Motorcycle Tire Dealer Reviews

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Motorcycle Tire Dealer Reviews & Feedback:  NOTE - we've decided to eliminate the motorcycle tire retailer feedback comments that originally appeared on this page.  It's too bad, because this was a useful service to motorcyclists who were looking for advice on where to purchase motorcycle tires online.

It's proven to be just too hard to tell what really happens during a retail transaction.  We've found too many instances where a motorcycle tire retailer seems to be doing a great job, and then all of a sudden has a huge problem with a customer.

Our feedback from visitors who have purchased motorcycle tires indicates that for some reason, the purchase of motorcycle tires generates a larger volume of complaints than any other type of motorcycle part purchase.  C'mon tire retailers, get it together!  How about creating an industry association to monitor sales practices and help make your customers feel more secure, before, during and after the sale?

Part of the problem may be that the tire manufacturers have made it too easy.  Apparently, many motorcycle tire retailers do not stock any tires, and when an order comes in, they have it drop-shipped from the manufacturer's or distributor's warehouse.  The original retailer then loses contact with the customer because of this handoff.  Emails to us indicate that the majority of the problems seem to arise not during the sale, but from the time the sale is consummated until the tire is delivered.  The majority of the problems seem to be overly optimistic delivery dates, shipping the wrong item or shipping a tire that is either damaged or has a manufacturing defect.

Due to the widely varying deviations in the quality of the online retail experience with motorcycle tire dealers, our opinion has completely changed regarding the best place to purchase tires.  Our advice is this: if you can buy the tire at your local dealer within 20-25% of the online retailer's cost - and make sure you include all the hidden shipping and handling charges that online retailers sometimes charge - then you're better off buying the tire locally and not online. 

This isn't to say that all local dealers are good and all online retailers are bad; just that apparently the local shops will stand by their product in a way that many online motorcycle tire retailers don't (or won't).

The bottom line for motorcyclists is -- be really, really cautious!  If there's a dealer out there who believes in a high quality customer retail experience and can guarantee it, let us know!