Tires from Costco or Sam's

DonPd wrote:
Purchasing tires from Costco or Sam's. Is it a good idea.

I give a real good thumbs up for the COSTCO tire departments in at least two local COSTCOs that I have dealt with. The free tire rotations are also a bonus. I've watched them install two sets and do two rotations and they are the only one I have seen to actually torque the lug nuts properly even using actual hand torque wrenches in two stages. In fact every vehicle they actually look up the torque specs and set the wrench before installation which is a very positive sign in the training they employees get and something you don't even find at some of the major tire places like National, Discount, Merchants, Les etc. Finally, just like WM items their nationwide availability is something to consider if you travel much.

Larry

I found that saving a few bucks at the super saver stores not quite worth having to watch over the tech while mounting them, and argue with management if I have a problem.I usually buy tires at a local mom and pop store that has been in business for three generations.They may cost cost a little more but if I have any problem with them later just stop by,problem solved.No written warranty required.They value their customers.The techs working there have been there for years and I have gotten to know them well,they know what they are doing and what I need during service,I trust them completely.I always give them a couple of bucks tip when finished.For me the minor extra cost is worth it.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Johnny G1 wrote:
Have bought tires from Costco different times but they will only install OEM tires due to liability issue's, just checked yesterday in Kelowna BC and was told they would not sell me the tires I wanted for pickup due to rim size width so off to Kal Tire from now on. Had the same problem in Ancourage Alaska when I put new tire's on my Jetta toad but the tire installer said if I signed the waver I was good to go but he didn't care so got the next size up tire that would last a lot longer.

Typically if you carry in your tires snd wheels they will install what ever tires you want.

Yes quite true, just don't tell them what vehicle they are mounted on, learned that pretty quick but jacking up my pickup in the parking lot got old pretty fast when you are 71.

Johnny G1 wrote:
Have bought tires from Costco different times but they will only install OEM tires due to liability issue's, just checked yesterday in Kelowna BC and was told they would not sell me the tires I wanted for pickup due to rim size width so off to Kal Tire from now on. Had the same problem in Ancourage Alaska when I put new tire's on my Jetta toad but the tire installer said if I signed the waver I was good to go but he didn't care so got the next size up tire that would last a lot longer.

Typically if you carry in your tires snd wheels they will install what ever tires you want.

Have bought tires from Costco different times but they will only install OEM tires due to liability issue's, just checked yesterday in Kelowna BC and was told they would not sell me the tires I wanted for pickup due to rim size width so off to Kal Tire from now on. Had the same problem in Ancourage Alaska when I put new tire's on my Jetta toad but the tire installer said if I signed the waver I was good to go but he didn't care so got the next size up tire that would last a lot longer.

Thanks for all the great information.

Dtank wrote:
Take your pick / name your poison .....

Costco, Sams, Wally, Discount Tire, Mom & Pop tire stores, etc -

Turnover of employees in some/many/most of the above is frequent.
Some employees have little (or no) experience. (It's OJT).
May have been working at Taco Bell the week before - and don't plan on a career mounting tires!
Also - High volume = busy, busy - hurry, hurry - "maybe" cut corners.

Latest and greatest "thing" at Costco is free Nitrogen.
Great.
HOWEVER - now the employees mounting tires are constantly interrupted by folks wanting their tires "topped off" with Nitrogen - frequently none is really needed..:R
(The DWs are told to do same by their DHs - and are clueless)..:S

What *you* must watch for is the final (hand) torquing of lug nuts, .....especially on aluminum wheels!

*You* should know the torque specs for your wheels, and ask the installer to see if the spec *he* has is correct!.:@
Have a good idea of what the sequence for the final TQing should be.

When he is using his impact wrench, he should use the impact to "snug" the lug nuts, then hand torque (with a TQ wrench) in proper sequence.

When to call a halt:..:E
(As politely as possible)

1. If his TQ wrench "clicks" immediately -
he has already run down the lug/s too tight with the impact..:(

2. If he claims his impact is set to whatever the required TQ is for your wheels - so it's OK to tighten them (completely) with the impact..:(

An Orange Co., CA Costco is famous for snapping wheel studs due to both the above.
It has a standing contract with a close-by facility to replace the broken studs.......at their cost, but of course, on *your* time..:(
(Posters need not ask how I know that).

Mom and Pop - your "trusted neighborhood tire shop" - even somebody you are familiar with:
No matter what they say.....*ALWAYS* check the date codes on in-stock tires, -or- tires you order.

Local guy ordered 4 trailer tires for me.....he didn't check codes when they came in, BUT I DID!..;)
(His employees had already mounted two!)
Seventeen months old was a "no thanks" for me!..:(

He found a different brand (acceptable to me) that were about one month old - same price.

Shop prices for the best deal that makes you happy - but buyer beware!!..:W


.

All very good points!

Both sets of tires I had installed at Discount Tire the Store Manager or Senior Assistant Manager did the install. Both cases were RAM Dually's and the Alcoa wheels were treated with care. The last time a few days a go on my new RAM the guy even asked if I would like him to try and use weights only on the inside of the wheels instead of both sides as the factory had done. I questioned him on it and he said since they were MS2's he would try. He was able to get all wheels balanced perfectly and no weights showing. He actually hand started each lugnut and "snugged" each one up with the impact and then properly torqued each to 150'# as I requested. He even asked me to stop by in 50 miles or so and have him re torque just to make sure everything was good!

We have purchased both truck tires and tires for our 5th wheel at Sam's Club. For the RV, we jacked it up and took the tires to the facility and the new tires were installed and balanced.(Took 2 trips as we did one side at a time,) Took the back to the RV and installed them with no issues. The tires we purchase must be ordered online and delivered to the local Sam's Club. If the tires are too old, we can refuse them. Happened once with some Bridgestone truck tires. They were already three years old so we refused them.

Take your pick / name your poison .....

Costco, Sams, Wally, Discount Tire, Mom & Pop tire stores, etc -

Turnover of employees in some/many/most of the above is frequent.
Some employees have little (or no) experience. (It's OJT).
May have been working at Taco Bell the week before - and don't plan on a career mounting tires!
Also - High volume = busy, busy - hurry, hurry - "maybe" cut corners.

Latest and greatest "thing" at Costco is free Nitrogen.
Great.
HOWEVER - now the employees mounting tires are constantly interrupted by folks wanting their tires "topped off" with Nitrogen - frequently none is really needed..:R
(The DWs are told to do same by their DHs - and are clueless)..:S

What *you* must watch for is the final (hand) torquing of lug nuts, .....especially on aluminum wheels!

*You* should know the torque specs for your wheels, and ask the installer to see if the spec *he* has is correct!.:@
Have a good idea of what the sequence for the final TQing should be.

When he is using his impact wrench, he should use the impact to "snug" the lug nuts, then hand torque (with a TQ wrench) in proper sequence.

When to call a halt:..:E
(As politely as possible)

1. If his TQ wrench "clicks" immediately -
he has already run down the lug/s too tight with the impact..:(

2. If he claims his impact is set to whatever the required TQ is for your wheels - so it's OK to tighten them (completely) with the impact..:(

An Orange Co., CA Costco is famous for snapping wheel studs due to both the above.
It has a standing contract with a close-by facility to replace the broken studs.......at their cost, but of course, on *your* time..:(
(Posters need not ask how I know that).

Mom and Pop - your "trusted neighborhood tire shop" - even somebody you are familiar with:
No matter what they say.....*ALWAYS* check the date codes on in-stock tires, -or- tires you order.

Local guy ordered 4 trailer tires for me.....he didn't check codes when they came in, BUT I DID!..;)
(His employees had already mounted two!)
Seventeen months old was a "no thanks" for me!..:(

He found a different brand (acceptable to me) that were about one month old - same price.

Shop prices for the best deal that makes you happy - but buyer beware!!..:W


.

I've bought tires at Costco or years and received great service. Had a free replacement under road hazard warranty. They're very good about rebalancing-which I appreciate because I'm fussy.

Here in southern Orange County they told me they couldn't work on my class C.