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Damn Discount tire

J

J57ltr

New member
So I went in today to get new tires for my 05'. As it's sitting in the air I inspect the rear to see hoe much pad I have left. The guy rolls the tire under the car places it, starts the nuts by hand, then snugs them with an impact. Well as he gets to the 4th one he tries and I see him flip the socket and tighten it then he tries the next one and has to flip the socket again. I stop him and ask what size did you just change over to for that lug? He tells me 21mm the others are 19mm. I said "wouldn't you think that would be something you might want to mention?" He looks at me bewildered and I ask "What if I get a flat on this tire and have to change it", still in utter confusion. I said I only have 1 size lug wrench, and his eyes light up and he realizes what I am talking about. I then ask him if any of the others are that size and if I can buy a 19mm lug nut. He asks a guy who asks a guy and the second guy comes back and says they would have to order it. I tell him that's ok I'll make a junkyard run this weekend and get one. Then he starts torquing the lugs with a torque wrench. Well this guy gets to the 21mm flips it and stops to move on to the other side. Well I was watching and said "hey you missed one" and he says he didn't so I ask him would you please check this one, and point to it. So sure enough he missed it and says sorry and so I watched the rest of the torquing of the lug nuts. I leave and get back and one of the guys asks what took so long and tell him. He says you need to check the center caps and valve stem caps. Well I had Pontiac symbol caps on them and wouldn't you know it all but one are missing, Plus one center cap!

Every time I take a car in to have something done they mess it up. I no longer let anyone change my oil because of a cross threaded drain plug incident. I have one mechanic I can trust and that's it. If it's something that requires a lift I take it to him, but if it's anything else I end up doing it myself. At least if I screw up I know who did it and there's no denying it.

Jeff
 


I feel your pain... One time, Had dopey tire shop strip 4 out of 5 lugs one wheel, 3 out of 5 on another... Had to drill lug nuts off!
****ers!

Then the perfect polished torque stars I have, get new rubber and the jerks use the lead weights on the rims, after I told them not to. My Enkei wheels (black) got new rubber and they put silver sticky weights (inside) on the black rims... Hahaha, can't make it up!

I've since instructed them to loosen and tighten by hand, no impacts! Besides, they ruin the wheels always with those things... Is pretty funny when they look at me sideways and I tell them I'm serious! Lol

bottom line is tire shops aren't really "Mechanics" and care little (IMO) about the fine details!
 
Well At least I can watch when they are putting on the tires at Discount. NTB won't usually let you in the bays. Discount tire is one of the largest chain tire stores in the Gulf Coast area.

Jeff
 
Yup most of them are either guys who couldn't cut it in a real mechanic shop or kids just learning how to turn a wrench.
 
coolone said:
I feel your pain... One time, Had dopey tire shop strip 4 out of 5 lugs one wheel, 3 out of 5 on another... Had to drill lug nuts off!
****ers!

Then the perfect polished torque stars I have, get new rubber and the jerks use the lead weights on the rims, after I told them not to. My Enkei wheels (black) got new rubber and they put silver sticky weights (inside) on the black rims... Hahaha, can't make it up!

I've since instructed them to loosen and tighten by hand, no impacts! Besides, they ruin the wheels always with those things... Is pretty funny when they look at me sideways and I tell them I'm serious! Lol

bottom line is tire shops aren't really "Mechanics" and care little (IMO) about the fine details!
Click to expand...

I have had a guy try to install the lug nut with the Impact and told the guy not to because he was going to crossthread them I turned around and heard him install 2 more. I made him take them off and he couldn't get 2 of them off because they were cross threaded. I made them replace the studs at their expense. You have to watch these guys like a hawk or you will end up on the side of the road screwed. Granted I have roadside assistance, but I can change a tire before they get there and don't want to mess with it. luckily I haven't had any really catastrophic event happen....yet.

Jeff
 


Don't get me started with tires plus. Last 2 times taken the wife's grand prix in they find new things wrong. Last week said it. Needs bushings on passenger control arm up front. They are money hungry. I'll believe if i see it with my own eyes
 
Tires Plus is a joke. Went in to buy 2 tires, they came back to me with a list of **** that cost over $1,600.
 
coolone said:
I feel your pain... One time, Had dopey tire shop strip 4 out of 5 lugs one wheel, 3 out of 5 on another... Had to drill lug nuts off!
****ers!

Then the perfect polished torque stars I have, get new rubber and the jerks use the lead weights on the rims, after I told them not to. My Enkei wheels (black) got new rubber and they put silver sticky weights (inside) on the black rims... Hahaha, can't make it up!

I've since instructed them to loosen and tighten by hand, no impacts! Besides, they ruin the wheels always with those things... Is pretty funny when they look at me sideways and I tell them I'm serious! Lol

bottom line is tire shops aren't really "Mechanics" and care little (IMO) about the fine details!
Click to expand...

so am I supposed to paint the wheel weights black? Not every place is going to keep a stash of black wheel weights
 
Your singin' my song bro. I've used to take my work van in for oil when it was too cold/messy outside. Of the few times I have I've had a seized drain plug, threads ripped out of pan, and oil cap left off. I'd rather drive 3k over then let anyone touch my stuff. Seriously, your job consists of one bolt and one filter. Speaking of filter, had a couple that I had to stick a screw driver through to get off too.
 
I only take my car to 4 places: Tires, inspection, autoparts store, and a friend that is master certified and has his own shop. When I have him do a job I don't have time for or need a lift for he always mentions what else I need while he's under there. Not to upsell, because he knows I am going to end up taking care of it, but just as a reminder if I haven't noticed yet. It's about impossible to find a good mechanic. I met this guy when we were both on the SCCOA board and we used to have club meets at my house. I miss those we would have like 8-12 cars in my yard.

Jeff
 


bandook said:
Your singin' my song bro. I've used to take my work van in for oil when it was too cold/messy outside. Of the few times I have I've had a seized drain plug, threads ripped out of pan, and oil cap left off. I'd rather drive 3k over then let anyone touch my stuff. Seriously, your job consists of one bolt and one filter. Speaking of filter, had a couple that I had to stick a screw driver through to get off too.
Click to expand...

Sing it brother!
 
mars5l said:
so am I supposed to paint the wheel weights black? Not every place is going to keep a stash of black wheel weights
Click to expand...

Considering the FACT that BLACK is a pretty common wheel color along with silver, I'd would supposed you would. Or at the very least, carry both at ratios your customers consume! Lol... I bought a bunch on EBay and supply my own from now on. Also, my marker too care of it. Other tire shops I didn't have to ask. It's just indicative of non-caring and lack of attention to details that separate the good, from the bad places.

But for the record, if I encounter an attitude like yours, I take my $ elsewhere and let the fools deal with you!
 
I had discount tire tear the **** up out of my wheels with an impact. What happened was the key for the lugs can take 2 different sizes of a socket well he used the larger one and a deep socket and the retard wasn't paying attention and pushed it all the way in so the socket was spinning against the wheel. I watched him do it and look around then continue but he didn't mess up again. They never said anything to me, so when the guy told me I can come pay (this was for a balance and rotation) i asked to show him something. Walk outside point at the mark on the wheel explained how I watched the guy do it. So he grabs the guy and he admits to it. So I told him I'll forget this happened if you wave the bill. So he tore it in half and said "have a nice day sir, im sorry for the inconvenience". Its simple **** you think they can't screw up. Belle Tire up here did the same thing but the guy caught it and it hardly did damage and he came and showed me and I told him it was okay just be more careful i was kinda steamed but at least he had the stones to tell me. So I just ask them to be extra careful, they have been good to me so I'll continue to go back.
 


My family has been going to discount tire for years now, we haven't had too many issues really.

They would not fix the rim leak on our impala, said they cleaned it but it still leaked. They kept pressuring buying all new rims. I fixed that thing myself at home with no tire machines or anything. Popped the bead with the weight of the car, scotch brite and some black rtv as bead sealer, and perfect since.
Oh and there were flakes of clear and corrosion on the rims, really?
 
Last edited:
02NavyBlue said:
My family has been going to discount tire for years now, we haven't had too many issues really.

They would not fix the rim leak on our impala, said they cleaned it but it still leaked. They kept pressuring buying all new rims. I fixed that thing myself at home with no this machines or anything. Popped the bead with the weight of the car, scotch brite and some black rtv as bead sealer, and perfect since.
Oh and there were flakes of clear and corrosion on the rims, really?
Click to expand...

Yeah, Impala rim leaks, tell me about it. Fill up tires more often than gas tank. I need to try what you did.
 
As a mechanic, I love these threads.

Everyone seems to get burned some way or another. I am still puzzled how so many people complain about cross threaded studs and ****ed up lug nuts. I just don't get how they can screw it up, I impact all my lugs nuts on for any vehicle then use a torque wrench to set them to what the rating for the vehicle is. It's not rocket science to start them by hand and then use the impact, or if they seems to come off harder just clean the threads real quick and spray some lube on the stud.

And go to ANY repair shop and they will try to sell you something extra 8 out of 10 times, it's how they stay in business. The more you work in the field the more you know what you can let go and wait for it to get worse and then show a customer that something should be taken care of before too long.
 
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