Are Tires From Costco As Good As Ones You'd Buy Elsewhere?

Costco is much more than just a go-to place to buy groceries cheaply and in bulk. The retailer sells hardware, electronics, cleaning supplies, and appliances. Costco can also be an excellent place to buy tires at discounted prices. But are tires from Costco the same quality as those sold at more traditional outlets? Yes, they're exactly the same.

A key reason why tires are often so cheap at Costco is buying power. The retail giant negotiates directly with manufacturers and places large orders, allowing it to secure discounts and then sell tires more cheaply to its members. Costco also sells a more limited range of tires than many dedicated wheel and tire stores. By limiting choice, it can secure even better deals with its suppliers. Costco also operates narrow margins on its tires as it makes up to 70% of its operating profit from membership fees.

One of the most popular brands of tires from Costco is Michelin, which recently added RFID tags to its tires. The French brand makes some of the best tires on the market, but they often come with a premium price tag. Costco also stocks a large portfolio of tires from Pirelli, Bridgestone, and BFGoodrich. Deals on these tires are offered quite frequently. For example, Costco is currently selling all sets of four Firestone tires with a $60 discount. Additionally, it's offering an $80 discount on any set of Bridgestone tires, including the popular Turanza, Potenza, and Ecopia.

There are other advantages to buying tires from Costco. The retailer offers free installation, which isn't something many other tire retailers can match. Instead, it's common for tire shops to charge an installation fee per tire. Costco also installs new valve stems with all its tires and fills them with nitrogen. Along with discounts on new cars like the Infiniti QX65, Costco includes free flat repairs, rotations, balancing, and inflation checks for the life of the tire. 

One downside of using Costco is that it doesn't offer wheel alignment services, so you may have to end up going to a tire shop anyway. Additionally, Costco generally doesn't offer as many different size options as dedicated tire outlets, so it's possible they won't have a tire to suit your car. Tires from Michelin, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Firestone, and Pirelli all come with factory-backed warranties, and that includes tires sold by Costco. 

The retailer's Road Hazard Warranty is included at no additional cost. It covers tires that become unserviceable as a result of non-repairable punctures, impact damage, or cuts, for a period of 60 months or until the tire tread depth reaches 1.6 mm. However, Costco's warranty doesn't provide coverage for tires that are damaged in an accident, while racing, during off-road use, or due to rapid or irregular wear. Tire owners must also rotate and balance tires properly and keep them inflated to the correct pressures to maintain warranty coverage. 

If you're on the hunt for a set of new wheels, Costco also sells Velox Performance Wheels. The most obvious hurdle of buying tires from Costco is that you have to be a member. A Gold Star membership costs $65 per year, while an Executive membership is $130. Although you may be able to save more than that on a single tire purchase, there's no guarantee. As always, it pays to shop around. If you already are a Costco member, you also find exclusive discounts on vehicles like the Ineos Grenadier.