How to Get Tires Installed After Buying Them Online

The part of buying tires online nobody mentions first

Finding the right tire online is the easy part. You can compare specs, sizes and load ratings at your own pace. Then the order confirmation lands and the real question shows up: who's going to put these on?

The answer is simple once you plan for it, and annoying if you don't. Here's how to get tires bought online installed anywhere in the US, in the order that saves you the most trouble.

One note up front: TireDrop ships free to any address in the 48 contiguous states and DC, but our own installation covers South Florida only. If you live elsewhere, this guide is about choosing and working with an installer near you.

Step 1: Find an installer before you check out

Do this first. It takes a couple of phone calls and it decides where you ship.

Places that commonly mount and balance passenger tires include independent tire shops, general repair shops, some dealership service departments and mobile tire services. Policies vary from shop to shop, so don't assume. Shortlist two or three near you and call.

Step 2: Ask these questions on the phone

The same short list works anywhere:

1. Do you install tires a customer brings in? Some shops do, some don't, and some only for certain tire types or sizes.
2. What does it cost, and what's included? Mounting and balancing are the core. Ask whether valve stems, TPMS service and disposal of the old tires are included or extra.
3. Can I ship the tires to you? If yes, ask how they want the box addressed and who calls whom when it arrives.
4. Can you handle my wheels? Mention large wheels, low-profile tires, run-flats or anything unusual so they can confirm the equipment.
5. How do you handle TPMS? If your car has pressure sensors, ask whether a reset or relearn is part of the job.
6. Do you torque wheels to the vehicle maker's spec? A torque wrench at the end, not only an impact gun.
7. Is there anything you won't install? Some shops have rules about tire age or condition. Better to hear it now.

Write the answers down. A clear "yes, and here's the price" is worth more than the closest address.

Step 3: Choose where to ship

TireDrop ships free to any address in the 48 contiguous states and DC, and that includes a tire shop. Our shipping page notes that plenty of customers ship to work or to the shop doing their fitting. Two options:

Make sure someone is there to receive the delivery. We don't promise transit times on our pages, because they depend on which distributor warehouse has your size. Checkout shows the estimate for your order once your address is in, and tracking comes to you as soon as it exists. A set can arrive in more than one shipment if it comes from more than one warehouse, so book the appointment once you know the boxes are there.

Step 4: Check the tires before anything is mounted

This is the step people skip, and it's the one that matters most for an online order. Once a tire is mounted on a wheel, it can't be returned, even if it was never driven on. So check first:

• Size, load index and speed rating against the Tire and Loading Information placard on your door edge or door post. USTMA's guidance is that replacement tires match the size, load index and speed rating your vehicle maker recommends.
• Same model on every tire you ordered.
• The four-digit DOT date code on each tire. Our post on how old tires are when you buy online shows how to read it and what to do with it.
• Shipping damage along the beads and sidewalls.

If something's wrong with a TireDrop order, call (954) 773-1896 before the tires go on a wheel. Our shipping page covers how damaged or wrong tires are handled.

Step 5: At the appointment

A good installer will do most of this without being asked. It's still worth knowing what to look for:

• Valve stems. USTMA's service bulletin on tubeless valves says to always remove and replace used snap-in valves when replacing tires, and never reuse them. On wheels with TPMS sensors, USTMA recommends replacing the parts in the sensor's service kit.
• TPMS. Some vehicles need a relearn after tire work and some reset on their own. The procedure varies by make, model and year, which is why the Tire Industry Association publishes a relearn chart for technicians.
• Balancing. Each tire and wheel assembly should be balanced after mounting.
• Wheel torque. The Tire Industry Association teaches a wheel installation routine called RIST: Remove foreign objects, Inspect components, Snug fasteners, and Torque to specs. Ask whether the shop finishes with a torque wrench set to your vehicle maker's spec, and whether it recommends a torque re-check after the first drive.
• Pressure. Set to the door placard, not the number on the tire's sidewall.
• Position. Replacing only two? The new pair goes on the rear axle. Here's why: new tires on the front or the back?

Step 6: After the install

Two small jobs protect you later:

Keep the full DOT numbers. Photograph each one. A recall lookup needs the whole number.

Make sure the tires are registered. Registration is how a tire maker reaches you if a tire is recalled. Federal rules in 49 CFR 574.8 require independent tire dealers to give buyers a registration form with the tire identification numbers recorded, or to register the tires for them. Ask how it's handled for your purchase, and register online with the tire maker if it isn't. You can search tire recalls on NHTSA's recall site at any time.

In South Florida? We can do the fitting

If the car is in Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach County, you have two more options:

• Free ship-to-store at Extreme Tires in Sunrise, with the fitting done in the shop. See how ship-to-store works.
• A mobile van that fits the tires where the car is parked, inside the local install area. See mobile tire service.

Our post on getting online tires installed in Broward walks through both routes.

The whole plan on one card

Still deciding where to buy? Our comparison of buying online versus at a local shop lays out the trade-offs. Ready now? Shop by size or vehicle and line up your installer before you check out.