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

[Jerry]

Western Colorado - Grand Junction - Motorcycle Accessories will mount and balance for $25.00. (Plus cost of weights.) That is if you take the wheels off and bring them in "loose" so they don't have to take the wheels off and re-install. A local shop here in Glenwood Springs wants over $100.00 per tire if they have to take the wheels off, mount and balance, and re-install. Minimum 1 hour shop time per tire, they don't have a mount and balance package.

I used to have a small independent do my mount and balance but he eventually went to work for a large dealership. Motorcycle Accessories has done my mount and balance service for the past several years without any complaint from me. Drop off the wheel, return in a couple hours and pick it up. They also check the bearings at no charge if asked to do so.

[Radioguylogs]

I did 4 tires last year for my first time.

It wasn't bad for a novice. I used the Motion-Pro spoons and rim protectors.

I went to Discount Tire and the manger gave me the weights for free- can't sell lead if he wanted to.

I used the axles and milk crates to balance. The balance came out better than the last time I had a shop do it, but that was 30 years ago.

If anyone is thinking about trying it- I'd say don't be afraid.

[DiverRay]

Sometimes I'll do them at home, but to save time I can go to the local indie shop. Bring in the rims and new tires, $25 and they get rid of the old tires!

[jetmechmarty]

Today, I dropped off my wheels at Rider's Hill in Dahlonega. I had stuff to do. A couple of hours later, I picked up the wheels with new tires on them. If I had to do it myself, it wouldn't have been done today.

All that said, I need a sub box, so I can run a 220 line to my compressor.

[BA80]

Having a big azz compressor would be nice Marty but WHY? Unless your doing big repairs on stuff.

I have a little 8 gallon compressor that's a little weak on running air tools but it runs 150 psi pressure. It'll air up a tire without issue.

Think I paid like $125 for it at Harbor Freight + about $30 for a 50' hose.

[jetmechmarty]

Having a big azz compressor would be nice Marty but WHY?

I already have it. I just need to plug it in.

[XJOK2PLAY]

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.

That's why I only talk to Donny.

[ViperRon]

One little caution or help for all those here is always look when you have a shop balance your tires and see what the use. Most here know about stick on weights. They still use this stuff some places and it will stay for a while no problem but the sun road chemicals and especially pressure washers break them loose pretty quick. I personally had problems once with them once and want nothing more to do with stick-ons .

[BA80]

Try and find a place to buy an assortment of clip ons. If you know where let me know because I've had to use stick ons.

[jetmechmarty]

Grainger has clip-on weights.

also:
ammcoats.com
Americam Motorcycle Tire
amazon.com
yada yada

I've not ever lost a stick-on weight.

[BA80]

The only ones there I see that will work are the ones listed by AMC and there is no description of what your buying it just says sold individually and are priced from about $3.50 on up. I'll pass.

The ones on Amazon for $7.61 for a box of 20 is interesting though.

The others are wheel weights for autos, they won't work or I would be set here at work.

[SFerinTEXAS]

Done most of mine myself. Got an E-3 online from cycle gear a few years ago so decided to let them change it. They made no attempt to clean the seating surface , just off and on and the stick on weight flew away the first ride. Will do my own from now on.

[MPittma100]

Tire Mounting

I have a Motorcycle/ATV/PWC dealer close to me. They charge $25.00 to mount and balance one tire off of the bike. I supply the tire. They use the correct weights for the XS1100 rim type.

They have mounted several for me over the last few years. Price remains the same. Not worth it to me to wrestle any tire without mount and balance equipment.

[Rasputin]

I use tire irons and change the tire myself. It is fairly simple to do with a good supply of soap or other lubricant. Cost is low for tire irons at bike shops, harbor freight, princess auto or what have you. Cost is lower each time you use them even if it is to change your kids bicycle tires too.
As for balancing, I have been opting for the more costly approach of Dyna-beads. Prices will vary depending on your local dealer. They are without a doubt a bit of a pain in the arse to get in there but the ride is so much smoother and reliable it is worth every penny. No matter how badly your tire wears or what have you, the balance is still there. No lost weights or re-balances them after some wear. Lay a long black stripe trying to avoid some texting soccer mom and see how your balance does after that.
First ride on an 81MNS with the Bridgestones on them convinced me in a heartbeat how good they were. Plus the added bonus of no obvious wheel weights if you have done extensive polishing or painting.
If you are like me and would rather do paid work than balance a tire improperly, then this option is for you.

[trbig]

I just use the tire changer from Harbor Freight. Between me and my growing family, (Adult boys who's women also ride) and all the bikes we own between us, not counting 4-wheelers, Razors, etc.. I change at least a couple dozen tires a year. So even at $20 a tire, I save more than the tire-changing setup costs every year probably 3-4 times over, but there's several on here that don't even go through one set a year. In that case, it is probably not cost efficient to have one, but I would still have the satisfaction of doing it myself. The last time I took a tire to a Yamaha dealership to have a bike tire installed, they didn't get the brakes installed right and the back brake locked up on me and stayed locked up the first time I hit it. I opened the bleeder valve and rode it back to the dealership. The guy that worked on it said, "That's what I get for working on a bike older than me.." as he fixed the brakes. I let the service manager know what he said and assured them they'd never have to worry about seeing my bike again. That's when I went and got the changer from Harbor Freight.

I have a static balancer that seems to work well. Like several, I prefer the clip-on type of weight that clips onto the center rib of the wheel, but have been forced to use the stick-ons at times. The correct clip-ons are tough to find and expensive when you do, so I've robbed several from the parts bikes and I re-use them.