‘Hard to beat Discount’s warranty though’: Rival tire shop says you’re overpaying at Discount Tire

Photo byStandret/Shutterstock @manic_mindz/TikTok

Are you overpaying at Discount Tire? A small local tire shop in Houston, Texas claims you are.

Shoppers often prefer to back small, local businesses in their neighborhoods. However, bigger corporations frequently have the advantage of offering lower prices. This situation can pose a challenge for shoppers when deciding whether to purchase from a local store or a large chain.

A content creator is arguing that customers are paying too much at Discount Tire and should consider buying from local businesses instead.

On TikTok, creator MannyZmind (@manic_mindz) argues that there's a notable price gap between his tire store, Surplus Tires, and Discount Tire. In the video, he demonstrates the price difference by showing the Falken Wildpeak A/TW4 tire, which is priced at $346 at Discount Tire, and states that his store sells the same tire for $250 each.

MannyZmind mentions that the overall expense for purchasing four tires at Discount Tire amounts to $1,900. He claims that his establishment offers the same four tires for $1,000, including both purchase and installation fees.

With each tire priced at $346, the total expense for four tires would be $1,384. However, he explains that the $1,900 figure includes extra charges for taxes and the installation process.

So am I overpaying at Discount Tire then?

It's possible that, despite its name, Discount Tire might be pricing its tires higher than what its rivals offer. Nonetheless, MannyZmind didn't detail the size of the tires and only mentioned the brand and model.

The price of the Falken Wildpeak A/TW4 varies depending on tire size, load index/speed rating, and load range. Discount Tire’s website says the Falken Wildpeak A/TW4 costs between $157.00 – $538.00 for each.

MannyZmind appears to have selected the Falken Wildpeak A/TW4 LT295 /70 R18 129R E1 BSW, which is $346 on Discount Tire. He said it’s “crazy” to spend that much when his shop sells the same tire for about half the price.

What are the benefits of buying from Discount Tire?

Discount Tire boasts more than 1,000 stores nationwide. Should you encounter any problems with your tires, it's highly likely that a Discount Tire is in close proximity.

In addition to multiple locations, Discount Tire offers free tire rotations, repairs, and air-checks. (While some do charge, many companies of all sizes offer the same services for free if you buy their tires.)

According to KBB, these are the national averages for these services.

• Tire Rotation Costs: $60-$72
• Tire Repair Costs: $54-$64

What the viewers thought

People had mixed reactions to MannyZmind’s TikTok.

Some individuals alleged that the tires at MannyZmind's shop were "take-offs," meaning they were used. However, MannyZmind stated in the video that the tires were, in fact, brand new.

“Hard to beat discounts warranty though. Free rotation, free repair and free replacement, just saying.” one added.

“Been saying this for years the smaller tire shops have better deals. No reason to spend all that extra money just cause the store is a big name store,” another commented.

As of this writing, MannyZmind’s TikTok clip has more than 275,000 views and is closing in on 10,000 likes.