Tire Discounters

[WindomEarles]

So I go into a Tire Discounters today telling them about my steering wheel vibration issue. He is the service mgr. He told me the following.

1. All 6 lug Toyota wheels are lug centric and need to be balanced as such.
2. They don't do road force balance - he doesnt believe in it. He feels that it's dated and that he can get road force tests to pass or fail purely on tire pressure.

This guy claimed to have been relocated to the area by tire discounters to make the shop full service.

Thoughts? Sounds opposite from everything I've heard in this forum.

 

[jreask]

I have had vibration issues with two of the 4Runners that I have owned. I finally had them both road force balanced and all vibrations were eliminated. SO, I believe in it. Perhaps the shop you visited does NOT have a road force machine? And perhaps the manager doesn't know what he's talking about. He can get them road force balanced by pressure ?
I have NEVER heard anything more ridiculous. Take the truck to someone reputable.

 

[WindomEarles]

I have had vibration issues with two of the 4Runners that I have owned. I finally had them both road force balanced and all vibrations were eliminated. SO, I believe in it. Perhaps the shop you visited does NOT have a road force machine? And perhaps the manager doesn't know what he's talking about. He can get them road force balanced by pressure ?
I have NEVER heard anything more ridiculous. Take the truck to someone reputable.

Lucky you. My dealership has a road force machine gsp 9700 and it didn't fix my vibration.

How the hell do you find someone reputable? Idiots are rampant in low paying jobs where you balance tires for a living. Ya you heard it!

 

[Jeremy556]

Lucky you. My dealership has a road force machine gsp 9700 and it didn't fix my vibration.

How the hell do you find someone reputable? Idiots are rampant in low paying jobs where you balance tires for a living. Ya you heard it!

Ask the tech what a hawke adapter is. If they give the deer in the headlights look, find somewhere else.

 

[BurghRunner]

I stick with a local shop I trust.

I bought my recent set of tire from Amazon. Then I had them installed by a local independent shop that deals with european cars/ enthusiasts cars. They charge a little more, but actually asked me a question about how I normally torque the lug nuts. In the end my tires are balanced and alignment done (with OME lift) - rides great.

 

[BurghRunner]

I meant to add that my previous set was purchased at Tire Discounters. I had the shakes afterward, so I brought it back. When I picked it up, they said they rebalanced the FRONT tires and also apologized because the day they did it the first time they had problems with several cars.

So I asked, "So I can expect the shake to come back when I rotate my tires?" The guy looked at me, tilted his head, and said, "Huh?"

I found another shop.

 

[jreask]

Lucky you. My dealership has a road force machine gsp 9700 and it didn't fix my vibration.

How the hell do you find someone reputable? Idiots are rampant in low paying jobs where you balance tires for a living. Ya you heard it!

Look for a smaller shop with a gsp9700. If they spent the cash to buy this machine for a small shop, you can bet they have someone who knows how to use it.

 

[Barry694]

Wheel Balancing

When you use discounters for any work on your car, you get what you pay for.Try another dealer, or go to a reputable shop that for instance sells Michelins as one of their house brands. That's the only tire I ever buy no matter where I have lived and no matter which type of vehicle I happen to be driving and they are always right on. You do not need Michelin tires to get other brands balanced and I would say you are most likely going to be satisfied. I have lived in many states over the years and have never had a problem with tires on P/U's SUV, sport cars and luxury sedans. Presently run Michelins on my 4RUNNER and my Lexus LS and they are perfect.