good place to get tires mounted & balanced? - Honda Prelude Forum

go pre · 06-24-2002, 09:22 AM

hey.. i just got some tires from tirerack.com and i need to know a good place to get them mounted. tirerack recommended the local Shell but i just don't know if they'd do the best job. anyone have good experiences with any of the major tire dealers and know what kind of prices they charge? thanks for the help.

AncientPC · 06-24-2002, 09:28 AM

It's not that difficult of a process so I wouldn't think it matters too much.

go pre · 06-24-2002, 09:34 AM

yeah, it doesn't seem that difficult but i read a few threads where people said they had to take their car back in to the shop because they didn't balance it right the first time.

Tommaso05 · 06-24-2002, 10:42 AM

If you have Discount Tire in your area look them up. I've had nothing but good experiences with them and the prices aren't high.

KENLUDE97 · 06-24-2002, 10:44 AM

When you take it anywhere make sure to tell them to "static" balance them(weights only on the inside) that way you don't have the ugly wheel weights on the outside of the rim. When they are hammered on they remove the protective clear coat on the rim.
Not cool stuff. Then they start to corrode (sp)
If they will not do what i just said take it somewhere else :-)
Make sure that they put the rims on the right way!! They are directional. They have right and left on the rime its self:-)

Good luck

mechanical designer by day
Tire mounter by night

Harry · 06-24-2002, 10:57 AM

In my experience, which has been pretty bad, it matters quite a bit where you go. I took my tires from tirerack to Express Lube in Birmingham, AL (an authorized center) and they got grease on the car's light beige interior, scratched the alloys, and failed to put caps on any of the valve stems. When I asked for caps they were going to take some caps off a car getting its oil changed. So, I got the tires on my Prelude (it needed tires at the same time as the accord) put on at the Honda dealer. Their 15 inch max mounting machine ate my 16 inch alloys so badly that they did not even try to put up a fight. They had to replace all four stock 98 SH alloys for free. Definitely, go to a place that routinely handles tire mounting and balancing and does nice cars. Good luck!

go pre · 06-24-2002, 12:50 PM

well i ended up taking them to NTB, it needed an alignment so they did that too. i told them to use the static weights on the inside, but of course they put those metal clip-on ones on anyways. (didn't really suprise me because the guy that took my order seemed to have a listening problem. i had to spell out my name and address about 4 times and he still entered it in wrong on the receipt.) i complained to the guy afterward and he said it was better because you only balance one side of the wheel if you don't put the outside weight on too. and that people use the static weights because they care more about the looks than the smooth ride. i don't know if he was feeding me a load of bull just so they didn't have to redo it or what, but i didn't really feel like waiting around for them to redo the wheels. they're just the stock 92 wheels anyway. overall i would recommend avoiding this place.