The advertised tyre price is only half the bill. Fitting, balancing, valves and disposal decide who is genuinely cheapest once the car is back on the road.
An advertised "$99 tyre" is rarely $99 on the road. By the time you add fitting, balancing, a new valve, wheel alignment and a disposal levy, the fitted price can run well above the sticker - and it climbs differently at every outlet. In Australia, comparing tyres on the total fitted price across stores almost always reorders who is cheapest, so the lowest sticker rarely wins.
| Tier | Typical price | What you're getting |
|---|---|---|
| Budget / economy | A$80 - A$140 per tyre | Entry imports and house brands sold by Kmart Tyre & Auto, Bob Jane and online sellers. Fine for everyday commuting. |
| Mid-range all-season | A$140 - A$260 per tyre | Bridgestone, Michelin, Continental and Goodyear volume lines - the popular sweet spot for most cars. |
| Premium / performance | A$260 - A$500+ per tyre | Performance, EV-specific and large-diameter tyres; the top end rises sharply with wheel size. |
| 4WD / SUV / light truck | A$200 - A$550+ per tyre | All-terrain and load-rated tyres; a fitted set can run A$1,000-A$2,200. |
FindPrices checks the major stores for you, so you start from the lowest total price - not the first sticker you see.
Compare Pricing Now - It's FreeEvery outlet prices the same tyre differently once the work is added. Fitting and balancing typically runs A$25-A$45 per tyre, and on top you may see a new valve, a tyre disposal levy, a wheel alignment and a workshop sundries charge. Across four tyres that can add A$120-A$250 to the bill.
The fix is simple: get the out-the-door fitted price for the same tyre model at three or more outlets, then subtract any manufacturer cashback. That apples-to-apples total - in Australian dollars, fitted and balanced - is the only figure worth comparing.
Membership and chain bundles look dearer on the sticker but fold fitting, balancing and rotation into one price, which is why Costco and package deals at Bob Jane or mycar often win the fitted total. Online sellers like Tyroola and Tyresales win on the tyre itself but move the labour to a separate fitter, so the saving shrinks once fitting is added.
Premium-brand outlets lean on manufacturer cashback and buy-3-get-1-free promotions, meaning the advertised price overstates what you actually pay. Always ask whether a rebate is running and factor wheel alignment in, since worn or new tyres on a misaligned car wear out far faster.
For most cars, roughly A$500-A$1,400 fitted. Budget sets land around A$450-A$700, mid-range all-season sets A$700-A$1,100, and premium or large-diameter sets A$1,100-A$2,000 or more.
It depends on the tyre, but online sellers like Tyroola and Tyresales usually have the lowest tyre-only price if you have a low-cost fitter, while Costco and chain package deals often win on fitted total because fitting and rotation are included. Budget tyres are typically cheapest at Kmart Tyre & Auto or Bob Jane specials.
Often not for the advertised sticker. Add roughly A$25-A$45 per tyre for fitting and balancing, plus possible charges for valves, disposal levy and wheel alignment. Always ask for the out-the-door fitted total.
The tyre itself is frequently cheapest online, but you pay a separate fitter, so compare the combined fitted total. Online prices also move around, so it pays to track the model for a few days before buying.
Buy-3-get-1-free and manufacturer cashback promotions run regularly through the year, with bigger events around EOFY, Black Friday and Boxing Day. Stacking a cashback on top of a chain package deal usually delivers the lowest fitted price.
FindPrices does the comparison shopping for you, every time - quietly, automatically, on every product page.