Cost of a front tire change?

[Rams]

Recently had a new Metzler put on the front of my fat lady.   Rode the Tail of the Dragon a week ago which obviously causes one to consider the condition of the tires on her.    Decided then that she had enough tread left to be alright but knew she'd need a new tire soon.   

Just had that done.   Was surprised when I got the bill.   I asked twice, "How Much?"   Paid it and didn't say another word but, I'm thinking this is the last time I'll visit this shop.    I was told that the owner even took $30.00 off the bill because he likes my Valkyrie.

My question is, what should one expect to pay for a new tire installation.    Should be noted that the shop did the complete job.   I dropped the bike off and rode it home.    I also had them use balance beads.   My cost out the door was $247.00.   

I'm feeling like I got robbed, correct me if I'm wrong.

[Marinakorp]

How much was the Tire...and is that included in the 247.00 (Hopefully!)

[LandElephant]

Ron,

Did that include the cost of the tire?

I take mine off at home and go to a local shop that Jimmy (Hayhauler) recommended and it's $15 +$2 Texas tire recycle fee and I supply the beads and the tire. 10 -15 minutes and he's done.

Charlie Morse
Land Elephant

[Rams]

Yes, that included the Metzler.   Honestly, I didn't ask them to break bill down but, that was the out the door price.

The bike was on the bike stand for about 30 minutes. 

[Ken Tarver]

my local Honda dealer is extremely high for changing tires

last time did for me about 5 years ago, I took wheels/tires OFF BIKE MYSELF

charged me $62 each for the swap

I now change my own tires

[indybobm]

If you had a Metzler its hard to find one for under $200.00. Considering you dropped the bike off, I think that is a fair price.

[Davemn]

I paid $30 to have a front tire put on in Minnesota (small private shop). I think the tire (Avon) was $185.

[FLAVALK]

That sound about right.

My last tire change, I removed the wheel and handed it and the new tire to the tech. He replaced the tire, balanced it and handed it back to me for $30

[Spirited-6]

Ron, I hope you asked for your "KISS" . I think you were over charged . My guy in Lex. will do for me @ $20.00 a tire, with balance. There has got to be a shop in Frankfort that will work with you.         

[Rams]

If you had a Metzler its hard to find one for under $200.00. Considering you dropped the bike off, I think that is a fair price.

Just called and asked, the shop said the Metzler was $183.  

Appreciate the feed back on this.    Feeling better about it now.  

It's not so much the $$$ (though that is important), I just hate getting ripped off.  

This appears to be (at least) a fair deal.   Thanks.

I just let my lift table go to someone who needed it a lot more than I did, kind of a loan.    May need to start using it at his place to avoid some of the labor charges.

[Rams]

Ron, I hope you asked for your "KISS" .   

Don, if I did, I'd never tell. 

May need to get that guy's name and number from ya.

[cookiedough]

considering the tire was let's say 200 bucks,  an extra 50 bucks per tire would be top dollar.

I think I paid 100 bucks total for both tires but had the dealership (local mom/pop shop) not a Honda dealer do the entire change including taking off bike and balance and new valve stems, grease splines, etc.  

If that near 50 bucks was for 1 tire and they did it all,  then is reasonable I think.  If brought in your own tire is a tad high say should be 30 bucks tops.  

[Gavin_Sons]

I bought a metz online for around 150 and took it to a budies and installed it for free.

[Daniel Meyer]

Seems a fair price including tire, pulling the wheel, mount/balance, installing the wheel...

Seems like I'm paying a couple bills just for a tire and shipping nowadays...

[Regis]

$183 is about standard . You got dealer labor fees , balance beads , tire disposal , maybe a new valve stem ...and 30 min. of immediate service . if you cant do it yourself then that's about usual I'd say . I do them myself . And have helped Gavin change his too .

[Momz]

We bought a Shinko rear tire for my wife's Roadstar. We took the bike to "Café Racer Ypsi" and dropped off the tire to be mounted. We went for lunch and came back to find that it was completed (mounting, balancing, new valve stem and tire disposal) all for $65.00.

I'd say that was well worth the money and I would recommend this shop to anyone here in S.E. MI.

[3fan4life]

The best online price that I can find for a Metz front radial is about $170 with the bias at $140.

If I pull the wheel and bring it in my tire guy charges $15 to mount and balance a tire if bought from him and $30 if bought elsewhere.

If you drop off the bike a tire install begins @ $45.


Based on this I would say, if you bought a radial you got an OK deal, if it was a bias ply you got hosed.

[Willow]

I'm feeling like I got robbed, correct me if I'm wrong. 

It's good money if you can get it.  Unfortunately there aren't enough motorcycle tire customers in most places to make that all you do.

$45 is a fairly normal charge for removing and replacing the tire.  Remember you have to pay for his time and also a little bit for the cost of his equipment.  The shop bought the tire at a discounted rate so they made a bit on it.

How you feel is how you feel.  Whether you really did get robbed depends on whether you could get the same benefit somewhere else for less.

Get the most you can out of this expenditure.  Extend your time before doing this again.  Keep your tire inflation pounds up where they belong.  Drop a few pounds from the guy in the saddle.

Enjoy the ride.

[Rams]

Based on this I would say, if you bought a radial you got an OK deal, if it was a bias ply you got hosed.

I'm think'n just an OK deal.   BTW, it's the radial.

[Rams]

Drop a few pounds from the guy in the saddle.

Ask a question about changing a tire and get free medical advice to boot.  



Hmm, well there's supposed to be a smiley there.   Not showing up on my screen?   

[The emperor has no clothes]

Drop a few pounds from the guy in the saddle.

Ask a question about changing a tire and get free medical advice to boot.   

[Willow]

Drop a few pounds from the guy in the saddle.

Ask a question about changing a tire and get free medical advice to boot.   

The good news is you didn't get robbed.  It was worth precisely what you paid for it.     

[Rams]

Drop a few pounds from the guy in the saddle.

Ask a question about changing a tire and get free medical advice to boot.   

The good news is you didn't get robbed.  It was worth precisely what you paid for it.     

While that is an accurate statement, I went to the tire shop and asked for the tire to be changed.

[Willow]

Drop a few pounds from the guy in the saddle.

Ask a question about changing a tire and get free medical advice to boot.   

The good news is you didn't get robbed.  It was worth precisely what you paid for it.     

While that is an accurate statement, I went to the tire shop and asked for the tire to be changed.

No, no.  I was referring to the free medical advice.      (worth what you paid for it.) 

[da prez]

We get $30.00 per tire brought in for stock tires. R&R is $150.00 for both. This is mainly on HDs'.
  The local HD dealers get $70.00 plus for a carry in. We get a lot of work from them on the odd tires that some of the customs run.

                        da prez

[rainman]

my local Honda dealer is extremely high for changing tires

last time did for me about 5 years ago, I took wheels/tires OFF BIKE MYSELF

charged me $62 each for the swap

I now change my own tires

+10 

[musclehead]

seems good to me, I paid a local shop to purchase and mount a new avon cobra. I think it was about $230.

I took it off  the bike and put it back on....

[RainMaker]

My thought is that if you didn't ask how much it would cost before they started, there's no room to squawk after they finish and hand you the bill.

The only way to know is to check with other shops in your area and find the going price for the same services so that you're ready for the next tire change.

While I do my own tire changes, it does take me about 2 hours to change the front tire and I think my time is worth $50-60 over 2 hours. So I'd be happy with $247 on a front tire change if I were so inclined to let anyone else work on my Interstate.

[CajunRider]

$250-ish isn't too bad... not very good either, but not bad. 

I had an emergency repair done while on vacation in New Mexico recently... rear tire... $400.     

Beggers can't be choosy.