Why TreadCompass exists
Buying tires should be simple, but it rarely is. The same tire can differ in price by a surprising amount from one store to the next, the checkout total changes once installation and fees show up, and most product pages are written to sell you something rather than to help you choose.
TreadCompass puts the prices from major tire retailers side by side for your exact size, alongside the specs that matter (load and speed ratings, UTQG grades, snow ratings, and mileage warranties), so you can compare the actual tire and the actual price in one place, then buy wherever it makes the most sense.
Who's behind it
TreadCompass is an independent site built and run by one person: a software developer and longtime DIY mechanic. Our buying guides and comparisons are published under the pen name PL.
The mechanical side comes from years of working on my own cars at home, from clutch jobs and suspension upgrades to rebuilding the entire front end of a car bought at a salvage auction. I lean toward Japanese and European cars, but I don't have a favorite brand and TreadCompass doesn't either.
Tire lessons have come the hard way too. On my VW Tiguan I replaced the factory Bridgestone Ecopias at about 32,000 miles with Continental CrossContact LX25s and got a quieter ride and noticeably better grip. I also ran Cooper Discoverer AT3 4S all-terrains: they fit fine in the stock 235/65R17 size, but the taller 235/70R17 rubbed on the front spring perch. That second lesson is a big part of why the tire size calculator exists.
To be clear about what that experience is and isn't: I'm not a professional technician, and TreadCompass doesn't run instrumented track tests. Our tire write-ups combine manufacturer specs, published reviews, and owner feedback, plus hands-on experience where I have it, and we say which is which.
How prices and data are kept up to date
Most of TreadCompass runs on software I've written and maintain myself.
- Price tracking. Automated collectors check listings from 11tire retailers, including Tire Rack, Discount Tire, SimpleTire, Amazon, Walmart, and Costco, and prices are refreshed daily. Prices can still change between updates, so the retailer's checkout price is always the final word.
- Matching the same tire across stores.Retailers name tires inconsistently, so every listing is matched against a catalog of tire brands and models. That's what lets one tire show every store's price in a single row instead of appearing as several different products.
- Specs. Load and speed ratings, UTQG grades, 3PMSF snow ratings, run-flat status, and mileage warranties come from manufacturer data and product pages, and are cross-checked when sources disagree.
- Summaries and scores.Some tire summaries, performance scores, and review highlights are generated with AI from published specs and reviews. They are always labeled “AI generated” on the page, and each tire lists the sources behind them.
- Deals. The deals section tracks sale prices and coupons on tires and car-care gear. Deals are ranked by a formula that weighs the size of the discount, available coupons, customer ratings, and brand reputation.
How TreadCompass makes money
TreadCompass is free to use. When you click through to a retailer and buy something, TreadCompass may earn a commission through affiliate programs. You pay the same price you would by going to the retailer directly. The site also shows ads.
Commissions don't change the prices we show. Tire search results are sorted by price, and a retailer can't pay to have its price listed higher or to be ranked above a cheaper competitor.
Corrections and feedback
Keeping thousands of prices and specs accurate is an ongoing job, and mistakes happen. If you spot a wrong price, a spec that doesn't match the manufacturer, or a tire that's missing, please let us know. Corrections get fixed, and suggestions for new vehicles and guides are always welcome.