Tire mounting cost
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,056
Likes: 0
From: monroe city mo
Tire mounting cost
Does this sound reasonable for mounting 19 and 20s on my new wheels. I called a discount tire thats 90 miles from me because im buying the new tires from discount tire online. They wanted 150.00 to mount and balance and another 15.00 per wheel because they had tire sensors, total 210.00.
Is this the going price for mounting and balance? Oh, and i was going to have the tires shipped to them, but they said they dont do that. I know ive read on here where guys have had their tires shipped to the installer.
Is this the going price for mounting and balance? Oh, and i was going to have the tires shipped to them, but they said they dont do that. I know ive read on here where guys have had their tires shipped to the installer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,118
Likes: 122
From: Madison (Huntsville) Alabama
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
Sounds a little high. I just got new tires at NTB, and they charge $30 each for mounting and balancing performance tires, with the pressure sensors. I bought the tires from them, but it would have been the same had I bought them from Tire Rack. They matched Tire Rack's price, plus $15 each for shipping, so I got as good a price as I could have.
And yes, they will take drop shipments directly from Tire Rack.
The mount/balance price really isn't all that bad ... they had to remove the old stiff Goodyear runflats, and replace them with Michelin runflats. Total time was over two hours, and they were working the entire time. I think their regular price per tire for normal tire balancing is about $12, so the performance markup was about $18 each.
And yes, they will take drop shipments directly from Tire Rack.
The mount/balance price really isn't all that bad ... they had to remove the old stiff Goodyear runflats, and replace them with Michelin runflats. Total time was over two hours, and they were working the entire time. I think their regular price per tire for normal tire balancing is about $12, so the performance markup was about $18 each.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 34,873
Likes: 487
From: Lacey WA RVN 68-69
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Did you ask the store what mount and balance would be if you bought the tires from them as opposed to the online site? In most cases, mounting and balancing is included with the price of the tire. And the store should be able to handle large-diameter wheels; I don' tthink I have ever seena large chain store that did not have the ability to handle wheels upwards of 20's or 22's. Just look at a Les Schwab store; they even sell 24's 
Even with TP sensors, you should be able to work a better deal by doing the entire deal through the store. And IMHO, over $50 a wheel to mount and balance is too much.
Even with TP sensors, you should be able to work a better deal by doing the entire deal through the store. And IMHO, over $50 a wheel to mount and balance is too much.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 4,419
Likes: 6
From: Arroyo Grande CA
Look around. I found a Mobile Tire guy, locally. He was all set up in a large bread van. He dismounted, mounted, and balanced all 4 tires, GY GS-D3's, for $75.00. This was at my home. And, did an excellent job. Absolutely no rim damage. This was a 2 years ago. He didn't have any problem leaving the sensors alone, he knew they were there.
He did ask next time I'm due for tires, give him a shot at the pricing, as he could get whatever tire I wanted.
He did ask next time I'm due for tires, give him a shot at the pricing, as he could get whatever tire I wanted.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 5,118
Likes: 122
From: Madison (Huntsville) Alabama
CI 6-7-8 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
I'm not sure why they charge extra for pressure sensor mounting. I watched them do mine, and it's really simple, involving tightening one nut and takes about a minute. Replacing a regular valvestem would be about the same scope. Of course they have to be careful, so maybe the charge is for "insurance" for damaged sensors.
Working with runflats is a different story ... those things are stiff!!
Working with runflats is a different story ... those things are stiff!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,024
Likes: 18
From: DFW Texas
I've bought so many tires from Discount Tire they know me by name and by my vette when I pull up. Bought tires for a Grand Cherokee, a Tahoe, 4 trailer tires for my boat, tires for my kids Eclipse, and the GS D3's all within a 3 or 4 month span. I am usually bumped up in line (on my vette) when I need to get them to re-balance them or check a leaking sensor.
I bought my GS-D3's from them. They had to pull the sensors off the original rims, put them in the new chrome rims I brought with me, then mount and balance.
About 3 days later, driving down the highway, one of the rear lug nuts slung off, banged a spoke then no idea where it went. Sounded like the rear end exploded when the lug nut hit the spoke! They replaced the hardly dinged wheel with a brand new one (from COH) then told me to come back in a couple of days to re-torque the lug nuts.
Apparently (they said so) aluminum wheels are notorious for loosening some in the first couple of days.
And I drive by there every day to work, so will get aggressive on the throttle for them when passing - I look back and it's all
up!
I always 'take care' of the one guy there that works on the vette!
So, yes, to me over $200 is outrageous!
I bought my GS-D3's from them. They had to pull the sensors off the original rims, put them in the new chrome rims I brought with me, then mount and balance.
About 3 days later, driving down the highway, one of the rear lug nuts slung off, banged a spoke then no idea where it went. Sounded like the rear end exploded when the lug nut hit the spoke! They replaced the hardly dinged wheel with a brand new one (from COH) then told me to come back in a couple of days to re-torque the lug nuts.
Apparently (they said so) aluminum wheels are notorious for loosening some in the first couple of days.
And I drive by there every day to work, so will get aggressive on the throttle for them when passing - I look back and it's all
up!I always 'take care' of the one guy there that works on the vette!
So, yes, to me over $200 is outrageous!
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 30,055
Likes: 351
From: Big Red Ne
Originally Posted by bowtiebubba
Does this sound reasonable for mounting 19 and 20s on my new wheels. I called a discount tire thats 90 miles from me because im buying the new tires from discount tire online. They wanted 150.00 to mount and balance and another 15.00 per wheel because they had tire sensors, total 210.00.
Is this the going price for mounting and balance? Oh, and i was going to have the tires shipped to them, but they said they dont do that. I know ive read on here where guys have had their tires shipped to the installer.
Is this the going price for mounting and balance? Oh, and i was going to have the tires shipped to them, but they said they dont do that. I know ive read on here where guys have had their tires shipped to the installer.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 12,346
Likes: 5
From: Mustang OK
I would guess prices vary around the country, but that would be very high for here. About the highest I heard of around here for tires with sensors is around $25 each mounted with life time Road Force balance. 
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 5,407
Likes: 1
From: HONOLULU HAWAII
Originally Posted by bowtiebubba
Do the tire mounting stores have to have special equipment to do the 19 and 20s? Would i be able to go to a place like sears to get them mounted?
I would stay from Sears unless it was for a battery change. You really dont want to take a chance with nice wheels. Find a reputable tire shop, let them know you are very particular with your car and even watch the guy if possible.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 502
Likes: 1
From: Fountain hills AZ
Originally Posted by bowtiebubba
Does this sound reasonable for mounting 19 and 20s on my new wheels. I called a discount tire thats 90 miles from me because im buying the new tires from discount tire online. They wanted 150.00 to mount and balance and another 15.00 per wheel because they had tire sensors, total 210.00.
Is this the going price for mounting and balance? Oh, and i was going to have the tires shipped to them, but they said they dont do that. I know ive read on here where guys have had their tires shipped to the installer.
Is this the going price for mounting and balance? Oh, and i was going to have the tires shipped to them, but they said they dont do that. I know ive read on here where guys have had their tires shipped to the installer.
Why don't you visit Tire Rack's list of installers and try one of them?