Has anyone had any experience with Costco or Sam's tire service? Not particularly the tires themselves but balancing and installing tires.

 

Never used Costoc's or Sams Club. Try America's Tire/Discount Tire. They will match and usually beat whatever anyone else will quote you and their service is great in my experience.

 

my dad bought some michelin tires from costco and he had them installed. then he came back and had them rotated. service is alright. what exactly are you trying to find out?

 

Costco is great--some of the best prices and quality tires, although their tire selection is somewhat limited. Lifetime balance (some non-Costco tire stores don't give you lifetime balance) and rotation included for the life of the tire. They only charge you a $8/tire install fee. They supposedly use the latest "European touchless tire change system" for their tire changing service so it doesn't touch the rims. And if, for any reason, they mess up your rims, they'll make sure that you get them repaired/replaced at their cost, as Costco is out to make the customer satisfied w/ your purchase of service/product.

On the topic of satisfaction, you should also know that they have a 30 day satisfaction warranty on the tires (on top of the manufacturer's warranty)--if you don't like them, take them back and trade for something else and pay the difference--which was what I did. I have only good things to say about Costco (at least in the Seattle area).

 

Costco has some cheap tires that are good, their service is great but when I got the tires it took the one worker in there an hour to do the cadillac ahead of me and he almost used a jackstand on the max in the wrong place!(under the oil pan) I was like "wait!!!!!!!" and I told him "your not putting that under there use the lift" and he proceeded to do as I wished and got the car in an odd position but didnt look like it was damaging anything and got my tires on in 30 minutes.

 

I am planning to buy some Dunlop SP Sport A2's from tirerack.com and have them installed at Costco. This seems to be the most cost effective method. Any advice or better suggestions to buy tires?

 

Last I checked, Costco won't install tires you purchase from somewhere else.

Their service is good. They even fixed a flat for me, even I didn't purchase those tires from them.

Price is good, a little cheaper than outside. But then when you add up the install lifetime rotation fee, it is great. A lot of tire stores (include American Tire) want extra on lifetime rotation, besides the installation fee.

BTW, you can order tires from them. They have a catalog, which include some good tires like Bridgestone RE730.

Serviceswise, American Tire is good too. Yes, they will match price (including from their own online order site, that's how I got my Kumho). But like I said, once you add up the installation and lifetime rotation...

Conclusion, if you find tires you like in Costco, stick with them.

 

I like the service there. I got my tires BFG g-force there for like $130 a piece I think. they dont carry the G-force anymore

 

I'm satisfied with Costco's tire service so far. One of my tires (from Costco) got poked from the side just next to the road surface, after about a year, and Costco said it's not repairable. they said it looks still like a new tire, and replaced it for free. Just paid the $7 for installation fee. Two cars have been through a few times of balance and rotation, no problem found.

 

A lot will depend on the particular Costco you go to. The one near where I work (northern NJ) is very good with mounting and balancing. The one near where I live (NYC) is so-so: very busy, long waits and it took them serveral tries to fix a flat.
Since just about "everything" after you buy the tires is free with Costco, they are my first choice.