Mounting Problems

[N2MINI]

Bought a set of wheels and tires from Tire Rack just over a year ago. ASA 18'' wheels and 215/35/18 TIRES.. No problems. They showed up mounted and balanced, even had correct pressure in them. All's well for just over a year. Tires wear out and I order new ones. Stop by Merchants in H-P one day just to see what they charge to install them. $10 each plus valves if you need them.. Fine, I'll be back in 2 days with tires. 2 days later... Just so happens I have reverse mount wheels ( who knew ) and with the 35 series tires the price goes UP!!!!! WAY UP $19.99 each and it will take 1-1/2 - 2 hours to do.. That day I didn't have that much time to wait. So a couple days later I go by merchants in W-S ( since they did inspect my car as a favor with the orange tint, not actually legal ) and was going to drop it off for a while and go get a bite to eat etc. They wanted $29.99 each till I told them about their other store in H-P at $19.99 they said ok and off I went. Well I get a call and they can not get my car up on any of their lifts... Go back and get car and said I'd put it on jack stands and bring them all back the next day ( Sat. ) and they said they'd cut me a deal since I was having to come back.. Got there at 3 and was just going to wait on it all this time since they didn't have to take them off the car or put them on.. WELL at 6 I was finally leaving that place and was charged $61 and some change.. Guess it could have been worse????? Any one know where I can buy a tire changer and balancer!!!!!! Whew!! I had no idea what I was in for.. Can you imagine $29.99 per tire even if you have your tires and wheels in hand!!!

[MINI Rog]

Pretty steep but I guess that's the price you pay for looking way cool.

[wildcrazy442000]

I asked Hendricks Mini and that is the price they quoted 30.00 per wheel.

[MidnightDave]

Tire Kingdom charged me $17.50 per tire to remove runflats and put S03s on last year.

Just today, I went to Discount Tire to have my new BFG G-Force Super Sport A/S tires put on MINICH (205/50-16s) and SexiLexi (225/255/40-18s) for under $1,300 out the door. I went in for KDWs and three guys who work there are running these tires and the price was right, so I bit. As you guys know, I get about 15K out of tires so I can always switch next year...sorry for the hijaak...

[minianni]

geez, I need to get a tire machine.

[wscruiser]

I know it seems like highway robbery, but for custom wheels $20 each is about the average price to get new tires mounted, unless you purchase the tire from that dealer. I'd rather pay the extra that Discount Tire, Mock Tire, or Merchants charge and know that they're not going to damage my wheels, rather than pay Goober down on the corner $10 each to get my wheels beat all to heck.

[BThayer23]

I just went to Discount Tire last weekend. I thought I paid a lot, but I guess it was a deal, based on what I'm hearing here. I bought a new (used) set of wheels and tires on Ebay, and I took them in to get my old tires put on the new wheels and vice versa, so 8 wheels mounted and unmounted. I was charged $10/wheel, so $80. Would have been another $15/wheel for balancing, but I already bought lifetime balance on both sets of wheels, so that part was free.

For a chain, the lifetime balance is a good deal, and the guys are pretty knowledgable. I've been to four DTs in the Raleigh area, and they're all good people.

Edit: I bought one set of tires from Discount Tire, so that may have lowered the price. They mentioned that on the receipt.

[N2MINI]

My problem/cost really came from my wheels being reverse mount, as the tire has to come on from the back side ( didn't realize it was a big deal, but think they have to use a different machine on them ) and with the tire being 18'' and 35 series ( very little flex in the side wall with it only being alittle over 1 inch tall or so ) the cost went up compared to a more standard size. Now I know so I will be prepared next time..

[onefastmini]

geez, I need to get a tire machine.

The tire machine you would need for runflats and wide/low profiles cost $10-15 grand and its still a PITA. They have to charge alot. I went cheap on mine and have trouble with anything more than a "normal" tire. I hope they at least did a good job:)
--Dan

[N2MINI]

They did a good job, it just took 3 hours. They and others had told me that it sometimes takes 2 people to help the machine get the low profile tire on and off the wheel.

[minianni]

Yea. I know it's a PITA I've done my share. Kinda like roofing... I can do it... don't want to.

Getting them off is easy....SAWZALL baby. Just kidding.

[N2MINI]

Yea. I know it's a PITA I've done my share. Kinda like roofing... I can do it... don't want to.

Getting them off is easy....SAWZALL baby. Just kidding.

I've actually done something like that on the lawnmower!!!

[MidnightDave]

Put the new 18s on the wifey's car the other day and it took FIVE guys, two working three laughing to get them off her car...