Just an FYI - I stopped by the local 4X shop and had them rotate the tires because I wanted to get them balanced. I was surprised to learn today (I know, old news for some but new to me) that CA no longer allows lead tire weights to be used so we now have to purchase zinc weights and it cost me 40 bucks today just for the weights. Yet another reason I so need to move out of here

 

Are you serious? How many more environmental "protection" laws can they pass before everyone just up and leaves?

 

I've yet to understand why anyone with half a brain lives in that state... I mean really, so many lead weights flew off and caused so much damage to wildlife...

 

Won't be long before they ban non emissions compliant diesels in Ca...
I hope that nonsense doesn't cross into OR.

 

Hope is not a strategy. Those nutcases tend to migrate once they've fouled the nest. They will move to your state and explain how you're doing it all wrong.

Even used children's books are no longer saleable for this reason.

 

Not likely, however all the CA idiots are now moving up here because they voted there state into a shoot hole, now they need a new place to F-up...

 

I've noticed that.

 

I tell my kids not to chew on lead weights, maybe they should make a new law

 

I'm surprised they didn't mandate that all wheel weights be made of tofu or wheat grass or some nonsense like that

 

Dyna Beads

 

I was aware of the change in lead ammunition here that is no longer allowed for hunting but I did not even think about how that issue might have affected wheel weights. The environmentalists claim the discarded weights are affecting soil and water sources and animals are ingesting the weights but I think that's just a cover story to get yet another worthless law passed out here in CA. Even the game and fish department argued that lead ammunition was not a problem but we did away with it anyway so this is no different. I would not be surprised if other states start doing this same thing. Wife owns a business here and I am almost done with my final degree so who knows what will happen next. I would like to say we are out of here but I don't think that can happen for at least another 3-5 years...or more

 

X2 whitemw

 

Don't pay extra for zinc weights. Find a new tire shop.

The cost difference to balance 4 tires with zinc vs. lead is less than $1.00.

So either the shop ripped you off, or that is the total balancing fee of $40, which is very common.

 

But it's so much easier to blame the pricing on the government than it is to try and explain that you can't actually pay someone much of any wage to balance and rotate 4 tires, pay rent on the building, the light bill, insurance and all the other overhead and try not to go out of business while doing so.

The tire shop I use charges $5 to fix a flat. Including taking the tire off the wheel and putting a patch on the inside of the tire. I don't see how they make money at that rate.

Can't comment on the balancing price. I use centramatics so I'm ahead of the game if $40 is the going rate.

 

Depending on the tire size and how much of a pita it is, that is about the going rate. A regular tire for my car is something around $25-30 so $40 is not overly unreasonable for a big heavy truck tire all things considered.