TireBuyer.com Gives Consumers an Easy Way to Buy New Tires Online, Plus a Chance to Win Tires for Life, Road Trip of Your Dreams, and More

Car Coach(R) Lauren Fix: Site Delivers What Survey Says Buyers Want, Need

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 30 -- Buying new tires may never make your Top 10 list of favorite things to do, but a newly launched Web site called TireBuyer.com brings car owners a new level of convenience, control, and confidence that a new national survey says consumers want when buying tires.

The easy-to-navigate site at www.TireBuyer.com lets consumers browse from an inventory of over 3 million tires and wheels, narrow their search to products that fit their car, and use a 3D imaging system to see how any given tire and wheel combination will look on their vehicle.

Once they find the right tire at the right price, buyers can purchase the product online and choose a certified local tire dealer where they can have their new tires delivered and installed. TireBuyer.com lets consumers know their installation charges up front, and pay for everything - including installation - in one simple online transaction. Unlike other online tire retailers, in most cases, there is no delivery charge and tires are delivered to the dealer of the buyers' choice within one or two days.

"Most people barely have time to do what they need to do every day, let alone find extra time to shop for tires, but driving on worn-out tires is a safety hazard and replacing them should be a priority," said Lauren Fix, the Car Coach®, a nationally recognized automotive expert who travels the country talking to people about their cars.

"TireBuyer.com makes it easy for people to research and buy tires based on their own personal schedules - which for many of us, is after the kids are in bed, or at the end of a long day at work."

To celebrate its launch, TireBuyer.com is announcing the "Freewheelin' Road Trip Contest," which people can enter online at www.TireBuyer.com beginning Sept. 30. Contestants will be asked to explain in 100 to 150 words "My Simple Tips for a Safe and Fun-filled Road Trip."

  The contest grand prize is:

  --  Tires for Life
  --  $3,000 in cash
  --  The Ultimate Emergency Roadside Car Kit
  --  Fodor's Essential USA, 1st Edition, Spectacular Cities, Natural
      Wonders and Great American Road Trips

  --  An autographed copy of Lauren Fix's Guide to Loving Your Car

Five runners-up will each receive one set of premium tires, $500 cash, and the same roadside car kit, Fodor's Essential USA road trip guide and autographed copy of Lauren Fix's book.

The national survey conducted by TireBuyer.com revealed that many women don't know when it's time to buy new tires or what they need to know to buy the right ones for their cars. They're not alone. Twenty-one percent of men admit they don't know as much as they think they should about buying tires.

Even so, 50 percent of women rely on their spouses to tell them it's time to buy new tires and nearly 40 percent let someone else buy their tires for them. Added to that, some women are intimidated by the process or are afraid they'll be sold something they don't need or pay too much - findings that are consistent with Fix's anecdotal evidence based on talking to thousands men and women about the same issues.

"TireBuyer.com takes the intimidation and fear completely out of the process because it puts you in the driver's seat and lets you take all the time you need to do your research," said Fix.

"To purchase tires and pre-pay for installation on TireBuyer.com, you just select the make and model of your car and your zip code, and then you can sort the tires that fit your car by price, brand or user rating and see exactly how they'll look on your car, from all angles. You also can learn about warranties, the different installation prices for dealers in your area and anything else you want to know before you buy. And then, you can pick the certified dealer you want to install them. What could be easier and more empowering?"

The survey found that buying tires online appealed to people for many reasons:

  --  Being able to see the prices online before they buy
  --  Being able to see the selection that would fit their car
  --  Being able to have tires shipped free to a certified dealer of their
      choice
  --  Being able to pick the tires they want instead of relying on someone
      else

  --  Being able to pay for the tires and installation online

Given people's interest in being able to see the prices before they buy, it's no surprise that the economy is having an effect on tire buying, according to the survey. In fact, 11 percent of women and 18 percent of men are doing more than they did before to ensure their car and tires remain in the best condition. On the other hand, 21 percent of women and 17 percent of men are deferring maintenance on their car and tires because of the economy.

"Driving around on worn-out tires isn't safe," said Fix, adding that tires are the only point of contact cars have with the road. "If you want to keep your car longer than usual because of the economy, then the best investment you can make is regular maintenance and buying new tires when you need them."

For more information, go to www.TireBuyer.com.