What's a good price for fitting tyres?

[muffles]

I have a set of tyres I need fitting but I'm not sure how much I should pay to get them fitted. The alternative is buying the kit to fit them myself, but I'm not sure I go through enough tyres to make it worthwhile.

A friend of mine suggested £20/tyre if I rode in with the new tyres. That'd probably be pushing how much I'd want to pay - I'd look for up to half that (so £20 total, not per tyre). But I don't know if I'm being realistic or not.

I'd be happy to take the wheels in loose if it seriously affected the price. I just have reservations about lining up my rear again (i.e. I don't know how to do it).

I'm unsure how much it would cost to get the kit to fit the tyres myself, I *think* I have seen a cheap/partially-homemade/ebay-bought kit for £70 or thereabouts, and there is also the possibility of splitting it with a mate.

[Dave The Rave]

?20 per wheel is a fair price IMO.

[sv-robo]

Getting some pr2s fitted on friday ?179 for tyres and ?30 for fitting

[Dangerous Dave]

A friend of mine suggested ?20/tyre if I rode in with the new tyres.
How do you intend to ride in and carry the new tyres???
I just have reservations about lining up my rear again (i.e. I don't know how to do it).

Just undo the rear akle nut, pull out the spindle and drop the wheel out. If you leave the chain adjusters alone when you fit the wheel back in it will be in the exactly same the place!

I found it is cheaper (?10 but the price varies from place to place don't forget) to take in loose wheels, if you can get them there!

[muffles]

Sounds like maybe I should consider the DIY fitting kit! Prices I have seen on this & other forums varies from £5/wheel to £30 for the front and £40 for the rear! These are supposed to be tyres-for-cheap (£110 for the pair) so don't want to spend loads on fitting (unless it's on a kit which I could use many times).

I was going to carry the tyres round my waist, saw someone do that once :) also I have read about people carrying the tyres strapped to a rucksack.

I guess I can try and get a couple of prices tomorrow, just wanted to know what I should be aiming for...

[Drew Carey]

I'm in the same position and was considering buying my own rubber, but, some places I spoke to said that they would charge it at ?50 per hour!!!!!! As it is not in the interest to not supply the tyre.

The norm seemed to be about ?20 per wheel though.

That being said, I managed to find fully fitted Avons at ?178, was quoted ?258 by one place!!!!

[muffles]

Hmm, yes that's the problem I've heard too (they get the profit from the tyre itself, not the fitting). I'll still check a few prices, but it seems more likely I'll see if I can get my mate to split the cost of the stuff for DIY fitting, or look for it cheap on Ebay...

[Drew Carey]

If you can and are confident enough then will pay its way in the long run. I made me laugh, I phoned one place and they said, "Will be 210", I said is that fully fitted.....his response "Nah mate, thats the tyre cost only!!!!"

I just think they will say it as they know some people will wlak in and pay it.

[MR UKI (1)]

?12.50 per tyre around here. Ride in Ride out. Only ?7.50 each fitted to loose wheels

[muffles]

If you can and are confident enough then will pay its way in the long run. I made me laugh, I phoned one place and they said, "Will be 210", I said is that fully fitted.....his response "Nah mate, thats the tyre cost only!!!!"

I just think they will say it as they know some people will wlak in and pay it.

Exactly the kind of cost I'm trying to avoid by getting these £110 tyres ;)

?12.50 per tyre around here. Ride in Ride out. Only ?7.50 each fitted to loose wheels

Now that sounds more like the price I'd pay :D (pounds sterling not question marks though ;))

[Drew Carey]

?12.50 per tyre around here. Ride in Ride out. Only ?7.50 each fitted to loose wheels

I would consider ridng that far if the price was good......seems to be so many rip off merchants round here. Must of rang 15 plus places.

[lukemillar]

I would consider ridng that far if the price was good......seems to be so many rip off merchants round here. Must of rang 15 plus places.

Only a rip-off in your eyes. To be honest, if you buy you tyres cheap from an online/ebay place and then go into a shop to get them fitted then you should pay more money! If everyone did this expecting to be 10 quid a wheel, the they would go out of business as they are making nothing on the tyre themselves. Then you wouldn't have anyone to fit them!

I got stung the first time I did this - bought a set of tyres for 130 pounds delivered and then paid 40 odd pounds to have them fitted. total cost was ~180 and I only ended up saving 20 odd quid for a lot more hassle.

My advice is in future, just go to a reputable tyre fitter and buy the tyres and have them fitted at the same time. They will probably be a little bit nicer to your rims and swingarm if you do! :wink:

[muffles]

Only a rip-off in your eyes. To be honest, if you buy you tyres cheap from an online/ebay place and then go into a shop to get them fitted then you should pay more money! If everyone did this expecting to be 10 quid a wheel, the they would go out of business as they are making nothing on the tyre themselves. Then you wouldn't have anyone to fit them!

I got stung the first time I did this - bought a set of tyres for 130 pounds delivered and then paid 40 odd pounds to have them fitted. total cost was ~180 and I only ended up saving 20 odd quid for a lot more hassle.

My advice is in future, just go to a reputable tyre fitter and buy the tyres and have them fitted at the same time. They will probably be a little bit nicer to your rims and swingarm if you do! :wink:

I can fully understand if they want to charge higher prices for fitting alone, purely on that basis. There's not much money in it for them. But in that case I reckon I'll be looking more seriously at fitting them myself! It doesn't look massively difficult, maybe just time consuming (at least the first couple of times). I got my tyres for £115 delivered so it's saving quite a lot on the usual £200 if I can get them fitted for a decent price ;)

[Stig]

?12.50 per tyre around here. Ride in Ride out. Only ?7.50 each fitted to loose wheels

I would consider ridng that far if the price was good......seems to be so many rip off merchants round here. Must of rang 15 plus places.

Mark (of Ride In Ride Out) charges ?10 a tyre fitting (that's wheels fitted to the bike) if you buy the tyres from him, or ?20 a tyre if you bring your own tyres. It's quite simple really. They make a small margin on both the supply of the tire and the fitting. If your not buying the tyre from them, then it's obvious they are going to charge you more.

I looked at buying tyres direct, but by the time I have paid to have them fitted and balanced, it works out not much cheaper. For the difference in the cost I'd go for riding in and out. I'm prepared to pay the extra tenner that I would have saved for the convenience.

[Drew Carey]

Mark (of Ride In Ride Out) charges ?10 a tyre fitting (that's wheels fitted to the bike) if you buy the tyres from him, or ?20 a tyre if you bring your own tyres. It's quite simple really. They make a small margin on both the supply of the tire and the fitting. If your not buying the tyre from them, then it's obvious they are going to charge you more.

I looked at buying tyres direct, but by the time I have paid to have them fitted and balanced, it works out not much cheaper. For the difference in the cost I'd go for riding in and out. I'm prepared to pay the extra tenner that I would have saved for the convenience.

I agree, cheaper for me to have the whole lot done by a garage also, but, what I couldn't believe was the differences in prices out there.

[21QUEST]

Only a rip-off in your eyes. To be honest, if you buy you tyres cheap from an online/ebay place and then go into a shop to get them fitted then you should pay more money! If everyone did this expecting to be 10 quid a wheel, the they would go out of business as they are making nothing on the tyre themselves. Then you wouldn't have anyone to fit them!

I got stung the first time I did this - bought a set of tyres for 130 pounds delivered and then paid 40 odd pounds to have them fitted. total cost was ~180 and I only ended up saving 20 odd quid for a lot more hassle.

My advice is in future, just go to a reputable tyre fitter and buy the tyres and have them fitted at the same time. They will probably be a little bit nicer to your rims and swingarm if you do! :wink:

Mark (of Ride In Ride Out) charges ?10 a tyre fitting (that's wheels fitted to the bike) if you buy the tyres from him, or ?20 a tyre if you bring your own tyres. It's quite simple really. They make a small margin on both the supply of the tire and the fitting. If your not buying the tyre from them, then it's obvious they are going to charge you more.

I looked at buying tyres direct, but by the time I have paid to have them fitted and balanced, it works out not much cheaper. For the difference in the cost I'd go for riding in and out. I'm prepared to pay the extra tenner that I would have saved for the convenience.
Luke and BigApe are spot on.

Most places that quote very cheap probably don't have 'sale and fitting' of tyres as there core business. Therefore common sense suggests, those that do, cannot be expected to charge a token price.

Ooh, yonks ago(well over five years) I was paying ?20 at Sones in Croydon for him to fit tyres I bought elsewhere.

I'd even say, up to ?30 for fitting cannot be seen as a 'rip off' in this T'internet age when folks are seemingly only concerned with getting stuff cheap.

Oh, I get mine fitted fot nothing :D......ok, used to, till about month ago :(


Ben

[muffles]

I haven't got any prices yet, but I think I have taken the decision to fit the tyres myself (share cost of equipment with a mate). There's a bead breaker on Ebay for £28 inc postage (BIN), HG do the static balancer for £30, and a compressor (I'm told - still checking this bit) - can be got for £50 (I've seen auctions at a lot less on there now though). Tyre levers seem to be ~£10. So £118 - £59 each - seems to make sense compared to prices mentioned here?

[Spanner Man]

Morning all.

These days requests from people to fit consumables such as tyres, that they have purchased elsewhere (ebay etc) are getting more common.

Speaking as a member of the trade who works to a high standard, & doesn't rip people off, I think it's fair for me to expect the same amount of profit (it isn't a dirty word) fitting customers parts, as I would get if I had supplied them.
After all, I'm still taking responsibility for the bike whilst it's in my workshop, I still have the wear & tear on any tools & equipment used, & in the case of tyres there's the cost of new valves & balance weights, spindle grease & of course disposal of the old tyre.
If you went to work & your boss said you're getting a pay cut today, but are going to do the same amount of work. What would you say? I bet it would end in OFF!:D

I liken it to going to a restaurant & taking ones own starter.:D Indeed if you take your own bottle of wine they charge you 'corkage' so why shouldn't I?

Obviously in some cases there are exceptions. Namely when a customer has tried to fit something & come up against an unforseen problem, such as seized/rounded of fasteners or stripped threads etc. & not having the specialist tools required to overcome the problem needs my assistance.
In such cases if asked nicely I usually do the job without any 'corkage'.

One thing worth remembering is that most of us in the trade will give absolutely no warranty on parts that the customer supplies, even if it's exactly the same part as I could have supplied.
Last month I supplied & fitted a Pilot sport to the rear of a ZX6R, it had a dodgy bead & was losing 5+psi per day. I got a replacement tyre & fitted it to the bike absolutely FOC as I had supplied it.
If I had been a customers tyre it would have been £23.50. & then the customer would have had the hassle & expense of returning it to where they purchased it on top of that.


Cheers.

[Tim in Belgium]

15 GBP a pair on loose wheels, which makes a set of new tyres 135 GBP fitted, not a bad price....

[Ceri JC]

I prefer to carry the wheels in and have the tyres fitted and refit the wheels to the bike myself. Mind you, my tyre fitter is 5 mins walk away. Gives me a chance to clean calipers/pads etc. whilst the wheels are out. Also means I know the wheels are properly torqued up, rather than done as tight as the tyre shop can get it.

Cost for me is £20 per wheel ride in, £10 if you just take the wheel.

[Dave The Rave]

I buy tyres from Net and get them fitted. Still save ?20+ per set. Better ?20 in my pocket than in anyone elses.

Also as my back tyre gets 1/2 the life of my front one I take the wheel to a garage and get it done there (loose wheel) that costs ?10.

I uderstand that mechanics need to make a living as well, but so do I. So if I can save money I will. I recon I saved on tyres, helmet, accessories, bike gardgets ?500 just last year alone. Well that paid for my new leathers (almost). It may be ?10 here, ?20 there and so on but it all adds up.

[Blue_SV650S]

I was thinking of starting my own business ... I could open a chain of tyre fitting centres all round the UK ... ;)

Anyhoo, get the stuff and DIY!! ... all you need is 2 tyre leavers, a spade, something to protect the rim when using leavers (inner tube, hosepipe) and a double chamber footpump!! !! 8)

[muffles]

Hey Blue, you are pretty clued up on this, I would be looking for some more, how shall I put it, "dedicated" equipment? Hoping you can give me some advice here then...

I think I can find the static balancer & bead breaker on my own OK, but struggling with the air compressor. Searching on Ebay finds a LOT of items (searching for "air compressor") - I suspect all the ones that are supposed to be for inflating car tyres (and running off the cigarette lighter socket!) are not suitable. I think I have found a few that would be ok, but I'm really not sure what I'm looking for. Any tips on what I would actually need? E.g. size of air tank, etc, connections? I really have no idea so don't assume I know anything :D

[Blue_SV650S]

Hey Blue, you are pretty clued up on this, I would be looking for some more, how shall I put it, "dedicated" equipment? Hoping you can give me some advice here then...

I think I can find the static balancer & bead breaker on my own OK, but struggling with the air compressor. Searching on Ebay finds a LOT of items (searching for "air compressor") - I suspect all the ones that are supposed to be for inflating car tyres (and running off the cigarette lighter socket!) are not suitable. I think I have found a few that would be ok, but I'm really not sure what I'm looking for. Any tips on what I would actually need? E.g. size of air tank, etc, connections? I really have no idea so don't assume I know anything :D

You don't need a compressor!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just a double footpump (http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/fp200-twin-barrel-foot-pump) and an inner valve removal tool( that is a proper tool, I actually just have one that is integrated into the top side of a metal valve cap) (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RED-VALVE-REMOVAL-KEY_W0QQitemZ250234649189QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item2 50234649189):smt041 To prove the point, although I actually have a compressor, I still use my double foot pump for the job!! It is very rare I get one that refuses to go on with the pump ... in fact, I can't remember the last!! ;)

You don't really need a fancy bed breaker, or static balancer!!! :rolleyes: I did it for years with a spade (bearing in mind the radius of a spade, not as brutal as it sounds) and I still balance just using 2 axle stands and the spindle ...

[Blue_SV650S]

Although the spade worked fine, I actually use a proper bead breaker now ... the bike ones are stupidly expensive, but the kart ones are a fair price 8)


They are a bit fiddly, but work ok when you get the knack 8)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KART-BEAD-BREAKER-BRAND-NEW-TOP-QUALITY_W0QQitemZ280216819544QQcmdZViewItem?hash=i tem280216819544

[muffles]

That is one of the bead breakers I was wondering about actually...so it would work with motorcycle tyres?

I know I don't "need" a compressor or balancer - but I wanted to make my life easier lol. It does depend on cost though...that's why I needed to know what kind of compressor I'd need, so I could see the price & decide. Balancers I heard could be got for £30 from HG so was gonna take that route...

[Blue_SV650S]

That is one of the bead breakers I was wondering about actually...so it would work with motorcycle tyres?

I know I don't "need" a compressor or balancer - but I wanted to make my life easier lol. It does depend on cost though...that's why I needed to know what kind of compressor I'd need, so I could see the price & decide. Balancers I heard could be got for £30 from HG so was gonna take that route...

Yep, you can use it on bike wheels (and I now do!!).

It is not 'hard' to use a pump!! :D Seriously, get a double pump. It is not like it will go to waste if you end up not getting on with it a compressor is totally OTT!!! ;)

I've never had a balance related problem just using the spindle ... at the end of the day as soon as the tyre wears it will start to go back out of balance however well you balanced it initially ;)

Sure get it all if you want, but I seriously think you are wasting good money for little or no gain ;)

[yorkie_chris]

I'd like to know how to do it with a spade, tried it, but ended up doing the usual trick of putting them in the vice.

As for fitting charges? What does it take with the professional kit, 5 minutes a tyre? +1.50 for a valve and a weight or 2. That's a pretty easy 15 quid if you ask me!

[Stig]

And the cost of the machinery, electric and anything else I can't think of at the moment.

[muffles]

Yep, you can use it on bike wheels (and I now do!!).

It is not 'hard' to use a pump!! :D Seriously, get a double pump. It is not like it will go to waste if you end up not getting on with it a compressor is totally OTT!!! ;)

I've never had a balance related problem just using the spindle ... at the end of the day as soon as the tyre wears it will start to go back out of balance however well you balanced it initially ;)

Sure get it all if you want, but I seriously think you are wasting good money for little or no gain ;)

Probably should clarify the pump thing :D I had heard it is much easier to seat the tyre on the rim using a compressor so it fires a blast of air in? Is that not the case then? I have a single pump already...doesn't sound like that would work though.

I've seen what I thought were suitable compressors starting cheap 2nd hand (£20?) on Ebay so if it saves me hassle I'd do it. Balancing I might try with the spindle as i have axle stands and obviously could buy a balancer later if desired. It's really the compressor/bead breaker I am most interested in...

[Spanner Man]

As for fitting charges? What does it take with the professional kit, 5 minutes a tyre? +1.50 for a valve and a weight or 2. That's a pretty easy 15 quid if you ask me!


AGREED!! It's getting the £4000 odd together for a decent tyre machine, balancer, & compressor that's the tricky bit!:D


Cheers.

[Blue_SV650S]

I had heard it is much easier to seat the tyre on the rim using a compressor so it fires a blast of air in?


With both methods you need to remove the inner valve to allow enough instant air flow, point is the double pump does give enough of an initial burst ... if you want to buy a compressor, go ahead, but you don't NEED one ;)

[Blue_SV650S]

I'd like to know how to do it with a spade, tried it, but ended up doing the usual trick of putting them in the vice.

As for fitting charges? What does it take with the professional kit, 5 minutes a tyre? +1.50 for a valve and a weight or 2. That's a pretty easy 15 quid if you ask me!

If I had no one else about to help, I used to take the discs off the wheel, let all the air out of the tyre/remove inner valve, then place the wheel/rim on my conservatory's wooden door step, you then place the spade on the tyre where you intend to break the bead (right up against the rim). Then holding yourself steady on the top of the door frame, use the spade as you would if you were digging in the garden, but with both feet and using a bit of a /jump/bounce off the top of the spade. All that weight son pops the bead, the wooden door step is solid, but won't damage the wheel.

I suppose if you are a 8st lightweight you might struggle, but any normal man-size and it'll pop straight off 8)

As for the cost, yep it is profitable ... but then why do if it is not!?!? ;) As people have said, there are overheads in any business that need to be covered, it is not like the whole lot goes into their back pocket!! ;)

[muffles]

With both methods you need to remove the inner valve to allow enough instant air flow, point is the double pump does give enough of an initial burst ... if you want to buy a compressor, go ahead, but you don't NEED one ;)

Heheh...well I will try with my single pump and see if it has enough in it first...see buying a double one *would* be pointless for me as I have the single already...but ignoring whether I will do it or not, or whether it's needed - do you (or anyone else) know what kind of compressor i should be looking for? ;)

[Spanner Man]

Morning all.

I have to disagree with you Blue, a double foot pump will do the job, but there are occasions when you need a compressor.
Most tyres easily begin to seat themselves with little pressure, but some can be right SODS!
I have had tyres that refuse to seat & require lots of 'persuasion'. In some cases I have had to open the regulator on my compressor to it's maximum of 150psi. I think you must have been lucky if you've managed to seat every tyre you've done with a footpump.
I would think a lot of it's down to tolerances between particular tyres & wheel rims.

As to a compressor Muffles, I would look at one that rated at around 100psi max, & with at least a 25 litre tank. These days they're pretty cheap, try Machine Mart & places like that.

The bigger the receiver is the better though. For a 25 litre tank will only give you a short burst at 100psi & then drop rapidly. (Mine's 150 litres & could be bigger). But then again the bigger it is the more it'll cost & the less portable it will be.

Once you have a compressor you'll wonder how you managed without one. for they have a multitude of uses besides pumping up tyres. So, when you're blasting crud out of your calipers when doing a brake overhaul think of Blue leaping up & down on his footpump & trying to keep his hand steady at the same time.:D


Cheers.

[muffles]

Thanks - there's a few I saw on Ebay with 25 litre tanks so will look there if I do need one! From the sounds of it my single foot pump isn't going to be enough but we will see :D

[Blue_SV650S]

I have to disagree with you Blue, a double foot pump will do the job, but there are occasions when you need a compressor.
Most tyres easily begin to seat themselves with little pressure, but some can be right SODS!

I never said I hadn't had one that didn't want to concede!! ;)

As I said I haven't NOT been able to do one (and hence resort to my compressor) for goodness knows how long now!! ... But then I have various 'tricks' I use if the tyres is being a bit stubborn!! :)

Most of it appears to be in the initial way the tyre is sat on/in the rim, you can push the tyre about by hand/nudging with the leavers until it is in a what is likely to be a successful position ... plenty of 'lube' always helps (doesn't it always?!!? :D) and finally, giving the wheel a big thump/bounce can help things to move if things are still not happening!! :) .. you even need that trick with a compressor at times ;)

A compressor is indeed a lot easier, but it is not in itself foolproof but the point I am making is that it is not actually 100% necessary! In fact I'd say it is only ~5% necessary!! ;)

Anyway, any medium sized compressor will do the trick!! :)

[Spanner Man]

Blue dear boy, you go back on yourself so gracefully:D

I have to agree that there's nothing like a bit of lube & bounce too! (MATRON):D:D


Cheers.

[Blue_SV650S]

Blue dear boy, you go back on yourself so gracefully:D

I have to agree that there's nothing like a bit of lube & bounce too! (MATRON):D:D


Cheers.

I never went 'back on myself' ... you just didn't read what I put properly :smt023

Knowing what I know now, I'd never say anyone NEEDS a compressor to do a tyre change 8)

There is always the brake cleaner trick anyway!!! http://planetsmilies.net/cool-smiley-5002.gif

[muffles]

Ha! Blue! So you do have a compressor! :p

[Blue_SV650S]

Ha! Blue! So you do have a compressor! :p

Yes, I said so all along!! :p

Point is I don't USE IT, I use the double foot pump!! :rolleyes:

I'd say my having access to both and actually choosing to use the foot pump should tell you a fair amount about how well the double footpump works here! ;)

Basically it is that easy with a footpump, I can't even be bothered to get my compressor out and charge/fill it up ... it is just not time efficient to use my compressor as the tyre is already up using the pump before the compressor would have even charged 8)