Getting a good tech at Discount Tire is like winning the lottery

[AZ4runner08]

So once again I had took a chance with a different discount tire to get my tires balanced, and once again they made them worse then before I went in. Most of these tire guys just can't handle the job of balancing the Duratracs, and in fact he went as far as to tell me that Toyota's are finicky. The look on his face was priceless when I said "F*#$! you, Toyota's are finicky my ass!!". What a BS excuse. I rolled out of there and knew I had made a mistake. So I went back to visit the one guy that can make them smooth as silk and sure enough he nailed it. For you north Phoenix folks, Brandon at the Carefree Highway and 7th street is the guy you want to see. This is the third time he has brought faith back to the Discount Tire Brand, and I will never, ever never waste my time anywhere else. Its pretty sad though when you spend over a grand on tires and get crappy service, and then they try to blame the make of your vehicle. Total joke!!

 

[4Running Daily]

I've never had an issue with the Discount Tire on McClintock and Southern.

 

[darkgun82]

I about lost at at our location. Wife's car tires had 18,000 miles on them and were dry rotting BAD!! She went in to have them replaced because they had a 45k mile warranty. At first they claimed they had no warranty and so on. Put me on the phone and ended up getting them replaced with better tires. The ones she had weren't in stock. I should have stuck with my normal local tire shop because they take care of people without question or bs. Seems like it's just a normal thing for these large chain shops to try and avoid taking care of customers. Just chalk it up to lesson learned and go on

 

[Sungod]

So once again I had took a chance with a different discount tire to get my tires balanced, and once again they made them worse then before I went in. Most of these tire guys just can't handle the job of balancing the Duratracs, and in fact he went as far as to tell me that Toyota's are finicky. The look on his face was priceless when I said "F*#$! you, Toyota's are finicky my ass!!". What a BS excuse. I rolled out of there and knew I had made a mistake. So I went back to visit the one guy that can make them smooth as silk and sure enough he nailed it. For you north Phoenix folks, Brandon at the Carefree Highway and 7th street is the guy you want to see. This is the third time he has brought faith back to the Discount Tire Brand, and I will never, ever never waste my time anywhere else. Its pretty sad though when you spend over a grand on tires and get crappy service, and then they try to blame the make of your vehicle. Total joke!!

I hope you go back an apologize for your stupidity. He is 100% right about 6 lug Toyotas. It has nothing to do with the tires you bought and everything to do with the design of the wheels and Toyotas commitment to sticking with it for so many years. The problem is the large center hole and the ability to use a cone to center the wheel. Toyota had to go as far to create a TSB to balance wheels. I don't know of any other manufacturer with the exception of the Sterling (may that brand rest in peace) that had special requirements to balance their wheels.

While there are techs that are better than others, your ignorance of the product has led you to a situation where you made yourself look like a total ass. Even the best tech will have comebacks with 6 lug Toyota wheels. Some more than others, but no one is perfect.

Even if the tech was truly incompetent, your actions are pathetic. I can only hope that karma comes around and you get someone just like yourself that blames you because their fries are cold.

 

[AZ4runner08]

I hope you go back an apologize for your stupidity. He is 100% right about 6 lug Toyotas. It has nothing to do with the tires you bought and everything to do with the design of the wheels and Toyotas commitment to sticking with it for so many years. The problem is the large center hole and the ability to use a cone to center the wheel. Toyota had to go as far to create a TSB to balance wheels. I don't know of any other manufacturer with the exception of the Sterling (may that brand rest in peace) that had special requirements to balance their wheels.

While there are techs that are better than others, your ignorance of the product has led you to a situation where you made yourself look like a total ass. Even the best tech will have comebacks with 6 lug Toyota wheels. Some more than others, but no one is perfect.

Even if the tech was truly incompetent, your actions are pathetic. I can only hope that karma comes around and you get someone just like yourself that blames you because their fries are cold.

Eat shit, and don't try to give me your karma crap. If there is really an issue with Toyota's then maybe they should be up front before even selling me the tires. Then I would be happy to take my business elsewhere to someone who would be honest about it. There is no reason for you to come on this thread and talk down to me. I have never had a problem with any of my previous Toyotas, and yet there is a dam good tire tech that somehow can make it balance just fine. Rather then make excuses, maybe they should have that tech train the rest of the other techs how to make Toyota's balance like they should. And on top of if they have done nothing but scratch the crap out of my rims every time they touch them, and I should apologize? Please....

 

[m85476585]

I got tires at Discount Tire, and they "accidentally" recorded the mileage about 5,000 miles lower than it was. And they didn't just get one digit wrong, the last three digits were random. I pointed it out, and they "corrected it in their system" (so they say) but didn't print out new paperwork for me. I'll hold onto my copy of the paperwork where I noted the correct mileage, and luckily I had just purchased the 4runner, so I have documentation that shows the mileage that was on it just a few days before.

It could either be an honest mistake, or they could be systematically documenting mileage wrong to give people less of a warranty.

The TPMS seal kit is also a bit of a scam. It's $5 per tire, but that adds up to as much as an oil change for a couple dollars of parts and work they have to do anyway if they need to remove/reinstall the sensor to install the tire (work that I'm already paying for as part of mounting/balancing). It wasn't included in the online quote I got from them, so I asked them to take the charge off, and they did. When they were done they told me they had replaced the seals anyway, so I guess that's good. I don't mind paying a reasonable price for it if it's needed, but I don't like being charged for it without them even checking to see if it's needed, and I expect the online quote to be accurate. The online system knows what kind of vehicle I have.

When they were done, my tires were covered in white installation lubricant paste. They told me it would wash off, and it was raining that day so it was gone by the time I got home, but I worry about the stuff that's left inside the tire. I guess it must be OK since they use it on tires all the time, but it really looked like an excessive amount on the outside. Hopefully it's OK for the TPMS sensors, too.

In general I've been happy with them, but be careful.

 

[MikeInNH]

I'm not impressed with ANY national chain for tires or auto repairs. Their business model is such that they all hire kids with no experience, and when they get experience they leave for a better paying job. I know the manager at one of these places...he went to high-school with my daughter, She use to tutor him in math. I wouldn't let this kid add air to my tires.

Find a good local tire shop...you'll be better off.

 

[nevada]

So once again I had took a chance with a different discount tire to get my tires balanced, and once again they made them worse then before I went in. Most of these tire guys just can't handle the job of balancing the Duratracs, and in fact he went as far as to tell me that Toyota's are finicky. The look on his face was priceless when I said "F*#$! you, Toyota's are finicky my ass!!". What a BS excuse. I rolled out of there and knew I had made a mistake. So I went back to visit the one guy that can make them smooth as silk and sure enough he nailed it. For you north Phoenix folks, Brandon at the Carefree Highway and 7th street is the guy you want to see. This is the third time he has brought faith back to the Discount Tire Brand, and I will never, ever never waste my time anywhere else. Its pretty sad though when you spend over a grand on tires and get crappy service, and then they try to blame the make of your vehicle. Total joke!!

well, its not called DISCOUNT tire for nothing. are you surprised?


I just don't understand why people will go to the cheapest place they can find, then expect top notch service.
quality costs more...


also, Toyota wheels ARE notoriously hard to balance.



why didn't you go to the guy that does the job correctly in the first place?

I hope you go back an apologize for your stupidity. He is 100% right about 6 lug Toyotas. It has nothing to do with the tires you bought and everything to do with the design of the wheels and Toyotas commitment to sticking with it for so many years. The problem is the large center hole and the ability to use a cone to center the wheel. Toyota had to go as far to create a TSB to balance wheels. I don't know of any other manufacturer with the exception of the Sterling (may that brand rest in peace) that had special requirements to balance their wheels.

While there are techs that are better than others, your ignorance of the product has led you to a situation where you made yourself look like a total ass. Even the best tech will have comebacks with 6 lug Toyota wheels. Some more than others, but no one is perfect.

Even if the tech was truly incompetent, your actions are pathetic. I can only hope that karma comes around and you get someone just like yourself that blames you because their fries are cold.

yep, exactly.

 

[Sungod]

Eat shit, and don't try to give me your karma crap. If there is really an issue with Toyota's then maybe they should be up front before even selling me the tires. Then I would be happy to take my business elsewhere to someone who would be honest about it. There is no reason for you to come on this thread and talk down to me. I have never had a problem with any of my previous Toyotas, and yet there is a dam good tire tech that somehow can make it balance just fine. Rather then make excuses, maybe they should have that tech train the rest of the other techs how to make Toyota's balance like they should. And on top of if they have done nothing but scratch the crap out of my rims every time they touch them, and I should apologize? Please....

If you are so smart, then why don't you do the work yourself? I think the answer is obvious that you can't. You clearly have no idea how stupid you looked with your actions. I bet the guys are still laughing at you in the shop.

Just because I would rather teach than ridicule, here is the link to the TSB: TSB Maybe you can learn something so the next time you have an issue, you don't look like such a douche.

 

[bpowa]

Wow.. This is the first encounter on this forum that a poster sounds like a complete a**hole.

Even if the guy was incompetent, and I had my run ins with many people. There is no benefit by cursing at the guy. Especially when he is unable to slap the shit out of you due to losing his job.

I had a customer like you when I was younger, and was running his mouth. I told him. I get off at work in about an hour and we can continue the conversation. I was looking forward to shutting him up. Looking back I regretted saying that. It was immature and unprofessional on my part.

OP sounds like you need to grow up.

 

[LTDSC]

So once again I had took a chance with a different discount tire to get my tires balanced, and once again they made them worse then before I went in. Most of these tire guys just can't handle the job of balancing the Duratracs, and in fact he went as far as to tell me that Toyota's are finicky. The look on his face was priceless when I said "F*#$! you, Toyota's are finicky my ass!!". What a BS excuse. I rolled out of there and knew I had made a mistake. So I went back to visit the one guy that can make them smooth as silk and sure enough he nailed it. For you north Phoenix folks, Brandon at the Carefree Highway and 7th street is the guy you want to see. This is the third time he has brought faith back to the Discount Tire Brand, and I will never, ever never waste my time anywhere else. Its pretty sad though when you spend over a grand on tires and get crappy service, and then they try to blame the make of your vehicle. Total joke!!

you're one of those customers. bleh

They say they're finicky because the bore size is so large. sometimes the tire can be 100% balanced but if you are off just a hair mounting them up they might have a balance issue.

Glad to see you took the adult way to go about it though. Really showed them whose boss.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

some one has never worked in a retail/service industry.....

i bet you felt proud after :iagree:

 

[wkeryder4]

The whole thread is just looking for justification on being a dick to a complete stranger. He never said anything rude to you. Just that he was having trouble balancing the tires properly because "Toyota's can be finicky". That in no way justifies cursing at someone. Just ask for your money back on the mount and balance and move on.

 

[alia176]

It's really mostly about developing relationships with the local DT store. The Toyota wheels used to require a "finger", along with a specific size cone. Seems like they moved away from the fingers and are using a different type of cone as of late.

I used the DT's website feedback page to get the torque specs changed from 106 to 76 ft-lb for specific 80 series LCs. The local regional manager contacted me and we went through the specs, then he pushed it up the food chain. That gave me some hope at least!

 

[alia176]

It's really mostly about developing relationships with the local DT store. The Toyota wheels used to require a "finger", along with a specific size cone. Seems like they moved away from the fingers and are using a different type of cone as of late.

I used the DT's website feedback page to get the torque specs changed from 106 to 76 ft-lb for specific 80 series LCs. The local regional manager contacted me and we went through the specs, then he pushed it up the food chain. That gave me some hope at least!

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Just to be clear Toyota wheels can be finicky to balance because most people are poorly trained on tire balance machines and easily mismount them when using cones; on top of the large bore size used by Toyota for most of their 6-lug & 5 Lug truck wheels.

The Hawkea "finger" adapter seats the wheel the lug holes so that when mounting on a cone it is flush against the balancer shaft face every time. It is a tool designed to improve accuracy and consistency when balancing the wheels. Can you get by without using it? Sure a lot of dealer techs don't bother with it because they "know better" or just are experienced with balancing wheels; can it cause a comeback if not used? Absolutely, but a more important aspect is doing a proper road-force balance as well. The finger adapter can only go so far, but it does help make typically "difficult" Toyota wheels better balanced (particularly when running heavier tires.) Hence why there's been a TSB out for over a decade on the issue.

Post Note-
I don't normally just outright be an ass to people if they tell me something that sounds stupid. I usually try to let them explain their reasoning before I pass judgement. I have a feeling had you asked them WHY Toyota wheels are finicky to balance, you would have found the explanation satisfactory versus assuming that they are just trying to get one over on you.

 

[4RunnerFan]

I used the DT's website feedback page to get the torque specs changed from 106 to 76 ft-lb for specific 80 series LCs. The local regional manager contacted me and we went through the specs, then he pushed it up the food chain. That gave me some hope at least!

I've purchased numerous sets of tires over the years at our local DT store, including recent purchases for my 4Runner and wife's minivan. They had the torque right for the 4Runner, but were 20 fl lbs too high on the minivan. Showed them the owner's manual. They explained their system reflected the latest information from the manufacturers, but set the torque according to the manual I had in hand anyway.

Per the quote above, tonight I got into DT's "contact us" page and sent them a link to the manufacturer's manual. Hopefully they will make the change so I don't have to "negotiate" with the DT service advisor when its time to do another tire rotation.

All in all, I've been very satisfied with DT for many years.

 

[ebg18t]

Wow.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

Wow.

this is what you miss most I'm sure

 

[zimdba]

Just to add my .02. I took the tire off the vehicle at home (slow leak caused by a nail) and took it to the local Discount Tire. I told the retard "this is a really nice rim take care of it!" I'm not sure he comprehended that I was using words that form a sentence.

So not only did they damage the front of the rim (tool marks and a nick), they damaged the BACK of the rim as well (the barrel). F* me how can you be this incompetent. This is also the shop that put on my front tires perfectly. Bastards.

Edit I don't even care that the service ticket mentioned 34 psi and it was inflated to 38.5 psi (spec is 41 psi). I'm wise enough to know to check the pressure when I leave a tire store.