First shoddy work at Discount Tire.

J

JustinH

Joined
Apr 17, 2004
Messages
6,997
Location
Texas Hill Country
I've been dealing with Discount Tire for 15 years.

San Antonio is a total construction zone, my wifes 2024 vehicle has had 3 punctures and 2 tires replaced, mine has had 1 puncture that was repairable.

I always buy the replacement certificates.

So, here is my first dealing with them that was not stellar.

2024 GMC with 10k miles on it. Nail dead center, repaired. I purchased 4 replacement certificates for $230 at that time. They did the repair for "free".

I told the sales advisor to relearn the TPMS sensors as when the puncture happened, the car said front left, and it was rear left. Goodyear oil change did the rotation last and didn't relearn the sensors. Advisor says no problem.

Shop was not busy it was a Friday morning.

Tire is repaired and tech comes out and says the TPMS sensor is dead and wants to sell me a new one. Tire is already mounted and car is ready. I declined that repair and said I would take it up with the dealer if necessary.

So I'm thinking that doesn't make sense, I have not to see a TPMS sensor die on a new car, usually the battery wears out and that's when they need replaced after 5-6 years or more.

I order a $12 TPMS relearn tool from Amazon, a new 9v battery, have it delivered to my house that night and relearn the system in my driveway in 60 seconds.

As I'm relearning the sensors I notice two of my air caps are missing from the car.

As I'm driving the car the spare tire is not bolted down and is rattling around the trunk.

I hope the patch holds.
 
I've had knockoff GM sensors "learn once" but not relearn. Wonder if the real ones are the same.

Though you fixed what the shop couldn't....
 
Stuff like this is why I hate having anyone else touch my vehicle—no attention to detail. This is also why I go over the car before leaving the premises, IF I have something done outside of my garage. Luckily, I can take care of most things on my vehicles.

Also, I love how I can rotate the tires on my Chrysler and it automatically learns the TPMS positions without any input from me other than driving it a little. Why couldn't GM do this? :unsure:
 
grasscutter said:
I'm sure glad I don't have any TPMS in my 25 year old car.

Can you imagine? An electronic device inside a tire?

It's like they're purposely trying to make cars as complicated as they can.
Click to expand...
All mine work fine. Pretty useful really, not hard to imagine but I worked on some pretty small satellites with all kinds of sensors, RF communication, even propulsion and they are more than six feet away, so what do I know??
 
DT hasn't been the same since it was sold. Higher prices, worse service. I had a loose valve core on a new tire. I heard something odd at a stop light, pulled over and confirmed. Turned around and went back. Fixed in seconds but ridiculous. Also have had less than ideal balancing. For how hard they push balancing, rotation and air pressure, they should have some kind of check
 
grasscutter said:
I'm sure glad I don't have any TPMS in my 25 year old car.

Can you imagine? An electronic device inside a tire?

It's like they're purposely trying to make cars as complicated as they can.
Click to expand...
I like that too. My 2021 Honda HRV has a indirect system.. It just uses the old style rubber valve stems....
 
Pablo said:
All mine work fine. Pretty useful really, not hard to imagine but I worked on some pretty small satellites with all kinds of sensors, RF communication, even propulsion and they are more than six feet away, so what do I know??
Click to expand...
100% - I keep it on display when possible - or toggle to it …
Can read it on OnStar - spot on with my digital and old school gauges …
 
JustinH said:
I've been dealing with Discount Tire for 15 years.

San Antonio is a total construction zone, my wifes 2024 vehicle has had 3 punctures and 2 tires replaced, mine has had 1 puncture that was repairable.

I always buy the replacement certificates.

So, here is my first dealing with them that was not stellar.

2024 GMC with 10k miles on it. Nail dead center, repaired. I purchased 4 replacement certificates for $230 at that time. They did the repair for "free".

I told the sales advisor to relearn the TPMS sensors as when the puncture happened, the car said front left, and it was rear left. Goodyear oil change did the rotation last and didn't relearn the sensors. Advisor says no problem.

Shop was not busy it was a Friday morning.

Tire is repaired and tech comes out and says the TPMS sensor is dead and wants to sell me a new one. Tire is already mounted and car is ready. I declined that repair and said I would take it up with the dealer if necessary.

So I'm thinking that doesn't make sense, I have not to see a TPMS sensor die on a new car, usually the battery wears out and that's when they need replaced after 5-6 years or more.

I order a $12 TPMS relearn tool from Amazon, a new 9v battery, have it delivered to my house that night and relearn the system in my driveway in 60 seconds.

As I'm relearning the sensors I notice two of my air caps are missing from the car.

As I'm driving the car the spare tire is not bolted down and is rattling around the trunk.

I hope the patch holds.
Click to expand...
I'd definitely speak with a manager. I will say the last time that I recently purchase tires the kid assisting me was kind of a pain. I was looking at the slightly better than the cheapest offer but they supposedly only had one in stock. I saidvok I'll take the cheapest house brand tire
After 20 minutes and after I paid he comes back out and tells me "they found" another set. Too late now.
 
2strokeNorthstar said:
DT hasn't been the same since it was sold. Higher prices, worse service. I had a loose valve core on a new tire. I heard something odd at a stop light, pulled over and confirmed. Turned around and went back. Fixed in seconds but ridiculous. Also have had less than ideal balancing. For how hard they push balancing, rotation and air pressure, they should have some kind of check
Click to expand...
I thought Discount Tire is still held by the family of Bruce T. Halle. Discount Tire, is privately held company founded by Bruce T. Halle in 1960. Are you thinking of the Tire Rack which was purchased by Discount Tire in late 2021?

Also for the OP :: Like everything in life, some days you have to deal with the "C or D Team". You don't always get the "A & B Team". You got it fixed and maybe next time you will get the "A or B Team". Now a days employers have to take people that are C and D players just to fill the labor spots. Not good for patrons, but just a reality of today's labor workforce.
 
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Mainia said:
I thought Discount Tire is still held by the family of Bruce T. Halle. Discount Tire, is privately held company founded by Bruce T. Halle in 1960. Are you thinking of the Tire Rack which was purchased by Discount Tire in late 2021?

Also for the OP :: Like everything in life, some days you have to deal with the "C or D Team". You don't always get the "A & B Team". You got it fixed and maybe next time you will get the "A or B Team". Now a days lower paid labor have to take people that are C and D players just to fill the labor spots. Not good for patrons, but just a reality of today's labor workforce.
Click to expand...

I agree with C and D Team.

Tire shops have crazy turnover of employees so sometimes you get an inexperienced tire tech.

Down here we got Tire Kingdom and every time I go there I see new faces.
 
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In this case, reads like not topic DT store's best work. I too would go to the store manager and let them know your about experience and concerns. Also, in my experience there are usually customer satisfaction surveys that are sent as follow up to DT/AT visits. And Google comments a place reviews for the specific store.

As for the "ownership" comment, quite certain DT/AT has not been sold anyone. As accurately noted, still a privately held company as it's always been. Founder Halle passed in 2018.

As an aside, your puncture anecdote one reason I don't purchase the certificates. That puncture would be repaired FOC without them. Also, if puncture outside a repairable area and tire purchased at DT/AT, you'll get a prorated price for the new tire anyway. That's how it's worked for me several times, and the prorated price has always been fair imo.
 
I still go do DT in my area however I do believe the quality of work is going down. I purchased 4 brand new sensors for my Honda Civic about 6 months ago and had them installed at DT with brand new tires. They couldn't get the TPMS light off. I had to take it to Honda and they put an after market sensor in the car and charged me a lot. Thinking about going to Costco next time. DT also slightly scratched an aftermarket mag wheel on my Honda and they scratched one on my Corvette. I see a high turnover of help in my area too. I ended up getting a new factory wheel for the Corvette. These tire places get in too big of a hurry and sometimes hire help that is not trained properly. I have also had very good luck at DT and with that being said I am still a customer.
 
When I had the DWS06+s put on at DT earlier this year, I was out in the shop watching them being balanced. Three of the four failed the road force balance, yet the tech put them on the car anyway. I talked to the manager who took all four wheels off and did the balancing himself, having to break down the three and rotate the tires on the wheels before they no longer failed.

The VC8s will be here this week, and I will be standing next to the person while they're doing the balancing... after reminding the manager of my experience the previous time.
 
DT, even when national, used to be relatively niche/boutique.

Now the only retailers who sell more tires than DT are Walmart and Costco.

When you have that many employees/installations, something is bound to go wrong with someone.

But I'll still go to DT. head and shoulders above every other chain for tires. (Costco = always crowded, opens at 10a)
 
grasscutter said:
I'm sure glad I don't have any TPMS in my 25 year old car.

Can you imagine? An electronic device inside a tire?

It's like they're purposely trying to make cars as complicated as they can.
Click to expand...
the complexity is always a result of trying to make people less and less responsible to that even the biggest idiot on earth can own and operate a vehicle with a modicum a safety unencumbered by any need to be responsible for maintenance.
 
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