What Do You Pay To Have Your Tires Mounted & Balanced?

[IanDMacDonald]

Obviously I anticipate "nothing/free", as some do it themselves, however I don't have a tire changer, tire changing tools, nor weights. So, called around to various shops in the Metro-Detroit region, and $35/tire was the cheapest, to $85/tire from a dealer. One shop has it advertised for $25, and it turns out that it's just for mount, no balance. I asked "who would not want their tire balanced?" He shrugged and said "some don't". Well, I'll avoid that shop. So, unless someone can convince me that I'm capable of doing it on my own, I'll just have to bite it on additional costs of mount/balance.

[jetmechmarty]

There's a boutique dealer in my town. They sell Moto Guzzi, Aprilia, EBR, and Suzuki. I'm going tomorrow and get some tires. $60 to mount and balance both wheels. I'm taking wheels, not the bike. The tires are cheap enough to just get them there, too!

[BA80]

0..............................

[XJOK2PLAY]

0..............................

Greg,
You got a changer and balancer setup?

[BA80]

I got a couple good pry bars and a static balancer. We're getting a new tire changer at work soon. The old one would do the 16's fine but wouldn't handle the 19" front.

[motoman]

Obviously I anticipate "nothing/free", as some do it themselves, however I don't have a tire changer, tire changing tools, nor weights. So, called around to various shops in the Metro-Detroit region, and $35/tire was the cheapest, to $85/tire from a dealer. One shop has it advertised for $25, and it turns out that it's just for mount, no balance. I asked "who would not want their tire balanced?" He shrugged and said "some don't". Well, I'll avoid that shop. So, unless someone can convince me that I'm capable of doing it on my own, I'll just have to bite it on additional costs of mount/balance.

The $25-30 mounted/balanced seems to be the norm.
Removing both mine and havin' them done runs $20apiece......that includes 4oz. of Ride-On in each for balance and flat protection. That's at a privately owned shop, not dealer.

[MaximPhil]

Hi Ian, I am very lucky as i found a guy quite close who does mine for $15 per wheel including balancing. I was looking at a hand operated tire changer for around $100 but at $15 a wheel hardly worth while.
You can balance with a rod to replace the axle and two jack stands. I have no idea where you get the weights.
Those are Canadian $ too so a 4 hour drive and you can share my 'guy"
Phil

[ViperRon]

The last mount and balance was by a dealer not his tires new stems 15 per tire the time before was different dealer 18 per tire. Tires off bike handed to them which I am sure makes a big difference.

I personally would not want just anyone pulling my rear wheel as I fully clean and re-grease the bearing each time and I know where the pieces go. Usually R/R tire jobs go to the least qualified person in a shop so do you want him dropping your cage bearing in the grit and putting it in your bike?

Well do you?

[Schming]

Obviously I anticipate "nothing/free", as some do it themselves, however I don't have a tire changer, tire changing tools, nor weights. So, called around to various shops in the Metro-Detroit region, and $35/tire was the cheapest, to $85/tire from a dealer. One shop has it advertised for $25, and it turns out that it's just for mount, no balance. I asked "who would not want their tire balanced?" He shrugged and said "some don't". Well, I'll avoid that shop. So, unless someone can convince me that I'm capable of doing it on my own, I'll just have to bite it on additional costs of mount/balance.

Ian, HF is your friend for tire irons, stick on weights and a tire machine if needed.

I splurged for the machine for my auto and truck (F150) tires but didn't opt to get the cycle tire attachment 'cause I've been using tire irons on all mine and others cycle tires for almost 40 yrs.

I recycled a piece of leather from an armchair to wrap the irons to protect the rims.

Lots of you tube vids and us old fogeys if you need help. First tire I changed was on my '77 Suzuki RM 125 and pinched the tube with the iron and wasn't able to ride that weekend so I learned real quick how not to do that.

Just turning 16, I worked at an ARCO station (1st job) and yes, as ViperRon has stated, tire changing goes to the "new guy" but I love power tools and the machine made such a cool sound

[IanDMacDonald]

Oh, I watched all the Youtube videos, and not one of them made it look easy. I envision a busted knuckle or two, and I'm really not interested in that. I guess I'll work an extra day at the shop to cover those fees.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Ian,
Cody, Bohn,Tod and I have always changed our own tires and balanced them (usually at Cody's.)

We've noticed that some tire brands are pretty soft in the sidewalls, and slip off/on easily while others are so stiff it's everything he and I together can do to change one!

Some brands are very well balanced from the factory, some aren't.

Some brands have been so tough we decided never to run them again!

Example: Dunlop Elite 3's are outstanding tires for the XS11, but tough to put on/off due to their stiff sidewalls.

A couple of times I had to have someone locally in Tulsa mount/balance for me on my C14's 17" wheels.
I use a place in Tulsa called "Kinetic Playground".
Donny always does a good job, and if I r&r the wheel and take it to him, he usually just charges me $20 to do it.
Bob

[BA80]

I used to use Kinetic Playground also. Last time I did the kid that did my tire screwed up the balance.

The E3's are tough to work with but not impossible. I've done them a time or 2 with just pry bars but the 16" wheels fit on the tire machine at work So that's where they get done.

I have my balancer here too.

[jetmechmarty]

What kind of balancer, Greg?

I took my wheels to the local custom bike shop a while back and had Metzeler ME880's installed. He did it the old fashioned way. Doing the back wheel, he bent his tire iron nearly 90 degrees. The Metzeler is pretty stiff as well.

[BA80]

Just a static balancer, got it off ebay for $60-$70. It works well.

Removing them is easy once you get the bead broken. The trick to mounting them with bars is only go 2 or 3 inches at a time and lube them good.

[IanDMacDonald]

Found a place in Waterford a few miles South of my shop that'll mount & balance for $30/tire. I'll jump on that.