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Message started by Robertomoe on 08/22/08 at 17:28:22

Title: new front tire $$$
Post by Robertomoe on 08/22/08 at 17:28:22

how much should a new front tire cost to have put in? The dealership said $65 for labor and about $100 including parts. I went up to an auto place that had a bike outside and thought maybe they worked on bikes and asked. Turned out it was just the owner's, but he said what I was quoted was normal and his bike (a softail) had $350 tires.

I recall people saying they had theirs changed out for easily under $100, but what is a fair price for labor and a half decent tire?

Title: Re: new front tire $$$
Post by savage2k on 08/22/08 at 17:59:12

Robert.....I deal with a major tire shop in my area and it is $10 installation per tire provided I buy the tire from them.....If you buy 2 tires they waive the installation fee.

The dealerships charge an arm and a leg for installation.

As far as tires, it depends on the quality and/or brand. I paid about $100 for a Bridgestone Spitfire on the front, and $65 for a Kenda Challenger on the back. I wanted a Bridgestone on the back also, but it was back ordered 6 weeks.
I am quite impressed with the Kenda......Great handling and deep deep tread. I ride a lot in the rain and it holds the road something wicked. If I had known, I would have put a kenda on the front also, and saved a few bucks. Could have had the front one for $50

Kenda tires are getting a very good review. They are being used by a lot of racing teams now. I am sure the more popular they get, the price will probably go up though.

http://www.kendausa.com/

Hope this helps

Title: Re: new front tire $$$
Post by 1st2know on 08/22/08 at 18:42:50

By me, dealer installed tires by are $30 ea, for my tire, "free" if I buy the tire from them. The tires I wanted (Metzlers) cost about $35 more from them, after adding taxes, so I installed them myself.

Installing tires without shop tools is physically demanding and requires some knowhow, but, as a wrencher, I decided to take the installation fee and buy some tools and do it myself. That was only about $40 more per tire, but I get to keep the tools plus a bruise on my forearm where the tire spoon snapped back on me :-)

The tools I needed to swap the tires:
2 tire spoons (10 inch - $8 ea - I coulda used a 3rd one, about 15 inches)
1 1,500 lb motorcyce jack ($60 - I dont mind owning this :-)
2 14 inch boxing clamps (already had them)
1 bottle of generic window cleaner ($1.50)
some scrap 2x6 to make a wheel holder to protect the brake disc and belt pulley.

Title: Re: new front tire $$$
Post by Paladin. on 08/22/08 at 18:48:16

4C717C7B6C6A7173717B1E0 wrote:

how much should a new front tire cost to have put in? The dealership said $65 for labor and about $100 including parts..... I recall people saying they had theirs changed out for easily under $100, but what is a fair price for labor and a half decent tire?

Dennis Kirk will sell you a Dunlop D404 front tire, new tube, and a new rim strip for < $70 delivered.

Shop time is about $100 - $150 an hour, counting technician pay, support personel, building cost, tools, training, and a six pack of beer. If they do the remove/dismount/mount/balance/reinstall $65 is not too horridly unfair.

A large part of the labor is removing/reinstalling the front wheel -- do it yourself and save. I did my rear tire, but the front was giving me grief. So I carried my front wheel and parts to the local bike shop and got the tires swapped for $25. I did my own balance.

Title: Re: new front tire $$$
Post by verslagen1 on 08/22/08 at 22:06:04

I've gotten mine from tcpowersports. temple city

about $50 for a d404, $15 for a tube and $25 mount and balence.

Take the tire off the bike and walk it in. Don't know if they charge more to take it off the bike. Fronts are easy. A couple of 4x4's, loosen pinch bolt, remove axle, pick up spacers, roll, roll, roll...

Title: Re: new front tire $$$
Post by grandpa on 08/23/08 at 00:41:28

Those that have a Cycle Gear store near them will find that they mount and balance free with the tire purchase. You have to bring the wheel in.

Title: Re: new front tire $$$
Post by T Mack 1 on 08/23/08 at 14:41:11

I walked into my local Stealership, wheel+old tire in one hand and the new tire in the other. If I recall correctly, mounted and balanced somewehre between $20 & $24 (de-mount old, mount & balance new.). It may have helped that I had boutght the tire (Dunlop 404 ) from them a week earlier ($69) and is still had their tag on it. And.... it was off season.

Title: Re: new front tire $$$
Post by YonuhAdisi on 08/23/08 at 14:44:48

When I put new tires on the FireLizard (pre-girder front end) the local stealership mounted and balanced for free since I ordered the tires from them. A pair of Cheng Shin by the way. It cost me just over 150.00 bucks that was new tires, tubes, and rim liners.