EliteCM.net

I'm curious to see what others are paying to get tires mounted and balanced. I like my local shop here but they are charging me like $25 per wheel. Is this a fair price? I would go to a chain store, but I'm concerned about my rims getting scratched up.

I think that's roughly what every shop charges. I'll find out soon when I replace mine and my wife's tires. Not looking forward to the assraping I'm going to receive for replacing two sets of tires.

That's not far off from what I pay.

That's usually up to par for what it costs.  I remember paying about $80 for 4 wheels before.

Damn you Thien. I used to not pay for mounting tires when I worked at a performance shop. Now, unfortunately, I'm one of the poor saps that pays for it. Sigh.

I do it on the side for $40.

Sounds like my shop is pretty fair.  Too bad tires are one of the only things we DIY'ers can't do at home!

Unless you buy a tire machine  

Firestone auto care charged me $15 per wheel.

Bj's does like 15 a wheel and it includes road hazard, lifetime plugs/patches, lifetime rotation, etc...you may be able to negotiate something like this at a chain as well, I did; NTB.

I thought BJ's was free installation when you purchase tires from them.

I don't know about BJs, but I know Costco charges $15 a tire now when you purchase tires from them.

It very well may be free if you buy from them (mount and balance only, doubtful on the road hazard), but Im talking like if you just go there with tires, say from tirerack.com or something

Prices depend on the tire size (ie 17", 18") from most of the shops I called around.  I paid $90 out the door to have a set of 18" winter tires mounted last year but most shops wanted $100+

Too bad you guys aren't around here. I would do all for $40.

Would you scratch my rims?

Nope. I don't scratch rims like Sears, Discount Tires, and etc.

well what's the secret, so we can ask the fuckers around us respectively how NOT to scratch our wheels?!

First of all, they need to clamp the rims from the outside instead of the inside. Second, make sure they use a plastic rim clamp and not a metal one. Also, it takes patience and skill to not damage the rim. At the same time, you have to be fast to make sure you can get the tire mounted. I will try to make a video of me mounting and dismounting a tire the "PROPER" way.

that woud be VERY useful man

Nice.  It would only be useful if I had a tire mounting machine.

you could show it to a shop tech on your phone, and say..."do this"

It still doesn't give them the skill or experience required to do it properly.  Just because you watch a DIY video online doesn't mean you have the technical abilities to do it.

true, but it is a start at least...

Would like to see the video as well.  My "go-to" tire shop has forever lost my business because they chipped the paint down to the metal on one of my TL rims last weekend.  I am super anal about my wheels and I know there was no damage before I took in the wheel for a patch.  Why do so many people suck at their job?

Did you bring the damage to their attention so they can fix it?  I got $800 from Sears because they ruuined my wheels.  Maybe your "go to" shop will step up and fix them for you since they caused the damage.  Shit happens, but what really makes a difference is how they handle it when shit happens.