Whether you’re putting on your first tire or replacing worn-out tires, here are some tips to Mount and Balance Tires and help you to avoid costly mishaps and get the job done right.
Every tire needs to be balanced to ensure it will last longer. But as you might imagine, balancing a tire is not as easy as it sounds. To help make sure you get a proper balance on your tires, here are a few tips.
We’ve all seen a car parked at a curb with one tire slightly higher than the others, and wondered why the owner didn’t just adjust the height of the tire to match the rest of the tires.
When you start to look at the situation from a different perspective, it makes sense if you want the wheel to be perfectly balanced, every part of the tire has to be exactly the same height.
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Best Practices For Mount and Balance Tires
We’re all familiar with balancing a bike, but not too many of us have ever thought about balancing a vehicle’s tires! That’s exactly the situation we find ourselves in when Mount & Balance Tires on our own vehicle.
To help you set the right budget, let’s look into the average cost of balancing and balancing and mounting services. We’ll also talk about companies that offer some of the most affordable services for most types of vehicles. Then, we’ll provide answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about tire Mount and Balance Tires.
What Is the Average Cost to Mount and Balance Tires?
The number one factor determining the cost of mounting and balancing your tires is your vehicle’s type. The larger the vehicle, the higher the price since they have larger tires.
As of writing, you’ll expect to pay from $13 to $45 to mount one tire or $52 to $180 for four tires. In terms of balancing, it would be around $10 to $15 for each tire or approximately $40 to $60 for all tires.
However, the price would be a bit higher if you plan to have winter tires installed. Expect to add from $8 to $10 per tire.
The price range itself tells you that some companies charge lower than others. Likewise, most companies offer packages wherein balancing is already included in the installation or mounting price. Some even include other services.
Reliable Tire Mounting and Balancing Services
For reliable companies that can mount and balance your off-road vehicle tires at a cost-efficient price, the top options are Walmart, Discount Tire and Costco.
Walmart
For mounting and balancing, the current package ranges from $48 to $60 for four tires or $12 to $15 per tire if you bought the tires from Walmart. The rate includes lifetime rotation and balancing for every 7,500 miles and new valve stems, TPMS service, and 50-mile lug re-torque. Since tire disposal isn’t included, expect to pay around $1.50 for each tire or $6.
An optional add-on is the road hazard warranty that costs $10 per tire or $40 for the four tires bought at Walmart. It will cover flat tire repairs and any unforeseen road hazard and replace non-repairable tires with at most 25% tread wear.
Considering every fee, service, disposal, and warranty, how much does it cost to mount and balance tires at Walmart? Well, you would spend between $90 and $106.
On the other hand, you would need to pay an additional $10 per tire or $40 for four tires if you purchased the tires from a different company. Thus, expect to pay between $88 to $100 for four tires. Of course, you would also need to pay the disposal fee if you’ll leave the old tires.
Discount Tire
Don’t prefer to have your tires balanced and mounted at Walmart? Maybe because of the long line, or they’re not a tire-specific company? Discount Tire would be your best option, whether you have a small car, Jeep, ATV, or UTV.
As a USA-based tire and wheel retailer, the quote provided by Discount Tire for the wheel and tire package you bought from them already includes services. If you only purchased the tires or have tires from other companies, you’d be charged around $21 to $33 per tire or $84 to $132 for four tires. This installation price covers mounting, lifetime balancing and rotating, new valve stems, flat repairs, airchecks, and inspections.
Similar to Walmart, the disposal fee isn’t included in the quote. Discount Tire will charge around $2.75 per tire or $11 for four tires.
How about the road hazard coverage at Discount Tire? Unlike other tire servicing companies, Discount Tire refers to this as the Certificate for Repair, Refund, or Replacement. Its cost is approximately 15% or 16% of the tire’s price tag. This “warranty” is valid for three years from the date of purchase.
Costco
Exclusively for members, Costco offers tire mounting at a rate of $18.99 per tire or almost $76 for four tires, which include nitrogen tire inflation, lifetime balancing, rotation, air pressure checking, and flat repairs, plus new valve stems and tire disposal. On top of that, you’ll enjoy five years of road hazard warranty. For TPMS, you would need to pay an additional $3 per tire.
Cost to Balance Tires
The Tires should be balanced every 24 months or every 5,000 to 7,500 miles it is an advice by the experts to get them balanced time to time.
Here are expected average costs per tire when you visit the companies mentioned above:
Walmart: $10
Discount Tire: $16
Costco: $21.99
FAQs About Tire Mounting and Balancing
Do you have any tips for those who are new to mounting and balancing?
It is not as easy as it seems! You have to work on your skills. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
I have never mounted or balanced a tire before. What should I expect?
It is different for every tire. Some tires require a different skill set than others. A common misconception is that if it doesn’t fit your car it won’t work. We recommend starting with a flat tire and working your way up to mounting and balancing.
How do you know if you are mounting or balancing correctly?
If the tire moves freely when driving or driving in reverse, then you are doing it correctly.
I am not sure how to mount a tire on my car. Where do I start?
Most cars require you to remove the wheel and then put it back on with the correct tool. Be careful!
What kind of tools do I need to mount and balance a tire?
You can use the following tools depending on what type of tire you are mounting:
- Wheel balancer – for a standard tire
- Tire gauge – for a standard tire
- Motorcycle wheel truing stand – for a motorcycle tire
Are there any special tires that you recommend for a specific application?
Yes! Tires for a specific application can help you achieve the results you want. We recommend going to a tire shop to help you decide which tires are right for your application.
I want to buy tires online. What are some of the things to look out for?
Make sure you’re buying the right size! A tire that fits one
Is it possible to balance a tire that’s flat?
Yes, it is. If the tread area is still intact, you can usually balance the tire by putting a piece of tape around the tire. If the tread area is damaged, you may need to balance it with a new tire. You can ask a mechanic for help.
What if I’m not sure whether my tire is balanced or not?
If the tire has a mark that says “balance required,” then it probably needs to be balanced. It is possible to check the imbalance using a machine that measures the pressure in each of the four tires. If the tire pressure is correct, there will be no imbalance. If there is an imbalance, the tire should be fixed.
How long does it take to mount and balance a tire?
For a vehicle that weighs less than 2,000 pounds, it typically takes about two hours to mount and balance a tire. On a vehicle that weighs more than 2,000 pounds, it typically takes three hours to mount and balance a tire.
How will I know when they’ve balanced my car?
You’ll feel it! The car will start to turn more easily.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The cost of balancing a vehicle is usually the same regardless of whether the tires are mounted or unmounted. Mounting the tires also increases the weight of the vehicle by about 1.5 pounds, so it is important to consider this when calculating the cost of tire balancing. Also, keep in mind that tires on vehicles that weigh over 6,000 pounds will require professional installation.