It’ll take about 45 minutes to change 1 tire in shops. For 4 tires, it might take 2-5 hours depending on the waiting time. While doing it yourself, it may take about 30 minutes per tire. And, it might take 2 hours for all tires. With road assistance, you’ll get 1 tire changed in an hour while all tires will take about 2 hours.
But, there’s a lot more to know about how long does it take to change tires. So, keep on reading the article unless you want to miss out on the details.
Time Needed to Change Tires
You can either change the tires yourself or with professional help. Don’t worry cause we’ve discussed both.
How Long Does it Take A Professional to Change Tires?
A professional can change a tire within 20 minutes. And you can expect it to take about 55 minutes to change all four tires.
But, these are just approximate timing. The time required is different for various automotive retailers. It depends on their service and schedules. Here, we’ve tried to mention some of them briefly in the table:
| Automotive Retailers | Number of Tires | Required Time to Change Tire | Cost to Change Tires (Per Tire) |
| Walmart | 1 | 45 minutes | $12-$15 |
| Walmart | 4 | 1 hour 30 minutes- 2 hours | $48-$60 |
| Costco | 1 | 45 minutes | $18.99 |
| Costco | 4 | 1 hour 30 minutes | $75.96 |
| Firestone | 1 | 45 minutes – 2 hours | $15-$20 |
| Firestone | 4 | 2- 3 hours | $60-$80 |
| Pep boys | 1 | 45 minutes | About $10 |
| Pep boys | 4 | 1 hour 30 minutes- 2 hours | About $40 |
Now, let’s talk about these pricings in detail.
Walmart: They provide the cheapest tire change among famous retailers which costs $12-$15 per tire. But, there’s no doubt about their quality. They’re professionals and can change tires perfectly within 10-15 minutes per tire.
But, because of their popularity, the waiting time is a bit long. It’ll take you about 45 minutes to change a tire there including the waiting time.
If you plan to change all your tires, make sure that you have 1.5- 2 hours at hand. This waiting time is applicable to almost all popular retailers.
Costco: Compared to others, the waiting time is the least in Costco. You should be in and out with all tires changed within one hour and 30 minutes. But the cost is slightly higher which is $18.99 for each tire.
Although, Costco only changes tires purchased from them. They’ll not install any tire purchased from other shops.
Firestone: Firestone takes the most time in changing tires. Changing all your tires might take about 2-3 hours. Especially if you don’t have an appointment. You may need to wait for about 45 minutes to two hours before they get started.
But, the good thing is their costs are affordable. Though the prices are set by independent stores, you can expect a range of $15-$20 to change a tire there.
Pep Boys: Among all, Pep Boys has the most in-depth tire-changing process. Thus, it’s comparatively more time-consuming. Again, it’s advised to take an appointment. But, it won’t take as long as Firestone.
Hopefully, you’ll be done with all the tires changed in 1 hour 30 minutes- 2 hours.
How Long Does it Take Road Assistance to Change Tires?
Suppose you’re in the middle of the road and one of your tires gets punctured. You can’t drive it to any shops and can’t change the tires yourself. In that case, turn to road assistance.
Auto repair shops like Tireplus provide road assistance. You can just call them and they’ll send professionals to change the tires for you. These professionals are quite good at their job.
For them, it takes about 15-20 minutes to replace one tire. Since they don’t have all the tools available in a garage, it might take 5-10 minutes longer than professionals at a garage.
But, the downside is it takes quite some time for them to reach you. On average, it might take around 50 minutes to an hour.
It’s unlikely that all your tires will get punctured at the same time. But, if it does, they’ll repair it within an hour or a bit more. So, in total it’ll take about 2 hours.
How Long Does it Take to Change Tires Yourself?
The DIY time greatly depends on the person doing it. A skilled person will be able to do it in 15-20 minutes. But, even with the right tools, it’ll take you around 30 minutes or more to change each tire if you’re doing it for the first time.
To change all the tires, expect to spend about 2 hours.
You can reduce the time by using Jack Stands instead of tire jacks.
Source: Prioritytire
With jack stands, you won’t have to go around every wheel like tire jacks.
Wheel Alignment After Changing Tires
Adjusting wheel alignment is necessary after changing tires to smoothen your rides. Also, misaligned wheels will cause your tire treads to wear prematurely and unevenly. So, you’ll have to change them more frequently. Thus, it’s better to get your tires aligned after changing the tires.
Generally, it takes about 30-60 minutes to align your wheels. Depending on your vehicle, it might take longer. For example, wheel alignment takes more time in 4WDs than 2WDs. Also, it’ll take longer if any parts are damaged. A point to note here is wheel alignment is different from wheel balancing.
FAQs
How Often Should Tires Be Replaced?
Tires should be replaced after every six years or 36,000-75,000 miles. It is recommended by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). But, depending on your driving style, maintenance, and the weather, they might last more or less. But, no matter how they look, you shouldn’t use them for more than 10 years.
What Can Damage Tires?
Tires can be damaged by potholes, overloading, underinflation, road hazards, extreme heat, age, and improper storage. Driving habits like sudden braking and high-speed cornering can also damage tires. Improper wheel alignment, using the wrong type of tire, and exposure to chemicals or solvents can also harm tires.
How to Maintain Your Tires?
Regular tire maintenance includes checking tire pressure monthly, inspecting for damage, rotating tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, and aligning wheels semiannually. To ensure optimal tire performance and longevity, it’s important to use the correct type of tire for your vehicle and driving conditions, avoid overloading, and drive safely to minimize wear and tear. Proper tire storage is also essential, so store tires in a cool, dry, and dark place to prevent damage from sunlight and heat.
Bottom Line!!
Hope you got to know all about how long does it take to change tires? Still, we’ve one last tip. While tires with softer rubber perform better, harder rubber tires last longer. Thanks for sticking till the end.
