Where do you buy tires? [Poll]

[patgm]

Please comment with reasons for your preferences.

[rcb78]

Only good for us locals, but I use Santa Clara Cycle Accessories.  Prices are pretty close to the best online discounts and if you bring your wheels to them off the bike then the install/balance labor is free.
If you mount your own, than Chapmoto, Motosport, rockymountainatvmc, or even Cyclegear/Revzilla.  They're all usually pretty competitive.

[Stonesie]

My local independent bike mechanic/shop always give competitive prices and I get to feel good about supporting a local business.

They have just fitted a new tyre to my rear wheel after an unrepairable puncture, as they had a Road 5 in stock it was a quick job for them between other work.


I have tried the buy online and get them fitted route before and unless you get a spectacular deal on the rubber it's the same price or even slightly more expensive than letting the bike shop handle sourcing the rubber.

[patgm]

Originally Posted by rcb78

Only good for us locals, but I use Santa Clara Cycle Accessories.  Prices are pretty close to the best online discounts and if you bring your wheels to them off the bike then the install/balance labor is free.

I was planning to call them to get a price for installation if I bought from them as they're only ~$25 more for the pair of tires than any place online, hearing that they'll include mounting and balancing pretty much guarantees that I'll go to them. Hopefully this thread can be a repository of recommendations for people in other areas as well.

Cyclegear charges $25 each after buying the tires from them, $50 each if you don't buy from them, and their staff inspire no confidence that you'll get your rims back unscratched. I previously had some tires installed at Catalyst Reaction Suspension Tuning in San Carlos and was very happy with the price and the service.

[Mikey1]

used to be a local bike shop that was nearest to home, then had a bad experience with one who badly scratched the rim and refused to take responsibility for it, since then I've stayed with whichever dealer supplied me the bike and not had any issues. appreciate I probably pay a little more for the service but it works for me

[rcb78]

Dealers aren't any better/worse, in general it has more to do with the specific location than whether or not it's dealer.  I use my dealer for some things so that I maintain a good relationship with them in case I really need help.  For tires? I only use them when it's to replace a tire that falls under the warranty service I bought with them because it's free, or it is after about 2 tires.  The dealer charges $100 more for a rear tire than the shop I normally use.  I'm on my 4th rear tire and 2nd front in less than 1-1/2 years, an extra +/- $100 per tire adds up pretty fast.

[Germanwind]

In the past, I used my local BMW dealer but as some pointed out already in this thread, the tire prices and mounting fees are higher than at my local Cyclegear store.  I'm on my 5th set front and back tire after also 1.5yrs of ownership and it has gotten expensive with my dealer.  Now I'm taking out the wheels myself and only bring them for tire mounting to my Cyclegear shop.  Mounting per tire is $25 and they usually do it within a few hours.