Mail-order tires don't have...
Mail-order tires don't have to come to your house. In fact, with Discount Tire Direct, we had them sent to our local tire store and paid them to mount and balance them on our own wheels. Discount Tire Direct has many recommended installers that they can ship to, or you can bring your tires to them for installation.
Mail-order parts, tires, and tools have been around as long as the Sears catalogue. But nowadays many people read their copy of 4-Wheel & Off-Road magazine and simply order up a set of their favorite treads by clicking into a website. But what if you want to talk to a real person about your tires and deal direct with the company? That's what we decided to do recently to see how easy it can be. While most mail-order companies can offer deals on certain packages, we wanted to custom-tune our order, as nothing we do is by any means normal.
We decided on the Hankook...
We decided on the Hankook DynaPro for the all-terrain tread, quiet ride, and great price. We've visited the Hankook factory in Korea and have tested many of the company's tires. That's one reason we use them on our own rig-we know how they work.
If you're a city slicker, you probably have plenty of tire stores around. But what if you aren't near a store, or they don't have your preference on the shelf? The next option is to see what's available at www.discounttiredirect.com, pick your set, and have them sent to your home or other location. That's good too, but you may be living in the sticks, or you and your buddy plan to mount your donuts on those cool new beadlocks you snagged. In that case you can also have the best of all worlds.
We paid a visit to the Discount...
We paid a visit to the Discount Tire Direct office to see just what these tire guys did. When you call in, you are quickly routed to a tire pro who can handle your questions and fill the order. Most orders go out the same day and usually arrive in a couple of days.
We called Discount Tire Direct at 800.589.9643 (www.discounttiredirect.com) for a one-on-one conversation with a tire professional, to get a better idea of what was available for our ride and the terrain we encounter. After we chose some Hankook Dynapro ATs for our SUV, they were drop-shipped to our local tire store. Shipping is free on UPS for the lower 48 and Canada. We could have ordered a set of tires and wheels already mounted, balanced, and ready to bolt on. It just doesn't get much simpler, and considering the depth of inventory and availability of odd-ball tires, we don't mind living out in the sticks anymore.
Our old tires were getting...
Our old tires were getting way thin, and sidewall plugs like this are not in anyone's best interest. A plug such as this will get you home, but then get the tire fixed right or, better yet, replace it. Discount Tire Direct also offers a comprehensive road hazard guarantee.
Our local store had a crack...
Our local store had a crack crew in a clean shop, something we can really appreciate. If you live in the sticks, Discount Tire Direct can send you a complete set of mounted and balanced tires and wheels, ready for use.
Torquing the wheels on and...
Torquing the wheels on and checking them in a hundred miles is an important safety tip. If you do your own mounting, make sure you snug them up after a few days of driving.