There was a time a few years back when most consumers were not interested in buying their tires online. However everyone is feeling the financial pinch of 2008 and are looking for ways to save money on their cars. Many have found that you can find great discount tires online if you buy tires online from reputable retailers.

In the past, many people would by from their local tire retailers such as, Big O Tires, Sears or Walmart to choose tires and wheels from what was in stock. Even though 60% would do their tire research online, according to Jeff Zupanic of J.D. Power and Associates' Tire Practice, "The desire to discuss their needs with a tire salesperson and their intentions to buy from the same retailer are key reasons tire buyers did not use the Internet as a tire shopping tool."

Today, this has changed as everyday more people buy tires online for the first time.

Why is this happening? Many local stores do not have the right size tire or the right type of tire in stock, yet if you browse online, many online tire stores have the right size and type tire with cheaper prices than local stores. Combine that with the rising costs of everything, including gas and you have a formula for change.

When you buy tires online, you actually save money.

Here is why this is true:

1) Online Stores Buy in Large Quantity.

Online stores sell to the world wide market so they probably buy their tires in bulk wholesale prices. This savings gets passed on to you, so you'll see a cheaper or better discount cost per tire from an online store over a local store.

2) Lower Overhead

Online tire stores focus solely on selling online so will not have a brick and mortar store, they will have less employees, and generally lower overheard. These lower costs get passed directly to you.

3) No Internet Sales Tax (most of the time)

Most internet tire stores do not have a physical location so you don't pay any sales taxes. According to several online tire retailers, the average price for a set of new car tires is approximately $375. So not having to pay sales tax on $375 will save you a lot of money.

Save even more money when you buy tires online.

If you want to buy discount tires online at the best possible price, you should consider new and used tire auctions for your tire purchase online. Most of the time, the tires are coming directly from a manufacturer or retailer surplus. As long as you have already done the research, you can focus in on exactly what you want to buy. The discount prices on the tires far outweigh any offer you will find anywhere else.