These days everyone wants to buy all things from one place. All you need is a shopping cart to put things in such as eggs, milk and strawberries, and so on.
Does the same rule apply to car parts? Can you get an air filter, motor oil, or windshield wipers from that same place? Yes, you can and you can also even purchase tires. After buying them, you can get the installation done at Walmart too.
Does Walmart Install Tires for Free?
Walmart has a lot of tire-related services. One of those services is replacing tires but it is not free. And there is a good reason behind it. everything cannot be free. As such, good service comes with money and it should not be considered as a cost but as an investment. I would not be satisfied if someone changed my tire free of cost. It is not an easy task.
A tire change is one thing from a group of services known as Auto Car Center services available at Walmart. Changing a tire can be a difficult process than you think and here is why.
What does a tire change include?
- Tire Mounting
- Valve Stem Installation
- Tire Balancing
Tire Mounting
The cost of this service is $5 for each tire if you buy them from Walmart. If you take your own tires, you need to pay the double price that is, $10 per tire. What is special when it comes to mounting a tire on a rim? If untrained personnel do it or do it without proper tools, it can result in damage to the tire or the rim. Walmart is a big brand which is why it has the right tools and equipment to do the task. But the question is, does a low price for this service can demotivate employees? I mean the guys working there for years without any raise. And if you get it done from elsewhere, you need to pay 30% to 50% more as compared to Walmart. So, you need to keep this point in mind and you can also expect some decline in work too due to this low price.
Tire mounting needs a lot of work, although it may seem to be an easy task. Firstly, you need to remove the old tire safely and then carefully mount the new one. It will not be difficult for a guy who is a skilled and trained professional. And here is the motivation.
Valve Stem Installation
When the old tires are uninstalled the best move will be to change the air valves too. Almost all the new tires are tubeless, the air valve helps to maintain the right tire pressure. As the tire has limited use so is the air valve, with the passage of time the rubber loses its elasticity turns stiffer, and deteriorates easily. So, without any hesitation ask your Walmart auto center to replace the air valve too. This will add the price of an additional $3 for each tire. This is worth it that is why it costs money.
Tire Balancing
After completing the mounting of the tire and valve installation, the next step is balancing. You might think that the balancing should not be a concern as the tires are brand new but consider it twice. No one manufactures a perfect item and small issues can cause a lot of problems, especially driving fast. Even though the modern machines of balancing are very accurate and they are run by technicians they are the reason for this precise work as they apply the right weights to the right place. This is how balancing performs. Is this service free? Again, no. However, it does not cost a lot of expenditure, it costs $14 for each tire for a lifetime balance/rotation.
Final Words
Apart from these services, here are some auto care center services available at Walmart that you consider:
- Road-hazard warranty $10 for each tire
- Tire rotation is $2.50 for each tire
- Flat tire repair (tubeless) $15 for each tire
- Lugnut replacement $2 each lug nut
- TPMS re-learn FREE
- 50-mile re-torque FREE
While installing the tires, these services are essential and can be a must-do but like everything else, these services are separately provided in order to take out the cash from the client’s pockets. This is the modern style of business.
Another point to consider is if you want to buy tires and get the installation done at Walmart then perform the whole process online. This will help you to get the information about your desired tires, where are they available, and if that location also has auto care services such as tire mounting.
So, to answer the question does Walmart install tires for free? No, they do not install them for free. And we have also answered the reasons why they do it. Are they offering the service at a cheap price? Maybe. You should do research on what is their competition offering, do a comparison, and make a decision if you should go for it or not.
Buying tires from Walmart is a separate thing as it can sometimes give you unbelievable discounts, but you should avoid doing it in installments.
Get your desired tire as they will help you to keep on the road and safely.
