militarymoms

Yesterday I drove over to my local AAFES Car Care Center and ordered tires for my car.  They don’t keep tires in stock; you have to order and pay for them in advance, and then set up an installation appointment when the tires come in.  This, of course, means that getting new tires is about a two-week process.  For me, because I know I’m saving money, it’s worth it.

I started the tire cost comparison process last year at about this time.  I went everywhere - Costco, Merchant’s, Firestone - and I wound up buying my tires at AAFES.  I did this with two goals in mind, saving money and buying tires that weren’t made in China.  I know that many Chinese-made tires are less expensive than the tires I eventually bought, but I’m sure I got the best possible deal on my tires.

For one thing, AAFES publishes a list of their quarterly tire sale prices; you can pick up the flyers at your Car Care Center.  You know exactly what you’ll pay, and there’s no sales tax.  AAFES offers a road hazard warranty (currently $9.95 per tire) and tire disposal ($1.00 per tire).  Their services are comparable to any other tire shop.  You can check around for tire sales at other places and make your own choice.

The only negative part of the entire experience is that it’s time-consuming.  If you have a tire emergency - blowing a tire on a car that has a mini-spare, for example - you may need to purchase a tire right away, and AAFES can’t help you with that (or, at least, mine can’t - and it’s on a big Army post).  Waiting for your installation appointment is annoyingly time-consuming, too.  It’s that old time-versus-money thing.  Whenever possible, I’ll plan ahead and pocket the savings.

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