card, then the rebate will be increased to $150, which is quite a significant saving.

The eligible tires for the $75 rebate include Assurance ComforTred Touring, Assurance WeatherReady, Wrangler DuraTrac, and Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure.

Goodyear also offers a $50 mail-in rebate if you purchase the Goodyear Assurance MaxLife, Wrangler Fortitude HT, Eagle Exhilarate, Winter Command Ultra and Wrangler TrailRunner AT.

You will also get a $25 mail-in rebate from Goodyear if you purchase several select all-season and winter tires such as Eagle Sport all-season and WinterCommand.

Michelin Tires $120 Rebate

If you buy a set of four select Michelin light truck and passenger tires from Tire Track, you may qualify to receive a discount of up to $120, offered via a Visa Virtual Card or Visa Reward Card.

The $120 rebate features a $70 purchase rebate and a $50 service rebate. This offer is only applicable to Michelin’s Pilot family of tires and CrossClimate2.

Pirelli $70 Rebate

When you purchase a set of four new Pirelli Scorpion or P Zero tires from Tire Rack, you may qualify for a $70 online or mail-in rebate, offered via Prepaid Visa Card.

Yokohama $80 Rebate

If you purchase a set of four new Yokohama ADVAN Apex V601 tires from Tire Rack, you may qualify for an $80 mail-in rebate, offered through Tire Rack’s Prepaid MasterCard.

You must be 18 years or older, and be a legal U.S resident to qualify for this offer. Tire Rack will send you a redemption form via mail, which you will need to fill and mail back together with your invoice.

Warranties and Protection

All tires that Tire Rack sells, apart from rally and race tires, come with manufacturer warranties. These warranties cover reasonable conditions, which are considered to be within the manufacturer’s control.

Some tires may also come with additional warranties such as free trial periods or mileage warranties.

Each tire manufacturer will specify the duration of their warranties, which is normally indicated in the tire’s warranty document.

But typically, most manufacturers offer a limited warranty until the tread wears out to a certain depth or for a period of four to six years from the purchase date, whichever comes first.

With that said, here are some of the warranties that come with Tire Rack’s tires.

Workmanship and Materials Warranty

Workmanship and materials warranty is designed to protect the buyer from any defects occasioned by materials used in the tire or the manufacturing process.

Through this warranty, the manufacturer is ready to stand behind its tires, in case you run into a problem. Some of the issues covered under this warranty include loss of a block of tread, severe cracking of the sidewalls, irregular wear or broken belts.

If workmanship or material defects occur within the first year of ownership or 2/32 of an inch, then the tire’s manufacturer should provide a free replacement.

Replacements done after one year or after the first 25% of the tire’s tread wear will be prorated. And this means you will only be compensated for the difference between the mileage the tire has delivered and the manufacturer’s promised mileage.

Mileage or Tread Warranty

Also known as the tread life warranty, this warranty will cover tires if they become worn out before their expected or promised mileage.

The warranty estimate is pegged on the number of miles a certain type of tire can deliver when subjected to normal driving conditions.

For instance, the high-performance cars fitted on most sports cars tend to be softer compared to conventional tires found in economy cars. Therefore, those softer tires will have a lower mileage rate compared to their conventional counterparts.

In most states, tires are considered legally worn out when they have reached 2/32 of an inch of remaining tread depth. Therefore, all four tires in your car should have reached this limit before you can be considered for a replacement under this warranty.

Compensation under this warranty is normally done on a prorated basis. For instance, if your tires have a 70,000-mile warranty and you were only able to get 60,000 miles of life out of it, you will only be compensated for the remaining 10,000 miles.

Manufacturer’s Satisfaction Warranty

Some of the tires sold at Tire Rack also come with manufacturers’ special warranty, popularly known as satisfaction trials. Satisfaction trials are normally offered for 30, 45 or 60 days.

In case you are not satisfied with the tires you’ve purchased, this warranty allows you to return them for a full refund or exchange.

Bridgestone, Yokohama, Michelin and General Tires are some of the tire brands at Tire Rack that offer satisfaction warranty.

You must produce original proof of purchase at Tire Rack stores for you to be considered for a refund or replacement.

Manufacturer’s satisfaction warranties are designed to give you an opportunity to test various tires and determine whether they are the right fit for your vehicle.

Manufacturer Road Hazard Warranties

Some tire brands also offer road hazard coverage when you buy their tires. These warranties cover free flat repair and towing, which can come in handy, especially if you have not subscribed to any roadside assistance service.

Under this warranty, all your tire repairs will be free for the entire duration of the warranty.

And if the tire is not in a repairable condition, then the manufacturer will prorate the remaining mileage, which will go toward buying a new tire.

Some of the tire manufacturers at Tire Rack that offer road hazard protection include; Continental, Kumho Tire, Michelin, and Nexen Tire.

Tire Rack Road Hazard Warranty

Glass, nails, potholes and other road hazards can damage your tires. Unfortunately, such forms of damage are not usually covered under standard tire warranties.

Furthermore, only a few tire manufacturers currently offer road hazard protection. So, if you purchase tires whose manufacturer doesn’t offer road hazard protection, then you will have to incur the repair or replacement costs out of pocket.

This is where Tirerack road hazard protection comes in. With this warranty, Tire Rack will reimburse your tire repair or replacement costs, for 2 years from the date of purchase.

Tire Rack’s road hazard warranty also comes with roadside assistance, offered in partnership with Nation Safe Drivers. This roadside assistance service covers things like:

• Flat tire changing
• Lockout service
• Battery jumping
• Fuel delivery service
• Complimentary towing of up to 25 miles

If your tire is damaged beyond repair and you don’t have a spare one, Tire Rack will tow your vehicle to the nearest tire repair facility. The towing service is for tire-related issues only.

Repairs reimbursement will be covered up to $40 per tire per claim. Tires purchased before October 1 2020 come with a maximum repair coverage limit of $25 per tire. Competition tires and trailer tires are not eligible under this program.

Furthermore, motorhomes, trailers, all-terrain vehicles, vehicles used for farming or ranching and commercial-use vehicles are not eligible.

Filing a Repair Claim

If you have signed up for Tire Rack’s road hazard protection and your tire is damaged by a covered road hazard, then you can file for a repair claim.

You can file for a repair claim using the company’s digital road hazard claim portal, which is available 24/7 from any place. Also, you can access the portal using any device, whether it’s a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone.

First, you need to determine if your tires are repairable. If the tire is punctured at the center, then the tire is repairable.

On the other hand, if there is damage to the sidewall or the tire has multiple damage areas, then that tire may be repairable. Also, if the puncture or damage is greater than a quarter of an inch, then it’s not repairable.

Second, if the tire is repairable, then you can have it repaired at any of your preferred repair shops.

Third, after having your tire repaired, you should proceed to file a claim. When filing a claim, you should provide details such as a description of the road hazard that caused the damage, a copy of the receipt that shows that the tires were purchased from Tire Rack and a copy of the repair receipt.

After filing your claim and providing the necessary details, Tire Rack will review it within 5 business days and get back to you. You can track the claim status and progress anytime via the online portal.

Filing a Replacement Claim

If the damage on the tires that you purchased from Tire Rack is not repairable, then you can file a replacement claim

When filing the replacement claim, you will be required to provide a description of the road hazard that caused damage to your tires, attach digital photographs if requested, attach a signed proof of loss claim form and any other documentation that may be required.

After filing the claim, you should wait to be pre-authorized before you can replace the tires. If you go ahead and replace the tires without pre-authorization, then your claim will be declined.

Once you’ve received the pre-authorization from Tire Rack, you can then go ahead and replace the damaged tires.

You can purchase the replacement tires at Tire Rack or any of your preferred tire shops. However, if you choose another repair shop, make sure the shop notes down the tire’s tread depth since it will be needed for the claim processing.

Once you’ve finished replacing your tires, you should then submit your replacement claim for reimbursement.

When submitting the replacement claim, you will need to attach a copy of the receipt that shows you purchased the original tires from Tire Rack. You will also need to attach a receipt that shows the replacement tires were installed on your vehicle.

Tire Rack will review your claim within 5 business days and get back to you. You can also track the status of your claim through your Tire Rack online claim portal.

You can also call Tire Rack’s customer service line for further assistance with your claim, in case you experience any issue with the digital claim process.

Warranty Conditions and Duration

You should note that manufacturers’ warranties will not apply if the tire damage has been caused by poor vehicle condition, lack of tire maintenance, vandalism, damage due to accidents, or driving a vehicle on a flat tire.

As for the warranty conditions, the specific details will vary from one manufacturer to the other as well as from one tire model to the next.

So, when you are purchasing tires from Tire Rack, you need to check the tires’ warranty documents to see what’s covered and what’s not covered.

And if you want to submit a warranty for a certain type of tire, Tire Rack will help you to fill and file the necessary paperwork.

Returns and Refunds

If the shipment that arrives is not what you ordered or it’s damaged in any way, then you need to call Tire Rack’s customer service right away.

The customer support will give you a return authorization number while answering any questions you may have concerning the return or refund process.

When returning the order, you need to follow Tire Rack’s strict shipping procedures to ensure no damage will occur on the way.

After returning your order, Tire Rack’s return specialist will inspect it to check whether it’s eligible for a return. Orders can only be returned within 30 days after delivery. Also, only unused and undamaged products are eligible for return.

If you had picked your order at one of Tire Rack’s distribution locations, then you should return it the same day. If you fail to return it the same day, then it will be subjected to Tire Rack’s conventional inspection process, which may take approximately 2 to 3 business days before a refund or exchange is processed.

For refunds, the amount you will receive will depend on what you had ordered. For single tires and wheels, you will receive the refund minus the shipping charges incurred.

If you had ordered a tire and wheel package, then your refund will be less $60, which goes towards the labor charge dismount. Tire Rack will also deduct shipping charges.

Furthermore, if Tire Rack has shipped your orders via UPS or Federal Express, then shipping charges will be charged both ways.  Tire Rack doesn’t accept returns or refunds for special order items.

Customer Support

Whether you want to order tires, initiate a road hazard claim, or make a general inquiry, Tire Rack offers several customer support channels.

For product sales and inquiries, you can call the company’s sales specialists, fill an online contact form or send an email.

According to Tire Rack, its customer support team will take approximately 1 to 2 business days to reply to your email, owing to the high volume of emails received per day.

For order tracking, refunds and returns, you can get in touch with the company’s customer support team or just send an email.

Tire Rack’s sales and customer service teams are available via phone between 8 am and 8 pm Monday through Friday and 9 am to 4 pm on Saturday.

Also, you can contact Tire Rack via Live Chat. Tire Rack’s Live Chat is available from Monday to Friday between 8 am and 8 pm. Live Chat is also available on Saturdays, from 9 am to 4 pm EST.

Tire Rack also has a mobile app known as the Tire Rack Garage, which you can use to monitor all the tires in your vehicle. It’s designed to help prevent uneven tire wear, maximize fuel consumption and maintain vehicle handling.

The app will send you reminders for tire pressure checks, tire changes, balance and alignment, and tire rotation.

It’s currently available on App Store only. It has an average rating of 2.0 out of 5 after 30 ratings, an indication that most of its users are not satisfied.

Pros

• Wide range of tire options
• Quick deliveries
• Great customer service
• Competitive pricing

Cons

• Doesn’t offer free add-ons like fire rotation and balancing

Our Take

With its vast product selection, great customer service and easy shopping experience, Tire Rack comes across as a reliable and reputable store for tires, wheels and other vehicle accessories. It’s also a great store for consumers who prefer an online shopping experience. However, its failure to provide military discounts and free add-on services like wheel balancing and rotation may prove to be a deal-breaker for some people.