Place to get tires changed - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Morning Wood · 10-21-2012, 02:28 PM

Hi All,

I'm an absolute dud when it comes to anything car related. Last year, I bought winter tires for the first time in my life. I bought them at Costco, and got them installed there as well. This spring, I bought new all-season tires as well since my old all seasons needed to get replaced. These were also bought and installed at Costco. Since Costco doesn't allow appointments, both times I waited in line since 5 am to buy and install the tires

Now that its winter again, I need to get my winter tires back on. I don't want to go to Costco to get them on, as I would need to wait in line at 5am in the morning to get serviced. I did it twice already for tire purchases and installations, but dont feel its worth it for just exchanging tires. Any recommendations to a place that isn't going to rape me price-wise, while allowing me to book an appointment without crazy wait times?

Thanks!

jamoro · 10-21-2012, 02:39 PM

Canadian tire is ok, you should check them out

Canehdianman · 10-21-2012, 02:57 PM

I wouldn't trust Canadian Tire to top up my windshield washer fluid.

Find a local tire shop. I use Harper's tires.

chummer · 10-21-2012, 03:10 PM

Togo tire just off Macleod Trail was the cheapest place I found.

DownhillGoat · 10-21-2012, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canehdianman

I wouldn't trust Canadian Tire to top up my windshield washer fluid.

I did once and got transmission fluid.

BTW, there's a winter tire thread that has lots of suggestions in it.
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthr...t=80312&page=9

Yamer · 10-21-2012, 07:16 PM

Always had excellent experiences at Fountain Tire.

Huntingwhale · 10-22-2012, 07:57 AM

Walmart

yads · 10-22-2012, 09:39 AM

Any mechanic shop will swap the tires for you.

TorqueDog · 10-22-2012, 10:00 AM

Harper's Tire is the only place I take my beasts to.

http://www.harperstire.com/about-us/contact-us/

I always go to the 4th Street @ 53rd Ave SE location (just off Blackfoot Tr.). Great folks, and they take good care of me.

Bill Bumface · 10-22-2012, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fotze

I too, am brutal with cars. I want to put my winters on my POS car. Contemplating doing it myself, only to avoid setting up the appointment and waiting and all that crap.

Is this something advisable to not do myself? Will a tire fall off? Is the junky car jack in the car good enough? Is it dangerous. This is a car I don;t care too much about.

Junky jack is fine, just will make the process slower.

You'll want to grab a torque wrench, and otherwise it is the most simple task you can ever hope to perform with a car.

I also swap tires for the low low price of a beer or two for random creepos from the internet.

Burninator · 10-22-2012, 12:14 PM

Kramer Mazda charged $20 last time I was there.

Sinny Darino · 10-22-2012, 03:09 PM

Buy a new set of rims ($50-$60 a piece for most cars) and have that tire shop install the tires on the rims only. Then find a buddy who likes beer, buy him a case, and have him install the tires on your car.

It saves you around $120 each season for a full tire swapover, and only takes 30 minutes.

I have 2 sets of rims, 1 for my All Seasons and 1 for my Winters. I have a underground parking spot, so a nice, warm, easy place to change my tires!

Tires are simple enough to change yourself, you just have to have the proper tools and lug nut tightening information.

linecook · 10-22-2012, 03:23 PM

I keep hearing these ads on the radio about getting winter tires at a Ford dealerships. They say they won't be undersold. Has any one ever bought from the dealership?

Tirerack.com is a great place to research tires before you buy them. It just seems to be a pain in the ass to buy them, ship them up and find someone to install.

mrgreen · 10-22-2012, 03:41 PM

Used Fountain Tire at Bowness (near the Totem) and they told me they'd spotted a problem on the nearly-new SUV while switching the tires and then quoted me for a fairly expensive repair. Declined after gut feeling kicked in, followed up with another shop and found the problem didn't actually exist. Never been back since.

mrgreen · 10-22-2012, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by linecook

I keep hearing these ads on the radio about getting winter tires at a Ford dealerships. They say they won't be undersold. Has any one ever bought from the dealership?

Tirerack.com is a great place to research tires before you buy them. It just seems to be a pain in the ass to buy them, ship them up and find someone to install.

I got some Yokohoma Ice Guards from a Ford dealership years ago and they weren't a whole lot different price-wise than anywhere else, other than there wasn't a wait to get them on as they weren't as busy as the regular tire shops.

KTrain · 10-22-2012, 03:46 PM

Has anyone tried: http://www.mobiletireworks.ca/

Waiting for them at my house would be better than appointments and waiting/arranging transport.

Montag · 10-22-2012, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinny Darino

Buy a new set of rims ($50-$60 a piece for most cars) and have that tire shop install the tires on the rims only. Then find a buddy who likes beer, buy him a case, and have him install the tires on your car.

It saves you around $120 each season for a full tire swapover, and only takes 30 minutes.

I have 2 sets of rims, 1 for my All Seasons and 1 for my Winters. I have a underground parking spot, so a nice, warm, easy place to change my tires!

Tires are simple enough to change yourself, you just have to have the proper tools and lug nut tightening information.

Strongly considering doing this and I think I'd be okay changing the tires myself, (it's been awhile) but don't you need to have the wheels balanced? Sorry if this is a newb question.

Jimmy Stang · 10-22-2012, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montag

Strongly considering doing this and I think I'd be okay changing the tires myself, (it's been awhile) but don't you need to have the wheels balanced? Sorry if this is a newb question.

I'm not a "car guy", but I have been changing over my own wheels in the garage for the past few seasons. Assuming the tires are on separate rims, all you'll need are a jack, a torque wrench, and the right sized socket for the wrench. Some chocks behind the wheels and some axle stands will make things a little safer, obviously.

You'll need a tire shop to mount the tires to the rims (if they're not already), and every few years you may need to get the tires balanced. But they can balance the tires off of the vehicle, so this is easy if you do it when they're not on your car.

But generally speaking, changing the wheels is about as easy as it gets. Just find out the amount of torque required for your vehicle (from your owners manual) and don't over-torque. Tighter is not always better.

REDVAN · 10-22-2012, 05:30 PM

Any neighborhood garage should be able to do it.

AR_Six · 10-23-2012, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sinny Darino

Buy a new set of rims ($50-$60 a piece for most cars) and have that tire shop install the tires on the rims only. Then find a buddy who likes beer, buy him a case, and have him install the tires on your car.

Where are you finding these $50 set of rims? Cheapest I can find is like $200.