Just figured out I need new tires like 2 months ago. Where can I find the best deals? I'm looking at Alameda & Contra Costa Counties.

I've found some surprisingly good deals lately at WalMarts (locations with Tire & Lube facilities) and sometimes Costco Tire Shops. I found the best deals by having tire sizes in my hand, then calling these and other shops to get best quotes.  Be sure to ask for total price including mounting & balancing etc, because this is where a few shops get you: they give a lower price on the tire but they don't mention they have a much higher price for mounting & balancing.

Try a junk yard?
At a pick n pull you can probably get tires for less than $20...

^true.  If you're okay with used tires, you can often get some really cheap deals on newish used tires at many tire shops also

The week before my truck "blew up", I had just bought new tires.
I've seen practically new tires at auto wreckers.
And they sell for cheap...

Les schwab

there's been quite a few threads on this.  these aren't all focused on east bay, but if you scan thru these I'm sure there's some east bay shop leads included yelp.com/message_board_s…

Thanks, Jack.  I figured there were threads already. I wanted to get the ball rolling from my iPhone before I got home; thanks Yelp app for no search feature.  I also figured my search focused on a fairly specific region, so maybe that would lead to different information.

So Joe, I'm driving a Subaru, and I understand that AWD requires evenly worn tires.  Sounds like your situation would have yielded that (sucks about your truck, btw).  Where would you go to get those installed?  I assume places that sell tires will do it, for an increased installation fee?

You can bring your own tires to any place that sells tires.
I have never been charged any additional fees besides basic mounting and balancing.
Of course they won't sell you their extended warranty or anything like that...

I heart Rouse Tire Service in Oakland.

America's Tire is great, reliable and good customer service whom I trust, and my friends have had great experiences too.

Thanks all. Loli, I saw Rouse Tire Service listed as a Michelin partner currently offering a rebate, so I might end up there.  I was thinking about heading to America's Tire, but they only have 2 of the tires I want until later this week, and Big O had the lowest price (by $1), but don't have their installation fees listed online or their availability.  I'm going to make some calls in the morning