I am done with Discount Tire

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: rslifkin
I always prefer to bring wheels in for tire mounting without them attached to a vehicle. Less chances for a screw-up that way. And if that's not an option, if I can't watch them torque the lugs by hand with a torque wrench, they're not touching it and I'm going elsewhere.


This is exactly what I do.

 

[440Magnum]

Originally Posted By: E150GT
I like discount tire but I know that their wheel torquing practices are terrible. They run the lugs on with an impact wrench and "check" torque after with a torque wrench.


Nothing at all wrong with that, in fact its standard practice. I do it that way in my own garage. The caveats are either that the impact is set to a low torque or that they don't hold it there for several seconds banging away. A skilled operator can even leave the impact at full torque and just "blip" the nuts on without getting to more than a fraction of the final needed torque. The way impact wrenches work, TIME is a big factor. Even with the wrench dialed to minimum, if you hold it on the nut and bang away, you'll get excessive torque. And if you leave it "full bore" and just blip the trigger, you can keep it to just a few foot-lbs and finish up with a torque wrench.

 

[nwjones18]

Originally Posted By: Donald
I buy mail order from DTD. No local stores.


Same here, and then my local DT seems unhappy when I bring them in for mount and balance. I just take them to my local used tire man and have him mount them now.

 

[sasilverbullet]

I guess I must be blessed with the best Discount Tire locations in the nation...

In my 20+ years of having over 25 sets of tires, (yes, I've owned a LOT of different cars) I've never had a problem with them.

 

[Blueskies123]

Just another reason I buy my tires at Costco, they had tighten the lug nuts.

 

[Kool1]

At Costco, they grab your nuts and twist them by hand?

 

[CKN]

Yes-if you want to wait hours to get a tire rotation-CostCo is a great place to buy tires.

 

[Malo83]

Originally Posted By: PimTac
Les Schwab is great. I've dealt with them for years with no issues. If you live out west, I highly recommend them.


A new Les Schwab opened up about 1/4 mile down the road from me and these guys are true Pro's, take all my cars there

 

[mightymousetech]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: E150GT
I like discount tire but I know that their wheel torquing practices are terrible. They run the lugs on with an impact wrench and "check" torque after with a torque wrench.


Nothing at all wrong with that, in fact its standard practice. I do it that way in my own garage. The caveats are either that the impact is set to a low torque or that they don't hold it there for several seconds banging away. A skilled operator can even leave the impact at full torque and just "blip" the nuts on without getting to more than a fraction of the final needed torque. The way impact wrenches work, TIME is a big factor. Even with the wrench dialed to minimum, if you hold it on the nut and bang away, you'll get excessive torque. And if you leave it "full bore" and just blip the trigger, you can keep it to just a few foot-lbs and finish up with a torque wrench.


Agreed, nothing wrong with doing that way, unless they are going over on the torque. Or just use a torque stick with the impact. That is how I do it, then when on the ground, finish torque with a torque wrench.

 

[doitmyself]

Originally Posted By: mightymousetech
Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: E150GT
I like discount tire but I know that their wheel torquing practices are terrible. They run the lugs on with an impact wrench and "check" torque after with a torque wrench.


Nothing at all wrong with that, in fact its standard practice. I do it that way in my own garage. The caveats are either that the impact is set to a low torque or that they don't hold it there for several seconds banging away. A skilled operator can even leave the impact at full torque and just "blip" the nuts on without getting to more than a fraction of the final needed torque. The way impact wrenches work, TIME is a big factor. Even with the wrench dialed to minimum, if you hold it on the nut and bang away, you'll get excessive torque. And if you leave it "full bore" and just blip the trigger, you can keep it to just a few foot-lbs and finish up with a torque wrench.


Agreed, nothing wrong with doing that way, unless they are going over on the torque. Or just use a torque stick with the impact. That is how I do it, then when on the ground, finish torque with a torque wrench.


I understood his "check" to mean that they fully torque the nuts with the impact wrench, then go around with a torque wrench set to 90 ft. lbs. (or whatever) and if it clicks, then it is okay. Sure, the nuts are at least 90 ft. lbs., but they could also be at 130 ft. lbs. and no one would know. I've seen this type of torque wrench use at various tire dealers too. Between tool errors and fatigued employees, I don't trust this method.

 

[Mr Nice]

Originally Posted By: Brigadier
Last year, I bought 4 wheels and tires for my 06 Colorado at the local DT.

First time I went back for free rotation, they stripped a wheel lug on the LR of the truck. Had to take it to my mechanic to get it fixed as DT doesn't fix their mistakes.

Yesterday I went for the second rotation, and on the right rear, they had to snap a lug to get the wheel off. They are the only ones that have touched the wheels other that the LR since I bought them.

So I took the truck to my local Les Schwab and in 30 minutes for $30, I was good to go.

So when the Duratracs wear out, I am going to Schwab for tires.

Bye Bye Discount Tire.


Lazy tire tech with zero pride in the quality of their work.

95% of people working on cars for a living don't care if they damage your vehicle.

 

[4WD]

They did that to me and sent me to a mechanic about 8 miles away in heavy traffic. I had a coupon- but this place looked more like they traded in cash or crack. I did not even feel safe there. Left and went to dealership one mile from DT. They fixed it asap for 1/2 hour labor. The manager did pay me back for the dealership and apologized for sending me to the other "dealership" ...

 

[paulri]

It seems like a lot of folks have some not so good experiences with DT. I would imagine that they are one of the biggest, if not the biggest, tire sellers in the country, perhaps Sears and Pepboys might outsell them. Anyways--is this just what happens when you are a major seller around the nation--that you do rack up a few people with complaints?

I wonder how many of us have had problems with other places, installing, rotating, and balancing the tires...

Have folks here also had problems with other places as well?

 

[4WD]

My local Goodyear is top notch - and even carries other brands. They just can't do the volume price stuff that DT can. DT has prorated fairly too ... 3/4 of my business goes to DT and 1/4 at the GY.

 

[E150GT]

Originally Posted By: 440Magnum
Originally Posted By: E150GT
I like discount tire but I know that their wheel torquing practices are terrible. They run the lugs on with an impact wrench and "check" torque after with a torque wrench.


Nothing at all wrong with that, in fact its standard practice. I do it that way in my own garage. The caveats are either that the impact is set to a low torque or that they don't hold it there for several seconds banging away. A skilled operator can even leave the impact at full torque and just "blip" the nuts on without getting to more than a fraction of the final needed torque. The way impact wrenches work, TIME is a big factor. Even with the wrench dialed to minimum, if you hold it on the nut and bang away, you'll get excessive torque. And if you leave it "full bore" and just blip the trigger, you can keep it to just a few foot-lbs and finish up with a torque wrench.


Sure but thats not what they do. They use those clickers so fast its impossible to tell if the wheels are correctly torqued and just as importantly evenly torqued. Its pretty much they are just checking to see that they meet the minimum torque spec. Then when they're done they toss the torque wrench down and move on. I still use DT as they do seem to have the best prices, they're everywhere and they have great customer service. I just don't trust their wheel torquing so I redo it when I get home.

Thats also my justification for buying a really nice (to me) CDI torque wrench.Its on of my favorite tools.

 

[BHopkins]

Good! That will be one less customer crowding the waiting room at DT.

Honestly, I have had the same experience. DT has counter-threaded or over-torqued studs twice on my car. They have paid to have it fixed both times. But I agree that it is annoying. Honestly, this is my only real complaint with DT. Other than that, I love them.

I have bought tires once from Les Schwab, and never will again. It was not anywhere near as good of an experience as what I have at DT. In fact, it was the worst experience I have had with how I've been treated in any tire store.

I went in to LS to buy a price leader set of tires that they had advertised. They tried to up-sell me to nicer tire. No problem with that. I totally understand up-selling. But I explained that the car was going to be sold soon, and I didn't want to spend a lot on tires. These were the tires I wanted. They tried to up-sell again, and I again told them no. Nicely both times.

From there it seemed as though I was no longer a valued customer, but instead nothing more than a duty that they had to satisfy. No courtesy extended to me at all, to the point of being slightly curt to me.

The Les Schwab practice of carrying only store branded tires is also a major turnoff. I learned that my first time going into a LS. Before moving from Kentucky back to Utah, I inspected the tires on my car and decided that they were good enough to get to Utah, but I would put new tires on when getting there. I already knew what tire I wanted. Upon arriving in Utah, I visited the local LS, and asked for that tire. They explained that they had no inventory, but instead showed me a few LS branded tires. For the price they were asking for LS tires, I could have bought the Uniroyal tires I wanted. That is, elsewhere. I asked them to price the tires I wanted. Their price was almost $200 more than what I had priced the tires for before leaving Kentucky! So I bought tires at Big O instead. They carry name brand tires.

If DT messes up another stud, I may have to rethink where I get tires. But I can promise you, it won't be Les Schwab.

 

[Errtt]

For years and several sets of tires at DT I've had no issues, but noticed recently as my son took the Camry in for rotation the wheel caps came back scuffed somewhat like they tossed them on the cement floor view side down.

We did once have to take the Camry elsewhere to get a couple lugs replaced. I don't know if my son bunged the lug threads from doing the spare change or not, but DT went to take the spare off to get the blown tire replaced & re-mounted. Then came in saying I needed to get the lugs replaced so if it was already that way or they bunged them I dunno. Turned out a couple lug nuts and studs had to be replaced

Seems a tire place would have lug nuts & studs since they deal with them all day long. And should be able to do alignments.

The DT tire we go to have very few tires on display in the walk-in area. Lots of empty space. What's up with that.
One thing I am glad - when I go in for rotation/balance, they used to put some goop tire gloss stuff on the tires. I'd get home and that goop slung on the vehicle making some mess. I told them don't put your dippity-do pretty tire shine slime on anymore, and haven't had it happen since.

 

[clinebarger]

Originally Posted By: Brigadier
The manager did say that they will reimburse me for the fix, but that is not the point. The point is that they broke it, but can't fix it on site, same visit.

Les Schwab can and will.


You probably don't want them to replace the wheel studs.....They do not employ mechanics, He offered to pay for the repair.....What more do you want??

 

[ddtmoto]

Just had my local DT mount up my Michelin Super Sports last Saturday. I have always had good experiences with each DT store. They put up with me and my special requests, and my demands. I feel they do go out of their way for me and my business. I like it when I get what I pay for. DT has adjusted several sets of tires for us that we felt didn't cut the promises. I haven't been disappointed, so far with DT...

 

[ejes]

I have tried the various chain tire shops to save some money several times. It has been hit and miss on satisfaction. I have found that the only places I get consistency for any quality or warranty issues seem to be locally owned shops that specialize in tires, wheels, and alignment. They do tend to cost a little bit more, but many times they provide free services such as rotation, tire patching, etc. I can rotate my own tires, but sometimes I just don't have the time or it is just easier to have the wife drop it off and save my aging back a little wear and tear. After caring for a veritable "fleet" of cars with my wife and kid the last 22+ years, I have relented and picked 2 local tire shops that I trust to buy from and do some of this work. And you know what? I'm actually ok with it. Sometimes I think I've even come out money ahead in the long run, and, at the very least, has been a wash. Being a repeat customer and developing a relationship with them by having my name pop up on their computer has given me some discounts and "free" repeat customer perks. It seems, at least where I live, the tire shop guys are more like the old mechanic shops used to be when you were able to develop a relationship with them that was mutually beneficial and fair..