Snow tire install?

zevo · 11-26-05, 07:59

I'm getting ready to have snow tires put on my stock rims. How much do most shops charge to switch your tires? Also, does anyone know of a good place in metro detroit (oakland county).

Romanova · 11-26-05, 01:36

Plan on about $40 for them to mount up snow tires onto your stock rims, then balance them and install them on the vehicle. Consider buying a set of steel rims for the snow tires to be installed on, that way you can do it yourself and the steel rims will pay for themselves over time.
GL!

MorBid · 11-26-05, 01:51

You probaly would've done better getting another set of cheap rims (even steallies) so you don't have to mount/unmount each set for the season's.

Saving your stock rims the wear and tear and you some money (cuz you'll have to go to a tire shop every time you need them changed).

With a dedicated set of winter tires on their own wheels you would only have to have them mounted once during the tread life and could changed them yourself whenever you want.

zevo · 11-27-05, 05:05

I think I will probably buy aftermarket rims in the spring and leave my snow tires on the stock rims, I just didn't want to get ripped off on mounting them. Thanks for the info so far.

White95Max · 11-27-05, 05:08

I agree with that. Have a set of snow tires permanently mounted on the stock wheels, and get a new set of aftermarket wheels with summer tires for the warm months. I can switch between the two whenever I want, without making any appointment or paying anything.

To have my snow tires mounted and balanced, it cost me $30. The guys there are real nice to me, often giving me discounted prices (sometimes free for minor things) and even loaning me tools to do things myself!

MorBid · 11-27-05, 05:31

If you don't find any reccommendations go to www.tirerack.com and look up thier installaters in your area. They have a pricing/rating list I beleive there too.

You won't have to buy anything from TR, but TR uses local installers to direct ship tires to for mounting when you "do" make a purchase.

zevo · 11-27-05, 05:45

Thanks for the tirerack info. It sounds like it will cost me about $20 per tire for mounting and balancing.

2000firebird · 11-27-05, 06:42

the only places i really see around here are discount tire cos and belle tires. little shops probably can do it too but doubt it would be cheaper than a tire store.

Accumulator · 11-28-05, 02:45

Just make sure the shop knows what they're doing. Installing tires isn't exactly bubba-proof and balancing can almost be an art.

Get the weights on the back side only (corrosion issues are even worse with winter weather) and get adhesive weights, not clamp on ones. Get the balancing done on a Hunter GSP9700 (find one HERE ), they really do make a difference. But make sure the guy's experienced with that machine, they take a little know-how.

Black240SX · 11-28-05, 03:10

It's surprising how many shops can't even get the tire pressure right. Be sure to check it afterwards.

FalconGuy · 11-28-05, 03:34

I got my BMW back from a tire change with 45 PSI in all 4 tires, 3 lugs fell out of the left front wheel the next day as I was dong a NY to Florida trip. I nearly crapped my pants when I did a walk around while fueling in Florida, keep in mind I had been driving for 20 hours at speeds better not mentioned. This was done in a highly respected BMW service center. I always check torque and pressure, sometimes while they are watching me in the parking lot. Not once has it ever been correct.

Check everything they touch, trust no one. The tire guy is normally the lowest man on the corporate ladder in any shop.

I use a separate set of winter rims (Tirerack) so now I can change my snows myself, it saves them since I can now put my regular tires on whenever the weather is looking warm for a week or two. With a good jack I can get the job done in 30 minutes. It also saves all the wear and tear of ripping the tire off the rim a few times a year. Its more than paid for the jack and given me piece of mind which is priceless in my opinion.

White95Max · 11-28-05, 04:19

Yeah it is very convenient to have two sets of wheels/tires to swap at your discretion.

And I never trust mechanics to do everything right. I check my tire pressure and fluids after every visit to a mechanic, whether they worked on that aspect of the car or not. I also loosen and retorque all of the lug nuts.