Free balancing @ Americas tire.

[Chris142]

Our new to us toyota needed its tires balanced. I went to Americas tire to have it done. I expected to pay since the tires were on the truck when we bought it.

No charge! Free! That was a surprise. I assumed that since we didn't buy the tires there that it would cost me $60 or so.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Score!

 

[c502cid]

The only thing I have found about the "free" balancing at Discount/Americas tire is unless you specify, and most of the time not even then, they just spin the wheel and add weights if needed. They don't take the old weights off and start again. Yes it's balanced but not the way it should be done. Free is free.

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted by c502cid
The only thing I have found about the "free" balancing at Discount/Americas tire is unless you specify, and most of the time not even then, they just spin the wheel and add weights if needed. They don't take the old weights off and start again. Yes it's balanced but not the way it should be done. Free is free.

They also balance to .25, not 0. However, CapriRacer explained a while ago that this practice is probably acceptable for most applications.

 

[Sayjac]

Nice! Though generally speaking ime there would be charge for balancing on a non DT/AT tires, I'm not completely surprised they went the extra mile did it for free. My last visit one a set of OE tires brought in for free rotation they did the same. As I only asked for and expected rotation I too was pleasantly surprised. I will add, one tire was a previous DT pro rated replacement for a tire too damaged to repair. I doubt though that was the decisive point in the decision to balance all.

Free balance with rotation at DT not far from their SOP of free RMA puncture repair for all.

 

[Vern_in_IL]

Do they use RoadForce machines?

 

[Kira]

Ha-Ha on them having Road Force Balancing.
I was at a Costco yesterday (Teterboro Landing, NJ) and a tire guy I chatted with didn't even know what RF balancing was.

I want to look up DT/AT locations. I'll learn what the precise domain name is.

 

[Sayjac]

Quote
Ha-Ha on them having Road Force Balancing.....
Actually they do have Road Force Balance machines and do provide the service. However, seeing as it's an outside the standard dynamic balance service used for routine balance, it's an extra charge. I'm not aware of any tire chain that does RF balance as SOP.

https://www.discounttire.com/services/road-force-balancing

 

[Kira]

Really sick website (thanks for the link Sayjac)
First off, entry of a radius from a particular ZIP code results in nothing but a panel mentioning their ship to home service.
Attempts at shopping for tires by size resulted in no reaction from the website.

I know my ANCIENT computer cannot be upgraded but every other website works on it.

 

[Traction]

It should be called Road Force Checked, not Road Force Balanced. I have one, and when it comes down to the actual balancing of the assembly, it is no different than any other dynamic spin balancer. Technique is more important that the brand of balancer.

 

[joekingcorvette]

Great! I had brand new Goodyears (4) installed at a local tire shop. The steering wheel had a bad shake at 65 mph. A new discount tire store opened up near my house so I took it there and they re-balanced the tires and I bought a warranty for all 4 tires, free rotation and road hazard and free balancing for the lifetime of the tires for about $90.00. I bought it because 1. they fixed the balancing and shaking and 2. I don't like to rotate those big OEM 20 inch wheels and tires.

 

[Sayjac]

Originally Posted by Kira
Really sick website (thanks for the link Sayjac)
First off, entry of a radius from a particular ZIP code results in nothing but a panel mentioning their ship to home service....
Hazarding not much of stretch speculation, result would be because currently no b&m DT/AT stores in the NE. Store search using zip works just fine here. If genuine interest, DTD online would be the main option outside b&m areas imo. You're welcome

To quoted topic, Road Force balance an option provided at DT/AT.

 

[Chris142]

Our cars are not performance stuff. I dont see a reason to get them RF balanced. The shake @60 is gone.

 

[02SE]

A Road Force balancer can be used in different settings. Rarely do they use the full capabilities of the machine. There are many reasons why, but the most common reasons for not using the full capabilities, is time, and operator knowledge or lack thereof.

 

[JustinH]

Originally Posted by The Critic
Originally Posted by c502cid
The only thing I have found about the "free" balancing at Discount/Americas tire is unless you specify, and most of the time not even then, they just spin the wheel and add weights if needed. They don't take the old weights off and start again. Yes it's balanced but not the way it should be done. Free is free.

They also balance to .25, not 0. However, CapriRacer explained a while ago that this practice is probably acceptable for most applications.


Just had a set of tires put on my wife's car at discount tire in San Antonio.

Watched the guys mount the tires on the scion, using a hunter roadforce machine.

He got it down to .25, then he added another .25 weight, and spun again until it went to "OK" which I presume is 0.

Good service for cheap entry level tires.