BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – If your vehicle's tires are balding and you're in need for winter tires, you shouldn't wait until the height of the winter.
Tire shops tell WBEN the supply-chain issues are having an impact at their businesses and there may be a decrease in winter inventory.
"There's definitely production delays with the manufactures and then you compound that with the labor shortages and shipping and distribution shortages," John Slaven, the Director of Retail Operations at Dunn Tire, said. "I think it's a perform storm. There's not one key point that's causing the delays. It's just a series of events that are pushing things back."
Slaven said they're not worried about an immediate impact on their own tire supply because they purchased their supply in the early summer months. However, as the winter months come, he said a new batch of tires could be more difficult to come by.
It's a similar situation at AAA Car Care Plus in Clarence.
Jason Marks, the manager at the tire shop, said they could normally get winter tires from their distributors in one day.
"Now, our tire suppliers are coming to us saying if you are looking to purchase winter tires, or any type of a tire, order them now," Marks said. "You may not see them for a couple of weeks. Maybe longer. It seems to change from day to day."
Both Slaven and Marks said customers should not wait to get new tires not only because of the supply issues, but because winter, in general, is around the corner.
