Tires pt. 1

Replacing tires on the family car was simpler when I was a kid. My dad always bought used cars. I don't think my dad ever replaced tires. His car would cease to function after various repairs and he'd replace THE ENTIRE CAR.

I'm not kidding. I don't recall him ever getting anything replaced on the cars so much but fixed with junk parts. I don't think he had the car's oil changed regularly either. I know he was a regular customer of mechanic Ray Crowe who owned a junkyard of cars which was Ray's inventory of parts.

My folks borrowed money off me when was I maybe 10 or 11. I forget what needed done, but it was engine related and cost more than $200. They refused to pay me back for a long time. They opened a savings account for me with the money they owed. 

Not sure how I accumulated $200 back then. I didn't spend money freely.

I think about my dad. I wish he were around still so I could ask dumb questions about why the heck he did stupid things.

Is it normal to buy a set of 4 tires whenever the life of tire is deemed up, or do most people replace individual tires when they cease to work?

Back in the day, you could buy a functioning car for the current price of a set tires. Granted it was back in '93 or '94, my dad bought a '85 Chevy Nova that had 250k miles on it for $900. 

My Passat's tires are generally quoted at $750 by Tire Discounters and Grismer.

I'm not thrilled with past experiences at TD nor Grismer, so I am trying Sam's Club.