William LipovskyShort Answer
Discount Tire’s Certificate for Repair, Refund or Replacement functions like a three-year warranty for tires you purchase from the company. If your tires fail during the three-year period, you’re eligible for a full refund and replacement. In general, this program — which costs anywhere from $10 to $100 per tire — is worth it for those who purchase expensive tires and want to protect them, or for those who drive often and/or on roads that are in poor condition. For more about the program, see below.
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How the Discount Tire Certificate Works
Tire problems are common, and they can be expensive to repair, which is why many companies offer tire warranties. With a standard tire warranty, whenever you need to replace your tires, you typically apply a prorated amount based on your remaining tire tread level toward new tires.
Discount Tire’s Certificate for Repair, Refund or Replacement works differently. With the Certificate, if your tires fail due to a defect or a non-repairable road hazard within the first three years after purchase (and they’re within the legal tread limit of 3/32 inches), Discount Tire will fully refund your purchase price with tax and it will offer you new tires at the refund price plus tax.[1] The Certificate also applies to tires purchase from Discount Tire Direct.[2]
Certificate Cost
The cost of the Certificate varies depending on the tires you choose, but it usually ranges from around $10 to $100 per tire.[3] Generally, the more expensive the tire, the more the Certificate will cost. You can either purchase it at the time you purchase your tires or return to get it within 30 days of purchasing the tires.[1]
On average, a patch for a punctured tire will cost around $10 to $20, depending on whether you choose to patch the tire yourself or have the repair done at a shop. Luxury tires will cost more to repair. However, some shops may patch your tire for free if you purchased your tires from that shop.
If you purchased inexpensive tires and the Certificate cost the minimum amount per tire, it will pay for itself rather quickly, especially if you frequently drive on poorly maintained roads. More severe damage means higher repair costs, and more potential savings with the Certificate. If you have expensive tires — some can cost up to $1,000 each — repairs can be even more costly, making the Certificate (which costs a fraction of the tire price) potentially even more worth it.
Using the Certificate
When you need to use the Certificate, you can validate it for a refund and purchase replacement tires either at the store where you originally purchased the tires or at any other Discount Tire location. If you’ve moved somewhere that does have any Discount Tire locations, you can call Discount Tire at (800) 385-3322 to get assistance in redeeming the Certificate in your area.
Certificate Limitations
It is important to note that the Certificate is not valid for some forms of commercial driving, and it doesn’t cover tire damage resulting from fire, crime, vandalism, or improper inflation or use of the wheels.[1] If any of the damage to your tires was avoidable, it is unlikely that you will be able to use the Certificate.
You also cannot use the Certificate to fix problems of appearance after the first 10% of wear, meaning you would need to take care of the damage in a timely manner before the wear is past eligibility for using the Certificate.[1]
Certificates expire after three years from the date of purchase or when the tire’s legal tread depth goes below 3/32”, whichever comes first. You can find more details about the Certificate on Discount Tire’s website.
Is the Discount Tire Certificate Worth It?
First, consider your driving habits and the condition of the roads you frequent the most. If you have long daily commutes, or if you often drive on brick roads or roads with lots of potholes, you are more likely to face tire damage in the next three years.
If you’ve had at least one case of a non-repairable flat tire or other tire damage in the last few years, the Certificate might be worth it. However, if you do not drive much or you typically drive on smoother roads, it may not be worth it to pay for the Certificate when you will likely not face severe tire damage anytime soon.
The Certificate is a good business for Discount Tire because many people won’t end up needing to use it in the three-year period. On the other hand, the Certificate is often affordable, with prices starting around $10 per tire for the cheapest tires. With the highest-end tires available, the Certificate can cost $100 per tire, which can save you close to 90% of the price of replacing them. The more expensive the tire, the higher the potential savings with the Certificate. For those who actually end up using the Certificate, or those who desire the peace of mind to know that their tires are covered, it is typically worth the cost.
For more about Discount Tire, see our article about the company’s policy on mounting tires purchased elsewhere.
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Maria R. Riegger, Esq.
You said in 2 place the certificates are 15 per tire. Then you also said it’s between 11-100 per tire. Which is it??
Hello, Hayley! Thank you for bringing this to our attention! The cost does vary depending on the tire’s brand and style. In general, the more expensive the tire is, the more expensive the Certificate will be. We have updated our article to clarify this.