i just picked up a set of 31/10.50/15's for a couple hundred with about 85% tread. im too lazy to mount them myself, and was wondering about mount/balance? i know these jeeps will get DW real fast with improper balancing, so i was wondering, should i go somewhere like an independent shop? or a bigger place? wal-mart does it 5 a corner, and other places go up to as much as 25. should i make sure they dont use stick on weights? does it make a difference? thanks guys!

 

go somewhere that has a good tire balancer and uses soap to slip the tire over the rim. if someone does it dry, it will tear the bead and f up the tire.
then a good beading compound to help stop rim leaks.
most places will clean up the rim with a grinder to get the old bead compound off the rim before beading up the new tire.

i went to a small "new canadian" shop to have my new goodyear MTR's mounted. he didn't do any of the above and ripped the beads on all the tires he removed and one for sure he mounted. that one was a brand new old style MTR, the last available one in canada from the goodyear supplier.

not sure if any of the other tires he installed are damaged, will know for sure when i take them off.

 

I usually only go to big o tires. They haven't ****ed me yet. Seems like small shops and jiffy lube and Firestone all want to **** you.

 

Don't go to wal-mart. They will destroy beads. I usually go to discount, big o, or have my brother do it if I'm near his shop.

 

the shop is dumb if they use soap, and they are dumb if they use nothing.

soap can cause the wheels to slip inside the tires, because it takes a LONG time to try when between the bead of the tire and wheel. and obviously you risk ripping the tire with no lube, and thats even if they can get the tire on the wheel without it.

there are products called rim-ease, and rim paste, and whatnot.

as for using a grinder to clean up the wheels, that shop is also dumb. I use scotch 3m abrasive pads on a die grinder. won't damage the wheel and gets all the corrosion off (usually on aluminum wheels). if its just old bead compound, then you need no more than a wire brush.

my shop does free mounting if you buy tires through us and $9.50 per each tire balanced. if you bring the tires, its 10 bucks to mount each.

 

sorry, i didn't get into specific detail.
yes, a grinder, die grinder, whatever... even a wire brush so to speak.

also yeah, soapy water is better then nothing. but some shops won't splurge on the right compound.

i had a guy do it dry. it'sanogoodadry...

 

I've used soapy water many times with no issue....

 

I usually take mine to the local mexican tire shop.

 

Yea I took it to a shop and the Mexican Guys did it with compound and used clip weights rather than bullshiiiiii stick weights. Only beads were fine and new ones are holding good. Thanks for the input guys. Much appreciated.



Tyler

 

Sticky weights wont get knocked off on the rocks like the hammer on type will. If i have the choice i go with sticky weights. They wont stick out like a sore thumb on many wheel types either

 

+1,Nothing wrong with sticky weights. The problem is the ones that apply them,they work really well when you actually clean the surface they adhere to

 

Not all walmarts are the same. My shop does great work. Now the walmart up the street is a totally different story. They have no clue how to balance a tire.they decline rims that need stick on weights.