[lakbum]

Well, I wish I had done this earlier but I finally decided to pick up some Nokian WRG2's for my car. It's snowed more then I imagined in the Northern VA area this year and I was planning on waiting till next winter, but with the forecast saying more snow coming...I'm tired of not being able to drive my truck. I'm getting them by Thursday and was curious where most people got their tires mounted and balanced? This isn't specific to just the NOVA area but in general, is it recommended to get them done at the LR dealership? I got quoted $45 a tire from my dealer and they said that I'm at possible risk with a 3rd party installing them with the TPMS system (highly doubtful on this) and the air suspension system. Is there any truth to this?

Thanks.

 

[kstatenupe]

I went to NTB.
They took off my 22's
fixed one of my 22's with a nail in it
Took off the Stock Contis off my stock 19's
Put on the new Pirelli Snow and Ice tires I bought from Tire Rack
Loaded everything in the back of my truck

All for the Low Low price of $70+tax.

Dont know if that is good or not, but its a start.

My local Tires plus and another shop would not do this since I did not buy my tires from them.

 

[Frisco_TX_RRS]

When I initially had the Nokians installed, I had Discount Tire do it - they had no issues. They know how to install the TPMS etc.

Safe thing to do is called ahead and find out if they are able to do a road force and have the five fingered clamp to support the wheel/tire assembly> Even without the 5-figered deveice you should be ok. Also ensure that you tell them that there should not be any weight clamped on the outside and should be all stick-on's per LR spec

 

[mlarco52]

most professional 3rd party tire shops will have more experience then your local dealer where you bought your truck.....ya they sell range rovers and what not and do services on them but you'll pay less at a professional tire shop and still get great service aslong as they are a trust worthy shop...

 

[lakbum]

Thanks for the feedback. That's what I figured...can't believe for a second that I was going to fall for that attempt by the dealer to make some money off me...I called up an LR indy shop and he straight up said anywhere that professionally install tires can do it.

Safe thing to do is called ahead and find out if they are able to do a road force and have the five fingered clamp to support the wheel/tire assembly> Even without the 5-figered deveice you should be ok. Also ensure that you tell them that there should not be any weight clamped on the outside and should be all stick-on's per LR spec

The five fingered clamp? Is this something special that we need for our tires?


I'm probably going to go to NTB or some other tire installation place.

Dennis

 

[umbertob]

You can go wherever you want. TPMS has been around long enough that by now just about any reputable tire shop will know how to deal with the sensors fitted inside the alloys when replacing tires, without breaking anything. It would be best if the shop you pick is equipped with Hunter Road Force wheel balancers to insure an accurate balance, though. Hunters are the most accurate balancing machines on the market (Land Rover and most other authorized dealers use them in their own shops), and the RRS is extremely sensitive to properly balanced wheels, especially as you increase wheel sizes, e.g. 20" and up. To locate a shop using the Road Force system near you: http://www.gsp9700.com/pub/search/findgsp9700.cfm

 

[lakbum]

Didn't think about the Hunter Road Force...so I called around a few shops in my area that have that balancing system and the quotes I'm getting right now are coming very close to the dealership price. Can I assume my dealership automatically uses the Road Force balancer or is it extra? I guess I'll call them as soon as I get my tires. I'll be running stock 20" OEM size so I guess the sensitivity issue is to be noted.

Thanks for the link umbertob.

Dennis

 

[umbertob]

I think all LR dealers are pretty much required by the factory to use Hunter machines these days, their own shop manuals refer to that specific equipment in the wheel balance procedures section.

 

[lakbum]

Well, in that case...the cheapest I found was a difference of $41...for that much, maybe just going with the dealer for the peace of mind might be the best route to go.

Thanks for all the help guys.

 

[BWB RRS HSE]

I can't beleive you can't do this cheaper. When my dedicated snows came in; I had the wheels/tires taken off the car; all 4 demounted; all 4 remounted and balanced and put back on the vehicle for about $65 and they are "holding" my old tires for when my new wheels come in.

 

[Frisco_TX_RRS]

The five fingered clamp? Is this something special that we need for our tires?

I was having an issue with my 20" tires and read on a part of a TSB that it was recommended but I don't think its needed. it allows for the tires to be balanced more accurate I guess with the "fingers" going in to the holes \ lug nut location to secure the wheel on the Road Force machine.

 

[lakbum]

I can't beleive you can't do this cheaper. When my dedicated snows came in; I had the wheels/tires taken off the car; all 4 demounted; all 4 remounted and balanced and put back on the vehicle for about $65 and they are "holding" my old tires for when my new wheels come in.

Where did you get them changed? When you say demounted, do you mean your summer tires taken off the wheels and the winter tires put on them? Or, did you have another set of winter tires with wheels?

I really wish I could find a place that's cheaper. But, the cheapest I've seen anywhere go for mounting and balancing is $20 a tire. With the Hunter Road Force, that jacks up the price at each of the places I called by literally adding $20-40 extra per tire. If there's anyone in the NOVA area that has a recommended place, I would love to hear about it.

 

[BWB RRS HSE]

Yes - I had the stock tires taken off and new ones put on the rims. This is central PA and the family owned garage has the latest equimnet. In fact, when I had new 5 spoke rims put on my Mustang GT, they programmed the darn balancer to have the weights hidden behind the spokes!

 

[kstatenupe]

OP...If you are getting a quote over $70 for less than what I had done, then you are paying way too much. Forget piece of mind. Save the $41 and take me and my 5 year old out for some KC BBQ.

Seriously...NTB or Discount Tire will get you set up right. But hey...It's your dime.

 

[SaddleTramp]

Discount Tire here locally is $20 per tire for road force balance alone...

 

[lakbum]

OP...If you are getting a quote over $70 for less than what I had done, then you are paying way too much. Forget piece of mind. Save the $41 and take me and my 5 year old out for some KC BBQ.

Seriously...NTB or Discount Tire will get you set up right. But hey...It's your dime.

I wish I could find a cheaper place closer to what you paid. If you were in the area, I would definitely take you up on your offer and buy you some BBQ, but I don't we have decent BBQ in this area.

I'm still calling around to see what I can do and I'm guessing I can get close to what you paid if I don't do the Hunter Road Force balancing. As SaddleTramp posted, its $80 just to do the road force balancing and I'm seeing similar prices here as well.

Anyone in the NOVA area have any suggestions?

 

[lakbum]

Oh the timing of this. The tires come in on Thursday...we're expecting several feet of snow starting Friday and lasting through the weekend. This will be a good test of the Nokians. I'm wondering if I should've gone for winter tires.

Can't wait to try them out after riding around in the oem Continentals. I'm excited.

 

[gooseyloosey]

Oh the timing of this. The tires come in on Thursday...we're expecting several feet of snow starting Friday and lasting through the weekend. This will be a good test of the Nokians. I'm wondering if I should've gone for winter tires.

Can't wait to try them out after riding around in the oem Continentals. I'm excited.

wtf ? ...apparently all the snow is falling in VA this year and nothing is making it to VT.