Closing the credit gap: How credit-challenged consumers shop and pay for tires and rims
A growing number of consumers need tires and rims but don’t qualify for traditional financing. New research from Snap Finance uncovers insights to help businesses better understand and serve credit-challenged tire and rim shoppers.
Key insights from new Snap Finance research
Among tire and rim shoppers with credit scores below 670:
58%
said financing availability was important in choosing where to buy
34%
could not have paid for their purchase without financing
42%
delayed their purchase due to their financial situation or the economy
Takeaways for your business
Financing drives tire and rim sales
Financing makes many tire and rim purchases possible – and helps shoppers get more or better quality merchandise.
50% spent more because financing was available, among tire and rim shoppers with lower credit scores.
Necessity fuels tire and rim purchases
Our study found that credit-challenged consumers are more likely to shop out of necessity – when the treads are bare or the rims need replaced.
39% made a purchase to replace tires and rims that weren’t working properly, among those with lower credit scores.
Credit guides tire and rim purchasing decisions
When shopping for tires and rims, those with lower credit scores say price and ease of purchase are important factors in choosing where to buy.
31% of credit-challenged shoppers purchased lower quality tires or rims due to their financial situation or the economy.
More time to pay means more business for you
Increased revenue
Reach more customers and close more sales with our strong approval rates1
Supercharged sales
58% of credit-challenged consumers spent more because financing was available2
Expanded reach
Target new and repeat business and generate revenue with our preapproved leads
Fast funding
Enjoy expedited payments, typically within two business days of merchandise delivery or completed invoice
Disclosures
Snap-branded product offering includes retail installment contracts, bank installment loans, and lease-to-own financing. For more detailed information, please visit snapfinance.com/legal/products
Findings based on proprietary research conducted through Accelerant Research’s Agora panel with 2,736 household are financial decision makers who made a $300+ purchase in the prior 6 months across 14 product categories. Snap Finance, August 2025.
1 Not all applicants are approved. Approvals subject to underwriting qualification criteria.
2 Merchant Pulse Study. Snap Finance, 2023.