Costco Tire Warranty: Road Hazard Coverage, Exclusions & How to Claim
Costco Tire Warranty: Road Hazard Coverage, Exclusions & How to Claim
Costco Tire Warranty: Quick Answer
The Costco tire warranty is a 5-year (60-month) Limited Road Hazard Warranty on most passenger, performance and light truck tires bought from Costco Wholesale. If a tire becomes unserviceable from a cut, a non-repairable puncture or impact damage, Costco gives you a prorated credit toward a new tire. Coverage ends at 60 months or when the tread wears down to 2/32 of an inch (1.6 mm), whichever comes first.
Tires installed at a Costco Tire Center also come with lifetime maintenance services, which we cover below.
What the Costco Road Hazard Warranty Covers
The warranty covers a “road hazard failure,” which Costco defines as a tire that becomes unserviceable because of:
- Cuts
- Non-repairable punctures
- Impact damage, such as hitting a pothole, curb or road debris
If the damage can be repaired, Costco repairs tires with treadface injuries according to USTMA (United States Tire Manufacturers Association) standards. The warranty applies when the tire can’t be saved.
Only the damaged tire is covered. If one tire fails, you get credit for that tire, not for the other three.
How Long Does It Last?
Coverage runs for whichever comes first:
- 60 months from the purchase date, or
- The point where the tire reaches 2/32 in (1.6 mm) of tread or less, regardless of age
At 2/32 in, Costco considers the tire worn out and the warranty no longer applies.
How Costco Calculates Your Credit
Costco doesn’t replace the tire for free. The warranty is “a promise under certain conditions to give credit on a prorated basis towards the purchase of a new tire.”
- Usable tread is the tire’s original tread depth minus 2/32 in (1.6 mm).
- Your credit is the remaining usable tread multiplied by the price you paid, net of all discounts.
Illustrative example: if a tire has used about 40% of its usable tread when it fails, you’d get roughly 60% of what you paid (after discounts) as credit. A newer tire earns a bigger credit than an older one.
Comparing retailers before you buy? Our Discount Tire warranty guide shows how its free prorated road hazard protection and paid Certificates compare with the Costco tire warranty.
Lifetime Maintenance Services
Buying and installing tires at Costco also includes maintenance for the life of the tires:
- Tire rotations
- Balancing
- Inflation checks
- Flat repairs
- Nitrogen inflation
These matter beyond the savings. The road hazard warranty requires you to keep up with rotation and balancing.
Requirements to Keep Coverage Valid
To qualify, you must:
- Be the original purchaser
- Have bought the tires from Costco Wholesale
- Present the original purchase receipt and the tire to a Costco Tire Center
- Sign a Costco Wholesale tire adjustment form
To keep the warranty valid, you must also:
- Rotate and balance your tires as the vehicle manufacturer specifies
- Keep your tires at the manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure
- Keep all mechanical parts that affect tires in proper working condition
Costco says the warranty may not be available for certain vehicles or tires, so confirm with your Tire Center when you buy. You can read the full Costco Road Hazard Warranty terms on Costco’s official tire site.
What the Costco Tire Warranty Doesn’t Cover
A tire isn’t covered if it was damaged or failed because of:
- Vandalism
- An accident
- Commercial use
- Racing
- Off-road use
- Snow chains or studs
- Rapid or irregular wear
- Wear from worn, misadjusted or poorly maintained mechanical components (alignment and suspension problems are common culprits)
- Anything that doesn’t meet the definition of a road hazard failure
The warranty also doesn’t cover:
- Tires moved to a different vehicle from the one they were first installed on
- Loss of time, inconvenience, loss of use or consequential damage, except where the law prohibits that exclusion
- Manufacturer defects. It doesn’t replace or modify the tire manufacturer’s own warranty on materials and workmanship, and it doesn’t promise that tires can’t fail.
How to Make a Costco Tire Warranty Claim
- Stop driving on the damaged tire and have it checked.
- Bring the tire and your original receipt to a Costco Tire Center.
- Let the technician inspect it. If it can be repaired to USTMA standards, they’ll repair it.
- If it’s unserviceable, sign the tire adjustment form.
- Receive your prorated credit toward a replacement tire.
Keep your receipt somewhere safe. Without the original receipt and the tire, you have no claim.
Tire Care Tips From Costco
- Have a professional check your air pressure at least monthly.
- Ask for pressure to be set to the vehicle or tire manufacturer’s specification.
- Don’t overload the vehicle.
- Register your tires with the DOT card provided at installation.
- Read the tire manufacturer’s warranty booklet.
- Insist on a USTMA-approved two-piece tire repair if one is needed.
- Avoid fix-a-flat products where possible, since they can make a tire non-repairable.
- If you buy fewer than four tires, have the new ones mounted on the rear.
- Have your lug nuts re-torqued about 25 miles (40 km) after any service.
- Ask for hand-torquing with a calibrated torque wrench.
Costco Tire Warranty FAQs
How long is the Costco tire warranty?
Sixty months from purchase, or until the tread reaches 2/32 in, whichever comes first.
Does Costco’s warranty cover punctures?
It covers non-repairable punctures. Repairable ones are fixed according to USTMA standards.
Is the warranty a free replacement?
No. It’s a prorated credit based on remaining usable tread and the price you paid after discounts.
Do I need my receipt?
Yes. You must present the original receipt and the tire.
Does it cover alignment or suspension-related wear?
No. Uneven or rapid wear from alignment or worn mechanical parts is excluded.
Can I transfer the warranty to a new car?
No. Tires moved off the original vehicle aren’t covered.
Who offers the warranty?
Costco Wholesale Corporation, 730 Lake Dr., Issaquah, Washington 98027.
Related Warranty Guides
Check the Latest Official Manufacturer Warranty Before You File
Warranty coverage periods, required proof-of-purchase documents, eligible defect categories, and claim handling times vary by region, model, and authorized seller. Always check the official manufacturer’s latest support portal before filing a claim to confirm your product's eligibility.