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New Tires?
Actinguy1
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Just got my car inspected (required by Pennsylvania state law) and the verdict was that I HAVE to get new brakepads and I'm right on the edge with my tires. If I got all four new tires, the brakepads, the inspection and emissions test, the whole thing would run me over 800 dollars. Instead, I opted for just the mandatory brakepads, inspection and emission for 230 dollars.
This is the second mechanic (in seperate states) who told me I need new tires...and I drove across America AFTER being told by the first mechanic, so I'm inclined to believe what I'm being told. But I'm currently unemployed...and while I do have a few thousand saved up, I'm trying to avoid hefty expenses life new tires until I have steady employment.
Looks like the mechanic was charging me approximately 500 dollars for four new tires, plus labor, etc, for a 2008 Jeep Liberty. Am I better off buying them myself? I certainly lack the know-how of putting them on by myself.
tl;dr: I need four new tires, and I'm no mechanic. Cheapest way to proceed?
This is the second mechanic (in seperate states) who told me I need new tires...and I drove across America AFTER being told by the first mechanic, so I'm inclined to believe what I'm being told. But I'm currently unemployed...and while I do have a few thousand saved up, I'm trying to avoid hefty expenses life new tires until I have steady employment.
Looks like the mechanic was charging me approximately 500 dollars for four new tires, plus labor, etc, for a 2008 Jeep Liberty. Am I better off buying them myself? I certainly lack the know-how of putting them on by myself.
tl;dr: I need four new tires, and I'm no mechanic. Cheapest way to proceed?
Actinguy1 on
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You're not going to be able to find it significantly cheaper, and doing it yourself is generally not a good idea if you don't have the means to do the alignment as well.
I had a Honda Passport for a while, the tires that came on it were in the $130 each range, but buying a set with a lower mileage rating rated just for pavement got it down to about $80 each.
Jump on it.
My Pathfinder used to cost around $400 for a pair of new tires, balanced, installed, and aligned.
I do suggest you get new tires. There are certain things you can skimp on, but understand that everything that is necessary for that vehicle to do it's job is centered around those tires, and a bad tire can fuck you up (and anyone else on the the road) in a big hurry.
Putting tires on a rim isn't incredibly difficult. It's really more an exercise in how you hold your tongue. However, it's something you really want to watch someone do a few times before you do it yourself. You'll also need to make sure you don't tear up your TPMS. I honestly think, given your hesitance and saying you don't know how to do it, that you shouldn't be doing it. Pay the shop.
What size rims do you have? If you have 18" or even the 17"s, I'd say $500 for a full set mounted and balanced is a pretty decent price.
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Limed for a great deal, although I doubt that the $500 includes an alignment. It's also probably not needed as long as the wear on your tires is fairly even. IE: no weird tread deformations like chunks missing or greater wear on the inside and/or outside edges than in the center and the vehicle tracks straight when on a level surface with your hands off the wheel.
When you get new tires make sure to have them rotated every 5-7000 miles so they wear even and balance them when needed (you'll feel the shake if one goes out of balance). Buy a decent tire pressure gauge and check and adjust the pressure when they are cold (haven't been driven on for several hours). Improperly inflated tires wear out way faster than correctly inflated ones and cause things like high speed blowouts.
Have you measured the tread depth of all the tires? I've always replaced only two tires at a time, because they get worn at different speeds because of where the car's power is being delivered(front or rear-wheel drive), and that could save you a lot of money in the short term.
A very quick google search leads me to believe it's a big deal for 4WD, but not really for ABS.
Edit: Of course in this case, I guess it's moot because he's got a Jeep.
Sorry, I described it poorly, it's more of a deal on four wheel ABS systems used for Traction Control, as the ABS redistributes braking force based on rotational speed of tires, different sizes or one that missing a significant amount of tread can throw it off.
As with most review sites, gives you an idea if there's something you should completely avoid, or if it's OK.
I went from $300/EACH RE-11s to some no-name Achillies tires for the summer (235/35/ZR19) and they're fantastic for 88.00/each
How's the cars roadholding, especially on slippery surfaces?