Now, I know I've been out of racing for four years, but have things changed so much? Here's my situation: I bought some Michelins and are having them shipped to my house because I don't know if there is going to be a Michelin vendor at VIR for the Friday practice. So now I've started to ask around for prices on mounting said tires. I'm getting responses like "normally we charge two hours, but we'll do it for one hour labor"-- that's almost 70.00!!! :o I seem to remember it being far less... like 20 or 40 bucks (it has been awhile). Was I just getting a good deal at the time, or am I in the Twilight Zone?? What should I consider reasonable and customary??
I think online buying has turned many shops in to evil beasts when dealing with mounting tires that you did not buy from them!
Off track I pay 10.00 for 2 tires changed and balanced (key here, is say out load to in the shop they are for "Racing")
At the track you can get them mounted for free or up to 10.00 a tire.
13X
Last year if I would order Dunlops from RTS and bring them to the track on a race weekend Dunlop would mount and balance them for free as long as they knew the tire was new or it still had the Dunlop sticker on it. Take off's or other tire manufacturers were $10 per wheel to mount and balance. I had to have the Bridgestone guy mount a set last year and he mounted a set for $20. Buy em new at the track and it is free, or included in the price of the tire somwhere.
That's actually why we bought a Tire Mount/balance. Between myself and my teamate the mount and balance fees where getting annoying, plus you get to sell the mount and balance when we're all done. Not to mention you can charge street guys $15 a wheel to mount and balance as most of them are b uying tires on line now too. Our machine is almost payed for.
Last year I left Roebling one day with tires that were shot. I didn't feel like waiting around to change tires, so I just bought the tires from the vendor & said I'd get them changed at home. I live in Charlotte and it cost me 50 to get both changed at a dealership. Last time I do that.