Ditch the Waiting Room With A Mobile Tire Shop

We’ve all been there before, it’s the early rainy days of Fall right before the first snow fall.  You start to accelerate from a traffic light that refused to turn green because it knew that you were trying to pick up your child from daycare.  As you gently press on the accelerator, your tires start to slip and the first thought going through your mind is, It’s time for new tires already?  That thought was likely followed by, I wonder if the shop will accept my arm or my leg this time?, and perhaps, When am I going to find time to get my tires changed?  Well, you’re in luck–mobile tire shops are here to help.

Mobile tire shops are popping up all over the country, and the world for that matter, to help you address these questions; or at least the question about finding the time.  We’ll cover the question regarding tire pricing in a future post.

Tire shops have been performing road calls and replacing tires for commercial vehicles in the field for decades.  Mobile tire shops like ours are taking it to the next level by offering more convenient tire service for customers who own passenger and light truck vehicles.

What is mobile tire service?

Mobile tire service is provided by a tire shop that offers the convenience of on-site tire solutions such as mounting, computerized balancing, tire rotations, flat repair, etc.  These tire shops typically operate in a large cargo van, box truck, or trailer.  The vehicles are outfitted with the same equipment found in a traditional brick-and-mortar tire shop such as an electric or pneumatic tire changer, computerized balancer, air compressor, and a power source such as a generator or battery bank.  Mobile tire shops show up wherever you are to address your tire needs, whether you’re at home, work, at the park, shopping, and so on.

The concept of a mobile tire shop is the same as the ever-popular mobile automotive glass replacement service.  Many mobile shops are expanding to additional services such as brake pad and rotor replacements, oil changes, and cabin/engine filter replacements.  (If you’re looking for a mobile oil change in the Pittsburgh region, please call our friends at MOCO Express!)

Why choose a mobile tire service?

“Time is what we want most, but use worst.” – William Penn

To put it simply–time.  You expend that precious non-renewable resource each time you sit at a shop.

Mobile tire service was created to help you save that treasured time by providing services in your driveway.  With a mobile tire service, you can continue making progress on that project at work with minimal interruption, finish setting up for the party tonight, or spend that much needed quality time with your significant other.  We exist to give you back the time that we all so desperately need in today’s busy world.

How does a mobile tire shop work?

Mobile tire shops work much like the traditional shops.  You can purchase tires and/or schedule service with a by using one of their online scheduling tools, or by simply calling the tire shop.  Some basic information will be required such as your:

1. Name
2. Phone Number
3. Email Address
4. Service Address
5. Year/Make/Model of vehicle
6. Preferred Day and Time

Additionally, the shop may inquire about the tire size, if there is a wheel lock key, and the color of the vehicle among other details.

Once the date and time have been confirmed, the mobile tire shop will arrive at your vehicle’s location, obtain the keys for your vehicle, and perform the service.  If you ordered tires, the technician will bring your tires with them for installation.

The technician will use their suite of specialized equipment to replace or repair your tire(s).  Times vary based on the service(s) rendered and complexity, however you can usually expect four tires to be changed within 1 to 2 hours.

After the service has been completed, the technician will return your keys and collect payment.

And that’s it!  Most tire shops offer a guarantee of their workmanship and honor the tire manufacturer’s warranty, but be sure to ask just in case.

How much does mobile tire service cost?

We can’t conclude this post without talking about pricing.  Tire and tire installation prices differ significantly based on the application and the shop.  Most tire pricing will be competitive from shop to shop.

You can expect to pay a slight premium for the convenience of a mobile tire shop, but it is not significant.  A comparison of tire installation prices between brick-and-mortar tire shops and mobile tire shops show that most fall into the range of $25-$35 per tire.

As always, be sure to compare the total cost of the tires and installation from shop to shop.  Some shops charge a flat rate for installation, shop supplies, tire disposal, and TPMS relearn, while others itemize these charges.  Also, don’t forget to include the value of your time when making your decision between going to a shop or using the services of a mobile shops.

Summary

Mobile tire shops exist for your convenience.  They give you the freedom to use your time on your terms.  You can schedule the service of a mobile tire shop within minutes, which will potentially save you hours of hassle.

The next time your vehicle is in need of tire service, contact your local mobile tire shop!