5 Things to Know Before Buying Sam’s Club Tires
If you're in the market for new tires, you'll likely find some of the best prices at Sam's Club. The tire center offers a great selection including brands like Goodyear, Pirelli, Michelin, BF Goodrich, Continental and more. You can check out the available selection of tires that fit your car by visiting the website online and entering the year, make and model of your vehicle.
1. How Much Do Tires Cost at Sam’s Club?
Compared to other tire stores, Sam's Club is one of the cheapest places to buy your tires and get them installed. The average price at Sam's Club is about $139 per tire. If you choose to have your tires installed at the tire center, you'll find that the installation price averages around $20 per tire for most vehicles.
Between Fall 2017 and Fall 2018, Consumer Reports polled nearly 50,000 of its subscribers to ask about cost, selection, sales service and perks when it came to purchasing tires. Below, you'll see how Sam's Club Tire Center's average prices compared to other popular tire stores:
| Store | Median Tire Price | Installation Price (Per Tire) | Consumer Reports Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walmart | $102 | $14 | 81 |
| Sam's Club | $139 | $20 | 86 |
| Discount Tire Direct | $144 | $19 | 90 |
| BJ's Tire Center | $147 | $20 | 87 |
| Town Fair Tire Centers | $148 | $23 | 83 |
| Firestone Complete | $149 | $24 | 83 |
| Sears | $149 | $24 | 82 |
| Tire Rack | $161 | $24 | 89 |
| Goodyear | $161 | $25 | 86 |
| Costco | $165 | $14 | 89 |
As you can see, Sam's Club offers the second-lowest average price per tire. Still, you may be able to find cheaper installation at Walmart, which will install tires no matter where you bought them.
In addition to great prices, Sam's Club also offers price matching if you find a better "all-in" price on tires at a competing store. To get a price match, you can bring a recent "all-in" quote to your nearest store. "All-in" pricing includes the cost of several things including the tires themselves, mounting and balancing, lifetime balance and rotation services. For more details on "all-in" pricing and the "Dare to Compare Promise," visit the website.
Finally, be sure to check out available deals and promotions online to get the best price. When I visited the website at the time of writing, there were offers for $80 off sets of four Goodyear, Pirelli and BF Goodrich tires as well as a Plus Member offer for $40 off installation.
2. How to Schedule an Appointment at Sam’s Club Tire Center
Making an appointment is easy. Plus, you'll be able to get all of your shopping done while the tire techs work on your vehicle! If you're shopping in-store, you can schedule an appointment in person. Otherwise, you can call your nearest tire center to book a time.
To find a location near you, you can use the store's online locator. Check "Auto & Tires" before entering your ZIP code or city and state.
Note that select tire centers are currently closed because of the coronavirus pandemic. You can check this list to see if a location near you has reopened.
3. How Much Does Installation Cost?
When it comes to installation, you can generally expect to pay $20 per wheel. This is the cost for Sam's Club's Premium Tire Installation Package. It's available only for passenger and light truck tires purchased from the warehouse, and it includes the following services:
- Demounting, mounting, balancing, and a new valve stem (if applicable)
- Emergency roadside assistance for three years from the date of purchase (towing, flat tire assistance, fuel delivery service, lockout service, jump start and winching/extraction)
- Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensor removal and installation if required
- TPMS reset if necessary
- Waste tire disposal
For more information on installation options and pricing, visit the website.
4. What Free Tire Services are Available at Sam’s Club?
Sam's Club Tire Center offers several no-charge services to active members including road hazard protection and lifetime tire repair.
Road hazard protection applies to all tires purchased and installed at Sam's Club. The protection expands the tire manufacturer's warranty to include the pro-rated replacement of a damaged tire for four years from the date of purchase. Tires with 2/32nds or less tread remaining are excluded from road hazard protection. It's important to note that you will be required to purchase the appropriate installation package for the replacement tire.
If your tire isn't eligible for replacement, the no-charge lifetime tire repair may still cover it. This service includes wheel removal, tire inspection and damage analysis along with repair (if repairable), mounting, air pressure adjustment, balancing, a new valve system (if applicable) and wheel installation. Again, tires with 2/32nds or less tread remaining won't be serviced.
Other no-charge services include the following:
- Wiper blade installation
- Balance and rotation
- Balance only
- Air pressure & tread depth check
- 50-mile re-torque
- Battery installation
- Battery check
For more information on no-charge services available for Sam's Club tires (including road hazard protection and lifetime tire repair), be sure to visit the Tire Center's website.
5. What Services Aren’t Offered at Sam’s Club?
Sam’s Club does not offer the following automotive services:
- Oil change
- Transmission flush and fill
- Brake services
- Radiator flushing
- Tire alignment/realignment
- Shocks/suspension
- Body/chassis work or repair
Most notably, Sam's Club doesn't do alignments when you get new tires. You'll need to factor this in if you're thinking about purchasing tires from the warehouse.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Sam's Club is a great place to consider buying your next set of tires. On average, Sam's Club is one of the cheapest places to buy tires (second only to Walmart), and installation typically costs $20 per tire for most vehicles.
Sam's Club members also have access to free services and extended manufacturer warranties including road hazard protection and lifetime tire repair. The following services are also available at no charge as long as you're an active member: wiper blade installation, TIP balance and rotation, air pressure & tread depth check, 50-mile re-torque, battery installation and battery check.
Of course, Sam's Club doesn't offer tire alignment/realignment, so you will need to keep this in mind if you decide to buy tires from the warehouse.
Before you make your final purchase, be sure to check online for available deals and promotions. To see the available selection of tires that fit your car, visit the website online and enter the year, make and model of your vehicle. Of course, you can also shop in-person at your nearest Sam's Club Tire Center.
Have you ever bought tires from Sam’s Club? Tell us about your experience in the comments below!
More Clark.com Content to Help You Save on Tires:
- The Best Places to Buy Tires
- Costco Tire Center: 5 Things to Know Before Getting New Tires
- Discount Tire Direct: 5 Things to Know Before Getting New Tires
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