Can I replace my own tire and windshield?

[Belial88]

Inspection is overdue, and I have a few issues.

* My front left tire has a bulge/bump. Can i replace this on my own or does this require special tools? I mean replacing a wheel, putting on a spare, thats easy...

* How much to replace front windshield? I have a crack larger than a dollar bill, about 2-3 bills long. Can I replace this on my own?

Thanks! Because of you guys, im replacing my own tranny mount (hopefully lol).

 

[fam]

Bulges\bumps in a tire means a rib has broken and the tire needs replaced. Ordering the exact tire to match or 2 tires of another brand (fronts together or backs together) is up to you. You do need special tools to replace a tire on a wheel and you wont save any money doing it yourself so to speak. Just call around for the best out the door pricing on the exact tire youre looking for. The 17" stock tires will range from 90 to about 150 dollars depending on whats on there.

The front windshield can be installed out the door for about 250 dollars, call around to the local auto glass shops (not the dealer). Basically the manufacturers sell to aftermarkets pretty cheap (and make more money than they do selling it to mazda) and glass is fairly reasonable in the aftermarket industry. If you have comprehensive car insurance sometimes they will pay all of the bill for the windshield with no or low deductible ($50)...State Farm didnt for me when I cracked the windshield of the mazda5, I had some connections so it only cost me about 219. I have cut windshields out before and replaced them, and to a novice this is something you do NOT want to do....the pro's will do a much better, faster job and the total cost will be about the same.

 

[Belial88]

Wow, thanks for the comprehensive answer. What a terrible answer though (the reality of it; the quality of it, a+ ofc).