Discount Tire...You Get What You Pay For

Yeah...Discount Tire owns Tire Rack, no small wonder why they would recommend them.

When you were pulling in to Discount Tire to have them put tires on your car, did you not have little alarm bells going off in the back of your mind?

I'd put it up on a lift and inspect everything, and also pull off all the wheels and check for damage.

Did you make note of the odo reading before your dropped it off?

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I’ve always had good experiences with our local Discount Tire…. But like with any non-exotic specialist I inspect the work before I leave.

 

Same here. Good experiences with Discount Tire in my area..... from a 1999 Modena to a 1967 Corvette with KO wheels. You sometimes have to guide them through installing wheels, changing tires, jack points etc but they are receptive and don't object to the owner watching in the work area.

 

Anymore I just pull my own wheels, throw them in the back of my truck and take them myself. I'm not trusting any shops with my cars any more, DT ruined one of my perfectly good $450 Michelins on my Z06 damaging the bead while dismounting it, I was going to mount it on a different set of wheels or sell it, but it's worthless now. Didn't notice until I got home. I've had issues with tire shops jacking cars in wrong spots, damaging rocker panels, breaking TPMS sensors...you name it. I just try to limit the damage as much as I can at this point. They all suck.

 

For the past several years I have always done what Redneck does. Take the wheels off, even if I have to do one side at a time. and take them along with new tires to the shop to be mounted. I always try to talk to the installer - the person actually doing the work. I've been using a small shop nearby and the installer is great and I tip him generously as I want him to remember me when I come back.

The place I use to use has had so much turnover in personnel I'm afraid to use them. But I am good for now,

 

Is that a battery for the solar setup? siiiick!

 

Ditto. When I took my mini in they stripped the wheel lug and gave the car back to me "sorry bro". After that I take tires in 2 at a time off the car.

 

Same. And here I thought I was being neurotic, looks like I'm in good company.

 

Treat the employee's with respect, especially when you own a Ferrari. Bringing a few breakfast tacos helps also!!!! Always have had a good experience with Discount Tire.

 

I am surprised you did not get snicks and scraps along the rim edge. They have high turn over of personnel and have not been impressed with the quality of techs they hire. They did a change on my daily and weights fell off after six months.

 

Always check to see if there is a pot shop nearby.

 

Like many of the others, I take my wheels off and bring them to the local Discount Tire; I've always had good luck and sometimes the manager himself will mount my tires.
But you're right about the high employee turnover. The first manager would let me come into the shop and let me watch, but he's been gone a few years.

 

My experience has been that the quality of Discount Tire service varies wildly from location to location. I had a Houston location throw away 4 brand new Hoosier R6s one time. Whoever they had doing shop cleanup just saw the lack of tread, I guess, and assumed they were discards. For the most part, though, I got great service from them over the years. The DT by my place out in the boonies has been fantastic so far. Turnover may be high, but with a nice car it seems like I always get assigned to the senior tech on duty.

I like the idea of using independent shops, but I'd want to know what machine they use for balancing. Those Hunter road force balancing machines seem to really make a difference at high speeds, especially when you've got lightweight wheels. I bet some shops out there are still using bubble balancers made out of bakelite. At least with DT I know they'll be working with modern equipment.

 

It’s not the companies fault, it’s the fitter who didn’t know. Directional wheels aren’t an everyday thing he deals with. The guys mind is on repeat - I’d be grateful the wheels weren’t damaged and leave it at that

 

let me explain:
you buy the tires at discount tire, then you take them to a specialist garage for them to install.

that way you get the dt prices, and gtees, and you kn ow they have been put on correctly.

 

Discount Tire can do great work. They have the right equipment and it is inspected and replaced often. But their usual focus is on volume.

I've had good luck with the following:

1) Bring them just the wheels. They appreciate this as they often don't have room in their lot for extra vehicles, especially during the spring and fall (snow tire install and removal season). I always wash the wheels really well first, this lets them know you care about your stuff and is just plain courteous (why should the employee have to deal with any more brake dust than necessary?) A spotlessly clean wheel is also much less likely to get scratched in the mounting process.

2) Offer them a chance to price match the tires. Often they will match my best wholesale prices and still get to make a few $$ per tire. If they can't match the price (or come close), I will bring in the tires and just pay for the mount + balance, but I feel better letting them order the tires.

3) Make an appointment and let them know they can take their time with the install, they can just call or text me when they are done. If they are rare/expensive wheels I will ask them to put them aside until a manager or experienced tech can get to them. They have never had a problem with doing it this way.

I have also had them do some "test fits" on unusual/non-stock wheel and tire combos for me and they were OK mounting a tire and letting me check for interference, with the explicit understanding that if I drove on the tire, I own it and it couldn't be returned. This seems more than fair.

 

Discount tire has done a great job for me on several Ferraris. Last week they installed new tires on my 488. They told me they would put their best guy on it. I left them the car for several hours and said no rush.


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I've been known to label directional tires before bringing em in.

RF, LR etc.

 

Discount Tire 'fan' here too. I usually have the tires shipped from Tire Rack direct to Discount Tire, then I dismount wheels and carry them to the store for installing new rubber. Mildly inconvenient, but the price is right.

 

I've also found my local Discount Tire to have great service.

On the daily cars, I usually bring the whole car. On special cars, usually just the wheels. Often when I just bring wheels, they ask what they are from and tell me they will put "the best guy" on them.

 

A little communication could've gone a long way here

 

Think I’ll be going there Friday to get tires put on the Diablo. I’ll be taking them a lift diagram to help them safely lift the car