Mounting and balancing tires you already own means dismounting the old rubber, mounting the new, seating the bead, fitting a valve stem or TPMS service kit, spin balancing and torquing the lugs. Before ordering for a Philadelphia shop like Philadelphia Tire Shop, match size, load index and speed rating, then check the DOT date on arrival.
Three things on the sidewall decide whether online tires will work: the full size string, the load index and the speed rating. Read them off the tire you're replacing before you pay, and read the DOT date on the new ones when the box arrives.
That's the part most people get wrong, because the mounting itself is routine. The tire machine and balancer don't care where the tire was bought, but they can't fix a tire that was the wrong size to begin with.
What do I check before ordering tires online?
Match the size string exactly: width, aspect ratio and wheel diameter. The load index and speed rating should be at least what your car's original tires carried, and your door-jamb placard tells you what that was.
The DOT code ends in four digits giving the week and year the tire was made. If that date is much older than you'd expect for a new tire, send it back before it's mounted.
- Size string, character for character
- Load index no lower than original
- Speed rating no lower than original
- DOT date on every tire in the box
Should I bring the wheels loose or leave them on the car?
Loose wheels are easier to work with: pad them in the trunk so the faces don't get scratched, and bring them with the tires. For a seasonal swap, that's usually the simplest route.
Driving in with the wheels still on the car works too, since they come off, get done, and go back on with the lugs torqued. If you have locking lug nuts, bring the key either way.
Where should the tires be shipped?
Your own address is the safe default, since you can sign for the box and inspect the tires. If you'd rather send them to the shop at 6821 Woodland Ave, call first and ask whether they accept deliveries. Buying new tires from the shop has its own page, and chasing a vibration is a separate job from a standard balance.
Does mounting include a new valve stem?
A valve stem or TPMS service kit is part of a proper mount. Confirm that it's on your quote, because the old stem is rubber and ages with the tire it came with.
What if the tires I ordered turn out to be the wrong size?
Find out before they're mounted. Once a tire has been on a wheel, many retailers won't take it back, so check their return policy first.
What should I bring with me?
Bring the tires or the wheels, your locking lug key if you have one, and your vehicle if the wheels are still on it. Call ahead to confirm timing.