Replacing tires is one of the big expenses of owning a car especially if you don’t use discounts or other tire rebates. At one time, tires were simple tubes of rubber filled with air. But 2012 technology has progressed significantly making them more durable, reliable but also more complex. The best tires make a car easier to drive, safer and make a car much more fuel efficient. But the fact remains, when the tread wear out on your car, it is time to go shopping for a new set of replacements. Because of all varieties of options available, selecting the best tires for your vehicle can be difficult. In addition, the best options also tend to be more expensive especially for high performing vehicles. A good set of tires can cost well over $500 with an additional few hundred to install.

One way to save money when buying new tires is to take advantage of rebates. Manufactures prefer rebates over discounting their stock because rebates help lure costumers with lower prices. Most studies show that slightly more than 50% of people do not take advantage of a rebate between forgetting to fill out the forms and filling them out incorrectly. This means that a manufacturer can expect to only spend 1/2 half of the amount of a rebate amount per promotion. Some people think that only low quality items have rebates. But the reason manufacturers issue rebates has more to do with moving large volume of their inventory. If a version of the tire is popular, the manufacturer will make more of them and more likely to have extra stock. The manufacturer wants the retailers to restock their inventory and create rebates to move older stock or make room for the next version. If you need better traction from your car and don’t mind a few minutes hassle, rebates are a great way to save a lot of money. They typical savings is over $50 and some can be worth over $200 per set of four.

Before buying a specific brand of tires based solely on the rebate, remember there are many down sides to rebates. The most obvious is that almost all tire rebates require you to buy 4 at a time. This is generally a good idea if your tires have worn down through normal use. But it is a hassle if you just have to replace one because of a freak accident. On addition, rebates typically take weeks or even months to get your cash back and are only for specific brand the manufacture wants to sell. Make sure that you read all of the terms and conditions you buy. You should also be aware that some tire retailers will give you a credit if a manufacturer rejects a rebate. It is best to do your research and create a list of tires that will well with your car then go through the following list to see if any of them have tire rebates available.