Costco tires vs Canadian Tire: installation, warranty and the real cost of a set

Costco tires usually win on the installed total for members, because Costco charges $0 to install, balance, rotate and repair them for life, while Canadian Tire charges for installation and balancing on every set. Canadian Tire wins on access and choice: no membership, more stores, and a free 6-year tire guarantee. Our advice: get an out-the-door quote for the same tire and size at both, and count the free services, not just the tire price.

Which is cheaper for tires, Costco or Canadian Tire?

It depends on the tire price, so compare a full quote. The structural difference is installation: at Costco it's included, at Canadian Tire it's a per-tire charge set by your local store. On a set of 4, every $25 a tire charged to mount and balance adds $100 before you drive away, and later rotations and balancing add more over the life of the tires.

Recycling fees are the same at both: your province sets them (for example $6.50 a tire in B.C. and $4.50 in Quebec). Our tire cost guide lists every province.

What's included with the tires at each store?

From each retailer's own pages, checked October 3, 2026:

How do the road hazard warranties compare?

Both cover nails, potholes and similar damage, but on different terms:

If you drive on rough roads and want full replacements, Canadian Tire's paid upgrade is the most generous plan; for most drivers, Costco's included cover plus free lifetime maintenance is the better package.

Do you need a membership to buy tires at Costco?

Yes. Costco installs only tires bought from a Costco Tire Centre by members. A Gold Star membership costs $65 a year, so it pays off if you'd use Costco anyway; buying a membership just for one set of tires can wipe out the saving. Canadian Tire needs no membership. See what each Costco membership costs.

Which tire brands can you buy at each store?

Costco sells major brands; its tire site's current offers name Michelin, BFGoodrich, Bridgestone and Firestone, with $60 to $100 off a set of 4 (Michelin and BFGoodrich until November 1, 2026). Canadian Tire also sells major brands plus its own MotoMaster tires, which can make it the cheaper choice if you don't need a name brand.

How do you compare a tire quote fairly?

Ask both stores for the same tire, size and quantity, then compare:

1. Tire price after any offer, for the set of 4.

2. Installation and balancing: $0 at Costco; ask Canadian Tire for its per-tire price.

3. TPMS charges, if your car has pressure sensors.

4. Recycling fee and tax: the fee is the same at both.

5. Later services: rotations and balancing are free for life at Costco.

6. Warranty: which damage is replaced, and whether it costs extra.

We track Costco tire prices and offers on our tires page.