Question about Costco tire service and aftermarket rims
06-30-09, 11:57 PM
#1
Question about Costco tire service and aftermarket rims
Just got new wheels, Five Axis S5:f (Thanks to Jay at US-Autotech!) and was looking to get new tires for them at costco (and have them mounted and balanced as well ... obviously lol). Their prices on PS2s are pretty good, and comparable to tire rack after shipping, etc...
Anyone have experience with them? Im assuming I should be fine, but just wanted to get the opinions of my fellow CL members
Should I be ok going to costco with my new wheels, or should I go to a dedicated tire shop like big-o or wheel works?
This is my first set of wheels ... and I want to make sure I get it done right!
Thanks!
Anyone have experience with them? Im assuming I should be fine, but just wanted to get the opinions of my fellow CL members
Should I be ok going to costco with my new wheels, or should I go to a dedicated tire shop like big-o or wheel works? This is my first set of wheels ... and I want to make sure I get it done right!
Thanks!
07-01-09, 12:26 AM
#4
Lexus Test Driver
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you can buy the tires at costco. but they may not mount them there for you. they usually do OEM only. sometimes you can find a manager that will do it, but you run the risk of them damaging your wheels too.
07-01-09, 12:45 AM
#5
Lexus Test Driver
My dad kept getting flat tires after Costco put new ones on his Explorer. It was traced back to cheap valve stems. He no longer goes there.
07-01-09, 01:57 AM
#6
you need to talk with the service manager at the costco. It'll all come down to your individual experience.
If anything, the competence at Costco should be as good if not better then any other chain tire shop (big-O,wheelworks), because all they do is tires, and not only that, they only deal with Michelin (a higher end/pricier line).
As a result, the tire jockeys brains are 100% tires all day long and not filled with other "irrelevant" knowlege about oil changes/brakes/alignments etc. Also they probably would have also have gone through Michelin training, not just on the job that you'd expect at a general tire shop who doesn't have a big contract with a tire manufacturer.
Of course, at any place, especially service industry, there's always a percentage of messups, but I think it'll be more less at Costco then other places due to their specialization in just tires, and just Michelin tires at that. That being said, if a messup does happen, you might have to take your car somewhere else to get it resolved, as they do only tires. I wouldn't use this in your decision analysis, but just be aware of that possibility.
You might expect a long wait at costco (sometimes the whole day), and perhaps not a luxurious welcome as you might be used to at another shop, but again that also depends on the exact location. Long waits happen at chain tire shops too in my experience.
All this being said, I got my last 2 sets of tires at costco (waiting for the tire sale of course).
Oh, if you're going to be doing a tough wheel (e.g. 40 profile or lower) you may want to go to specialty higher end shop somewhere else other then costco or any chain, with a slower customer volume just to make sure it's done properly. You will pay more though but you have to pay to play to avoid damage with complex jobs.
Check tirerack for their installer recommendations/reviews to get some ideas of higher end independent tire shops.
If anything, the competence at Costco should be as good if not better then any other chain tire shop (big-O,wheelworks), because all they do is tires, and not only that, they only deal with Michelin (a higher end/pricier line).
As a result, the tire jockeys brains are 100% tires all day long and not filled with other "irrelevant" knowlege about oil changes/brakes/alignments etc. Also they probably would have also have gone through Michelin training, not just on the job that you'd expect at a general tire shop who doesn't have a big contract with a tire manufacturer.
Of course, at any place, especially service industry, there's always a percentage of messups, but I think it'll be more less at Costco then other places due to their specialization in just tires, and just Michelin tires at that. That being said, if a messup does happen, you might have to take your car somewhere else to get it resolved, as they do only tires. I wouldn't use this in your decision analysis, but just be aware of that possibility.
You might expect a long wait at costco (sometimes the whole day), and perhaps not a luxurious welcome as you might be used to at another shop, but again that also depends on the exact location. Long waits happen at chain tire shops too in my experience.
All this being said, I got my last 2 sets of tires at costco (waiting for the tire sale of course).
Oh, if you're going to be doing a tough wheel (e.g. 40 profile or lower) you may want to go to specialty higher end shop somewhere else other then costco or any chain, with a slower customer volume just to make sure it's done properly. You will pay more though but you have to pay to play to avoid damage with complex jobs.
Check tirerack for their installer recommendations/reviews to get some ideas of higher end independent tire shops.
Last edited by raytseng; 07-01-09 at 02:08 AM.
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07-01-09, 10:07 AM
#8
you need to talk with the service manager at the costco. It'll all come down to your individual experience.
If anything, the competence at Costco should be as good if not better then any other chain tire shop (big-O,wheelworks), because all they do is tires, and not only that, they only deal with Michelin (a higher end/pricier line).
As a result, the tire jockeys brains are 100% tires all day long and not filled with other "irrelevant" knowlege about oil changes/brakes/alignments etc. Also they probably would have also have gone through Michelin training, not just on the job that you'd expect at a general tire shop who doesn't have a big contract with a tire manufacturer.
Of course, at any place, especially service industry, there's always a percentage of messups, but I think it'll be more less at Costco then other places due to their specialization in just tires, and just Michelin tires at that. That being said, if a messup does happen, you might have to take your car somewhere else to get it resolved, as they do only tires. I wouldn't use this in your decision analysis, but just be aware of that possibility.
You might expect a long wait at costco (sometimes the whole day), and perhaps not a luxurious welcome as you might be used to at another shop, but again that also depends on the exact location. Long waits happen at chain tire shops too in my experience.
All this being said, I got my last 2 sets of tires at costco (waiting for the tire sale of course).
Oh, if you're going to be doing a tough wheel (e.g. 40 profile or lower) you may want to go to specialty higher end shop somewhere else other then costco or any chain, with a slower customer volume just to make sure it's done properly. You will pay more though but you have to pay to play to avoid damage with complex jobs.
Check tirerack for their installer recommendations/reviews to get some ideas of higher end independent tire shops.
If anything, the competence at Costco should be as good if not better then any other chain tire shop (big-O,wheelworks), because all they do is tires, and not only that, they only deal with Michelin (a higher end/pricier line).
As a result, the tire jockeys brains are 100% tires all day long and not filled with other "irrelevant" knowlege about oil changes/brakes/alignments etc. Also they probably would have also have gone through Michelin training, not just on the job that you'd expect at a general tire shop who doesn't have a big contract with a tire manufacturer.
Of course, at any place, especially service industry, there's always a percentage of messups, but I think it'll be more less at Costco then other places due to their specialization in just tires, and just Michelin tires at that. That being said, if a messup does happen, you might have to take your car somewhere else to get it resolved, as they do only tires. I wouldn't use this in your decision analysis, but just be aware of that possibility.
You might expect a long wait at costco (sometimes the whole day), and perhaps not a luxurious welcome as you might be used to at another shop, but again that also depends on the exact location. Long waits happen at chain tire shops too in my experience.
All this being said, I got my last 2 sets of tires at costco (waiting for the tire sale of course).
Oh, if you're going to be doing a tough wheel (e.g. 40 profile or lower) you may want to go to specialty higher end shop somewhere else other then costco or any chain, with a slower customer volume just to make sure it's done properly. You will pay more though but you have to pay to play to avoid damage with complex jobs.
Check tirerack for their installer recommendations/reviews to get some ideas of higher end independent tire shops.
My other option is to go to exact motorsports in milpitas ... but im not sure if they charge more by bringing in costco tires vs having tire rack tires installed there....
07-01-09, 10:34 AM
#9
Im going down to talk with them today. My tire sizes are 235/35/19 and 265/30/19 .... both under 40 profile...
My other option is to go to exact motorsports in milpitas ... but im not sure if they charge more by bringing in costco tires vs having tire rack tires installed there....
My other option is to go to exact motorsports in milpitas ... but im not sure if they charge more by bringing in costco tires vs having tire rack tires installed there....
If you decide you're going to skip a run-of-the-mill install and pay the premium to have a independent shop do your tires , I would recommend you use a tire specialist shop and not a "full-service" shop as you aren't getting anything from a full-service shop.
So searching tirerack, I would probably go with
ADDS WHEEL WAREHOUSE
for example.
One quick way to get a short list and tell if place is serious about tires is maybe just see if they have a roadforce balancer.
07-01-09, 11:37 AM
#11
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I just bought a set of Michelin at Costco on Sunday, they always do good work. Free nitrigen inflation, free lifetime rotations and balancing - can't beat it. I believe they start their $70 off a set of 4 Michelins in a week or two, so you might want to hold off until then. I had to buy because I had a bubble in my Bridgestones.
07-02-09, 12:26 AM
#15
They also priced matched eBay. go figure! I paid an excellent price. Try PMing him and see if he can do something for you. He frequents the Tire/Brake/Wheel section and is from San Jose area.