SS109:

That's correct; UPS handles TireRack's tires by just strapping them together with clear tape. You receive your tires strapped together, two at a time; but since they are rubber, they should not exhibit any damage in shipment.

Yes, local tire-change shops will charge you to change tires. Normally, the cost of changing and STATIC balancing is included in the cost of tires; normally dynamic balancing is more expensive than static; that's why they cost more than from TireRack than from your local guy. Also they cost more since TireRack has less overhead. Simple cost of doing business.

By the way, my local gas station charges US$5 for the change, per tire, and US$6 for the dynamic balance, per tire. That's US$11 for each tire.

In order to do a proper cost analysis, you should add all the charges together - Cost of tire plus shipping plus mounting/balancing for TireRack vs. cost of tire, plus local tax, plus mounting/balancing at tire dealer. Only in this way can you make an INFORMED decision about which way to go. Note, however, that if you live in one of the states in which TireRack is physically located, they must charge you the local state sales tax anyway; this is a state law. So again, become informed by asking.......Andras