REVscene Automotive Forum - Where to get winter rims mounted

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I had BJ Autohaus mount my 4 winters onto my TL and Kal-Tire mount/balance my all-seasons back on last year. Both charged $100 and I didn't purchase my tires from either. I know Kal-Tire mounts tires for free each season if you purchased the original tires from them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MindBomber (Post 7696797)

I've had the same experience, they'll also only mount four winter tires to rims, not two. I don't see any advantage to paying a premium for service from Kal Tire, when an independent company often charges less. Aside from that, I would rather give my money to a small business owner than a huge faceless company.

To judge whether my car is in safe hands with an independent shop, I ask three questions:

1. Do your technicians apply anti-seize to the wheel studs or bolt on every car?
2. Do your technicians use a torque stick or wrench to tighten the lug nuts?
3. I drive a civic with 12mm x 1.5mm wheel studs, what will you be torquing the lug nuts too?

If I find all three answers acceptable, I hand them the keys and watch the mechanics work, if I notice they're using an impact without a torque stick and not applying anti-seize, I ask for my keys back and move on.

If you're bothering to ask any shop that many questions.. you're better off just doing it yourself. Clearly, you'll never be happy with ANY shop's work. That's why I do it myself...

Had Kal Tire mount four tires on my four steelies.. keep 'em in my shed til it gets cold, then I mount them myself.

I have a torque wrench, but I couldn't tell you when it was last calibrated either. When it was made, for sure.. since then, never. I do it all by hand anyway. Only takes 15 minutes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlenko (Post 7696821)

It's only three questions, and it takes me no more than two minutes to ask..
Plus, I've been using the same tire shop for a couple years now, since I found one that does great work after quizzing a couple.

I make the change from stock wheels with winters to rims with summers in my driveway, the only time I go to the shop is to have rubber mounted or for an alignment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fliptuner (Post 7696737)

Are your winters already on rims?

Yup. Neighbor and I just mounted our snows in our driveway. I didn't bother going/calling a shop based on the prices you guys quoted...

The use of anti-seizing compound on studs is debatable as many will argue that the torque spec is designed for use without it.

I personally don't use it on any mine or my friend's vehicles. I do however, clean off all the hubs and centrebores and apply a layer of anti-seize on them and always use a torque wrench.

Just a heads up from a close friend's experience over the weekend with Canadian Tire near King George and 104th in Surrey. She asked me to find a set of winter wheels for her year old Blizzacks for her '10 VW Rabbit. Tire size is 225/45/17 and OE rim is 17x7 +54. I found her a set of 17x7.5 +42 mags w/ hubcentric rings. In her haste to get them mounted (and I was too busy to help at the time) she went to CT to get the tires M/B and installed. They M/B'd the tires then told her they couldn't mount the wheels to her car cause she needed spacers. WTF?

She brought the wheels to my house and they mounted up with TONS of room to spare. Obviously, they didn't even try to mount them on the car in the first place. She paid over $100 w/tax to get a service done and they were too incompetent to complete it and she had to waste her and my time to finish the job.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiger_handheld (Post 7696850)

Yup. Neighbor and I just mounted our snows in our driveway. I didn't bother going/calling a shop based on the prices you guys quoted...

It's assumed that when people ask about mounting tires, they're referring to mounting and balancing the tires to the wheels and installing the wheels on the car.

$80+ is the average for this job.

If we knew you were just swapping wheels, we would've suggested DIY or any general shop would probably do it for $20-$30 or so. Give me a shout when you want to change back.

At my shop, mount and balance is $100, if they're on rims it's $15.

Quote:

Originally Posted by fliptuner (Post 7696865)

Makes sense. At least people will have a good idea of prices for mounting from this thread - it's not complete waste :)

Thanks for the offer :)

I got tired of paying $70-$100 so I bought my own machines.