There’s nothing like a little Costco magic, especially when you need to buy an expensive item!
This Is the Real Reason Costco Tires Cost Less
Updated on Jun. 30, 2025
For shoppers looking to save, Costco is the place to go for low prices. In many cases, the membership warehouse club manufactures its own Kirkland products, cutting out the middleman to deliver that affordable pricing. But there isn’t a Kirkland Signature tire brand (at least not yet!), so how does Costco pull off the incredible deals on the tires it sells?
We were curious, especially once we learned those tire services are completely separate from Costco’s gas stations. As it turns out, there’s a lot at play here. And the way in which Costco is able to offer competitive pricing on brand-name tires is more nuanced than you probably think.
At this point, we’re going to consider you intrigued. After all, wouldn’t you rather save on tires—without sacrificing one bit of quality—and instead spend that money on your favorite Costco baked goods? We certainly would! Read on to find out all the details and why Costco just may be the only place you’ll buy tires from now on.
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What kinds of tires does Costco sell?
Really good ones, from a wide range of brands. We’re talking tires from Michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Firestone and Pirelli, to name a few.
“Costco carries multiple tires for different vehicle types, budgets and driving conditions, which is why you can almost always find whatever tire you are looking for at Costco,” says Ruth Calkins, a car expert and the general manager of Findbyplate.
And members are big fans for a few key reasons. Aside from the excellent quality and selection, one of the biggest selling points is that Costco inflates its tires using nitrogen instead of compressed air. Nitrogen holds tire pressure better, which ultimately can help extend the life of your tires. The whole experience tends to be pretty seamless too.
“I’ve been getting my tires at Costco for about 20 years, and the last few years I’ve ordered them online,” says one customer on Reddit. “Minimal to no issues for me. Book the appointments online, work is done by the promised time if not sooner. Worst experience was with a warehouse I didn’t normally use but needed rotation and balance, and it was near my office. Ended up with some scratched-up rims, and I chalk it up to a new tech because it’s never happened before and hasn’t happened again.”
How much do Costco tires cost?
The price of tires at Costco varies greatly because it depends on the make and model of your car. But for comparison’s sake, let’s start by looking at how much four tires for my 2015 Honda Odyssey (yes, we’re a minivan family) would cost at Costco compared with Discount Tire.
Costco
- Firestone Destination LE3 Tires, set of 4
- Cost: $667.96 (after promotions)
Discount Tire
- Firestone Destination LE3 Tires, set of 4
- Cost: $691.56 (after promotions)
Costco beats Discount Tire’s price by roughly $23, which is not a ton, but again, you could see bigger savings depending on what you’re looking for.
Now let’s look at tires for a 2025 Toyota RAV 4 Hybrid SE, comparing Costco’s price with the same tires at Bridgestone.
Costco
- Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport AS, set of 4
- Cost: $979.96 (after applicable discounts)
Bridgestone
- Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport AS, set of 4
- Cost: $1,271.96
Now that’s a pretty significant difference: $292.
For funsies, let’s also take a look at tires for the 2022 Hyundai Sonata SE at both Costco and America’s Tire.
Costco
- Michelin Defender 2 Tires, set of 4
- Cost: $775.96
America’s Tire
- Michelin Defender 2 Tires, set of 4
- Cost: $780
While the price difference on the Michelin tires at Costco and America’s Tire is small, America’s Tire will charge an installation fee (roughly $84). That’s definitely something you need to take into consideration and factor into your budget, which again makes Costco the winner here.
So why do Costco’s tires cost less?
There are a few different reasons, but like many of Costco’s products, it starts with the ability to buy in bulk.
Bulk buys from the manufacturer
“Costco is able to give the best deals to their customers because they buy in bulk directly from the manufacturers,” Calkins says. “Because they are a warehouse club with memberships, that encourages volume and repeat purchases. It not only encourages customers to keep coming back but can also guarantee them better deals.”
Streamlined supply chains
When supply chains are streamlined, it means the process of getting products from the factory to the store is faster, simpler and more organized. This helps Costco spend less money on things like storage, transportation and extra steps—and that lowers overall costs.
“This gives Costco the opportunity to beat down prices for their customers and still remain profitable,” Calkins says. “In fact, Costco focuses on keeping their operational costs low, and thanks to their low markup strategy that prioritizes high sales volume over gaining profits on individual items, their turnover rates stay really high. That’s how they are able to sell well-established tire brands at such good prices.”
Why else is it a good idea to buy tires from Costco?
Costco is known for its stellar customer service, so there are even more reasons to buy from the warehouse club than simply price alone.
Confidence in quality
Whether it’s tires, appliances or a pair of jeans, Costco wants customers to be happy, which is why it offers such a generous return policy on most items. Unfortunately, Costco doesn’t allow tire returns, but it does have safeguards in place for customers, like warranties for mileage, manufacturer’s defects and road hazard (which we’ll get to in a second). Plus, the ample number of brands the store sells offers peace of mind—they are typically names customers are already quite familiar with.
“You can be sure of buying quality you can trust,” Calkins says.
There’s also Costco’s Road Hazard warranty, which comes with every tire you buy from the warehouse club. It covers a tire that becomes “unserviceable” in the event of cuts, non-repairable punctures or impact damage, and it lasts for five years.
A great installation package, plus repairs
If you’re a Costco member, installation is free, meaning you aren’t paying for labor. That can make a big difference in the total price, as we saw above with the Michelin tires at America’s Tire. Plus, the installation package comes with free balancing, rotation and flat repairs, Calkins says. That’s on top of Costco’s five-year road hazard warranty.
Are there any downsides to buying tires from Costco?
While Costco tires can be a great buy for some, you should still always compare prices with other tire shops, particularly Walmart.
- Costco membership is a requirement. Keep in mind that in order to purchase tires at Costco (and get those deals), you’ll have to cough up the dough for a Costco membership. “This membership comes with an annual fee, so going through all the trouble to buy your tires at Costco might not make financial sense if you’re only an occasional shopper,” Calkins says.
- There’s a limited selection. While Costco does sell all the name brands we mentioned above, it carries only a limited selection of them at a time at each warehouse. In many cases, the tires will have to be ordered, which can be problematic if you need your car serviced ASAP. “The truth is that you may not always find the right tire for your car at Costco,” Calkins says.
- Installation wait times can be high. Installation and other tire services may be free, but you could find yourself hanging around the warehouse for a mighty long time. Some customers on Reddit detail situations in which they waited for nearly four hours for their car to be finished, despite having the first appointment of the day. “There’s a long installation wait time due to Costco’s high volume of customers and the fact that some specific brands and tires may sell out faster than others,” Calkins says. “Certain tires may not always be in stock, which could delay purchase.”
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Sources:
- Ruth Calkins, car expert and general manager of Findbyplate; interviewed, June 2025
- Reddit: “Reviews on Costco Tire Center?”
