Customer Loyalty, not so much

[Rtrorkt]

so, drove over screw, probably from my own garage, which let the air out of a rear tire. Now I will stipulate right at the outset, the tire is perfectly good for track events, though I probably don't want to drive them too far in a heavy rain. But for Discount Tire it does not meet their standards. All I needed was a plug to get me on my way. They wouldn't do it. I reminded them I have spent considerable money on tires with them and was looking for a little help.

No dice. Not even when I stipulated that I would not even mention that I had been to their shop. Go away they said. What is interesting with the advent of just fueling stations, there is really no place that readily comes to mind to do this simple task. For $3 I bought the plug kit and repaired it myself.

Would you go back to Discount Tire (note I have had relatively good service from them on new tires, though they did damage a rim) or just hit Tire Rack?

[john walker's workshop]

Not legal to plug a tire in most states. Just following the law.

[LeeH]

I've noticed them tightening up on things like that. Discount rotated the tires on my kid's Ford Ranger, but said they would not do it again because of the age of the tires.

They do offer great service and prices. Not sure if they're concerned about liability or trying to bump up the sales.

[Baz]

I carry a plug kit in my truck. Learned a long time ago --- like a LOT of things --- easier to just do it myself.

That said, I can understand being frustrated that you couldn't get your tire shop to help you. But like JW said....not legal* for them to do it - with the *notation that my understanding is it has to do with the location of the puncture.

I would continue to do business if they gave you the best bang for your buck. Other than that - all bets are off.

[Scott Douglas]

Plugging a radial tire can be hazardous to your fenders health.
The steel belts will cut the plug.
Better to dismount the tire and put a patch on the inside.
I think the lawyers have got things to the point where it doesn't pay for a shop like Discount to 'cut corners' even for good customers. I've spent more than my fair share at our local one but would understand if they weren't willing to go against corp policy on plugging a tire.
The local hole in the wall tire shop probably wouldn't have any qualms about it though.

[SCadaddle]

Don't know if your "Discount Tire" is the same as "Discount Tire Direct" that I mail ordered a set of tires for my Subauru Legacy wagon from last year, but here is my story with that outfit:

Bought a set of Hankook tires from Discount Tire Direct last August, online, I think out of Arizona. Pricing was right, free shipping and included an $80 rebate from Hankook and a $75 rebate from Discount Tire Direct. The set of 4 tires was about $240 to my front door.

8 months and 11,000 miles later I am driving out of my neighborhood on a nice recently paved street and with the window down hear a "FOOP!" noise like when you run over a rock with the edge of the tire and it sends the rock flying. Get to where I'm going, have lunch and come out to find this. A freaking STICK in the sidewall of my tire!












So next day I call Discount Tire Direct and talk to the salesman about it. He finds my invoice, says you didn't purchase the $10 Road Hazard "Tire Certificates" for each of the 4 tires when you bought them......but here is what I'm going to do........I'm going to retroactively sell you 4 tire certificates for $40. Then I'm going to redeem one of those certificates to replace the tire that is destroyed. I'm going to then sell you another certificate for $10 for the NEW replacement tire I am going to have shipped to you at no charge.

So I says $50 gets me a new replacement tire to my door, and all 4 tires are now covered with the Road Hazard Warranty? He says yep, that's right. I said send it on. DTD took care of me, their prices are competitive with Tire Rack but the free shipping is the difference.

[tabs]

I had a tire on my F150 that was plugged, after about a year the plug started a slow leak. Every couple of days it would need air. Took it to Sam's, Firestone and Discount Tires no dice they would not repair it with a patch on the inside and one plug is all you get. The only recourse is a new tire. Changing industry standards was their rational.

That said since the tire had lots of tread left I babied it for longer than I would like to admit to. Finally the tread started to separate and that forced my hand.

The dilemma was buy just two tires one to replace the bad tire and the another so as I could use one of the existing tires on the F150 as a spare as the existing spare is 20 years old...hard as a rock. Or buy 4 new ones and use an old one as the new spare.

Tires are 5 years old with 42K miles, plenty of tread left on em. Could go another 20K easy. Cost for two out the door 320. Later when needed it would be another 320 for the 2 for a total of 640.. Cost for 4 new ones 565 out the door with a rebate/sale (75) that ended on the day I was there. What to do????

Tires that are 5 years old with the heat in the desert are no bueno..they start to become suspect after that. Last set of tires lasted me 10 years wt 60K on em and they had good tread left. (2003-2013 when I had a blow out).

I opted for the complete new set of rubber...

I asked 4 of my friends what they would do under the same circumstances...all said they would opt for having the complete new rubber.

Let us talk about Batteries...I am now just starting on my 4th battery on my F150. The OEM lasted 5 years, the second 9 years, the third 6 years...Remember I am in the desert where heat takes it's toll on batteries and tires..

The two batteries that lasted were WALLMART Batteries...So I have had real good luck with them..try and beat 15 years on 2 batteries.

[Scott Douglas]

Wow!
Did you notice the branch in the street?

[tabs]

Originally Posted by SCadaddle

Don't know if your "Discount Tire" is the same as "Discount Tire Direct" that I mail ordered a set of tires for my Subauru Legacy wagon from last year, but here is my story with that outfit:

Bought a set of Hankook tires from Discount Tire Direct last August, online, I think out of Arizona. Pricing was right, free shipping and included an $80 rebate from Hankook and a $75 rebate from Discount Tire Direct. The set of 4 tires was about $240 to my front door.

8 months and 11,000 miles later I am driving out of my neighborhood on a nice recently paved street and with the window down hear a "FOOP!" noise like when you run over a rock with the edge of the tire and it sends the rock flying. Get to where I'm going, have lunch and come out to find this. A freaking STICK in the sidewall of my tire!

Hey just slap a patch on it...and you will be gud to go.

[Scott Douglas]

Tabs - If I lived out in the desert with the heat I'd go with 4 new ones too.

The way I see it, when you have a flat you're putting yourself at everyone else's mercy if you can't solve the problem ie put the spare on, yourself.
Why risk that if you can easily avoid it?

Over 20 years ago we took a trip to Vegas as an anniversary celebration. Took the car into the dealer to have it checked out before the trip. They missed that the tires were starting to have tread separation and bubbling under the tread. Well, they decided to let go for real once we got out there in the desert. Ruined our trip as we had to buy tires from the shop that we stopped at to have them check out the thumping. They wouldn't put us back on the road so I could shop for tires. Once they have you on the rack they can't legally let you go I guess.

I just put a WallMart battery in my Accord, same as in my wife's CR-V.

[asphaltgambler]

My view / experience. Today's tires have much thinner and more complex composite belting than your Dad's 'steel belted' radials of long ago. The benefit of this is less rolling resistance, greater ability to absorb impact / damage. Also less cold flat spotting.

The down side is there is no tolerance for drilling through the casing and belts, then jaming in a waxed plug.

It's not if but when the belt(s) will fail. Also depends on how close to the shoulder of the tire the puncture is. Most will agree that 1-1/2" to the shoulder is as close as you can go without an inside patch repair failing.

If you didn't buy a 'hazard' protection plan when you bought your tires, good luck ............as road hazard damage is the #1 cause of failure.

[1990C4S]

Tire stores around here won't even balance your tires if they are more than eight or ten years old...

I keep a Harbor Freight plug kit in my trunk. I've plugged a lot of tires, never had an issue.

[URY914]

I wanted to put a tube in one of my trailer's tires. I needed it in the trailer spare too. No one would touch it.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by tabs

Hey just slap a patch on it...and you will be gud to go.

I'd run a bead of caulk around it. Then drive it to the 'hood and start a new fad.

[cabmandone]

Some will boot the tire (fancy way of saying patch from the inside) depending on the location of the hole. None will put a plug in a road tire due to liability.

[gduke2010]

They had their hands tied in your situation and couldn't do it without getting into trouble. I always carry a tire plug kit in my Porsche, but, never had to use it. Twice while driving other vehicles, I punctured tires, and rather than using the factory jack, I was able to fill with air and drive home where I could use my floor jack in my garage.

So, I guess it's a good idea to carry a plug kit and plug the tire yourself. Especially, if it gets you home. I would rather do that than change a tire on the road.

BTW, this is a bit off the subject. I know someone who was hit and killed changing a tire along the road. So, I've drove on flat until I could find a safe place to change a tire. Ruined the tire and rim.

[Rtrorkt]

you guys are of course right about the liability issue. But just keep a form that says in effect "we are doing this at your direction and will take no liability" or some such stuff. Bought my $3 plug kit and that will get me by until the new shoes. I

nteresting though that they wouldn't even look up my purchase history. Didn't mean anything to them. In my business I have always said its easier to keep the customer you have than to get a new one.

Lesson learned, plug kit in the car. No do I Tire Rack or go back to Discount?

[Eric Coffey]

Originally Posted by SCadaddle

Don't know if your "Discount Tire" is the same as "Discount Tire Direct"

Yep, same folks. HQ is here in Scottsdale. Always done me right, and always matches (or beats) the prices @ Tire Rack, or anyplace else.

But back to that tree branch sticking out of your sidewall:

How does that even... I mean, what were you... I just... Wow.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by Rtrorkt

you guys are of course right about the liability issue. But just keep a form that says in effect "we are doing this at your direction and will take no liability" or some such stuff. Bought my $3 plug kit and that will get me by until the new shoes. I

nteresting though that they wouldn't even look up my purchase history. Didn't mean anything to them. In my business I have always said its easier to keep the customer you have than to get a new one.

Lesson learned, plug kit in the car. No do I Tire Rack or go back to Discount?

Goes without saying but you also need a portable air compressor that runs off your battery (clamps or cig lighter plug (or both) and a jack.

Anytime I get a flat and I can plug it roadside without taking the wheel off - I'm elated.

Reminds me I should check my kit and make sure everything is fresh.

[rwest]

Literally Thursday night, the Discount Tire near me pulled out the nail that got in my tire and patched/plugged it for FREE.

I know that if it is too close to the sidewall, most garages won’t do it because the hole can rip, but I have had several holes in the tread plugged over the years.

Where was the hole?