Tire shops

Cummins12V98 wrote:
" Didn't watch (at Costco). Snapped a wheel stud. When I asked what and how - he had torqued them, he indicated he used his *air impact* and had set it for the specified torque. "

That is NOT the norm for Costco. I have bought MANY sets of tires from them over the years. They have always lightly ran the lugs up snug then hand torqued.

Was at a Costco a few years ago and saw someone from main office checking the calibration of their hand torque wrenches.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Discount Tire gets my business because:

Fix Flat tires FREE
If tire comes up needing too much weight to balance they will deflate/break rim seal and rotate tire 180 degrees and redo balance
ASK what tire pressures I want front and rear
Have good pricing

Dealer gets my business because:
They only charge me $50 for oil/filter job
ASK what pressures I want in front/rear tires
Check for outstanding recalls and/or software
Give me a written report on trucks condition

Discount Tire doesn't work on RV tires.

I can't wait until my biggest issue of the day is getting improper tire pressure in my trailer tires!

Cummins12V98 wrote:
" Didn't watch (at Costco). Snapped a wheel stud. When I asked what and how - he had torqued them, he indicated he used his *air impact* and had set it for the specified torque. "

That is NOT the norm for Costco. I have bought MANY sets of tires from them over the years. They have always lightly ran the lugs up snug then hand torqued.

Now good OL LesSchwab uses a torque wrench for show AFTER they have blasted the lugs up. Funny how they click as soon as the wrench is turned!

Discount Tire has been good at proper torque also.

Same experience for me.

chevman

" Didn't watch (at Costco). Snapped a wheel stud. When I asked what and how - he had torqued them, he indicated he used his *air impact* and had set it for the specified torque. "

That is NOT the norm for Costco. I have bought MANY sets of tires from them over the years. They have always lightly ran the lugs up snug then hand torqued.

Now good OL LesSchwab uses a torque wrench for show AFTER they have blasted the lugs up. Funny how they click as soon as the wrench is turned!

Discount Tire has been good at proper torque also.

DSDP Don wrote:
Sometimes it's not as sinister as some of you make it. Did you watch them mount the tires? Did the same guy mount all of them on the same machine?

The tire changing machines have built in gauges that get beat to death every time they flop a tire down on it. One gauge could be different from the machine next to it. Maybe two or three guys mounted your tires.

I just don't see this as an issue. As a matter of fact, it's something that any RVer owner should check after having new tires installed. Lastly, I bet it took more time to complain about the air being wrong on here than it did to just correct it.

Of all the issues with quality control in the RV industry, is this really a problem? When I get new tires, I tell them what I want and then set them with my own gauge when I get home.

Yes - everyone should check the air pressure on "whatever" tires a shop mounted. Not a big deal.

However, the major (sinister?) concern should be the mounting of the rims (and tires) ON THE VEHICLE.

*If* the shop employee makes an error torquing the lug nuts, it may not be as simple a "fix" as checking air pressure!

Yeah - that happened to me with a Ford Van I owned (aluminum rims).
Shame on me! - Didn't watch (at Costco). Snapped a wheel stud. When I asked what and how - he had torqued them, he indicated he used his *air impact* and had set it for the specified torque.
(They use a TQ wrench for the final TQ.....now)
Do I watch 'em now? - You bet.

About 15 years ago I owned a 20' travel trailer, I had bought used.
It still had it's original GY Marathons - which were about six years old. Looked great - lots of tread, but six years old. Figured they were due (or overdue) for replacement.

Went to a local "mom & pop" shop which had been a "fixture" in the area for a long time. Told the owner/mgr the same brand (GY) would be OK. However, he would have to order them. Fine with me - should be "fresh", right!? During our chat, he said, six years was too long, should be replaced at five years max. (OK again, no sales pitch req'd)

Got the call my "new" tires were in. Great! Dropped off two rims (w/old tires) to have the new tires mounted. Came back a couple of hours later - rims & tires ready to go!

For some reason, I checked the date code on the tires!
Shame on me - again!
No bueno - 17 months old!
Politely told the mgr, he either needed to find more "current" tires, or re-mount my old ones and refund what I paid for "new" tires.

Now - maybe 17 months old might be OK for some, but I was planning on selling the trlr soon - could see telling someone it has new tires, and having them check the dates. Huh? You say what?
Also, that would be almost a third of the predicted 5yr life span.

So, the mgr calls the GY distributor. Distributor says (claims) GY only does a "run" of that size tire every two years!! (Marathons were made in the USA then).

Told the mgr - find a different brand! He found Cooper tires with a two month old mfg date. Good to go.

Checking pressure frequently (including new tires) is easy & SOP!


;)

DSDP Don wrote:
Sometimes it's not as sinister as some of you make it. Did you watch them mount the tires? Did the same guy mount all of them on the same machine?

The tire changing machines have built in gauges that get beat to death every time they flop a tire down on it. One gauge could be different from the machine next to it. Maybe two or three guys mounted your tires.

I just don't see this as an issue. As a matter of fact, it's something that any RVer owner should check after having new tires installed. Lastly, I bet it took more time to complain about the air being wrong on here than it did to just correct it.

Of all the issues with quality control in the RV industry, is this really a problem? When I get new tires, I tell them what I want and then set them with my own gauge when I get home.

So you think it's a good idea for a customer to ride off in their car with 11 psi difference in the tires? With them being a tire shop and since all they do is tires and a big thing for tires is air and air pressure, wouldn't it seem like they would just consider it normal to be accurate. We may check our tires all the time but that's not what most people do. Most people are probably depending on the lube or tire shop or whatever to change the oil, rotate, air pressure, washer solvent etc. As I understand it a vehicle is safest with all tire pressures set correctly, you know consistency, evenness, balance. This isn't just an RV'er issue. It happens all the time all over. :)

Sometimes it's not as sinister as some of you make it. Did you watch them mount the tires? Did the same guy mount all of them on the same machine?

The tire changing machines have built in gauges that get beat to death every time they flop a tire down on it. One gauge could be different from the machine next to it. Maybe two or three guys mounted your tires.

I just don't see this as an issue. As a matter of fact, it's something that any RVer owner should check after having new tires installed. Lastly, I bet it took more time to complain about the air being wrong on here than it did to just correct it.

Of all the issues with quality control in the RV industry, is this really a problem? When I get new tires, I tell them what I want and then set them with my own gauge when I get home.

I prefer Discount for several reasons but I told them what air pressure I wanted and they just did what the book said. I ALWAYS check others work.

Discount Tire gets my business because:

Fix Flat tires FREE
If tire comes up needing too much weight to balance they will deflate/break rim seal and rotate tire 180 degrees and redo balance
ASK what tire pressures I want front and rear
Have good pricing

Dealer gets my business because:
They only charge me $50 for oil/filter job
ASK what pressures I want in front/rear tires
Check for outstanding recalls and/or software
Give me a written report on trucks condition