TL;DR: A genuine buy-3-get-1-free tyre deal is effectively about 25% off a set of four — good value if the base price hasn’t been inflated first. The only reliable test is to compare the total fitted price of the whole set against a straight four-tyre quote elsewhere. Watch for a lifted RRP, exclusions, and extras like alignment that may no longer be included.

How does a buy-3-get-1-free tyre deal work?

“Buy 3, get the 4th free” (sometimes advertised as “buy 4, get the 4th free”) means you pay for three tyres and the fourth is discounted to zero. On the surface that’s a 25% saving across a set of four — you’re getting four tyres for the price of three. Australian retailers run these deals regularly on selected brands: Bob Jane T-Marts has offered it on brands like Yokohama, Bridgestone (including Potenza), Kumho and its house J-Trax lines (as tracked on deal sites like OzBargain); JAX Tyres & Auto runs a Buy-3-Get-4th-Free on brands such as Bridgestone and Hankook; and Tyrepower stores promote it on lines like the Kumho Solus. The catch is that “25% off” is only true if the price of the three you pay for is a fair, competitive price to begin with.

Are buy-3-get-1-free tyre deals actually good value?

They can be excellent value — or an illusion — and the difference comes down to the base price. Here’s the maths.

Scenario	Price per tyre	You pay for 4	Effective per-tyre cost
B3G1 at a fair $200/tyre	$200 (pay for 3)	$600	$150
B3G1 at an inflated $260/tyre	$260 (pay for 3)	$780	$195
Straight 4-for deal elsewhere	$170 each	$680	$170

In the first row the deal is genuinely great — $150 a corner. In the second, the retailer has quietly lifted the per-tyre price, so the “free” fourth tyre just claws you back to roughly the market rate. That’s why a headline discount tells you nothing on its own: the cheapest-looking quote isn’t always the cheapest tyre.

How to check if the deal is real

Ignore the percentage on the poster and do three things:

• Get the total fitted price for all four. Ask for the out-the-door figure including fitting, balancing, valves and the disposal levy — not the “3 tyres” subtotal.
• Compare against a straight four-tyre quote. Ring another store (or check online) for a plain price on the same tyre in your size, four fitted. If the B3G1 set beats it, the deal is real.
• Check what’s excluded. Many deals exclude wheel alignment that used to be bundled in, so budget for that separately. Deals are also usually limited to nominated brands and sizes.

One more trap: retailer price guarantees often exclude promotional deals. Bob Jane’s Best Tyre Price Guarantee, for instance, doesn’t apply to buy-3-get-1-free offers — so you can’t stack a price-match on top of the promo. Judge the deal on the final fitted total, then judge the tyre itself on cost per kilometre, because a cheap set that wears out fast is no bargain.

When a buy-3-get-1-free deal makes sense

These deals are at their best when you need a full set of four anyway, the tyre on offer is one you’d have chosen regardless, and the base price checks out against a straight quote. They make less sense if you only need one or two tyres, if the promo brand isn’t right for your vehicle, or if the “saving” pushes you into a tyre below your real needs. Never let a deal talk you into a tyre that doesn’t meet your car’s placard load and speed rating — the discount is meaningless if the tyre is wrong. And if you’re not in a hurry, timing matters too: see the best time of year to buy tyres in Australia. A bit of polite negotiation on top of a promo can sometimes sharpen it further.

Frequently asked questions

Is buy 3 get 1 free really 25% off?

Only if the price of the three you pay for is a fair market price. If the base per-tyre price has been inflated, the “free” tyre just brings you back to the normal rate. Compare the total fitted price against a straight four-tyre quote.

Does the free tyre include fitting and balancing?

Usually the fourth tyre is free but you still pay fitting, balancing, valves and disposal on all four. Always ask for the out-the-door price for the complete set.

Is wheel alignment included in a buy-3-get-1-free deal?

Often not — several retailers that once bundled an alignment now charge it separately. Budget around $60–$120 for an alignment on top unless the promo explicitly includes it.

Can I use a price guarantee on a promo deal?

Generally no. Most price guarantees, including Bob Jane’s, exclude buy-3-get-1-free and other bundled promotions. You choose one or the other, not both.

Which stores run buy-3-get-1-free tyre deals?

Bob Jane T-Marts, JAX Tyres & Auto and Tyrepower all run them on selected brands and sizes at various times. Offers rotate, so confirm current terms with the store.

Bottom line

A buy-3-get-1-free tyre deal is worth about 25% off a set — but only when the base price is genuine. The percentage on the poster proves nothing; the total fitted price for four, compared against a straight four-tyre quote elsewhere, is the only test that matters. Check the exclusions, budget for alignment separately, and make sure the promo tyre is right for your car before the discount tempts you.

Deals, brands and prices change constantly — confirm current terms and pricing with the retailer.