Same job at other shop types (everything else as set above): Chain (Discount Tire, Firestone) $92–$180 · Independent shop $140–$320 (the headline above) · Dealer $220–$452. Each figure applies that shop type's hourly labor rate (market estimates, shown above) to the calculator's own hours and parts assumptions. It is modeled, not a quote.
How serious did it get for owners?
1% of the 876 complaints report crash, the most common serious outcome; the other outcomes counted below are rarer, and an owner can file without mentioning one.
What it shows: Crash reported is the largest at 8, followed by Towed at 7; the smallest shown is Fire reported at 1.
Counts below are complaints filed with NHTSA, not failure rates: a longer bar means more owners reported it.
Is your car affected?
What it shows: The most common band for complaints about this repair is under 50,000 (80%), against 60% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
What it shows: The most common band for complaints about this repair is under 3 years old (52%), against 40% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
876 owner complaints name this part.
Owners most often describe "recall mentioned", in 15% of these complaints.
Which other parts do owners name in the same complaint?
Among the 876 owner complaints naming this part, rim is named in 5% of them, more than any other part.
Other parts named in the same complaints. Rim: 5%; Tire rotation: 4%; Shock or strut: 4%.
Owners name the rim most often in the same complaint, which is not proof that one caused the other. Ask the shop whether it checked the rim too, so you are not quoted twice for one visit.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
55 mph or faster is the largest group at 58%, out of 308 complaints.
Owners reported it most often at highway speed. Tell the shop what speed it happens at, because that narrows the diagnosis.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
2017 is the most common model year in 659 complaints naming this part (15%); 4 model years account for 59%.
What it shows: 2017 is the largest at 102 (15%), followed by 2015 at 100 (15%); the smallest shown is 2025 at 22 (3%).
Have prices for this kind of repair been rising faster than other car costs?
In the BLS consumer price index for U.S. cities, prices for tires are up 26.9% since December 2019, against 74.2% for motor vehicle repair and 55.2% for maintenance and repair overall (latest reading 2026-08).
Consumer prices since December 2019: tires against motor vehicle repair. Tires: +26.9%; Motor vehicle repair: +74.2%; Motor vehicle maintenance and repair: +55.2%.
How long do tires last and how well do they grip, by the government grades?
Among 3,031 tire lines in NHTSA's tire grading database, the median treadwear grade is 420, and 88.9% earn wet traction grade A or better.
| Treadwear grade | Tire lines | Share of lines |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 199 | 159 | 5.2% |
| 200 to 299 | 413 | 13.6% |
| 300 to 399 | 727 | 24.0% |
| 400 to 499 | 773 | 25.5% |
| 500 to 599 | 540 | 17.8% |
| 600 to 699 | 294 | 9.7% |
| 700 or more | 125 | 4.1% |
What do state inspectors fail cars for?
Among 8,738,476 initial safety inspections in North Carolina in 2017, tires caused 8.5 failed items per 1,000 inspections, more than any of the other three parts the state reports.
What it shows: Tires is the largest at 8.5, followed by Lights at 5.2; the smallest shown is Brake components at 1.9.
How much do households spend on tires a year?
In the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. households spent an average of $217 on tires in 2024, from $80 in the lowest-income fifth to $372 in the highest.
What it shows: Highest fifth is the largest at $372, followed by Lowest fifth at $80; the smallest shown is Lowest fifth at $80.
Do tire installation problems track gallons of motor gasoline burned per resident per year across states?
Gallons of motor gasoline burned per resident per year (SEDS, transportation)
Complaints against what the makes sold would predict (1.0× = expected)
left map: lower to higherright map: green fewer complaints than expected, red morefurthest from the pattern: FL, IL, IN, MD, NC, NJfewer than 10 complaints
This describes states, not any one car, and it does not show that the left measure produces the right one.
Every state with 10 or more complaints, most over-reported first: state, gallons of motor gasoline burned per resident per year (seds, transportation), complaints against expected, complaints filed.
- IN 418 · 1.39× · 16
- VA 450 · 1.38× · 29
- FL 402 · 1.38× · 74
- MO 506 · 1.31× · 15
- IL 319 · 1.28× · 28
- KY 475 · 1.27× · 10
- AL 629 · 1.25× · 12
- AZ 387 · 1.20× · 19
- TN 474 · 1.05× · 14
- MI 425 · 1.05× · 24
- GA 431 · 1.04× · 25
- PA 329 · 1.04× · 25
- TX 469 · 1.01× · 59
- CO 375 · 0.99× · 13
- NC 464 · 0.96× · 21
- NY 257 · 0.92× · 28
- OH 391 · 0.89× · 21
- CA 318 · 0.82× · 67
- MD 369 · 0.79× · 12
- NJ 370 · 0.71× · 13
What it shows: States with more gallons of motor gasoline burned per resident per year (seds, transportation) tend to sit higher on the chart across 20 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
- A moderate pattern, probably real but not certain: about 1 in 5 patterns this clear turn out to be false alarms. Weak spot: hold share of highway miles with poor ride quality equal and the gallons of motor gasoline burned per resident per year pattern disappears, so it may be mostly that factor.
Are the parts for this repair getting more expensive, or only the labor?
The federal producer price index for new passenger car tires rose 34.1% from December 2019 to August 2026, while the consumer price index for motor vehicle repair, labor and parts together, rose 55.2% (BLS, national).
Prices of new passenger car tires, as shops buy them from makers, since December 2019, against consumer prices for motor vehicle repair. New passenger car tires: +34.1%; All motor vehicle parts: +17.4%; Motor vehicle repair, labor and parts together: +55.2%.
Has the replacement part I am buying been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 equipment recalls that name tire installation since 2015 (tires and wheels), covering 47 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Tap Worldwide, Llc in 2020, covered 47.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Tap Worldwide, Llc: Rubicon Express Lift Kit | tires | certain Rubicon Express 4.5" and 5.5" Super-Flex suspension lift kits, part numbers JT7147, Universal lift. | 47 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 2 foreign recall campaigns that name tire installation with NHTSA since 2015; the latest, from Mercedes-Benz USA in 2026-07. These are recalls abroad, and they apply to U.S. cars only if the same model is sold here.
| Filed | Manufacturer | Foreign recall no. | What the filing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07 | Mercedes-Benz | 106 | Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain Model Year 2022 � 2023 EQS (297 platform) vehicles, the parameter for the dynamic tire diameter in the powertrain control unit might not meet current specifications. |
| 2016-06 | Chrysler (FCA US) | 090 | ("TNAP") without wheel flare protection ("spat") kits placed in the vehicle for installation at the port. |
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 1 NHTSA recalls that name tire installation filed 2015 to 2024, 94.2% of the 195 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 11 vehicles still carrying the defect.
| Year | Vehicles | Recalled vehicles | Repaired | Component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Toyota Rav4 | 195 | 94.2% | valve |
Was my tire a known defect, and which tire lines has NHTSA recalled?
NHTSA lists 49 tire recall campaigns filed since 2015 (tire recalls that name air loss, bead or sidewall), covering 1,030,223 tires; the largest, Cooper Discoverer At3 4s in 2021, covered 430,298.
What it shows: Cooper Discoverer At3 4s is the largest at 430,298, followed by Primewell Valera Touring Ii at 394,378; the smallest shown is Yokohama 504c at 6,992.
Does vehicle age change how underinflated tires are?
NHTSA's 2001 measurement of 11,530 vehicles found 8% of tires on cars 3 years old or newer underinflated by 8 psi or more against 15% on cars over 6 years old, and 12% against 24% on pickups, SUVs and vans.
Share of tires deviating 8 psi or more from the maker's pressure, by vehicle age, measured in 2001. 3 years or newer, pickups and SUVs: 12%; 3 to 6 years, pickups and SUVs: 15%; Over 6 years, pickups and SUVs: 24%.
If this part was recalled, is the repair free?
Federal law (49 U.S.C. 30120) requires a maker to fix a recalled defect without charge for cars first bought within 15 calendar years (tires within 5), and NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for parts matched to a tire installation since model year 2015, covering about 14,755 vehicles.
| Rule or count | What it says |
|---|---|
| Age limits | The free-remedy duty does not apply to a car first bought more than 15 calendar years, or a tire first bought more than 5 calendar years, before the recall notice. |
| Failure to fix | A repair not done adequately within 60 days of presentation is prima facie evidence of failure to repair within a reasonable time; the maker must then replace the vehicle or refund the purchase price less depreciation. |
| Free remedy | A maker must fix a recall defect without charge. |
| NHTSA recalls matched to a tire installation since model year 2015 | 3 recall campaigns covering about 14,755 vehicles |
How old is this tire, and how do I read its date code?
Under federal rule 49 CFR 574.5 every tire carries a DOT identification number whose final four digits are its date code, two digits for the week and two for the year it was made, so a code of 3524 means week 35 of 2024 and tire age can be read before you buy.
Reading the DOT date code on a tire (49 CFR 574.5). Last four digits of the DOT number: the date code: two digits for the week, two for the year of manufacture what (3524 = made in week 35 of 2024); First two of the four digits: week of the year; 01 is the first full calendar week (Sunday to Saturday) what (35 = the 35th week); Last two of the four digits: year of manufacture what (24 = 2024).
Does my state add a scrap-tire fee to the tire bill?
36 of 50 U.S. states charge a scrap-tire fee on new tires and 14 do not, with flat fees from $0.25 to $5.00 per tire, so four tires add up to $20.00 at the highest flat fee against $0 in states with no fee.
| State | Fee per new tire (as published) | On four tires | Share of $230 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1.00 | $4.00 | 1.7% |
| Alaska | $2.50 / passenger tire extra $5.00 / studded tire | varies | |
| Arizona | 2% or $2.00 max | varies | |
| Arkansas | $2.00 / new passenger tire extra $3.00 / new truck tire (>20" rim) | varies | |
| California | $1.75 | $7.00 | 3.0% |
| Colorado | $1.25 | $5.00 | 2.2% |
| Connecticut | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Delaware | $2.00 | $8.00 | 3.5% |
| Florida | $1.00 | $4.00 | 1.7% |
| Georgia | $1.00 | $4.00 | 1.7% |
| Hawaii | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Idaho | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Illinois | $2.50 | $10.00 | 4.3% |
| Indiana | $0.25 | $1.00 | 0.4% |
| Iowa | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Kansas | $0.25 | $1.00 | 0.4% |
| Kentucky | $2.00 | $8.00 | 3.5% |
| Louisiana | $1.25 / recapped or retreaded tire, $2.25 / passenger tire, $5.00 / medium truck tire, $10.00 / off-road tire | varies | |
| Maine | $1.00 | $4.00 | 1.7% |
| Maryland | $0.80 | $3.20 | 1.4% |
| Massachusetts | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Michigan | $1.50 per vehicle title transfer | varies | |
| Minnesota | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Mississippi | $1.00 or $2.00 based on size | varies | |
| Missouri | $0.50 | $2.00 | 0.9% |
| Montana | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Nebraska | $1.00 | $4.00 | 1.7% |
| Nevada | $1.00 | $4.00 | 1.7% |
| New Hampshire | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| New Jersey | $1.50 | $6.00 | 2.6% |
| New Mexico | $1.50 | $6.00 | 2.6% |
| New York | $2.50 | $10.00 | 4.3% |
| North Carolina | 1% on or 2% based on size | varies | |
| North Dakota | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Ohio | $1.00 | $4.00 | 1.7% |
| Oklahoma | $2.90 or $5.50 or more based on size | varies | |
| Oregon | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Pennsylvania | $1.00 | $4.00 | 1.7% |
| Rhode Island | $5.00 | $20.00 | 8.7% |
| South Carolina | $2.00 | $8.00 | 3.5% |
| South Dakota | $0.25 | $1.00 | 0.4% |
| Tennessee | $1.35 | $5.40 | 2.3% |
| Texas | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| This page's calculator midpoint | tire installation | $230 | |
| Utah | $1.00 | $4.00 | 1.7% |
| Vermont | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Virginia | $0.50 | $2.00 | 0.9% |
| Washington | $1.00 | $4.00 | 1.7% |
| West Virginia | $10 / vehicle title transfer | varies | |
| Wisconsin | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Wyoming | No state fee | $0.00 |
Does my car have to have a tire pressure sensor, and when does it warn?
Federal standard FMVSS 138 requires a car's tire pressure warning light to come on within 20 minutes once a tire is 25 percent or more below the recommended pressure, phased in at 20% of cars (2005 to 2006), 70% (2006 to 2007) and every car built from September 1, 2007, so a car from that date forward has a sensor to service.
| Requirement | What the standard says |
|---|---|
| Applies to | cars, multipurpose vehicles, trucks and buses of 10,000 pounds or less (not dual-rear-wheel vehicles) |
| vehicles built October 5, 2005 to August 31, 2006 | at least 20% of a maker's cars had to comply |
| vehicles built on or after September 1, 2007 | every car must comply |
| vehicles built September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2007 | at least 70% of a maker's cars had to comply |
| Warning light | The warning light must come on within 20 minutes once one or more tires is at or below 25 percent under the recommended cold pressure. |
How many miles a year does my kind of vehicle really drive?
In the 2022 National Household Travel Survey, Van owners report driving an average 15,194 miles a year against 13,298 for Pickup owners, and 24.5% of Van owners drive 15,000 miles or more (reported mileage, survey-weighted).
| Vehicle type | Average miles per year | Share driven 15,000 miles or more | Vehicles surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van | 15,194 | 24.5% | 648 |
| Car | 14,950 | 20.6% | 6,232 |
| SUV | 14,351 | 21.5% | 4,479 |
| Pickup | 13,298 | 22% | 2,331 |
How do tires fail, and which failure do owners report most?
Blowout is the largest group at 33, out of 91 complaints.
Owners most often describe the failure as "blowout". Use the same wording when you describe a problem to a tire shop.
Which tire on the car fails most often?
Driver-side front is the largest group at 60, out of 176 complaints.
Check that tire first, but look at all four: every position is in the reports.
How old were the tires when owners reported the problem?
2 to 3 years is the largest group at 32, out of 99 complaints.
A tire's age is printed on its sidewall as a four-digit date code (week and year): check yours.
Is it recalled or covered?
| Recall number | Vehicles | Cars recalled | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15V-864 | Hyundai Genesis 2015 | 11,142 | Tire sidewall cracks could cause a rupture during use, resulting in a rapid air loss and loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 16V-246 | Ford F-350 SD 2016; Ford F-450 SD 2016; Ford F-250 SD 2016 | 2,288 | A rapid loss of air or a tire rupture while the vehicle is being driven may cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 17V-311 | Toyota Tundra 2015–2017; Toyota Sequoia 2015–2017 | 1,325 | Lugnuts that crack and detach may cause the wheels to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
A bulletin is a repair procedure a maker sends its dealers, not a safety defect: if your maker is listed, ask the dealer whether one covers your car and quote its number.
| Maker | Vehicles | Bulletin number | Date | What it says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet | Traverse 2015–2019; Express 2015–2019 and 23 more | 010310003R | Feb 15, 2019 | This bulletin contains information for the new tires that the vehicle is equipped with and that they are covered by General Motors against defects in material or workmanship under the New Vehicle Warranty (in Canada, the Base Warranty Coverage). |
| Honda | Civic 2019 | AST181201 | Dec 21, 2018 | "Techline summary article - We're currently looking at an issue where the tires installed on the 2019 Civic Si (sedan and coupe) do not match what is listed on the Monroney label. |
| GMC | Canyon 2015–2018; Yukon XL 2015–2018 and 7 more | 010310003P | Jan 4, 2018 | This bulletin contains information for the new tires that the vehicle is equipped with and that they are covered by General Motors against defects in material or workmanship under the New Vehicle Warranty (Base Warranty Coverage). |
| Cadillac | ATS 2015–2017; Escalade 2015–2017 and 8 more | 01-03-10-003L | Sep 14, 2016 | This GM of Canada New Vehicle Tire Warranty Program and GWM Transaction Submission Information Bulletin provides information for the new tires that the vehicle are equipped with and that they are covered by General Motors against defects in material. |
| GMC | Sierra 3500 2015; Sierra 1500 2015 and 8 more | 03-03-10-007I | May 22, 2014 | This informational bulletin explains a normal condition of new tires may shake and vibrate for the first few miles. |
19 more bulletins name this part; the car finder at the top checks yours, and the NHTSA bulletin file linked below lists them all.
What do owners say?
4 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
The new tires installed by Provo Ford cost - $1,279.80.
The blow out caused $3858.59 worth of damage to the truck, not including the cost of new tires.
We are needing to spend $1000 on new tires for this otherwise wonderful vehicle.
The new tires cost $536.34, and there's an additional $25 per tire for mounting and balancing.
Check your car
Tire installation cost for four tires at an independent shop, with TPMS service included, is $140–$320 in our estimate. That works out to $30–$65 per tire.
What does a tire installation price actually cover?
Installation is the labor to take your old tires off, mount new ones on the wheels and put the wheels back on the car. A normal per-tire price should include mounting, balancing the wheel with weights and tightening the lug nuts to spec.
The estimate here also includes TPMS service, which means the tire pressure sensor in each wheel is handled during the swap. That is why the default is higher than a bare mount-and-balance.
Ask whether new valve stems and old-tire disposal are inside the per-tire price. Some shops fold them in; others add them as separate lines at the register.
How much does each kind of shop charge?
The calculator splits the same four-tire job by where you have it done. Prices below include TPMS service.
| Shop or quantity | Total | Per tire |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tire, independent shop | $35–$80 | $30–$65 |
| 2 tires, independent shop | $70–$160 | $30–$65 |
| 4 tires, chain shop | $92–$180 | $18–$30 |
| 4 tires, dealer | $220–$452 | $50–$98 |
The per-tire rate stays the same at an independent shop whether you buy one tire or two, so the total simply scales with the count. The gap between shop types is much bigger than the gap between quantities.
A chain is the low end because it prices mounting as a routine, high-volume job. A dealer is the high end because its labor rate is built around factory service work.
What does the estimate leave out?
The estimate covers labor to install. It does not cover the tires. It also does not cover an alignment, a flat repair, a new TPMS sensor if one fails, or any disposal or shop fee your state adds.
Wheels that are corroded to the hub, stuck lug nuts and low-profile or run-flat tires can add labor time. Ask about these before you commit, not at the counter.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to balance new tires?
Yes. An unbalanced tire makes the steering wheel shake at highway speed and wears the tire unevenly, so balancing belongs in every installation.
Is it cheaper to install only two tires?
Two tires cost $70–$160 at an independent shop against $140–$320 for four, so the bill is lower, but the per-tire rate does not drop. Replace tires in pairs on the same axle to keep grip even.
Sources
Data shown on this page
- NHTSA owner complaint file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA recall file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA service bulletin file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) downloaded 2026-10-05
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), U.S. city average downloaded 2026-08
- NHTSA Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS) ratings downloaded 2026-10-05
- North Carolina Division of Air Quality, Vehicle Safety and Emissions Inspection Frequency Study data from 2017
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, item 480110 Tires - purchased, replaced, and installed data from 2024
- EIA State Energy Data System, motor gasoline consumption, joined to NHTSA owner complaints downloaded 2026-10-12
- BLS Producer Price Index, commodity data for motor vehicle parts (series WPU07120104); BLS Consumer Price Index item SETD for the repair row downloaded August 2026
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, Foreign Campaigns (filings under 49 CFR 579.11, public API) downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall quarterly reports (basis of the Annual List of Recall Completion Rates) downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA National Center for Statistics and Analysis, Tire Pressure Special Study: Vehicle Observation Data (DOT HS 809 317) data from 2001
- 49 U.S.C. 30120 (Remedies for defects and noncompliance), text via Cornell Legal Information Institute; NHTSA recall campaigns data from 2026
- eCFR, 49 CFR 574.5 Tire identification requirements (NHTSA) data from 2025
- U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (compiling state statutes), State End-of-Life Tire Legislation Summary, October 2024 file data from 2024
- eCFR, 49 CFR 571.138 Standard No. 138, Tire pressure monitoring systems (NHTSA) data from 2025
- FHWA, 2022 NextGen National Household Travel Survey, vehicle file downloaded 2026-10
Terms: US government data, public domain.
Observed: records as filed; owner reports are unverified and are not failure rates. Derived: computed from the records; an association, not a cause. Rule: a published legal rule, not a measurement; whether it covers a given repair depends on the car and the facts. Reported: figures as reported by the publisher, not independently verified.
What is our own estimate
The price range comes from our calculator's formula. Its parts prices, labor hours per job and shop-rate tiers are CalcScrape estimates, not a published price dataset. Not independently checked: no established price guide publishes a general range for this exact job (looked 2026-10-10), so the default has no outside comparison. Price evidence grade D: no outside published range for this job; the hours and parts prices behind the estimate are CalcScrape assumptions and have not been checked against repair invoices. Methodology