worldsaway

I'm curious what others are paying for mounting race tires. In pensacola $20 a tire for A6's or V710's. I'm considering buying a tire machine and mounting my own, thinking I'd save money and it'd be more convenient. Anybody try doing their own?

AU N EGL

$11 Here NE of Raleigh NC

davidfarmer

I've paid between $10 and $38 per tire for mounting.......obviously I don't go to the $38 place anymore. Tire Kingdom/Discount Tire etc charge way too much for a simple on/off/balance.

However, I watch them, and it's a lot of work changing 18" tires. Plus it would take a LOT of tires to pay for a machine, plus a balancer.

Barbara_S

I pay $ 50 for 4 tires - no balancing or weights -just mounting.

ERND IT

I had alof of trouble even finding someplace that would actually do the work - evidently my 18 x 12 rims are an exceptional pain to mount big race tires on. I finally found a guy who is also into racing (NHRA) and he charges me $75 to mount/balance my hoosiers. glad I found him

take the time to ask around and even call shops to ask - it's worth the time. When i first started using big tires and wide rims I took my $300 tires to someone who didn't have a clue what they were doing and they ripped the bead on one of my brand new tires

Stevo92z28

I have a place that will mount/dismount for like $20 for all 4. Balance is pretty reasonable.

66IISS

We recently got a tire mounting machine.

I don't know what all of these guys complain about, the wider rims really aren't that much harder. They may turn you away because their equipment can't handle the wider stuff, but I found it easier to do wide rims than some of the skinny ones with tires that are too wide for the rims. Stock class auto crossers do goofy stuff.

That being said, the convienience factor of the tire change machine vs. having to deliver tires during business hours, pick them up at a different time, and schedule your stuff around someone else is worth it.

John Shiels

20 each most places are over 30 ea. Long Island NY

Kubs

I havent found one in my area for under $30/tire yet..

Poor-sha

I use these guys. $30/tire but they come to you. http://www.tirevan.com/

AverageVetteNut

I get mine done for $40 for all 4, but that's not for balancing.

Last time, they cut me a break when I dropped them off @ 9AM and by 3 hadn't started them, so I got 4 tires dismounted, 4 mounted back on, and 2 tiers disposed of for $25.

SLandstra_Z06

Why doesn't this surprise me Sean? Leave it to you to find someone willing to drive out to your house to mount your tires for a $10 premium per tire. It's worth it for the benefit of not having the hassel of running around with tires, wheels, scheduling, picking up, etc...



Steve

Poor-sha

This is true. While I'm quite clear on how to make more money I have yet to find a way to make more time.

TravisD

I think the local tire shop who also campaigns a Grand Am car gets around $9/wheel for race tires. Flips are usually "free" if you drop $20 in the tip can for the guys in the back.

worldsaway

For me, the convenience factor is a biggie. Being able to change tires on my schedule would be nice, instead of killing almost an hour loading/unloading and driving to the tire shop. And the tires usually aren't ready when we get there. To those of you who've done it, how difficult is it to mount 315/18's on Z06 wheels?

AU N EGL

R compounds are very easy to mount.

the runflats and with TPMS are the PIA

L98Terror

Discount Tire does it for $6, $6 on and $6 off so $12 a tire not balanced. $48 for 4

I had a buddy that was doing it but his machine won't handle the wide tires

HunterBLT

Being in the equipment business and also teaching high performance tire changing (20,25,30 series). May I please put my two cents in. I do agree with all of the comments thus far, but think about this. What do your race tires cost you? If a tire bead accidently gets torn, who pays? How much are you willing to spend to have your own tire changing machine? Do you have an air compressor big enough to handle the demands? Do you have the skills needed to do the job? I could go on but these are some of the questions I ask guys who want their own equipment. Now on to the balancer. Have you priced wheel weights? Are you going to want to Road Force the tire when you balance it? You can balance an egg you know. I also want to warn everyone against buying tire servicing equipment that is made in China. It's less expensive (cheap) and hard to service and get parts for. My advice to you guys is to find a performance minded shop with good equipment and talk to the manager about what you want and expect. If you do decide to do your own, buy good stuff and get the needed training. Most people think a caveman can change a tire, but you *** is riding on it at over a 100 mph. Don't cheap out now.If anyone needs help e-mail me at hickammike@hotmail.com. I will now step down from my soapbox.

flycastinguy

Mike knows what he's talking about. He has been doing my tires and wheels for many years.

Bob

rasrboy

If we are trackside, I charge $7 off, $7 on and $7 balance $84.00 Total. This includes NEW HIGH TEMP race cores and static balance along with high temp tape to cover weights.

If doing local at home for Racers/Corvette Club guys I charge $50 for all 4.

FYI, 1 small box of stick & peel weights ar $40.00! and they go fast Plus the cost of high temp tape @ $5.00 a roll and poly duck heads for the machine so it don't tear up rims. You need to stay up on the service of the machine by changing fluid and making sure you drain the moisture out of your compressor tank so it does not go thru the tire machine and tear it up. The overhead is not cheap, this is the same machine all the tire teams used in ALMS and other series.

EXAMPLE: Michelin,Goodyear,Kumho,Dunlop,Hoosier,Y okahama,Falken.

I use a Corghi balancer model EM43 $2,500. Works great!

New Hunter TC3250 tire machine with power air assist arm $6,000.

Features
■Floating 3-Point Articulating Mounting Arm
■Spring-Loaded Wheel Centering Support
■Exclusive "Tulip" Wheel Clamping System
■Tilted Ergonomic Design for Ease of Operation
■Bottom Bead Lifter Device Attached to Column
■Smooth, Powerful Side-Shovel Bead Loosener
■All Functions Driven by Compressed Air
Tire Changers
Specifications
■Clamping System Rotating Speed: 15 RPM (variable)
■Recommended Air Supply: 115 to 175 psi
■Air Consumption: 12 CFM
■Maximum Tire Diameter: 40" (43.5" with optional extension kit
■Maximum Bead Loosener Opening Width: 17"
■Bead Loosening Nominal Wheel Diameter Range: 10" to 23"
■Internal Rim Clamping: 10" to 22" (10" to 26" with optional extension kit)
■External Rim Clamping: 9" to 20" (9" to 26" with optional extension kit)
■Bead loosening power: 480 to 560 lbs.
■Dimensions: 43" x 72" x 55" (length/height/width)


Just a little info I thought I would share!

Aaron