@illusiumd

I would get a final quote before you make the move. I've been playing around for a while pricing tires through various places, online.

Going through my dealer's web site it looks like they have a front-end tied into TireRack.com. Last time I looked, the dealer's tire-prices were only a little higher than Tire Rack's.

BUT, the quote I printed out (via the dealer's web site) showed that the dealer charged $50.00 per tire to install them.

Mike

EDIT: I should point out that I don't know if that's how much my dealer would actually charge because I've never asked them about it.

 

Yes. I once got ripped off $20 for wheel weights because I didn't double check the quote vs my online estimate.

BUYER BEWARE

 

I always shop at Tirerack.com and then go see if Discount Tire will price match. I've consistently had good luck with Discount (both on price and service) and after a couple of bad experiences at 2 different dealers doubt I will deviate in the future.

Also, regardless of where you purchase ALWAYS check your tire pressure after every service. My vehicles generally have the larger wheels of the uplevel model and every single dealer I've used has consistently under inflated my tires. Not sure if it is carelessness, ignorance or intent but I can't help but suspect they are trying to sell me another set of tires sooner than I should need them.

 

I paid a few bucks per tire more at the dealer than local tire shop or purchase online and install local. Only because my dealer offered free lifetime rotations. I'm talking a total of under $20 More. Since my dealer offers a quick service on oil changes and tire rotations it made sense for me to not have to go elsewhere for a tire rotation.

 

With the coupons I found on their website, my dealer beat the local tire shop by $100. I didn't have access to Discount Tire or some of the other chains.

I called several places. The dealer beat or was the same with the coupons.

They have good coffee.

 

Dealer said they have them and only a little bit over Discount Tire Price...Any reason not to get tires from the dealer?

1. Convenience. If you have a tire problem on the road there are more Discount Tire locations than Subaru dealers.
2. Does the dealer offer free lifetime rotation, balancing and flat repairs?
3. Does the dealer offer Road Force balancing?

 

Where I live there is no sales tax, so buying online is not always more advantageous than buying locally. Our Subaru dealer has a tire shop that is closely competitive to what one would pay at Tire Rack, once you include shipping (and mount/balance charge for tires only). I've bought two sets of normal tires and 4 sets of winter tires from them over the years, at a fair price. The added bonus is getting better treatment from the dealer for other services since they can see I patronize them elsewhere.

 

I priced out a set form tire rack vs my local dealer. The dealer is around $15-20 more than what it would cost getting from tire rack and having them installed. The $15-20 is worth the convenience of getting them done while in for an oil change for one stop shopping.

 

This is a good thread. It's nice to hear that at least some of the dealers are offering reasonably competitive prices. Free tire rotations would be a big perk for me when I replace the Forester's tires.

Mike