With gas prices still high, many drivers are searching for the best time to buy tires. Here's what a tire expert says about when, where and why you should buy tires for your car.
When Is the Best Time to Buy Tires?
Updated on Mar. 25, 2025
From keeping them properly inflated to ensuring they have enough tread, your car’s tires are critical not only to safe driving but also to saving on gas. Tires are a vitally important safety feature on your car, as they’re the only part of the vehicle that touches the road. It’s important to know when the best time to buy tires is, so that you have the right tires for the season, weather and type of driving you do most often.
Ahead, we spoke with Russell Shepherd, technical communications director at Michelin North America. Shepherd, who also spent 20 years as a product development engineer at Michelin and General Motors. He shares his expert opinion on the top signs your car needs new tires, the best time to buy tires, seasonal tire purchasing tips and advice for saving money the next time you buy tires.
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Why timing matters when buying tires
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, vehicles with worn-out tires are three times more likely to be involved in a crash than tires with sufficient tread depth. Timing your tire purchases so you can get the best deal on tires before you need them is critical.
“Typically, tires should be replaced when the tread depth is down to 2/32 of an inch, [which] ensures you get the full wear life and value from your tires,” Shepherd says. “An easy way to check tire tread depth is the penny test.” Turn the penny upside down and dip it into the tread of your tire. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, you need a new set of tires. If the tread is between his eyes and the top of his hair, you need to start planning to buy tires.
Remember that the best time to buy anything is before you’re in desperate need, so don’t wait until you suffer a blowout on the side of the road. Without the ability to shop around and wait for the best time to buy tires, you will ultimately spend more out of an urgent need to replace your damaged tires.
Signs your car needs new tires
Long before you start thinking about the best time to buy tires, Shepherd says to inspect your current tires to make sure they’re in good shape. Once a month and before any long car trip, walk around your vehicle and assess the following key areas. “During tire inspection, you may find the tire is damaged and should be replaced.”
Here’s what to look for:
- Tread depth: The penny test alerts you to unsafe tires, and keeps you within the legal limit for tire tread depth.
- Irregular wear: Check to see if your tires are wearing evenly all the way around, without any visible irregularities.
- Sidewall damage: Examine each tire’s sidewall to ensure there is no visible damage. Damaged sidewalls cannot be repaired.
- Tire pressure: Improper tire inflation causes premature wear. Find your car’s recommended tire pressure on a sticker on the driver’s side vertical support pillar, or in your owner’s manual.
In addition, tires should be rotated and balanced as outlined in the vehicle manufacturer owner’s manual, typically every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. It’s recommended to have your tires inspected by a professional every five years to determine if they are still road-worthy. Some issues can be solved by adding or removing air, or getting a tire rotation or alignment service.
The best times of year to find tire deals
According to online tire retailer Tire Agent, the best times of year to find tire deals are spring and fall, when drivers swap out their tires for the season and retailers offer incentives and discounts to make room for new inventory.
Drivers in colder climates typically make the switch to winter tires in October or November to get their cars ready for winter, then convert back to all-season or summer tires in March or April. Retailers in colder climates often align promotions with these months. Additionally, retailers will sometimes offer promotions ahead of the busy summer travel season, as they know drivers are prepping their vehicles for more time on the road.
You can also find tire deals around major holidays like President’s Day, Labor Day, Black Friday and Christmas, and manufacturers offer rebates throughout the year (Michelin has one promotion per season), so the best month for tire deals might just be whenever you need them. Because tire pricing can fluctuate from store to store, Shepherd says it pays to do your research.
“There are a number of factors which affect tire prices including the technology and performances offered, [and] the cost of making and transporting tires,” Shepherd says. “However, keep in mind, tire dealers are free to set the final price, so comparing between tire retailers may be helpful.”
| ♦ Best time of year to buy tires |
| March, April, October and November |
How to choose quality tires during a discount
Buying tires can be intimidating. You want to find a good deal, but you don’t want to drive your family around on cheap, shoddy tires.
“When giving tire advice, I always take into account the vehicle and its appropriate tire size, [including] the load index,” Shepherd says. “I also consider how you drive your vehicle and your driving preferences. Do you drive on the highway often? Do you enjoy sporty drives on a scenic highway? Perhaps you spend most of your driving time locally, maybe in traffic?”
Understanding the weather is also important. “If it rains often, consider all-season tires with good wet performance ratings,” Shepherd says. “If there is rain and regular, light snow, perhaps an all-weather tire with the 3-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol,” indicating it meets U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association standards for a snow performance. For significant winter weather including snow, ice and slush, Shepherd recommends a dedicated winter tire.
“Getting the right tires for your vehicle and your driving style is always the best deal,” Shepherd says.
Tips for saving on tire purchases
Shepherd urges drivers to focus more on buying the right set of tires for their vehicle, personal preferences and individual driving habits than saving money on tires. This will ensure optimal tire performance, lifespan and safety. That said, “the choice of tire can make a difference on how long your tires last, saving you money over time,” Shepherd says.
In addition, you’ll want to:
- Make sure you actually need to buy new tires. With a quick visual inspection, you should be able to see excessive tread wear, damage to sidewalls, discoloration or bulging.
- Buy a full set of matching tires. When you find the best time to buy tires, buy a whole set instead of replacing just the tire or tires that are worn or damaged. It’s safer, and many manufacturer rebates are offered on full sets of tires.
- Check your spare tire. Buying new tires is the perfect time to have your spare professionally checked out and, if necessary, replaced as well.
- Maintain your new tires by regularly checking for proper inflation, or else you might find yourself shopping for new tires again!
Should you buy used tires?
It’s tempting to purchase used tires in an effort to save money, but Michelin advises against it. A damaged, improperly repaired or used tire can cause a wide range of incidents that can not only total a vehicle, but cause injuries. Even minor damage to a tire can cause serious problems, including tread separation and sidewall blowout.
Where can you buy tires?
New tires can be purchased from many different places, from dealerships and local auto body shops to big-box stores and online retailers. It’s best to find a local retailer you trust and have a good relationship with, because tire and automotive care is critical to safe driving. One way to ensure you’re covered is to look for shops approved by the American Automobile Association (AAA).
“For readers who don’t know anything about tires, do your research or find a trusted tire retailer,” Shepherd says. “Make sure that your vehicle and driving style are taken into consideration.”
While prices and specials will vary from retailer to retailer, these are consistently the best places to go for great tires at the best prices:
- Costco: Known for bulk discounts and friendly service, Costco tires also come with free installation.
- Discount Tire: With over 1,100 locations, Discount Tire is the largest independent tire retailer in the U.S. and offers a lowest price guarantee.
- Sam’s Club: Offering deals on many popular tire brands and sizes, Sam’s Club also gives members a discount on installation.
- Tire Rack: The internet tire giant has relationships with local independent tire centers that will accept shipment of your new tires and perform installation at a pre-negotiated rate.
When is the best time to buy tires?
The best time to buy tires is before you need them, when you can weigh your options and make the best decision for your vehicle, climate and driving habits. When you know you’re in the market for new tires, start checking tire sales calendars at reputable retailers to find the best deals.
Because they are the only part of the vehicle that touches the road, tires are a critically important safety feature on your vehicle. Tires are sophisticated pieces of technology, tasked with carrying the full load of your vehicle. Tires are responsible for transporting you, your kids, pets and family safely every single day. Therefore, it’s important to know the best time to buy tires, and then make that pivotal purchase the moment you need them, without waiting.
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Sources:
- Russell Shepherd, technical communications director at Michelin North America; email interview, March 11, 2025
- American Automobile Association: “AAA Approved Auto Repair Facility Locator”
- Costco: “Tires & Auto”
- Discount Tire: “Our Low Price Promise”
- Michelin: “Michelin Tire FAQs: Answers to Common Questions”
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: “Tires”
- Sam’s Club: “Find the Right Tires for Your Vehicle”
- Tire Agent: “When is the Best Time to Buy New Tires?”
- Tire Rack: “Why Tire Rack?”
- U.S Tire Manufacturers Association: “Care and Service of Passenger and Light Truck Tires”
