Tire Installation

Tires should generally be replaced based on factors such as tread depth, age, visible damage, and driving conditions. Even if a tire has plenty of tread remaining, rubber can deteriorate over time, so it’s important to inspect older tires regularly and follow your tire manufacturer’s recommendations.

XL, or Extra Load, indicates a tire with reinforced construction designed to carry a higher load than a standard load tire of the same size. If your vehicle requires XL tires, replacement tires should have the same designation to help maintain the proper load capacity.

No, a tire with a higher speed rating does not mean it’s necessarily better. A higher speed rating indicates a tire’s ability to handle higher speeds under specific testing conditions, but it does not automatically mean the tire will provide better performance in every category. Factors such as tread life, comfort, weather performance, and driving needs also matter.

Some vehicles, particularly certain sports cars and performance models, are designed with staggered fitment, meaning different sizes on the front and rear axles. For most vehicles, though, all four tires should match in size unless the manufacturer specifies otherwise.

BSW stands for Black Sidewall and indicates that the tire has a plain black sidewall without any white lettering or decorative markings. It’s a style designation that affects the tire’s appearance, not its performance, size, or capabilities.

OWL stands for Outlined White Letters, a sidewall design where the raised lettering has a white outline instead of being molded in solid black. Some drivers choose OWL tires specifically for a more distinctive or classic look, similar to RWL (Raised White Letters). Like other sidewall style markings, OWL has no effect on how the tire performs or fits your vehicle.

At VIP, we charge $35 per tire to install tires. This does not include tire disposal, which is an extra $5 per tire.

If you’re only replacing two tires, the general rule is that the newest tires (or the ones with the deepest tread) should always go on the rear axel. This is based on testing from leading tire manufacturers and safety experts.

After your wheels have been removed and reinstalled — during a tire installation or repair, for example — lug nuts can settle and loosen slightly within the first 25 miles of driving. A wheel re-torque checks and tightens them back to spec, helping prevent loose wheels, warped rims, or worse.

Every VIP tire installation comes loaded with value. You get a free tire safety inspection, free wheel re-torque, free mounting and dismounting, free flat repair, and the backing of our 30-day ride guarantee and 200% lowest tire price guarantee. The only additional cost is balancing — unless you have Tire Maintenance++, in which case that’s covered too. Our Certified Automotive Professionals walk you through the work before it starts, and a copy of your multi-point inspection gets sent straight to your phone.

VIP’s 30-day ride guarantee has you covered. If something doesn’t feel right after your tire installation, bring your vehicle back within 30 days and we’ll make it right — no hassle, no runaround.

A visual check should always be conducted to get a sense of the condition of a used tire. Avoid used tires with uneven wear, cracks, bulges, puncture repairs near the sidewall, or tread depth below 4/32 inch. Also, check the DOT date code; tires more than six to ten years old may no longer be safe, even if they have usable tread.

If only one tire is damaged, replacing a single tire can be fine only if you drive a rear-wheel or front-wheel drive vehicle, use the same brand, model, and size as the other tires, and the other tires all have minimal tread wear. If there’s a noticeable difference in tread wear, then you will need to replace the tires as a pair to ensure traction, handling, and overall vehicle stability. If you drive a four-wheel vehicle, then you will likely need to replace all four tires at once.

Yes, tire pressure really does affect gas mileage. Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, which forces your engine to work harder and burn more fuel. Properly inflated tires reduce that resistance and help your vehicle run closer to its intended fuel economy.