Walmart ranked dead last in Consumer Reports' tire retailer satisfaction survey, barely edging out Pep Boys for the bottom spot. The retail giant's tire-buying experience scored poorly across multiple categories, with customers citing mediocre installation quality, limited tire selection, and inadequate waiting areas. Walmart's low prices couldn't compensate for its subpar service.

Consumer Reports surveyed over 24,000 members who purchased tires in the past year, evaluating factors like pricing, installation quality, sales service, free perks, installation time, and tire selection. While Walmart offered the lowest tire prices and tied for cheapest installation costs with Costco, Discount Tire, Sam's Club, and BJ's, it failed to exceed customer expectations in most categories.

Les Schwab emerged as the top-rated retailer, with independent shops and Point S Tire also earning recommendations. The survey found that most retailers provided adequate quality, but the leaders distinguished themselves by exceeding expectations. Walmart's lowest possible scores for free perks and waiting area conditions particularly hurt its ranking, suggesting that cost-cutting measures in these areas may be impacting customer satisfaction.