The best tire prices are found using retailer discounts or manufacturer rebates, however this is based on price-point alone and does not reflect actual value, or consider tire and service quality, or any additional costs for time, installation and potential errors.
Let’s talk about tire pricing…
In Ottawa, we get a wide range of seasonal weather. This means the average driver has two sets of wheels and tires. One for the summer months, and another for the harsh winter driving conditions we often find ourselves faced with.
Since most of us will end up purchasing and storing two complete sets of wheels and tires, there are some things we need to consider when it comes to pricing, like service or tire quality, additional related costs, cost vs. value and the advantages of choosing tire experts like Goldwing compared to big-box stores or online competitors.
There are 4 main things to consider when looking at tire pricing:
- Quality of tires
- Quality of your service provider
- Additional costs
- Cost vs. value analysis
1. Service & tire quality.
There’s s an old saying that goes “you get what you pay for”. It’s almost like an unwritten rule. Buying tires is one of those situations where the amount you’re paying should directly reflect the level of service and/or the quality of tires you’re purchasing.
If a deal seems like its too good to be true, it probably is…
Providing good service is expensive,
In order for a tire shop to stay open they need to cover their expenses and pay their workers. Hiring qualified technicians, overhead expenses, insurance, equipment and maintenance costs add up quickly.
When a shop underprices services, they are pressured to do things like cut corners, hire unqualified workers or rush installation processes to avoid losing money. Then mistakes happen.
Driving with a poorly mounted or balanced set of tires can cause serious damage to your vehicle, increase your fuel consumption and ultimately lead to tire failure caused by uneven tread wear.
An under qualified or over worked technician is more likely to install the wrong size of tire for your vehicle, or misdiagnose a common problem due to lack of experience. Typically, these type of shops lack policies and procedures if and when an honest mistake does happen. This leaves the frustrated customer with no option to rectify the situation.
You may think you’ve gotten a good deal, or saved a few dollars, but your tires are worn out after one season and the estimated cost to repair your damaged suspension system is $3500.
So, did you really save any money?
Pricing is set by tire manufacturers,
Aside from service & installation costs, a large part of your bill will cover the parts. In this case that’s your new set of tires.
It is common practice for tire shops to promote or recommend any specific tire brand over other options. These recommendations are sometimes based on actual experience with a tire brand, a technician’s personal preferences or maybe sponsorship deals made between the manufacturer and the shop.
Regardless of preferences, most shops will have access to the same manufacturers and products at roughly the same prices. Lower rated tire brands sell for much less than a high performance or premium tire brand. This is due to the differences in material, technology or manufacturing processes that make up any specific tire.
With that being said, there’s not much room for shops to compete on tire price alone. A shop’s capabilities, track record, policies and customer service are what sets them apart from the rest.
2. Additional costs associated with the purchase of new tires,
When shopping around for new tires, there are usually additional costs that customers don’t expect. In most cases, customers will see a displayed price and assume the service is included. This is not so.
On top of displayed pricing for the actual tires, there are a number of service costs related to the removal and installation of your current and/or new tires. This can include fees for proper mounting and balancing, as well as any government imposed disposal or environmental fees.
Wheels and tires are not extremely large but take up enough space to warrant a dedicated location. Many people live in apartments, condos or other small units – they do not have enough space to keep an extra set of tires and rims. These customers will likely end up paying for an expensive storage unit or for tire storage at a location like Goldwing.
Another thing that’s often over looked is the time needed to accommodate a scheduled service. Some customers will be forced to take time away from work to make their appointments or arrange to drop off and pick up of their vehicle. Depending on your financial situation this could have a major impact on your daily life.
Furthermore, choose the wrong shop, and you’ll need to make more appointments to diagnose and fix any oversights or installation errors.
3. Understanding cost vs. value
The real challenge when shopping for tires is understanding the differences between cost and value as they relate to your specific needs and budget. The best price is not always the lowest price. This is because lower costs are likely attributed to lower-quality tire manufacturing or inexperienced service technicians. When shopping for new tires think about the overall value, including durability, performance, maintenance and the skill level of the technicians who work on your vehicle.
Low quality tires
A good way to asses the quality of a any set of tires is to read the warranty info. There are good reasons why one tire is rated 40,000 kms while others are rated as high as 100,000. Even within the product lines of major tire brands, the lowest priced options have a lower km rating and utilize less technology.
Comparing pricing for low end tires to high-performance tires makes little sense. For context, ground beef is not fillet mignon.
Specific driving requirements
A weekend driver has different requirements for their tires than a heavy highway commuter. A vehicle owner in southern California won’t benefit from winter tires like drivers in Ottawa. A driver’s specific needs can change drastically depending on season, location, lifestyle or vehicle type.
Are you going to go off-roading? Do you tow boats? How often will you be driving?
These are important questions that need to be answered. They will help determine which tires are appropriate for your specific needs. From there, you can better compare the long term value of the tires you’re buying.

Knowledgable sales & service teams
For any tire shop, a major challenge is finding, training and keeping the right people around. A lack of experience or an unreliable team member can lead to costly mistakes or a backed up schedule and phone calls to letting everybody know their cars will no longer be ready on time.
Unfortunately, wasting all day in a waiting room is a best-case scenario for many customers. Technicians and/or sales staff who lack proper training and experience, often fit vehicles with the wrong size wheels or tires, disconnect sensors or improperly install and balance tires. Then when a customer raises an issue, they’ll deflect or flat out deny any responsibility.
In their defence, a shop owner may have good intentions when offering lower prices. They want to attract new clients, or compete against established shops. However, it’s not sustainable. The under priced services won’t cover the cost of the parts, labour or overhead. Not to mention the possibility of a mistake that needs to be corrected.
Of course, some people might know a guy, who knows a guy – but we can’t all be A-list celebrities and get everything for free. The rest of us will need to make smart decisions about who we take our vehicles to.
Online retailers or a local tire shop?
The only advantage an online retailer has over a local shop is their lack of overhead expenses. They can only compete on price alone, and won’t be able to help with the install. Online store, like big box stores ack tire expertise and personalized service. They benefit even when you mistakenly order the wrong size tires. If they have a return policy, the cost of freight will come out of your pocket.
Say you order the right tires, and they even deliver on time – you still need to find a trustworthy shop to install them. By the time you pack those tires into your vehicle, you’ll realize how much easier it would have been to deal with a local shop in the first place.
Pricing ranges from popular tire manufacturers,
For comparative purposes only, we’ve compiled a table of current suggested retail pricing for a list of popular tire manufacturers. This table includes tire pricing for all vehicles, from small compact cars to commercial vehicles like dump trucks and concrete pumps.
*Pricing information current as of January, 2025.
*All information subject to change at anytime without notice.
*This is not a quote.
Tire Manufacturer | Price Range ($) |
---|---|
Yokohama | 142 – 876 |
Michelin | 210 – 1267 |
Goodyear | 131 – 959 |
Bridgestone | 169 – 831 |
BF Goodrich | 135 – 886 |
Toyo | 130 – 1114 |
Firestone | 141 – 805 |
Falken | 115 – 758 |
GT Radial | 79 – 443 |
Continental | 160 – 874 |
Pirelli | 156 – 1310 |
As you can see, most manufacturers offer a wide range of tires, sizes and pricing options to meet a variety of consumer needs. For help navigating your complex tire decisions, come to Goldwing Autocare.
The Goldwing advantage
At Goldwing Autocare, you get 30+ years of auto care experience from a family owned and operated local business. With a proven track record for working with high performance, luxury, oversized, compact and electric vehicles, we’ve gained the trust of top collectors, enthusiasts, daily commuters and dealerships.
Our state-of-the-art facilities feature,
- Dedicated wheel, tire and modification installation bays, featuring multiple hoists and Roadforce® balancing technology.
- Isolated, temperature controlled bays for our team of award winning, factory trained paint protection film and window tint professionals.
- Massive warehouse for seasonal tire storage, all meticulously organized and filed away for safe and secure keeping.
- A completely redesigned showroom with comfortable seating, live product demonstrations and a team of knowledgable sales people waiting to help with all your auto care needs.
As a local shop, we understand what it’s like to drive in Ottawa’s not-so-nice road conditions, those harsh, cold, icy roads we all struggle with until spring arrives again. We can recommend the best tires tailored to your specific requirements, ensuring the best combination of safety, performance and price.
We encourage everyone to visit our showroom. Feel the differences in tread patterns. See the differences between OE sized tires and winter tire minus sizing options for your vehicle. Sometimes, seeing the product for yourself can help you appreciate the price or quality differences.

We’re not like the big-box locations or online retailed, they often lack tire expertise, post-purchase support, or possibly cause serious damage or safety issues to your vehicle. Goldwing takes a customer-first approach. Offering competitive pricing advantages or exclusive rebates from top tire manufacturers, the convenience of same-day installation, expert level service providers and on-site, secure seasonal tire storage.
Don’t forget to research current manufacturer rebates, to help you save a chunk of money or purchase better performing tires!
Final Thoughts About Tire Pricing,
Finding the best price for tires is complicated. There are many variables that need to be considered when deciding what the best price is for your specific requirements. Unless you’re able to locate a sweet rebate, pricing is not where you’re going to get the most value, it’s in the service.
If you’re looking to get some pricing on tires, come by the showroom or call the shop and we’ll show you the possibilities!
FAQs,
What is a decent tire price?
Tires prices reflect the technology and materials used during the manufacturing process. In Canada, lower rated tires are priced around $100 each, mid-rated tires between $150 – $300 each and top rated tires (ultra-high performance or specialty off-road) can range anywhere from $300 – $1000 each. Not including installation or balancing.
How much should a set of tires cost?
A better quality set of tires can cost anywhere from $800-$1200 for most vehicles, not including installation or alignment. Choosing a lower rated set of tires could save a few hundred dollars, or alternatively upgrading to higher performance or specialty tires will cost more.
What time of the year is best to buy tires?
Typically the best time of the year to buy tires used to be either spring or fall, as some retailers offered heavy discounts to clear out their stock for before the next season. Now days, many retailers order the product as needed and no longer have stock piles to discount. No matter what season it is, at Goldwing we’ll get you the best value for your dollar.