Discount Tires

[borgward]

Its been many years since I bought tires at Discount Tires. They were easy to deal with. Has that company gone down hill?

Many years ago I found out that Michelin makes tires specifically for Costco, Sears, etc. If you trash a tire the only way to replace it with the same exact one is to go back to where you bought it. A Michelin rep suggested I get new tires from Discount Tires because they only sold regular Michelin tires. That meant that I could replace that tire w/the same exact tire anywhere in the country.

A friend bought Yokohama's for his BMW from Discount Tire. He has had a terrible time keeping them balanced and Discount has not been any help. Found out they are out of round. A mechanic friend of his said to go with Michelin, as they are the roundest tires. I Used to run Michelin's after Pirelli began making their tires in Brazil. Had all kinds of trouble w/them. Not much trouble with the Michelin's.

The Hankooks that came on my 2013 Fiesta SE will need replacing soon. I heard something about Michelin Sport. I am looking for a trouble free experience, longevity and a bit more traction.

 

[supton]

Haven't had issue with tires I've bought from them online, but I've never used their brick and mortar stores.

I'd vote against Michelin, unless if you plan to drive the rubber off in 3 or less years. But my favorite tire is apt to not work for you (General RT43, very plush ride--handling, not so much), so I have no good suggestion. I recall getting good service out of Continental and Nokia entyre, but it's been years since I ran those.

 

[SatinSilver]

Many Coopers are still made in the USA and get good reviews. They stay in balance and wear well.

My brother loves the Goodyear Assurance Comfortread Touring tires he recently put on his 2014 Camry. 80k tire, smooth ride, quiet, etc...

The DT/DTD rebates are hard to beat esp when combined with Manufacturer rebates on top. Both Cooper and Goodyear have rebates going.

 

[02SE]

I've used Discount Tire a lot over the years. Very rarely any issues. But on the rare occasion there was, it was a poorly trained, or just a bad attitude employee issue.

I'd have no problem recommending them.

 

[Donald]

I have only bought online as no store in NY so no sales tax. Never any issues.

If you have a real issue balancing maybe get it RoadForce balanced. The operator can rotate the tire around the rim to use least amount of weight.

But I think the tire jockeys at these places come and go. So it maybe be up to who gets assigned to do your car that matters.

 

[BrocLuno]

OK, just for reference, I have had quite a few Michelin's die from ozone cracking, dry rot etc. Most were truck tires, and few passenger car tires. I don't know what it is about their rubber compound ... No problem if a daily driver and you'll wear them out in a few years, but not good for toy cars/trucks/suv's that sit ...

Over the last few years, I've been buying Kenda's. They are big in motorcycle tires. They have a plant in Taiwan that makes their car tires. I bought a pair of Kenda Kinetica's for the front of the drag car (BBC 1970 A-Body). Mounted on Pro-Star wheels. The ONLY pair of tires I have ever had that required ZERO balance weights

Since I have bought some for Pops pick-up and a few other vehicles. All have worked out well. Got them from Discount Tire

Have also had extremely good luck with Toyo and Bridgestone

No problems with Discount Tire. Good prices and fast delivery

Although I do get tires at Costco too. Their warranty is nationwide at any Costco Tire Shop. Never had an issue. Tire failed in the desert, replaced and on my way from Palm Springs Costco

 

[ArcticDriver]

Originally Posted By: 02SE
I've used Discount Tire a lot over the years. Very rarely any issues. But on the rare occasion there was, it was a poorly trained, or just a bad attitude employee issue.

I'd have no problem recommending them.


Agreed.

I buy Michelins and and I use Discount Tire for all my tires.

I have had excellent experiences with Michelins except I do not care for the new LTX Defender series because Michelin has lowered the number of miles covered by Warranty to 50K.

I had one bad experience at Discount Tire recently. I stopped in for a free "Rotation & Balance" and was promised one hour. During that hour three customers arrived and made new tire purchases and this particular Discount Tire allowed them to jump to the front of the line in front of me. I waited 2 hours and 15 minutes.
That is the store in Duluth, MN and from the reviews they have received that appears to be a frequent complaint.

I have not had that negative experience at any other DT store anywhere else in the country and I travel alot.

I have also had great experiences with the General brand of tires for car and truck.

 

[skyactiv]

Discount Tire does sell some exclusive tires. Two I can think of when I was looking at replacements for my GTI are Continental ControlContact Sport™ A/S and the Falken Pro G4 A/S. There might be others.
Discount Tire in my opinion overworks the employees and the resulting quality suffers. How many guys manning the tire balance machine in a fast paced environment are going to rotate the tire on the wheel as part of achieving the best possible balance job? Not on Black Friday I bet.

 

[ArcticDriver]

Originally Posted By: skyactiv
Discount Tire does sell some exclusive tires. Two I can think of when I was looking at replacements for my GTI are Continental ControlContact Sport™ A/S and the Falken Pro G4 A/S. There might be others.
Discount Tire in my opinion overworks the employees and the resulting quality suffers. How many guys manning the tire balance machine in a fast paced environment are going to rotate the tire on the wheel as part of achieving the best possible balance job? Not on Black Friday I bet.


I have never had the techs FAIL to re-balance a tire when I come in for the free "Balance and Rotation" and I come in like clock work at 5,000 intervals.

You appear to be making a guess and not actually relating a personal experience ?

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: ArcticDriver


I had one bad experience at Discount Tire recently. I stopped in for a free "Rotation & Balance" and was promised one hour. During that hour three customers arrived and made new tire purchases and this particular Discount Tire allowed them to jump to the front of the line in front of me. I waited 2 hours and 15 minutes.
That is the store in Duluth, MN and from the reviews they have received that appears to be a frequent complaint.


This is not something new - I frequent DT a lot and paying customers have always taken priority over free "rotation and balance" work.

Discount/America's Tire is a good operation, but like most volume operations, the work can be a hit/miss. I was at one last week and saw an employee not use the star pattern to install my lug nuts.

 

[tenderloin]

Always have had great experiences with DT even when I bought tires from their online store. Never have failed to repair flats or balance/rotate tires in the order that I came in the store in relation to other customers as well as re-balancing all 4 tires on a rotation. They have always been great concerning mileage adjustments as well. Now are all their tire busters top notch/super fast? Of course not, but they all are at least competent with others checking on newbies work.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

What tire size does your Fiesta use? 185/60-15? Or 195/60-15? Some tires may not be available in the size you need

 

[borgward]

185/60-15

Looks like all Michelin is offering is high mileage ones. I am guessing they are lacking in a panic stop situation.

 

[GenesisGuy70]

I've purchased two sets of Michelin tires through Discount Tire at there B&M locations. Can't speak highly enough of them. Great customer service, great sales, and they're quick. I called one morning to see if they had the size Michelin's I needed, they did, they said come on over, went over and walked out 45 mins later. Other local place I had been using took hours to mount/balance a set.

 

[Sayjac]

I continue to get the same quality Discount Tire customer service after the sale I've come to expect since my first purchase there in 2004.

Recent experience a couple weekends ago, follow up tire rotation and balance on a set of RT43's purchased during Black Friday. Because family member lives several hours away with no DT store locally and wanted help, met at a DT half way. They were a little busy on a Saturday, I had no appointment but they quickly got to the vehicle in the order it came in. I'd estimate about 45 mins from start to finish and that included dismounting one tire to check and rebuild the tpms sensor because of a slow leak, no charge. I left completely satisfied from a DT I'd never done business with prior.

DT does give a 30 day ride guarantee, no questions asked and I've taken a set of Conti DWS back under that guarantee. Also I've received a generous prorated adjustment on couple sets of tires that didn't meet tread wear warranty. And the most recent noted purchase RT 43's was for an Equinox that came two new and two worn out from the prior owner. Received a nice proration on the new-ish two tire towards the purchase of a complete set of RT43s.

Without repeating, I'd agree with what tenderloin said about the employee/techs in his last two sentences. IME DT does there best to keep the customer satisfied.

 

[jimbrewer]

Not a lot to complain about here; competitive prices, good selection, cheerful service. They do try to upsell you new rims.

They used to commission special schlock tires from name-brand manufacturers. But they would at least have unique names for the tires so you could protect yourself.

No particular brand endorsement here. I will say it's not wise to buy a big mileage warranty on a low mileage car, but that's just common sense.

 

[skyactiv]

Originally Posted By: ArcticDriver
Originally Posted By: skyactiv
Discount Tire does sell some exclusive tires. Two I can think of when I was looking at replacements for my GTI are Continental ControlContact Sport™ A/S and the Falken Pro G4 A/S. There might be others.
Discount Tire in my opinion overworks the employees and the resulting quality suffers. How many guys manning the tire balance machine in a fast paced environment are going to rotate the tire on the wheel as part of achieving the best possible balance job? Not on Black Friday I bet.


I have never had the techs FAIL to re-balance a tire when I come in for the free "Balance and Rotation" and I come in like clock work at 5,000 intervals.

You appear to be making a guess and not actually relating a personal experience ?


I've had a few bad experiences at the Fishinger Blvd/Mill Run location in Hilliard, OH.
They managed to loose a center cap. Had to go to a dealer for a replacement and back to them for reimbursement. And they've done bad balance jobs that have required re-do's. Again, I doubt the guy manning the balance machine takes the time to rotate the tire on the wheel if he discovers it needs to much weight in one spot. Hopefully I'm wrong.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Originally Posted By: borgward
185/60-15


ok, for 185/60-15

Falken Ziex ZE914 Ecorun
Vredestein Sportrac 5

In Texas, you don't need all-season tires. Summer tires will give you better traction.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: skyactiv
How many guys manning the tire balance machine in a fast paced environment are going to rotate the tire on the wheel as part of achieving the best possible balance job? Not on Black Friday I bet.


This is some gold-plated service you're asking for. How much weight is too much? 2 ounces?

Is there any tire store that isn't "discount" today? How would the additional half hour spent breaking down beads and rotating the assy be billable?

99.5% of customers would be happy with the initial balance wherever the beads popped in.

 

[borgward]

Originally Posted By: skyactiv
They managed to loose a center cap.


That happened on my friends BMW

Originally Posted By: skyactiv
I doubt the guy manning the balance machine takes the time to rotate the tire on the wheel if he discovers it needs to much weight in one spot. Hopefully I'm wrong.


That tire needs to be sent back to the manufacturor!