Buying tires at Pep Boys
National chain, selling tires since 1921, 750 stores. What tires cost there, what shipping and installation add, how returns work and what customers rate them.
Who owns it
Mavis Tire Express Services, which completed its purchase of Pep Boys from Icahn Enterprises on August 20, 2026 for approximately $700 million in cash. Icahn Enterprises had owned Pep Boys since February 2016, when it paid $1.03 billion after outbidding Bridgestone, and in the 2026 deal Icahn kept the underlying Pep Boys real estate along with the AAMCO Transmissions and Precision Tune Auto Care businesses. The combined Mavis group now reports more than 4,400 service centers in the United States and Canada, so Pep Boys is a brand inside a much larger private-equity-backed chain rather than an independent company.
What you can buy there
Pep Boys stocks a broad spread of tire brands rather than one manufacturer's book: Michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Firestone, Continental, BFGoodrich, Pirelli, Cooper, Kumho, General Tire and value lines such as Ironman, Starfire and Sailun. What it no longer sells is parts and accessories off a shelf: in December 2023 the company finished its exit from retail and now does automotive service only, so the old aisles of oil, wipers and car audio are gone. New tires only, no used tires, and wheels are a minor line.
Shipping
There is no shipping to a home address. Tires are ordered online or by phone against an installation appointment at a specific Pep Boys shop, and the tire is delivered to that shop for the booked time. Because the retail side closed in 2023, there is no store pickup of loose merchandise either, so the model is order-and-install only.
Installation
Installation happens in Pep Boys' own bays, and the fleet side of the business states the network has over 800 locations and roughly 8,000 service bays, which is unusually deep capacity for a tire buyer. No flat per-tire mounting price is published; mounting, balancing, valve stems and disposal are bundled into the counter quote, and a Road Hazard Protection Plan is offered as a paid add-on at the point of sale. The chain also advertises a Price Match Guarantee and a free PepCheck inspection, and there is no mobile or at-home tire installation service advertised on the site.
Returns and warranty
Pep Boys does not publish a stated day window for returning tires, which is a real gap now that the retail counter is gone: anything to do with a tire goes back through the store that installed it. In practice defective or road-damaged tires are handled through the manufacturer's mileage warranty or the optional road hazard plan rather than as a straight refund, and both are processed by the shop rather than a returns department. Get the warranty terms on the invoice at purchase, because claims depend on the installing location honoring them.
Where they sit on price
Pricing is mid-market: cheaper than a dealership, higher than an online-only tire seller, with a Price Match Guarantee as the stated backstop and frequent set-of-four promotions such as free installation on Pirelli sets. Because the business is now service-only, the margin comes from labor and add-ons rather than tire volume, and that shows up in how hard alignments, fluids and brake work are pushed alongside the tires. Reviewers repeatedly report the final total exceeding the quote, so the out-the-door number matters more than the advertised tire price.
What it does well
- Broad brand selection across Michelin, Bridgestone, Goodyear, Continental, Pirelli and budget lines, rather than one manufacturer's own book
- Deep installation capacity: the fleet business cites over 800 locations and about 8,000 service bays
- BBB accredited since February 1992 with an A+ rating, which is better standing than most national tire chains hold
- Price Match Guarantee plus a free PepCheck inspection at every visit
- Strong commercial and fleet program (Pep Boys Fleet) with negotiated pricing, direct pay or credit line, and 24/7 towing from $85 and roadside assistance from $90
Where it falls short
- A shrinking, unsettled business: the retail parts side was shut down in December 2023 and the whole chain changed hands in August 2026, so store lists, staffing and policies are still moving
- Service quality complaints are heavy for a company with an A+ letter grade: 1,571 BBB complaints closed in three years and a 1.11/5 BBB customer review average from 386 reviews
- Very long waits are the single most repeated theme, with reviewers describing three to five hours for an oil change or tire work despite a booked appointment
- Upselling and misdiagnosis complaints recur, including charges for work that reviewers say was never performed
- Appointment handling is unreliable, with reports of bookings cancelled or not honored and poor communication about delays
What Pep Boys is rated
Ratings move, so we print the month we read each one. We never average different sites into a single number.
Is this the right shop for you?
Yes, if: Drivers who want a wide choice of tire brands fitted the same day at a shop with a lot of bays, and fleet operators who need one account across several hundred locations.
Look elsewhere if: Anyone on a tight schedule or looking for the lowest price, and buyers who want a clear written return window before they hand over a card.
Running right now
Cooper Adventurer: 4th tire free + free installation; $100 Pirelli Visa (Sep)
Search snippets show Cooper Adventurer buy-3-get-4th-free with free installation and the $100 Pirelli Visa Prepaid Card for 9/1-9/30/2026 purchases, plus 6-month no-interest financing on $199+. Pep Boys was acquired by Mavis in July 2026, so promotions are converging with Mavis. Page blocked automated fetch.
Their deals page blocked us on the last check, so treat this one as unconfirmed.
The sizes people buy, and what they cost
These are the ten sizes US drivers buy most often. Prices are per tire, what the size actually goes for across the retailers we track, so you can tell a real offer from a marked-up one before you click anything.
| Size | Fits | Budget | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 195/65R15 | Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic | $50–$68 | $72–$98 | $102–$145 |
| 205/55R16 | Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla | $55–$75 | $80–$118 | $122–$175 |
| 215/55R17 | Toyota Camry, Honda Accord | $70–$95 | $100–$140 | $145–$205 |
| 225/45R17 | Hyundai Elantra, Volkswagen Golf | $82–$112 | $116–$165 | $168–$245 |
| 225/60R17 | Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 | $75–$102 | $106–$150 | $154–$220 |
| 225/65R17 | Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 | $75–$102 | $106–$150 | $154–$220 |
| 235/65R17 | Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue | $75–$102 | $106–$150 | $154–$220 |
| 265/70R17 | Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500 | $105–$138 | $142–$195 | $200–$275 |
| 235/60R18 | Honda CR-V, Honda Odyssey | $95–$128 | $132–$180 | $184–$260 |
| 245/60R18 | Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot | $115–$152 | $156–$212 | $216–$300 |
Per tire, before installation and before any rebate. All 254 sizes we cover.
Questions people ask about Pep Boys
Is Pep Boys still in business and who owns it now?
Yes, but it changed hands recently. Mavis Tire Express Services completed its purchase of Pep Boys from Icahn Enterprises on August 20, 2026 for about $700 million in cash, adding nearly 800 Pep Boys locations to a group that now reports more than 4,400 service centers in the United States and Canada. Icahn Enterprises kept the underlying real estate plus the AAMCO and Precision Tune businesses. Pep Boys itself dates to 1921 in Philadelphia and is headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.
Does Pep Boys still sell auto parts?
No. In December 2023 Pep Boys completed its transition away from retail operations to focus only on automotive service. The parts, accessories and merchandise aisles are gone, and the locations now function as tire and repair shops. You can still buy tires, but they are ordered for installation rather than carried out of the store.
Can I buy tires online from Pep Boys and have them installed?
Yes, and that is the only way the tire business works. You choose the size online, pick a store and a time slot, and the tires are delivered to that shop for your appointment. Pep Boys does not ship tires to a home address, and there is no mobile or at-home installation service advertised.
How long does a tire appointment at Pep Boys take?
Budget more time than the appointment suggests. The chain has roughly 8,000 service bays, but the most common complaint across Trustpilot and BBB reviews is wait times far beyond the quoted estimate, with three to five hours reported for routine work even with a booking. Ask for a realistic completion time when you drop the car off and get it noted on the order.
Sources
Checked September 2026. Store counts, prices and ratings change; tell us if you find one of ours out of date.