you could have them mount the tires and then go home and put them on yourself, just like changing a tire, times 4 (assuming you're getting new tires AND wheels). if you don't feel comfortable with your own work you could always go back and ask for a "tire rotation" once you have them on.

 

Going back to have them rotated is an interesting way around their policy.. I didn't think to ask them if I got them put on if they would even touch the tires on the car. I don't have any tools nor a good place to work so I've always had the shop do it for me. It sucks because normally Kal Tire does free tire change overs sping/fall if you buy the rims/tires from them. Paying for TPS makes the change over not so free : (

 

There are many places to go to, you can go to any tire store and I think they are just as competant to do the job. There is always Canadian Tire or maybe back to the dealer.

 

I had another question in relation to this. I just called the other Kal Tire to verify that the first one told me the truth, they told me since the TPS is now law and a "saftey" system they can not put non-tps tires on a tps car. I was not aware of any law in canada that had been passed, only one in the states. Does anyone know?

I called around a bit and BigOTire is cheaper then KalTire, has almost as many locations, and charges $30 for a rim change over. $30 is worth it to not have to worry about how to get tires on. It's a shame Kal Tire is doing this since I really did enjoy the service they have provided me in the past.

 

If you still want to do business with this tire store your car has all the tools to change a tire. Have done this in partkng lots, street. etc. This would be a perfect time to get experienced before you have a flat.

 

There is no Federal Law in Canada concerning usage (or non-usage) of TPMS system so that's a BS statement. And the Provinces can't legislate this area until TPMS is considered a safety feature.

Last I heard through the automotive grapevine, is that Canada will likely ignore legislating this and consider is a "novelty" feature. It's still too nee and manufacturers are still grappling with defining what features, etc. Hell even the aftermarket group is just barely starting to get into this.

However, lots of tire sellers are getting reamed because some automotive manufacturers build things into the TPMS systems that cripple functionality of cars when a TPMS sensor is missing or fails.

Everything from disabling the radio, disabling cruise control, or preventing overdrive, etc. I don't know WTF these auto manufacturers were thinking - but we can put the blame squarely on Ford and their crappy Explorer roll-overs.

Tell Kal Tire to do their research - Corolla's TPMS is a dumb TPMS. Nothing is disabled or impacted (save for the yellow warning light).

Solution. Purchase the tires, rims and stuff at Kal Tire, throw them in your car and then drive around the block. Come back in and ask for them to install your tires. If they still won't, then go down the road and have another place install them for $20.

 

in your trunk there's a spare tire and together with it there must be all the tools to change your wheels I think it was 4 summers ago when I was asked to help change some wheels.. some wheels occured to be Hummer H2 mountain wheels :lol: (those huge ones) and all 4 of them :lol: now THAT was something that really made me sweat :lol:

http://www.ehow.com/video_1863_change-flat-tire.html

Just thought it's always useful to know how to do it

 

So does anyone in Western Canada have a chain they can recommend to me? I'm also curious if there are other shops that have this same policy?

I bought my winter tires (Michelin X-Ice 2) for my 2009 corolla at Costco which had a good price with free lifetime rotation and installation policy, plus good price for oil change. They didnt mind the TPS issue, at least in Ottawa, and you may wish to call them before to be sure. If you dont mind the distance of 52km away, there is one Costco a the following location:

2479 Highway 97 N
Kelowna, British Columbia
V1X 4J2

 

Not all cars in Canada even come with TPMS, like the RAV4 for example.

Jeff

 

jedi1648, do you know how the warranty with Costco works? If I buy them while I'm a member and let my membership expire do they still do things like tire rotation or do I have to keep my membership up? I was actually thinking about Costco but wasn't sure if I was going to be keeping my membership next year. How are the X-Ice working out for you? Besides Nokian I have no clue about good brands. Have read a lot of reviews and am still a bit confused.

rolla-XRS, thanks for the info. I wasn't sure at all about the laws. I'm sad that Kal Tire is choosing to be dumb about this. The first store told me it wasn't a law but policy, the second one told me it's a law.

When I was calling around I placed a call to Canadian tire, they were fairly rude to me. Asked me my model and as soon as I said Sport and 15" they told me flat out they don't carry 15's for the sport. I tried to explain that they will work and they said no they can't do it. I never really liked Canadian Tire.. just didn't seem like they had very good people working for them.

toyomoho, I was always told that tires have to be torqued to a certain amount? I don't really know a lot other then always signing that form agreeing to come back to get my tires re-torqued after X amount of KMs. If this isn't true is there a rule about how many times you turn the wrench or how tight you make them? I would just be scared my tires would fall off, or I would over tighten them. lol.

Can you tell I'm a complete newb at all of this? My last car was a 91 Tercel, this was quite the upgrade and with less then 400km I'm still in the park at the very back of the parking lot and baby it like my own child phase.

 

jedi1648, do you know how the warranty with Costco works? If I buy them while I'm a member and let my membership expire do they still do things like tire rotation or do I have to keep my membership up? I was actually thinking about Costco but wasn't sure if I was going to be keeping my membership next year. How are the X-Ice working out for you? Besides Nokian I have no clue about good brands. Have read a lot of reviews and am still a bit confused.

Yes, buyiing tires at costco carries lifetime rotation and hazzard, but I am not sure if current membership requires for such free service lthough they did ask me to show the membership card everytime. You may wish to call them to be sure. I keep the costco membership primarily for tire rotation as I have two cars that need tire rotation for spring and fall, although I do find their durable goods (electronic and hardwares) are relativelu having a good price occasionally, with a good 3 months return policy.

With the X-ice, I still found that the Ottawa road bit slippery, when the weather here is icy in the early morning and evening. However, the X-ice was rated #1 with overall score of 85 by the latest Consumers Report as the best snow tires, while your Nokian tires were rated lower below:

1. Michelin X-Ice (Overall score 85)
5. Nokian Hakkapeliitta (74)
7. Nokian Hakkapeliitta RSI(64)

 

I think most tire places and dealers and such are just covering there butts just to be on the safe side of things. As of last month WE were not going to put tires on with-out TPMS if the car was equipted with it............NOW we will install the winter tires with-out the TPMS, as long as the customer is wanting this. Some places have a waiver (or you have to sign the work order) to state that you "know" it is not the factory way. There is no law at this date!!!

 

I was at the dealership where I bought my xrs for my first maintanance and when I inquired about winters I was told I would have to sign a waiver that I wasn't getting tha tpms put on, I told them this is ridicules, went to another toyota dealership and they had no issues putting on the snows without the tpms I was told they were just being anal about it. I was told I would be driving around with the warning light on but who cares. Ended up going to canadian tires for the tires and rims, no issues with tpms. And my warning light doesn,t even come on right away, maybe after 50 -60 Km. I wouldnt worry to much about not having tpms on winters, I think KalTires is trying to get extra cash out of you pockets. Call the toyota dealership and ask what they have to say about this.

 

They are pulling a fast one on you.

I was able to get non TPMS in my winter tires installed at the dealer with no hassel. They just said that there will be an annoying Yellow/Orange light on the dash that will be on until I put my summers back on. They offered to install a TPMS in my winters but i passed.

No laws... and that Shop is just trying to sell you shit you don't need. Tell them to F### off and put the damn tires on your car.

 

Canadian Tire rims rust after just 1 season in the snow and ice. Thats why I negociated original rims into the price of the car and then to seal the deal they even agreed to install and balance the tires on the rims. Of course, no TPMS devices included.

 

Canadian Tire rims rust after just 1 season in the snow and ice.

Hate to break it to ya, but ALL steel rims rust. OEM, aftermarket too. Even the cheap Chinese rims rust. Blame Stelco.

 

I'm not surprised that Kal Tire is BS'ing people on the TPMS. You think you've received good service from them, but I bet they've really been lying to you and overcharging you in the past, but did it with such a wide smile on their faces, you thought they were doing you right.

Over the years, every time I've tried to buy something from Kal Tire, they've fed me some BS line. A few years ago, I stopped even calling them.

I bought my winter package for the 'Rolla (CE) from TireTrends (back in September, when snow tires were cheaper and availablity was great) and they shipped me WS-60's on steels for an excellent price and I spent a half hour mounting them on the car myself. No TPMS lies. They know what wheels will clear what brakes and have never steered me wrong.

 

Wow we're going to be driving our Rolla in Virginia, DC area for a year and a half or so.. Steel rims doomed? can we spray with something? anything? well then I guess it's a good exuse to get nice rims :lol:

 

The only way to try and preserve your Steels is to avoid scrapping the paint on them. The less damage to the paint means the longer they will stay rust free. But you're doomed no matter what. But its not a big deal. Its only a steel rim and cost like $50-60 each... better than Alloys which cost x2-x10 more.

And as for the Michelin's... they handle pretty good IMO. I have the Xi2's and they are sweet. I tear around in them on ice and snow with ease.

 

Looks like the X-ice Xi2 is a very popular tire this year. Costco has one left in my size and is unable to order more. Called a couple of places and they are either sold out or want more for it then I'm willing to pay. So I'm going with Yokohama Ice Guard IG20 which is also a top rated tire. Thanks for all your advice. Next time I need to remember to not buy tires this late in the year!

 

Winter tires are mandatory in Quebec this year, thats why there is a tire shortage all over the country. Tires are so scarce that I sold my set of 3 year old Canadian Tire winters for $300 on the first call that came in.

 

I sold my 7-year old winter tires (michelin alpin), from my former Taurus, for $400 on the first day I posted the sale in Ottawa Kijiji. Winter tires are like hot cakes here.

 

Its true, even out in here the west. I called Kal Tire just for giggles, and the only set they had they wanted more than $800, not including rims. :lol:

At any rate, if you don't have winter rims, taking off all-seasons and putting on winters on the same rims is not that big of a deal. It will wear the bead after a while but the tires will wear out tread before that happens. As long as you are taking it to a reputable shop they can do it right.

The best time to buy winter tires is at end of season, or at least mid season anyway financially speaking of course.

 

The first caller I got for the tires tried to bargain me down, but I told him that the tires were in excellent condition and he could easily get 3 or 4 years out of them. The clincher was when I told him that it would cost him $50 ($60 with tax) to install the tires and balance them on his rims then he would have switch back to all seasons at the end of the winter. Two winters of tire installation and balancing would cost him $240, which is almost the cost of the used tires. The new cost of the tires and rims were close to $600. While I sold my tires at a fair price, I heard of people selling their tires for almost full price even though the tires have been used.

 

People are going nuts over Winter Tires. In my town there was a theft from one of the Local Tire Shops. they stole 4 sets (16 tires) of brand new Blizzak & Xi2 tires from the shop. No money... just winter tires. Kind of crazy in my mind.

 

Interesting, I purchased 4 winters from Kal tire here in Ontario, and the salesman mentioned, just in passing, that he figured the law here would be changing at some point to make the instalation of the sensors mandatory but no requirement as of yet. They had no problem installing the winters on my 2009 Corolla.
Just fyi
...Scotty