Hi, I have a 2009 Mini Cooper. 1) Confused as to whether to use the Motorwerks Mini dealership or Discount Tire or Sams Club to buy and change the tire. I am looking for something that is worth the cost nothing fancy? 2) was checking Discount tire and saw that they recommend changing a sensor too when replacing a tire...is that necessary?

 

If you keep your wheels, the tire place should be able to change tires without damaging the TPMS sensor. As long as the tires are installed by people who know what they're doing and using quality mounting/balancing equipment, you should not have any problems.

One thing to consider is that the better tire places will use adhesive weights that are hidden on the inside of the wheel or on the lip of the wheel. The cheaper places will use the large gray crimp-on weights that nick the lip of the wheel and will look ugly on white or black alloys.

Last thing: check the date code on the tires to make sure you're not getting old tires. Rubber degrades over time.

 

None of the above...talk with Alex @ TireRack, he can not only get you the tires you want, he can also direct you to a TireRack Authorized Installer!!
I did and couldn't be happier!! Alex & TireRack ROCK!!
I used a Local Firestone Tire Dealer, yep, TireRack actually recommended them AND all I had to do was show them my TireRack receipt for the purchase of the Tires and they gave me the exact prices listed on the TireRack Website!!

 

Discount will match anyone's price, and pay for trade-ins. They have earned my business for life recently due to excellent service.

You can just say no to TPM sensor rebuilds, but they do go bad, it's a preventative maintenance thing.

 

I'd go with Discount. Tire Rack is awesome if you're ordering a tire/wheel package, but I've done the "certified installer" thing and it turned into a certified clusterphuck. Sam's Club? I'd sooner go to one of the ghetto tire shops with outdoor lifts and felons doing the work (sounds just like Sam's other than the outdoor lifts).

 

Either Discount or TireRack.
Both Discount and TireRack installers can have problems but any tire installer can have a problem. Just get some references if you go with a TireRack installer and make sure to take pictures of your wheels BEFORE any tire install as reference in case there is damage to your wheels.

NO to Sams or the Dealer.
Both are a bad idea.

 

Thanks a lot guys. Will try Tire rack if i don't find good installers will go for Discount tires....

 

Try Discount Tire and don't let them try to tell you that the sensors need to be replaced because they don't.

Tire rack is really good but just for tires it is not as good as getting a wheel, sensor, & tire package ready to install on you car youself.

The tire installers that you will get from tire rack may be OK but They WILL charge you for installation over and above the shipping.

Cost for tires

Tax

Shipping

Installation

All add up fast.

Tire rack is a great company and they do warrenty their merchandise and if you do have crummy service at your Discount tire it may be worth all of the extra expense

 

Mnminiuser, After seeing some shoddy work elsewhere, I took the time to watch the guys at Sam's Club install tires. After balancing the wheel, they spin the wheel again to check the accuracy of the balance. When installing the wheels, they only snug with an impact wrench and do final tightening with a torque wrench. We found that they also do future rotations and balancing at no additional charge.

Certainly there are other shops that do this, so check around for a shop that cares about your car and not how quickly they get the job done. There are still some out there who care about what they do. I wouldn't bet on a particular place based on the sign hanging out front.

An earlier experience was with a shop close to home. When I asked if they used a torque wrench, the owner explained that they didn't have time for that.

 

Road hazard much easier to claim when bought from a brick and mortar store. On the tires in my sig just 16 days from install date we picked up an aluminum roofing nail in the shoulder of one. Discount Tire's road hazard replaced the tire fast and easy.