Tire installation cost and tire price are two different entities that combine to form the total cost of the entire tire installation. Also, tire balancing and mounting have a hand in the general cost of tire installation.
The cost to install new tires has really changed over the years due to changes in regulations, and as wheels and tires has become more sophisticated.
The phasing out of lead wheel weights in some countries, the desire for larger rims, and the development of tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) have raised the cost of some tire brands and made installation more complicated.
Total Material Costs
If you are having new tires installed, the first thing you will need is of course the materials, i.e. the new tires. The price of a new set of tires depends a lot on what type of vehicle you have, what type of tires you’re after as well as what size of tires you’re looking for.
But for a normal passenger car, expect to pay anywhere from $50 all the way up to $1000 per tire depending on the size, quality and brand you’re after.
You can learn more about how much tires cost in this post.
What Services Are or Should be Included in a Tire Installation?
Installing tires means making sure the tires are well fixed, and that all risks on the road that may result from poorly fixed tires are taken care of. Therefore, you should make sure you get your tires balanced, aligned and mounted correctly by an expert to ensure optimal safety on the road.
For instance, an improperly mounted tire might lead to tire failure, leading to an accident. While an improperly balanced tire can lead to unnecessary vibrations that cause premature suspension and tire wear.
This means that other than the costs of the tires themselves (if you are buying new ones), you will likely need to pay for the tire installation which includes labor costs for balancing the tires, mounting the tires and aligning the wheels.
Additional costs may come if you need to remove your tires from your rims, mount new tires on your rims, replace valve stems, dispose your old tires and whether or not you want any insurances such as a road protection plan.
Read on to learn more what you can expect to pay for these different tire installation services:
Tire Mounting Cost
If you are trying to estimate how much it costs to have your tire mounted, go through the table below. It includes companies that charge the least to mount tires.
| Average cost for mounting tires | ||||
| Company | 1 tire | 2 tires | 3 tires | 4 tires |
| Walmart | $6 | $12 | $18 | $24 |
| Costco | $6 | $12 | $18 | $24 |
| Sears | $8 | $16 | $24 | $32 |
| BJ’s | $6 | $12 | $18 | $24 |
| Sam’s Club | $6 | $12 | $18 | $24 |
Tire Balance Cost
If you are looking for a place to have your tires balanced or ensure the weight on all the wheels is equal, visit the companies listed in the table below for a good deal. However, be ready to part ways with some coins.
| Average cost for balancing tires | ||||
| Company | 1 tire | 2 tires | 3 tires | 4 tires |
| Walmart | $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 |
| Costco | $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 |
| Sears | $9 | $18 | $27 | $36 |
| BJ’s | $10 | $20 | $30 | $40 |
| Sam’s Club | $9 | $18 | $27 | $36 |
Sears and Sam’s Club are the cheapest places to balance your car tires.
It is worth noting that tire mounting, balancing and total installation costs change from one geographical location to another and can be increased yearly. Other factors, such as road hazard warranty and tire disposal, may necessitate a raise in installation cost.
Tire/Wheel Alignment Cost
It is wise to have your wheels aligned after replacing your tires as well. However, when a tire dealership accepts to align your wheels at an extra cost, you can be tempted to decline, thinking it is pretty expensive.
If so, you will be exposing yourself to spending more since a car with misaligned tires burns through the rubber at a higher rate, forcing you to acquire a new set of tires within a short duration.
On average, expect to pay about $90 to $150 for tire alignment, with the higher end of the price applying to more sophisticated cars.
Cost to Remove Tires From Rims
Sometimes, you wish to have your vehicle’s rims media blasted, painted, and polished. In such a case, be ready to spend somewhere between $20 to $25. However, the cost may increase if the rims are delicate to remove or specially designed.
Call different garages to compare their charges before you decide on having a new tire installed on the rims.
Identifying the most affordable garage to go for tire installation and other needs will save you money and time. Always take a test drive after the new tires have been installed and balanced to ensure your service provider did the right job.
How Much Does it Cost to Mount New Rims?
Installing a tire on a new rim is a bit expensive and is based on the size of the rim and tire. Larger tires and rims are costly to install as they are heavy and need a lot of effort to install.
The installation cost to mount tires on new rims can be around $10 to $15 per tire on an average-sized rim, meaning the four wheels will cost between $40 and $60. Depending on your garage and the type of rims you have, these prices can even triple. Moreover, light trucks and SUVs are more expensive to install the rim and the entire installation.
Cost of Replacing Valve Stems
If your valve stem needs a replacement, then be ready to pay a different surcharge based on the vehicle’s age. However, this is a requirement, and you can’t run away from it.
For regular tire valve stems, you should replace them any time you change your tires. Besides, TPMs stems are modular and should only be replaced once they develop problems since the modular nature means you don’t need to replace the whole tire.
For vehicles produced before 2007, you should expect to pay about $2 to $5 per standard stem. On the other hand, for cars manufactured after 2007, you should expect to pay around $100 to $150 per stem, thanks to the introduction of Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems, or TPMS.
Disposal Cost of Old Tires
Obviously, when you buy new tires and install them, you require the safe disposal of your old tires.
Old tires are taken as dangerous waste, as they are constructed from petroleum, a highly flammable material. The cost for disposing of old tires varies based on if you want to pay a dealer to dispose of them for you or you want to do it yourself.
On average, you should spend around $2 to $6 for single tire disposal, based on the abovementioned factors.
Insurance Plans
Most tire shops and dealerships offer their customers a Road Protection Plan. Usually, this is a kind of insurance policy that will cover your new tires in case of damage from road-based impacts or as a result of driving on a poorly maintained road.
Such damages may include punctures from sharp objects, deep potholes, tearing, or other impact-based damage.
The cost varies wildly since most of these plans are created, and charges are determined by the company providing them. Although large insurance companies will provide many, small companies will charge higher rates or provide complicated payment terms.
On average, expect to spend about $50 for four tires if you are using a small passenger car.
Cost of Filling Tires With Nitrogen
Many people like to fill their tires with Nitrogen instead of common air. The reason for doing so is that Nitrogen stays in the tires longer than air which allows the Nitrogen filled tires to retain their air pressure for a longer time, leading to extended tire life and better fuel economy.
However, filling your tires with Nitrogen isn’t free. It will cost you around $70-$180 to fill up a tire that previously had air in it, it’s expensive because air filled tires need to have their oxygen purged with several nitrogen refills.
If your tires already have Nitrogen in them and you just need a refill, expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $7 per tire.
You can learn more about the benefits and drawbacks of filling your tires with Nitrogen in this post.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to install winter tires?
Winter tires are usually more expensive to install than summer tires. On average, the cost per set of four tires would be $60 for 16″ tires, $70 for 17″, $80 for 18″, and $90 for 19″ tires.
However, the prices may differ from one company to another, so it would be better to check the cost with your service provider and compare before mounting your tire on a rim.
Where is the cheapest place to get my tires fitted?
The cheapest place to have your tire installed is BJ’s since you do not require a membership to get their services, unlike Costco and Sam’s Club.
Can I mount and balance my tires myself?
The short answer is yes. However, you will be exposing your new tire and rims to risks that may, in turn, result in extra expenses. Going to a garage is always the best decision since they have the skills and best tools for the job.
How much does it cost to buy tires?
As stated earlier in the post, buying new tires is an expensive experience. On average cheap tires cost between $50 and $150 each, while average performance tires will cost between $100 and $300 each. Off-road and high-performance tires cost around $300 and $1000 each.
Hi, my name is Niklas, the head content creator & CEO of Whirling Wheelz. I am very interested in vehicles of all kinds, mainly cars. I have a car mechanics degree from high school and a big hobby of mine is to follow the WRC (World Rally Championship) both online and through travel.