Flat Tire/Interesting Facts

[Doug156]

On a recent trip in Texas I picked up a nail in a front tire, and it went flat while driving down Route 10. I called Good Sam, but trying to get explain where I was to the person on the other end of the phone was exhausting. Route 10, eastbound by Exit 234 was too much for him to mentally digest.

I called for my own service and they had to replace the tire. The tire replacement was $400.00 for a 245 70R 19.5. I thought that was reasonable for the Goodyear G670 RV tire, compared to prices on Tire Rack. When I got home I spoke with my mechanic (who is a personal friend) and his cost for that tire is $185.00. Needless to say, I bought one from him at his cost to keep as a spare.

Never knew the mark up or price difference could be so different.

[Bigdog]

Last time I used Good Sam, they knew exactly where I was. I have the roadside on my smartphone.

[Doug156]

GJAC

I was driving on the flat (left-front) and never knew it. Finally someone pulled up alongside me and pointed it out. Subsequently, the inner wall of the tire was ruined.

[GrampaR123]

That price I quoted of almost $600 per tire also includes California sales tax which runs close to 9% so without tax it would be somewhere in the neighborhood of $545-$550 per tire.

[GrampaR123]

I can't figure out how everyone seems to be finding the Goodyear G670RV 245/70R19.5 for $400 per tire. Here in California they're closer to $600 per tire including disposal fee, balancing, mounting, new metal valve stems, etc. Goodyear says they're no longer making the load range F so that is the price for load range G. Goodyear also says when you call and talk to them that there are still load range F tires available but they have been on the shelf for a while and will have an older date code. If anyone living in Southern California knows {from personal experience, not from a friend of a friend) where they can be purchased cheaper, please let me know.
Just sayin'

[Effy]

holstein13 wrote:
You paid $400 retail for a tire that costs $185. That's a high markup but not unreasonable given that 1) you checked tire rack and others were similarly priced and 2) it included mobile service.

I think you can hold your head up and be satisfied with the outcome. You were not ripped off, you got the tire fixed relatively quickly and got on your way. It's not an ideal outcome, but pretty close.

Agreed. If you didn't have a friend in a tire shop you'd never know what a dealer's cost was. Dealers and shop owners of every kind have mark up. It's called profit. Otherwise there would be no businesses. If you compared and found similar prices retail then you got a good deal. The fact that you have an inside track on wholesale price is nice, but without out it you're in the same boat as everyone else. Retail price and mounted free due to RSA. Sounds about right and the reason I would never bother carrying a spare.

[Gjac]

Doug was the tire destroyed by driving as it started to lose air from the nail? Or did it just go flat from the nail and you pulled over and called road service?

[dbates]

So many people fail to understand that the cost of goods is nominal compared to all of the other expenses a business has. There is rent &/or loan payments, phone, heat, lights, taxes, INSURANCE, labor, advertising, accounting, legal fees, equipment initial cost plus maintenance thereafter, employer's share of Social Security, etc. etc.

As a bank commercial loan officer for 40 years I had hundreds of people wanting to get in business for themselves thinking that their only real expense of doing business was the cost of the goods they plan to sell. Besides all of the above expenses that road side service had the additional expense of a truck with all of its equipment plus the driver that does not generate other income 24/7.

Your mechanic friend did you a real favor I sure hope that you thanked him.

Dave

[holstein13]

You paid $400 retail for a tire that costs $185. That's a high markup but not unreasonable given that 1) you checked tire rack and others were similarly priced and 2) it included mobile service.

I think you can hold your head up and be satisfied with the outcome. You were not ripped off, you got the tire fixed relatively quickly and got on your way. It's not an ideal outcome, but pretty close.

[Kidoo]

This is why I will carry a spare. It will fit up front foward of the generator I hope. On my last flat tire, I was able to get to a garage near by, but had no choice on price or brand of tire, unless I waited for a few days.

Those big tires can be replaced with pry bar, this is how they did it at the truck shop I went to.

[Effy]

If you are stuck on the side of the road your options are obviously limited. Not to defend the mark up but they could charge a lot more and you'd still have to pay it or sit there. If you had RSA then you didn't pay for labor so..

[rgatijnet1]

That is pretty much the standard markup for all retail products plus the federal and other taxes.
The quality of the service from any company is based on the quality of the person that answers the phone when you call. I consider it a plus if they speak a language that I can understand.

[Dale_Traveling]

My one side of the road flat cost me $100 more and that was 2012. Same size tire by the way. Had the same difficulties with location information. I think rather than mile markers or exits lat and log coordinates might work better, next time.