According to Bill Thompson, president of IMR, in total, 9.9 percent of new tire purchases are made via the Internet and installed as DIFM. However, single men buy new tires online at the highest rate – 10.3 percent – for DIFM installation. Families and single women buy tires online at nearly the same rate, 9.7 percent and 9.6 percent, respectively.

“As online-only tire retailers continue to emerge and take share, I suspect the use of the Internet for buying new tires amongst all demographics will rise,” Thompson said. “There are certainly demographic differences in the usage of the Internet for buying new tires, just as there are regional differences. For instance, single males have a much higher purchase rate via the Internet for this category than any other age group, as do households on the east coast.”

For more information on IMR and its research capabilities, visit www.AutomotiveResearch.com or call Bill Thompson at 800-654-1079.