How Discount Tire Centers Are Crushing the Competition How Discount Tire Centers Are Crushing the Competition

Discount Tires Center started as a tiny shop with a handmade sign and six tires almost sixty years ago. Today its nearly 1,000 stores spawn 34 states, and it consistently rates exemplary in customer reviews and surveys. With stiff competition from tire centers such as Costco and Sears, Discount Tire Center manages to outperform on the regular.


Let’s take a closer look at how the magic is made, how to get the most out of your own Discount Tire Center visit, and what (if anything) you should look out for when you trust the company with your vehicle (and your money).

The Discount Tire Center Experience

One of the things that will stand out to immediately when you take your vehicle to a DTC is how friendly the staff is. You’re greeted almost immediately by friendly hellos, and you’ll find the waiting area is clean.

There’s usually coffee and cold beverages waiting for you in a comfortable waiting area. Employees are moving fast, but they’re available and helpful; no difficulty understanding what they’re talking about, even if you don’t know much about cars.

Appointments Make the World Go ‘Round

You’ll find that DTC highly encourages its customers to use its website to make an appointment. This has the added benefit of helping you get in and out of there quickly; no waiting for hours like you might at a doctor’s appointment.

The website is clean, simple, and easy to use–not complicated to navigate like some from other vendors. It also has a tire shop near me function that’s very easy to use.

But What About the Tires?

Tire selection is excellent, with the company being able to quickly order what they don’t have in stock. Thanks to all of their service agents being highly knowledgeable about tires, you’ll be able to find the right tires for your vehicle and its needs.

The company’s median tire prices aren’t rock bottom value pricing, but they are very good and in line with what you pay at most competitors, even online stores such as Amazon and discount retailers such as Costco.

That Warranty Though…

One of the places Discount Tire Center shines is with its warranty. About thirty years ago, DTC made business history by being one of the first major tire centers to offer a tire replacement program. Before that, warranties on tires had been complicated, prorating refunds based on the tire tread left and so forth.

DTC, however, decided to offer what they call a certificate. For an extra fee (which is normally very reasonable), DTC agrees to provide a replacement tire for no extra charge for as long as the tire has legal tread left. This certificate is honored by any DTC franchise, wherever it’s located.

Get a nail on a road trip? Your nearest Discount Tire Center will cover it. Blow a tire in town? DTC will replace that tire. Customers love the warranty feature, and we suspect that’s one of the reasons the company continues to thrive. It’s peace of mind!

Put It on My Card

Discount Tire Center handle repairs beyond the basic tire change, including alignments, brake repair, and so forth, so it’s helpful that the company also offers financing options. Even if you’re simply replacing all four tires, wheels, and rims, costs can add up real fast.

Employees will be able to walk you through this process when you visit a DTC.

Employees Weigh in On Discount Tire Centers

One of the most novel ways to determine whether DTC is living up to the hype or not is to look at its pay structure and employee satisfaction. Over and over again in today’s hyper-competitive market, the experts tell us to look to the employees: happy, well-incentivized employees make for a better customer experience.

Glassdoor is a great resource that gathers data from previous and current employees, and Discount Tire Centers has earned nearly four stars over more than five hundred reviews. This gives us a clear indication of the company’s satisfaction at work, and it’s obvious when you walk into a DTC.

Discount Tire Center compensates its employees well with managers and others getting bonuses based on satisfied customers and number of customers. This incentives employees to do what’s best for the customer; communicate well, be friendly and courteous, and be quick.

How Does Discount Tire Compare to the Competition?

Discount Tire’s closest competitors regarding creating similar experiences are Costco (as we’ve already mentioned), Les Schwab Tire Centers, and Tirerack.com.

Other, perhaps more popular, options are Pep Boys, Sears, Walmart, and Mavis Discount Tire–all of which, despite their popularity, tend to perform poorly on customer satisfaction surveys.

In short, you can find cheaper tires, and if you have a good mechanic, this might make sense for you. But if you’re looking for a straightforward tire change and want to peace of mind that comes with a major retailer that offers standard pricing and a great tire replacement program, you can’t go wrong.

The other thing we love about DTC? How easy they are to find! This especially holds true for southern states like Arizona, Florida, and Texas, which the tire shop specifically singled out for the warm temperatures year round.

How Discount Tire Centers are Saving the World

If “easy” and “convenient” aren’t words that come to your mind when you think of Discount Tire Center before you read this article, we hope they are now! In our study of online reviews and testimonials from customers across the internet, we found several themes.

It wasn’t usual for customers to write in, thanking the tire center for its professionalism and ability to quickly handle the customer’s problem. Customers often thanked certain employees by name, which indicates a high level of personal attention.

Everyone’s Not Happy

It should be noted, that there are customers who have been very frustrated by DTC’s incident process. Some people claim DTC employees performed poor reviews or damaged their vehicle, and are unhappy with DTC’s response. These negative reviews are in the minority, however; the majority of reviewers were satisfied and felt they got what they paid for.

What is especially noteworthy about DTC is how simple they make the process. Many people find vehicle repairs extremely frustrating, in no small part because the auto repair industry has a reputation for being dishonest.

It’s extremely frustrating to wonder, after you spent hundreds or even thousands, on repairs, if it was all necessary. By providing standardized pricing and services, DTC has largely eliminated much of this frustration, and we suspect this has a lot to do with all those positive reviews.

The Simplest Ways to Make the Best of Discount Tires

Ready to learn how to make the best of Discount Tires? We’ve got you covered!

First, you should make sure to make an appointment. Apps and technology aren’t normally what you think of when you envision auto repairs, but DTC has taken advantage of modern technology to help you have a seamless experience.

Simply hop onto the website at least an hour or two in advance to see what’s available; no more tying up your whole Saturday just trying to get your tires rotated!

Utilize the Warranty

Second, purchase the warranty certificate and then utilize it. When you speak to a Discount Tire Center employee about your new tires, he or she should be explaining what goes into the certificate, so much sure you get all your questions answered.

The certificate will cover you in the case of a tire defect or a road hazard as long as it’s been less than three years and there is still legal tread on your tire. Technically, you’ll receive a refund credit, which you can then use to purchase the same or different tire, but you won’t have to deal with any messy prorating or mileage issues. 

You should also be able to get your tires rotated for free under the certificate; ask your technician for more details.

It’s the Little Things

Finally, take advantage of the friendly employees to get your questions answered. Though they’re often busy, they should have no problem taking the time to walk you through different tire options to find what’s right for you and your vehicle.

A Great Option at a Great Price

Discount Tires isn’t the only place to get your tires, but it is a solid option if you’re looking for a combination of availability, great service, and fair pricing. Plus, its warranty certificate just can’t be beaten!

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