Australia’s largest online tyre marketplace, Tyroola, promises big discounts and huge range from your phone. The traditional chains — Bob Jane, Tyrepower, mycar and others — offer service, advice and same-day fitting. So is buying tyres online actually worth it? Here is the honest comparison.

How does buying tyres online at Tyroola work?

Tyroola is a marketplace, not a fitter. You choose tyres by size or vehicle, pay online (often up to around 40% off recommended retail on some lines), and Tyroola ships them — free to most metro areas, with same-day dispatch on orders placed before about 12:30pm — either to your home or to one of its 500-plus partner fitters. You then take the tyres to that fitter, who mounts and balances them and charges a separate fitting fee. Tyroola also offers mobile fitting in some metro areas.

The crucial point: that fitting fee is charged by the partner fitter, not Tyroola, and it is typically around $25 to $45 per tyre depending on the fitter and the tyre. It is not part of the online price you see at checkout.

How does buying in-store work?

At a physical store, the quote you get is (or should be) the fully fitted price: the tyre plus mounting, balancing, a new valve and the disposal levy, with a wheel alignment usually extra. You get advice on the spot, can often be fitted the same day, can inspect the tyre and its date code, and can negotiate — especially at an owner-operated store. The trade-off is that in-store tyre prices, particularly on premium and less common lines, are often higher than an online marketplace.

Tyroola vs in-store: the real comparison

Factor	Tyroola (online)	In-store
Tyre price	Often cheaper; up to ~40% off RRP on some lines	Usually higher on the tyre itself
Fitting cost	Separate fitter fee (~$25–45/tyre), not in checkout price	Included in the fitted quote
Range	Very wide; freight in rare sizes	Limited to what’s stocked/orderable locally
Speed	Depends on shipping + fitter booking	Often same-day
Advice & inspection	Online tools; can’t inspect before fitting	Face-to-face; can check the tyre and date code
Negotiation	Fixed online price	Room to haggle, especially owner-operated stores
Regional buyers	Strong — freights brands in	May have limited local range

Prices and fees are 2026 guides and vary by tyre, fitter and location — always confirm the current fitted total.

So is buying online worth it?

The answer turns entirely on the fitted total, not the sticker. Add Tyroola’s tyre price to the partner fitter’s fee and compare that against an in-store fitted quote for the exact same tyre. On popular sizes where the local store is competitive, the gap can shrink once fitting is added. On premium tyres, rare sizes, or where local range is thin, online usually keeps a clear lead.

Online (Tyroola) tends to win when…

You want a specific brand or an unusual size, you live regionally where local stock is limited, or you have found a genuinely lower online price and don’t need same-day fitting. Our guide to tyre brand availability in regional Australia covers why freighting a tyre in can beat waiting for a local order.

In-store tends to win when…

You need tyres today, you value hands-on advice and the chance to inspect the tyre, you want everything (including alignment) done in one visit, or you can negotiate a keen fitted price locally. Our guide to negotiating on tyre prices shows how to close that gap.

Don’t forget the fitted price and cost per kilometre

Whichever way you buy, the numbers that matter are the same: the fully fitted price and the cost per kilometre over the tyre’s life. A cheap online tyre with a short tread life can lose to a slightly dearer, longer-lasting one. And whatever you buy, it must meet your car’s placard size, load index and speed rating — see how to read your tyre placard. Never drop below the placard to save money.

Bottom line

Buying tyres online through Tyroola is worth it when the tyre price plus the separate fitter fee beats an in-store fitted quote — most often on premium brands, rare sizes and for regional buyers. If you need same-day service, advice or the ability to haggle, in-store still holds its own. Always compare the fitted total, not the sticker.

Frequently asked questions

Does Tyroola include fitting in its price?

No. Tyroola sells and ships the tyres; the fitting is done by a partner fitter who charges a separate fee, typically around $25–45 per tyre. Always add that fee before comparing against an in-store fitted quote.

Is Tyroola cheaper than a tyre shop?

Often on the tyre itself — up to around 40% off RRP on some lines — but not always once the fitter’s fee is added. On popular sizes a competitive local store can close the gap. Compare the fitted totals for the identical tyre.

Is buying tyres online safe?

Yes, provided you order the correct size and specification for your placard and have them fitted by a professional. Check the tyre’s date code at fitting, and only buy tyres that meet your car’s load and speed rating.

Is online better for regional and remote areas?

Frequently, yes. Tyroola can freight brands and sizes that a local store may not stock, though delivery takes longer and can cost more the further out you are. Weigh delivery time and cost against local availability.

Keep comparing

Read the full Tyroola review, and see how the in-store chains compare in Bob Jane vs Tyrepower and JAX Tyres vs Bob Jane. Before you buy anywhere, read why the cheapest quote isn’t always the cheapest tyre.

Sources: Tyroola – Price match & how it works; Tyroola – Why buy tyres online; Tyroola – Shipping charges.