Nobody publishes this. Call five tire shops in Long Beach and you'll get five prices for "the tire," and not one of them will be what you actually pay when you're standing at the counter with your keys in your hand.
So here's the whole thing — every line, what it's for, whether it's taxed, and three worked examples you can hold up against any estimate in this city. We're a family shop that's been on Cherry Avenue since 1988 and we'd rather you show up knowing the number.
The Formula
Every out-the-door tire price in California is built from the same five pieces:
| Line item | What it is | Typical amount | Taxed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| The tire | The actual rubber. This is the only line that moves much. | $85–$400 each | Yes |
| Installation labor | Dismount, mount, spin balance, valve stem or TPMS service, bead seat cleaning, torque to spec. | $25 per tire | No — California doesn't tax labor |
| Tire disposal | Hauling and recycling your old tires. Take them home and it comes off. | $3.00 per tire | Yes |
| California tire fee | State-mandated under Public Resources Code §42885. Every shop in California charges it. | $1.75 per new tire | No |
| Sales tax | Combined state, LA County, and Long Beach district rate. | 10.50% | — |
Two things worth sitting with. First, the fees are tiny — $19.00 on a set of four before tax. Any shop adding $60 in "shop supplies" and "hazmat" to a tire job is charging you for the privilege of being there. Second, labor isn't taxable in California. If an invoice shows 10.50% applied to the entire ticket including the mounting labor, that's worth a question.
When we quote you, the install is already in the number. Mounting, balancing, valve stems or TPMS service, and disposal are included in the price we give you on new tires. The only things added after the quote are the $1.75 per tire state fee and sales tax. The breakdowns below itemize what's inside that quoted number so you can see where every dollar goes.
Worked Example 1 — Economy Sedan
Honda Civic, Corolla, Sentra, Elantra — 205/55R16. Example tire price: $95 each. Your actual tire price depends on brand and what's in stock; the fees and tax are exact.
| Line | Math | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | $95 × 4 | $380.00 |
| Installation labor | $25 × 4 (not taxed) | $100.00 |
| Old tire disposal | $3.00 × 4 (taxable) | $12.00 |
| CA tire fee | $1.75 × 4 (not taxed) | $7.00 |
| Sales tax | 10.50% on $392.00 | $41.16 |
| Out the door | — | $540.16 |
Note what the fees actually did: $19.00 out of a $540 ticket, or about 3.5%. The tire choice is where your money goes — which is why the honest conversation at the counter is about which tire, not about which fees.
Worked Example 2 — SUV / Crossover
RAV4, CR-V, Rogue, Equinox, Model Y — 235/55R18. Example tire price: $165 each.
| Line | Math | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | $165 × 4 | $660.00 |
| Installation labor | $25 × 4 (not taxed) | $100.00 |
| Old tire disposal | $3.00 × 4 (taxable) | $12.00 |
| CA tire fee | $1.75 × 4 (not taxed) | $7.00 |
| Sales tax | 10.50% on $672.00 | $70.56 |
| Out the door | — | $849.56 |
This is the bracket where financing gets used most. $850 in one hit is a hard month for a lot of families in North Long Beach; the same set at $70-something a month is a Tuesday. We work with Snap Finance, Affirm, Acima, and Klarna, and Snap doesn't require credit.
Worked Example 3 — Light Truck / All-Terrain
F-150, Silverado, Tacoma, Ram — LT275/65R18 all-terrain. Example tire price: $245 each.
| Line | Math | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tires | $245 × 4 | $980.00 |
| Installation labor | $25 × 4 (not taxed) | $100.00 |
| Old tire disposal | $3.00 × 4 (taxable) | $12.00 |
| CA tire fee | $1.75 × 4 (not taxed) | $7.00 |
| Sales tax | 10.50% on $992.00 | $104.16 |
| Out the door | — | $1,203.16 |
On a truck, ask about load range before you ask about price. An LT-metric tire in the right load range costs more than a P-metric that technically fits, and it's the difference between a tire that handles a loaded bed and one that squirms under it. We'll tell you which one your truck actually needs — see our truck tire guide for how all-terrain, mud-terrain, and highway tires compare.
What Changes the Tire Price
Size and Rim Diameter
A 20" tire costs meaningfully more than the same tire in 16". Big wheels look good and they cost you every time the tread wears out.
Tier
Premium (Michelin, Pirelli), mid-tier (Falken, Nexen), and value lines can be a 3× spread in the same size. All of them are safe; they differ in tread life, wet grip, and noise.
Speed Rating and Load Index
Your door placard specifies both. Going below spec is cheaper and it's not something we'll do.
Tread Type
All-terrain and mud-terrain tires cost more than highway tires in the same size — more rubber, tougher construction.
Run-Flats
If your car came on run-flats (common on BMW), replacements cost noticeably more. You can switch to conventional tires, but you need a plan for a flat.
TPMS Condition
Sensor service and relearn are included. A sensor that's actually dead is a separate part — we show you before we replace anything. See TPMS replacement.
Cost Per Mile Beats Sticker Price
The single most useful thing we can tell you about tire pricing: divide the price by the treadwear mileage.
| Option | Price each | Warranty | Cost per 1,000 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget tire | $85 | 40,000 mi | $2.13 |
| Mid-tier tire | $130 | 70,000 mi | $1.86 |
| Premium tire | $210 | 80,000 mi | $2.63 |
The cheapest tire on the rack is frequently the most expensive one to own — and the most expensive one isn't automatically the best value either. It's the middle of the range that usually wins on math, which is why we quote good, better, and best instead of steering you to one.
Caveat worth saying out loud: mileage warranties assume rotations on schedule and an alignment that's in spec. Skip either and no tire hits its number. That's not a sales line — it's why rotations are free for life when you buy four tires from us.
Ways to Spend Less Without Buying Worse
Actually Saves You Money
- Used tires from $45 — inspected for tread, age, sidewall damage, and prior unsafe repairs before they go on. See our used tire standard.
- Financing — four good tires now beats two bad ones now and two more later
- Buying the middle tier — best cost per mile in most sizes
- Free rotations and alignment checks — the cheapest way to make a set last
- Taking your old tires home — drops the $3.00/tire disposal line
Costs You More Later
- Going below your door-placard load index or speed rating
- Mismatched tires across an axle, especially on AWD
- Skipping the alignment when the wear pattern says it's out
- Buying two tires twice instead of four once — double the labor
- Chasing an online price that doesn't include install, fees, or tax
Comparing Quotes: Four Questions to Ask Any Shop
- "Is that out the door?" If the answer isn't an immediate yes, ask for the total with tax and fees.
- "Does the price include mounting, balancing, valve stems, and disposal?" These should be in the number, not stapled on after.
- "What fees are on the invoice besides the state tire fee?" $1.75 per tire is required. Everything else is a choice the shop made.
- "What's the treadwear warranty?" Turns a price into a cost per mile.
Ask us those four questions too. We'd rather answer them on the phone than have you drive over and find out the number moved.
What You Get at Ochoa's
Two Long Beach locations, family-owned since 1988. Our Cherry Avenue shop is open seven days a week, which most of this city's tire shops are not.
- Out-the-door pricing quoted before you commit — the number we say is the number you pay
- Mounting, computer balancing, valve stems or TPMS service, and disposal included on new tires
- Free alignment check with every tire installation, and we only charge if it's actually out of spec
- Free rotations for the life of the tires when you buy a set of four
- Most four-tire installs done in 45–60 minutes; walk-ins welcome
- Any tire we don't have on the rack, we source same-day or next-day
- Financing through Snap, Affirm, Acima, and Klarna — including no-credit-needed
- Se habla español, de verdad
Call Cherry Ave at (562) 422-4449 or Paramount Blvd at (562) 395-4449, or send your size through the quote form and we'll text you back the real number.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do 4 tires cost out the door in Long Beach?
For most passenger cars, four tires out the door in Long Beach run about $500 to $700 — that includes the tires, mounting, balancing, valve stems or TPMS service, old-tire disposal, the California tire fee, and 10.50% Long Beach sales tax. SUVs and crossovers typically run $800 to $1,100, and light-truck all-terrain sets run $1,100 to $1,600. The tire itself is the variable; the fees are fixed and small.
What fees get added to the price of tires in California?
Two, and both are small. The California tire fee is $1.75 per new tire, required by Public Resources Code §42885, and it is not taxed. A tire disposal fee of $3.00 per tire applies if you leave your old tires with the shop, and that one is taxable. On a set of four that's $19.00 total before tax. Any other line item — shop supplies, hazmat, mystery 'environmental' charges — is the shop's choice, not the state's.
Is labor taxed on a tire installation in California?
No. California does not tax installation labor. Sales tax applies to the tire itself and to the taxable disposal fee, but not to the labor of mounting and balancing it. If your invoice shows tax calculated on the whole ticket including labor, ask the shop to break it out.
What is the sales tax rate on tires in Long Beach?
10.50%. That's the combined California state, Los Angeles County, and Long Beach district rate as of 2026. It applies to the tires and to the taxable disposal fee. On a $600 set of tires that's about $63.
Does Ochoa's price include mounting and balancing?
Yes. When we quote you a price on new tires, that number includes mounting, computer balancing, new valve stems or TPMS service with sensor relearn, and old-tire disposal. The only things added after are the $1.75 per tire California fee and sales tax. Nothing appears at the counter that wasn't in the quote.
How much does it cost to install tires I bought online?
Installation is $25 per tire at Ochoa's — $100 for a set of four. That covers dismount, mount on our Coats machines, spin balance, a new rubber valve stem or TPMS service, bead seat cleaning, and torquing to your vehicle's spec. Tires from Tire Rack, Amazon, Discount Tire Direct, or anywhere else are welcome.
Can I finance four tires in Long Beach?
Yes. We work with Snap Finance, Affirm, Acima, and Klarna, including no-credit-needed options through Snap. A $900 set of SUV tires becomes a manageable payment instead of a bad month. Apply at the counter or from our financing page before you come in.
Is it cheaper to buy just two tires instead of four?
Cheaper today, usually more expensive per mile. Two new tires always go on the rear axle regardless of which wheels drive the car, and mismatched tread depths across an axle set are a real problem on all-wheel-drive vehicles — significant rolling-circumference differences make the drivetrain fight itself. If two of your tires still have most of their tread, two is the right call. If all four are worn, buying two twice costs more in mounting labor than doing it once.
Have this problem right now? Ochoa's Tire Service is open 7 days a week — no appointment needed for most services.