Costco, the warehouse giant, is notorious for saving shoppers money. Customers can find everything from food products to home appliances and electronics. You can get prescriptions, eyeglasses, insurance, and even a car. Did you also know that you can purchase tires for your vehicle at Costco? The question is whether or not it’s a good idea to purchase Costco tires. What are the advantages as well as the disadvantages of such a purchase?

As someone always in favor of the bad news before the good, let’s begin with the disadvantages.

Costco offers no advance appointments for either tire installation or balancing and rotation. This is probably not a deal breaker unless you have one specific day or time-frame in which you are available to get your tires done, or if you are in a hurry.

If you show up to have your tires either installed or maintained, you are at the mercy of that day’s schedule. You may get lucky and have no wait time at all. On the other hand, it’s more likely you may have to wait up to two or three hours. You could spend this wait time shopping inside of Costco, but the downside to that is that you will inevitably spend more money.

Another disadvantage to buying tires at Costco is a lack of selection. Typically, Costco carries Bridgestone, BF Goodrich, and Michelin tires. There is no denying that these are among the top brands of tires, but you will not have the option of choosing from other alternative brands.

As far as pricing, Costco is generally fairly competitive. However, you could probably research and find lower prices at a discount tire shop. You may end up paying the same price, though, once you consider tire disposal and installation fees.

As far as advantages, the number one would probably be the lifetime warranty replacement of tires purchased at Costco. If you experience a flat tire, Costco will attempt to repair the tire or credit you for the amount of tread that is still remaining on your tire if it cannot be repaired. If the tire is fairly new at the time of the flat, Costco will replace it with a new tire.

The other perk that goes hand in hand with this is Costco’s lifetime rotation and balancing service. This could save you money over the course of owning your tires. The issue here, like with getting tires installed, is there is no appointment system. That means if you want to get a quick tire rotation, you don’t know how long it will actually take.

Costco also inflates tires using nitrogen instead of regular air. Tires inflated with nitrogen are said to stay better inflated than those tires inflated with air, and properly inflated tires can help save money on gas. Costco also offers cheaper installation prices in comparison to other tire shops, which could allow for a big savings.

Like most large purchases, there are pros and cons involved when making a decision. It seems that Costco’s competitive pricing and extended warranty and maintenance services may be worth the extra wait time you may experience by not being able to schedule an appointment in advance.

Besides tires Costco has other things for your car, check them all out in these articles.

Costco Gas Hours
Does Costco Do Oil Changes?
Costco Gas Calculator: Will I Save Money Buying a Membership if All I Buy is Fuel?

(Photo courtesy of David Goehring)

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Costco is a go-to spot for people trying to save money. Not only are you able to buy just about everything in bulk, you can also save money on other day-to-day expenses as well. So, what kind of car repairs does Costco offer? Does Costco do brakes? Tires? Oil changes?

Does Costco Do Brakes?

No. Costco does not do brakes. After reaching out to Costco, we discovered that brake repair services are NOT offered at their warehouse locations. However, the retailer has an auto program that will help its members save on car repairs. This is called the Costco Auto Program.

Costco Auto Program

The Costco Auto Program will help you get your brakes done (or anything else) with that well-known and desired Costco discount.You can locate the nearest service center to you by using this locator. Costco Auto Program members get 15% off parts, service and accessories at participating service centers throughout the United States. (Get the coupon here.) You can use this on any car that is registered to the Costco member’s home.

To become a member of the Auto Program, all you have to do is be a member at Costco. (See how you can get a discounted Costco membership here.) You’ll get 15% off (good for up to $500 in savings) and you can use it on brakes and alignments, shocks and struts, belts and hoses, heating and cooling services, routine maintenance, etc.

Keep in mind, to save money with Costco you will have to go to a participating service center (not all service centers participate). You will also need this coupon and it should be noted that the Costco discount is only available for certain vehicles (not all cars will be covered). The discount cannot be used on air bags, oil changes, ties or inspections. You also won’t be able to use it if the work is covered by a warranty or insurance policy.

Auto Repairs Available Through Costco’s Auto Program

Since the answer to the question, “Does Costco Do Brakes?” is no, you’re probably wondering about what other services the company offers through their automotive program. The answer is: just about everything. As stated above, you’ll need to go through a Costco partner to save the extra cash but the savings could be worth it. Other repairs available include:

• Brakes
• Alignments
• Oil changes
• Tires and wheels
• Batteries
• Starters
• Heating and cooling systems
• Belts and hoses
• Routine maintenance
• Install car technology (new radios, etc.)

No matter where you decide to get your auto repairs done, whether it be at Costco or elsewhere, be sure that you know what you are buying. Research what the average price is for the services you need and call around before settling on doing business with a specific mechanic. Also, remember that many parts will come with limited warranties, etc. Always know the details of the products you are buying.

When it comes to auto parts or auto service warranties, coverage will vary from mechanic-to-mechanic. While calling around and comparing prices, ask about what kind of warranty the shop offers on their repairs as well as any warranty on the parts. For example, many batteries have a three-year warranty (or a warranty up to a certain mileage count). You may have to pay extra to insure the parts though. Car battery warranties, for instance, usually cost an additional $40 to $50. However, the $40 or $50 is worth not spending another $100+ on a car battery if it dies again shortly after your purchase (sometimes the part is just bad).

Similarly, many shops will guarantee their work and the parts they use. So, if you go to a shop and get work done on your brakes and your brakes stop working three days later the shop will warranty their work. Whether the issue is with the part or the service, the shop will cover the cost of repairing your vehicle again. As stated above, you’ll have to call and inquire about any warranties or guarantees individuals shops may have.

If you’re interested in learning more about Costco’s Auto Program, check out the video below:

Have you used Costco’s Auto Program or other similar auto services? What was your experience?

Photo: North Texas Daily

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