Installation at Walmart?
- Thread starter Chevyc10
- Start date
Do your rims require extra care? Would the chrome scratch if Joe Average installed your tires?
Requires stick on weight and yes wheels can scratch.
Well then, ask around for shops with FRP spoons and irons. Ask if they use the "good weights from Canada".
Shops frequently said they bought the better weights from Canada. Sorry I don't have a brand name.
Shops frequently said they bought the better weights from Canada. Sorry I don't have a brand name.
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- Jul 10, 2022
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I would not. I've done one of those order online ship to an authorized installer deals, and had 4 brand new rims ruined. When I mentioned it to the shop, they had the gall to say those are 40's and the sidewalls are stiff, YOU TRY MOUNTING THEM. HUH? The online retailer (prolly the best one, been dealing with them since I was in HS, and I ain't no spring chicken lol) made it right, sent another 4 rims and I had them mounted at an indie shop. So on my garage queen? No tire shop would be allowed, only an indie/specialist. Also, they charged $30/ea vs. dealer $75/ea.
Huh? To mount and a balance ONE tire?
I had Walmart install tires once, about 6 weeks ago. I showed up on Sunday morning without an appointment, and drove away on my new tires in less than 90 minutes. No issues whatsoever.
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An independent garage that may specialize in that make, or country of origin...
I have a BMW 335 and Lexus LS--what work I can't do myself, there's no way, no how, I could go to a dealer. They do shoddy work and charge a fortune. I have identified German and Japanese specialists that I am able to take my car to. At the time, my BMW rims were perfect. No way I was going to let some chain store mount and balance internet tires, so I asked the dealer and they said $75/ea. I said how come Firestone and AAA get $20, and they laughed, you gonna let them handle your wheels? The BMW indie charged 30/wheel and also installed my customer provided TPMS sensors that I got from BavAuto (now OOB). The tires are 35 series so most shops not only charge more but potentially will complain about the stiffness if they scratch things up. Put it this way, when I came to pick up my car, it was in the garage and a guy was hand washing it with a bucket--that assured me these guys take pride in customers' vehicles.
On my wife's SUV, also, no way no how would I ever let GMC work on it, they always break things and clips and pieces are missing. So I also have a garage that I would take that to who installs customer parts. They did the Bilstein B6's...
Apart from the one time they held my car hostage, I've had better luck with Walmart not scratching alloy wheels than actual tire shops.
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The other part that I used to be concerned with is knowing many shops lift the vehicles improperly, such as without adapters and on pinch welds, because it's easy. One time a muffler chain pushed in my wife's plastic cladding on the side--they were busted because I walked into the shop area, which wasn't expected. I get that what you don't know can't hurt you, but it's painful to me to suspect my car is being not treated like the shop or tech would treat their own. For example, there's a guy on YouTube that is a Toyota guy. One vlog he bends back the customers' backing plate to look at the brake pads? WTH pull the wheels to do that.
After my car got held hostage, I just carry the wheels and tires in. It's much quicker that way too.
Easier on them too. They don't have to properly lift a vehicle or torque lugnuts.
I have had walmart scratch all 4 wheels before. I was able to file a claim and got paid out for 4 brand new wheels with installation from dealer. If the price is right have them do it. Just be sure to take pictures of the wheels before hand just to make the process easier if there is a issue, but that is good practice for any shop with alloy wheels. When the dealer installed they also scratched one of the wheels as well. It can happen to anyone who is not taking pride in their work.
Walmart is good fore tires because they use proper torque and don't zip them with an air gun, and they don't upsell anything, either.
The only bad thing about getting tires installed at Walmart is the wait time can exceed 4 hours
The only bad thing about getting tires installed at Walmart is the wait time can exceed 4 hours
I was happy with Costco. I have the factory OEM upgraded 20 inch rims.
I asked for stick on weights and they complied. They also hand torqued the lug nuts and honestly I never saw a busy tire place do that.
I asked for stick on weights and they complied. They also hand torqued the lug nuts and honestly I never saw a busy tire place do that.
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
As above, totally location dependent. I've had Discount Tire scratch wheels, an indie shop scratch a wheel on a repair job and I carried it to them. I bought tires from the local Wally last January and thought what the heck they can't do any worse and they did fine.
So many people have no clue and/or don't really care about the condition of their wheels they never notice damage so it becomes SOP. (In my opinon)
So many people have no clue and/or don't really care about the condition of their wheels they never notice damage so it becomes SOP. (In my opinon)