Costco Tire Balance issue

[Cmobile]

I have used Discount Tire for 20 years, always happy with the service, but this year I purchased from Costco.

Was about $200 cheaper for the set compared to DT with certs.

Michelin CrossClimate 2 on the XC70 and Avalon. Love the tires.
Fast forward to first Tire rotation, Balance and pressure check on the XC70, waited 1.75 hours even with an appt., get on the HWY and feel, vibrations. Make another appt 1 week out, they Balance only. They get it done 1.5 hours later. Costco prints out the amount of weights that were installed on each tire. Depending on Tire is was .5 oz to .75 oz off.

Drive home and vibration was less, abd acceptable.

It's been a week and vibrations are back.

What is your opinion,
Go to Discount Tire and pay $50 to have them Balance, or give Costco another chance..

Not a fan of how long it takes for anything Tire related at Costco. There is only one within a 70 mile radius.

Has anyone experienced Balance issues from Costco?

 

[walterjay]

Depends on how much you value your time. I would be inclined to have it balanced at a reputable tire shop.

 

[JavierH19]

For time and convenience maybe go to somewhere close by.

 

[4WD]

Depends on how much you value your time. I would be inclined to have it balanced at a reputable tire shop.

This ^^^

 

[Cmobile]

Thanks.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Wow. I've had good luck with Costco rubber. And it's not like you bought some off-brand tires.

 

[SubLGT]

......Fast forward to first Tire rotation, Balance and pressure check on the XC70, waited 1.75 hours even with an appt., get on the HWY and feel, vibrations.....

Are you saying the new tires did not have vibrations until after the tire rotation?

 

[redbone3]

Have you had problems with tire balance before? I have a 1995 Miata and the front wheels have a known problem for balance. They need a Road Force balance of 12 pounds or less, or there is vibration. Rear wheels are not fussy about the balance.

 

[CapriRacer]

I think you have an alignment problem that is manifesting itself as a vibration that gets worse as the tire wears unevenly.

So I would start with an alignment check before doing anything else. If there is an alignment problem, then you'll have to wait until the old wear pattern wears off - a couple thousand miles - then balance.

 

[edyvw]

Never had issues with Costco. On other hand, DT? Going back 3-4 times to rebalance, ending up in Costco. Forgetting to put TPMS, forgetting to balance 1 or 2 tires etc.
All shops can make mistakes. But what I am looking is workers retention. Costco pays people well, they stay for a long time. They care more. DT? I purchased Continental snow tires in November, in May i was inquiring about summer set of tires, I couldn’t see anyone there from before. I have 9 sets of tires, some from Costco and some from DT next to my neighborhood. Every time I go to DT, it is like everyone is new.

 

[Hirev]

Are you saying the new tires did not have vibrations until after the tire rotation?

That is what it sounds like to me. Perhaps OP will clarify.

 

[Chris142]

I would make Costco fix it since you already paid them to do it. No way would I fork out another $100+ to take it somewhere else.

 

[edyvw]

I would make Costco fix it since you already paid them to do it. No way would I fork out another $100+ to take it somewhere else.

If it is Costco issue and not alignment or generally something on suspension.

 

[4WD]

Wow. I've had good luck with Costco rubber. And it's not like you bought some off-brand tires.

And I have had good results at DT - but I shop in towns just big enough to have a DT bcs the turn over is less and the towns are more blue collar …

 

[Hall]

If it is Costco issue and not alignment or generally something on suspension.

If their tire balance machine says it's balanced, what else can they (Costco) do ? It's either balanced and something else is wrong or their machine is off.

at Costco. There is only one within a 70 mile radius.

Honest question: With Costco being so far away, why join there ?

 

[aba4430]

I have had good results at Costco and Sam’s. Winter wheel and tire sets from DT and TR (one company now, sort off) delivered to home have been fine. However, totally pathetic experience at DT stores as regards balancing and care utilized during work.

 

[Cmobile]

Tires have 7000 miles on them.

First 7000 miles was vibration free. It was only after rotate balance was the vibration felt. 2nd balance after rotate resolved 95% of the balance. Was noticeable, but ever so slight, but 1 week, later the vibrations are back.


@edyvw,
Sorry, I wasn't clear. We have 1 Costco in town, next closest one os over 70 miles away

 

[t1snwrbrdr12]

I had tires mounted and balanced at Costco with no problem. I can typically arrange an appt when I drive by after work, 2pm, so they can usually be in and out in an hour.

I do all my own maintenance, so having them do my rotate and balancing was a bit weird for me, but I wanted to maintain the warranty.

The fourth or so time they screwed up the balance. As in your case, you get no priority to get back in there. You have to make another appointment and wait for it.

Once they got my balance right after a couple tries I have not gone back. My car is easy on tires and I just went back to rotating them myself at every oil change.

The problem is they have such high volume. The did (at least used to) go through a pretty in-depth tire school. Their balancers are great. It just boils down to the tech using them right. If you don’t mount a wheel on the balanced with the proper fitting adapter, your balance will never be correct. You may also want them to road force them unless they already did. There’s a chance that’s part of their balancing, I’m not sure.

 

[Cmobile]

The Avalon got the same tires from Costco a few months ago and are smooth and quiet. Haven't gotten enough miles for their first rotation yet.

Costco is great, but being the only one for miles, they are always busy, and the tire center swamped.

 

[Cmobile]

However, totally pathetic experience at DT stores as regards balancing and care utilized during work.

It is definitely shop dependant. Of the 2 DT stores, one is great, but the other is much less favorable.