I am thinking of replacing my rear tyres. Trawling the internet I find several companies offering to come to my house and fit the tyres at very competitve rates. Now, I the fitting is one thing, but it occurs to me that balancing is quite different. I would have thought a tyre balancer needed to be permanantly bolted to a concrete bed in a building, not in the back of a van bouncing around on its suspension. Or am I just too old fashioned? and a perfectionist to boot? Has anyone had tyres fitted and balanced at home? and if so what are your thoughts? All advice and comments welcome.
Everyone thinks this, it is not the case. The balancer is looking for dynamic load caused by the out of balance, just like spining a weight on a string. You feel that force no mater what orientation to spin the weight in, the balancer does just the same.
Camskill is not necessarially the cheapest place for tyres, for example 4 Kumho KH31’s as used by Ma5da Racing would cost (in round numbers) £169 from them plus then you have to drive to the fitting station who will likely charge you £15 + vat each, but lets say you get them for £50. That is £219 plus the time and effort.
Local to me, I would come to your house while you had a cup of tea I would fit them and charge you £204. I sure others can do the same.
Well, I have finally bitten the bullet. I decided to replace all four tyres, around 5mm. tread on the fronts and 3mm. on the rears, but nine years old! Fitted by Event Tyres. (Mobile fiters). Telephoned around 9.30 am. yesterday, and was told ‘We can fit them today’. Arrived at 4.30 pm. after a call around 3.30pm. to say they were on their way. A good price and I asked the fitter if he would be careful removing the old clipon balance weights, on the car from new, but should not be fitted to alloy wheels. He took great care and hardly a scratch! took the car for a run today, perfect! Thankyou Kev for your advice. A new experience for me!
I opted for Bridgestone Turanza T001. 195/50 R82V. An update on the tyres fitted from new. After 25,000 miles, 5mm. left on the fronts and 3mm. on the rears over nearly nine years so I was quite satisfied with the wear. I only need ordinary road use, no track events or anything fancy! Price, no, I do not mind you asking, for all four fitted, new valve and balanced was £247.20 The date codes on the tyres were all quite recent, another plus point, some tyre dealers can have had tyres in stock for a long time. Snowman, the fitter who came to me was based on the Gemini Industrial Estate in North Warrington which you probably know, so easy access to the motorways, not far to Chorley!
I must apologise for forgetting to thank you NickD for your clarification re balancing the wheels. I watched the operation most carefully, well, I would wouldn’t I! The balancer operated at a very slow speed, but, it did the job. They have come a long way since I retired!
