How Much Does It Cost To Mount And Balance A Tire On Average?
The cost of mounting and balancing services typically varies from one shop or service center to the next. This price also tends to differ in a number of cases, based upon tire size, and whether or not a wheel is equipped with TPMS sensors. In other words, this overall installation price is largely dependent upon the exact circumstances of the job.
Tire installation costs and tire balancing costs also fluctuate based upon the terms of any service plans that are selected at the time of service, whether or not a tire disposal fee is mandated, and if the tires in question are to undergo standard or road force balancing.
Nonetheless, the average cost to mount and balance a tire falls within a range of $15-$60. The lower end of this spectrum largely applies to smaller sedan tires mounted on steel wheels and balanced on a standard balancing machine. On the other end of the spectrum are large or low-profile tires, mounted on custom rims and balanced with the use of sticky weights.
It is also worth mentioning that some shops charge premium prices to mount tires over a certain size, or to mount tires on custom rims of any type. For this reason, it is worth calling ahead to verify pricing ahead of time, in order to ensure that no surprise charges are incurred. Most chain-type service centers also provide such pricing on their websites.
What are the costs of labor?
Generally speaking, virtually all of the expense associated with mounting and balancing tires comes in the form of labor. This is due to the fact that little in the way of actual supplies are used during the mounting and balancing process.
However, instead of charging based upon their typical hourly rate, most shops charge a set fee per tire wheel when mounting and balancing tires. This fee typically includes any usage of supplies, thereby eliminating any need to tally such costs separately.
Read Also: How much do tire chains cost?
What are the costs of parts?
As mentioned, there are very few occasions in which a shop will charge separately for supplies used during the mounting and balancing process. This stems from the fact that the only supplies used during services of this type are wheel weights and a small amount of bead lubricant.
In the grand scheme of things, this charge is extremely minor, in comparison to that associated with the input of labor required to mount and balance a tire. In fact, no more than $5 of the entire cost associated with such services is likely to be attributed to parts/supply usage.
When Should You Get A Tire Mounted And Balanced?
Tire mounting and balancing is a necessary part of purchasing new tires and is largely descriptive of the tire installation process as a whole. This involves dismounting your vehicle’s old tires, before mounting the new set of tires that you have purchased. A tire shop or automotive service center will then balance your car’s tires.
Simply put, tire mounting and balancing will be required at any point that tire replacement is deemed necessary, whether due to excessive tread wear or extensive damage. Tire mounting and balancing might also be required in the face of a flat tire or tire pressure loss that necessitates tire repair. This is due to the fact that a tire must be dismounted to be repaired correctly.
The failure of a wheels tire pressure monitoring sensor also makes it neccessary to dismount, mount, and rebalance a tire, as the sensor in question is internally situated. A technician must break a tire down, in order to gain access to the faulty sensor, which is ultimately discarded in favor of a new, fully-functional replacement.
Another instance in which tire mounting and balancing might be required is whenever a motorist chooses to install tires of a special design for seasonal use. This is the case whenever winter tires are placed onto a vehicle, in preparation for treacherous road conditions to come. Upon installation, these new snow tires must be balanced, to provide a quality ride.
How Much Does It Cost To Mount And Balance A Tire At The Dealer Vs Other Places?
In most cases, one can expect a dealership to charge toward the higher end of the above mentioned price spectrum, when mounting and balancing tires. This price is usually north of the $40 per tire mark, with similar services at some dealerships even costing considerably more.
At a dealership, your tires will more than likely be mounted with the use of a premium, precision tire machine, complete with all of the necessary adaptors to prevent bead damage, even in the most difficult of cases. Additionally, the majority of dealerships have now transitioned to the use of specialized road force balancers, which tend to be extremely precise.
Vs Walmart Tire/Lube Express
Walmart currently charges $10 a piece to mount tires and provides balancing services for a fee of $14 per tire. However, it is worth mentioning that this one-time $14 dollar fee gets consumers free rotation and balance of any tire for which it is charged. Simply put, for $24, you can have a tire mounted/balanced, and return as often as you would like for balancing, free of charge.
Vs Discount Tire
The exact price charged by Discount Tire to mount and balance tires varies from one region to the next. However, the general average cost for these services tends to be tight around $22 per tire. However, for this fee consumers also get free lifetime tire rotations and balances, as well as full-depth road hazard coverage.
Vs Costco
Costco is yet another mega-retailer, which offers several in-house automotive services. The store offers a combined mount and balance service, which costs 18.99 per tire. However, there is one major factor that consumers must keep in mind. Costco will only mount and balance tires that they have sold, barring installation of tires from all other sources entirely.
Vs Sam’s Club
Like its parent company Walmart, Sam’s Club also offers tire mounting and balancing services at many of its locations. The wholesale retailer currently mounts and balances tires for $20 a piece. For this price, you not only get a tire mounted and balanced, but recieve lifetime mount and balance services for that particular tire as well. This package also include free lifetime flat repairs as well.
Vs Pep Boys
Pep Boys is yet another large national chain, known for offering quality automotive service. Generally speaking, the cost associated with having tires mounted and balanced at Pep Boys varies, based upon location, and the type of tire that is to be serviced. However, service of this type averages approximately $30 per tire, though this price increases significantly for tires of the premium variety.
Read Also: How much do tire rotations usually cost?
Where Should You Go Get A Tire Mounted And Balanced At The Best Price?
It is not hard to find the value in Discount Tire’s mounting and balancing services. The company offers such services at a price that is on par with, if not below the industry average. Even more impressive is the fact that Discount Tire offers consumers plenty of bang for their buck at this price point as well, offering a number of complimentary warranties and service packages.
Each tire mounted and balanced by Discount Tire receives a free lifetime service package, thereby eliminating any costs attributed to having this tire rotated or balanced at a later date. I feel like this is a nice touch, as it prevents constant expenditure on a customer’s behalf, throughout the life of the tire itself.
With more than 1,000 store-front locations, consumers are also presented with no shortage of options when having their tires serviced. In fact, there are few destinations in the continental United States that a motorist can travel to, and find themselves further than a short drive away from the nearest Discount Tire. For me, this would provide significant peace of mind beyond the normal.
It is also worth mentioning that Discount Tire puts each of its tire technicians through rigorous training to ensure that they are qualified to tackle most any tire related endeavor that they undertake. I feel as if this additional training goes a long way toward making sure that specialty tires, such as those of a low-profile design, are not damaged during the mounting process.
How To Avoid Getting Ripped Off When Getting A Tire Mounted And Balanced?
The most significant way to avoid being ripped off when having a set of tires mounted and balanced is to only trust reputable, well-established shops. Tire shops and service centers rely upon word of mouth to bring in business. Therefore, a shop that carries a near-spotless reputation is likely to be worth dealing with.
This vetting practice of sorts is important, due to the fact that a tire can actually be irreparably damaged during the mounting process if handled by inexperienced personnel. If a tire’s bead is not sufficiently lubricated, and force is not applied at the right location, the bead and sealing surface of a tire can rip, rendering it useless.
Additionally, to balance tires correctly, a technician must be patient, attentive, and experienced. Balancing tires is somewhat of an exact science, requiring one to be focused and at their best to achieve the desired results. This is of the essence, as unbalanced tires can make for a harsh ride at moderate speeds.
You can easily check to see if your tires were balanced after they were mounted, by checking for the presence of new, aluminum wheel weights, On the other hand, if you notice that your vehicle’s wheel still has one or more dingy, aged wheel weights in place, you are likely safe to assume that no true balancing has taken place.
How To Save Money When Getting A Tire Mounted And Balanced?
Most service centers apply a set charge when mounting and balancing a set of tires. This fee tends to be non-negotiable, though in select cases, a shop might suspend such charges if the tires being mounted were purchased in-house. However, this will not be a possibility, if you have already purchased your own tires, via a third-party retailer such as Amazon or Tire Rack.
Money can also be saved on future mount and balance costs, by planning ahead when purchasing a new set of tires. While this level of planning generally includes a little additional expenditure initially, one stands to save a sizable amount of cash in the long run as a result.
It is always advisable to have your wheel’s valve stem replaced at the time of new tire installation services. Doing so adds little more than $2-$3 to any impending installation fees, and potentially saves you from having to have a tire dismounted, remounted, and rebalanced in the near future, all on behalf of an aged valve stem.
Likewise, it is important to consider purchasing any additional Road Hazard warranty coverage that is offered when buying a new set of tires. Purchasing this coverage largely eliminates any mount and balance-related charges that are accrued through future maintenance services, such as flat repairs.
Of course, money can always be saved by going the extra mile to properly maintain the tires that you already own. This, in turn, drastically reduces the number of tires that a vehicle goes through during its service life. Getting periodic wheel alignments and tire rotations goes a long way toward accomplishing this goal.
