Newbie tire installation question

Hi folks
How involved/difficult is it to get a set of tires (say from tirerack)
and install without going to a installer? I have a civic 1999 model
I have installed/replaced a flat/spare tire using the jack but have 0
experience with aligning etc. I have only the tools that come with the
car in the trunk
Hence the question
William

 

Unmounted car tires need to be mounted on wheels using special tools
used by tire shops. Tires mounted on wheels can be installed similar
to the way you would use a spare tire.

 

It is definitively not a do it yourself job.
First, you cannot remove/install the tire on the rim without special tools,
preferably a machine.
Second, you have to balance the tire for which you need a machine too.
BTW, it's not like it is expensive.

 

If you plan to do the above yourself and do an alignment too.. go to this
site: http://www.customalignment.com/Equipment.htm
And take a look at the machines that you'll need to do the job right. You
may have to spend about $10,000 if not more for the machines OR.... buy the
tires and take it to the local tire shop and pay the $8-$15 per tire for the
mounting and balancing.

If you buy the tires and wheels combo from Tirerack and have it mounted and
balanced prior to shipping them to you then the tools you have in the car
will be fine (but you may want to consider getting a torque wrench to ensure
proper lug nut torque)

Good Luck

 

W

 

be warned. every set of tires/wheels that have come from tire rack
that iv'e encountered have been static balanced. which means they
ride like shit.
chip