Anyone ever bought from one of those wheel/tire combo online?

I used to buy wheels, tires, sensors separately and have local shop do all the install, but lately they drop the ball and workmanship sucks so much, I kinda want to try those website online such as tire rack, custom offset.

They all seem to offer free mounting and balancing and if purchased, also with TPMS sensors installed too. I have no idea how they are going to ship the already mounted wheels as they are huge and I hope some sort of box packaging, otherwise maybe the wheel face would get scratched during shipping.

I have a TPMS relearn tool so I should be able to just write the new sensors via OBD2 port with the new combo, but I'm curious how well those tires are mounted and balanced, anyone has good success story?

 

I have used tire rack several times over the years, when the local shop didn’t have what I needed. The local tire shop is pretty community minded and has always taken good care of everyone I know.
so I usually use them, but on occasion they don’t have what is needed. Our daughter drives a Mazda 6 and previous owner got after factory rims and low profile tires. Not a good size for snow tires. So I got the “on sale” rims and snow tires from tire rack and just swap the rims/ tires and all each fall and spring - local shop recommend doing this and it made good sense.

I shared your concern about how they would ship tires and the local shop gets shipments frequently. I just had them shipped to the local tire store. I have had good results with tire rack and if you can find a local shop you like, they probably already do shipping and makes it pretty easy.
Not hard to change the wheels, but as good as the guys are at the shop, I really don’t mind throwing some business their way and even usu have them swap them spring and fall. Easy peasy for them and the small charge seems reasonable. Once when we were out of town and our other daughter was in town and got a nail with a slow leak. They even removed a nail and patched her tire that she got elsewhere and didn’t charge her - I thought that was above and beyond - which is how they work. That is their “style” of looking out for folks - so I kind of like to give them the few bucks spring and fall.
So - a yes on tire rack. And if you can find a local shop you like, maybe let them arrange all the shipping as they probably already have stuff coming and they can probably do the leg work for a few bucks. Or you can prob ship to your home - but I haven’t done that with mounted tires.

 

TireRack is fantastic! Pick a wheel and some tires, add TPMS sensors to your order and you will receive a set of wheels and tires mounted/balanced and ready to install.

 

Interesting thread info. I'll have to check it out for future purchase.