Installing winter tires by myself?
 

Hi guys,

I'm looking to buy some used winter tires, and was just wondering if I could install them myself?

The only experience I have is replacing my flat with a spare...is this sufficient? Do I have to worry about balancing and/or any other issues?

I drive a 2002 Ford Focus.

Thanks!

Are these tires mounted ?

If they are mounted on steelies / wheels + are balanced then you just throw them on, torque them down and you are good to go.

If they are just tires, you gotta cough up $10-15 per tire to have a shop mount them and then balance them.

If the guy advertises them as having 'winter tires on rims', does that mean it's mounted?

^

50/50

but if they say ON RIMS than im gonna guess its mounted already
or mounting included

Ya they should be mounted. But since they're used i'd have a shop check out the balance of em just in case. If that all checks out, then you should be fine. Put em on and have a time.

One more general question: are there any restrictions on winter tires? If i put them on right now (from say now to Feb 2011), i can just drive normally like I did with my all season right? Dun need to do anything special?

Nope not restrictions as long as they aren't studded lol.

Berz out.

its fine

but i will probably wait till the first snow fall thats actually arriving

winter tires wear out like a mofo when the temperature aint correct

How much do the shop charge to check whether the tires are balance or not?

There's no actions I need to take prior to putting on the tire other than jacking up the car, right? (ie, do I need some kind of wheel or axle alignment? I'm just throwing words out here)

Also, since winter's going to be here (or at least temperature wise) in a couple of weeks, should I bother with putting them in plastic bags and storing them in a dry place? I'm not keeping these tires after this season.

if your wheel ( s) are out of alignment you will see uneven wear and may feel a wobble

because you have to remove the wheel from your car, i doubt a shop will check wheel balance for free

Actually, my winter tires are on a set of steel rims that I got off craigslist (so I don't need to mount the tires), that's why I'm asking how much would a shop charge me for checking the balance.

not sure how much rebalance

but i know mount and balance usually for 15" is like $8-10 dollar a tire

16" is $15 bux

I guess it's not that big a deal with winters that are such high profile
Posted via RS Mobile

Balancing normally runs about $10-15 per tire.

OP, did you talk to the guy from the CL link I sent you? Seemed like a nice enough guy but he thought they were 4x100's at first.

I wouldn't swap them til it's just about to snow or temps get under 5*C.

If you're going to get them balanced just bring them in, off the car. Usually I get it done for $5/ea.

Don't wait till the first snow to be predicted to put them on. November 1st - March 1st. Then you don't have to worry (in case there is a problem). Yes snow tires wear quicker, but only in significant heat (15 +). Snow tires are not only good in the snow, but exceptionally good in the wet. Plus they are cheap (untill it snows).

Worked with tires for the last 5 years, I should know something!

Before anyone says it, all seasons are garbage.

Factory rims with Summers
Steels with snows

Or

Aftermarket wheels with summers
Factory wheels with winters

This is the best way. With proper rotations, these combos could last 4 years or more.

Thanks for confirming my knowledge about tires. I was wondering if I could just skip the all seasons and just go straight for summer/winter tire combo.

Go for it. What's stopping you?

I run these. These blow monkey balls in the rain.

http://www.cherokeeforum.com/members...-territory.jpg

:rofl::(

Hahahahahahahaha.

I bought a set of used summer tires + rims once. One was unbalanced.

Don't assume they're balanced just because they're mounted. Even if they were done by the previous guy, all it takes is one bad skid or burnout by the seller to throw something off.