New Tires...Suckered?
New Tires...Suckered?
hey guys, i just got 4 new tires for my 97 240sx from "Just Tires" here in Cali. I didn't get anything to special, just some Invader Radial G/Ts which costs like $60 per tire. Anyways, after the job was done, i looked at the bill and saw some things that came to mind. They charged me for 4 new stems (the stem where you put air into the tire) which were $3 each, to balance all 4 tires which was $8 each and then $3 each tire for something, I forgot....then they also tacked on $11 per tire for some Roadside Hazard Protection bs where they said they would replace or repair the tire within the life of the tread. I later read the attachment and it said that by life they meant 2/32"??? They also charged me for each tire and tire disposal fee. Does that sound right? Do I really need to get all new stems and that roadside hazard bs? I thought that all I need was to pay for the tires, the balancing, and the tire disposal fee. They didn't even ask me if I wanted some hazard protection bs. Anyone have similar experiences??? Plus the dude told me that i had an alignment problem but I noticed that only my rear right tire was really bad because that was the one that got flat. Also I noticed that tire was shaved down to the steel belt, but that might have happened when it got flat and I drove it an extra 2 miles or so. Anyways, the other 3 tires were not as worn as the tire that was flat. WOuldn't all 4 tires or at least 2 tires be worn about the same if the alignment was bad? I do feel the car pulling funny so I will get the alignment checked out, but the unequal tire wear resulting in only one tire being significantly worn seems strange to me. thanks guys.
No, alignment is tired independent. What you have to do is go in and say i want 4 tires, nothing else. Otherwise they tack **** on and it sucks. At wally world, i just bring wheels in and tell them to slap the cheapest longest lasting tires they have. We have several spare sets of steelies that we get drift tires put on and its about 60-70 every couple months to go drifitng 
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AZhitman
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logoung - You didn't get suckered, those are all expenses that come with buying tires, unfortunately.
Valve stems and mounting are extra, no way around that.
The Raod hazard is a good idea for expensive tires. If you have a defect or damage that ruins the tire, you get a new one for free. However, $11 for road hazard on a $60 tire seems high to me. I'd make sure I got to use the warranty (hint hint)
Otherwise, all sounds normal - You've learned how to (and how NOT to) buy tires.
Next time, buy from TireRack - Great prices, no added costs, and it helps support NICO!
Valve stems and mounting are extra, no way around that.
The Raod hazard is a good idea for expensive tires. If you have a defect or damage that ruins the tire, you get a new one for free. However, $11 for road hazard on a $60 tire seems high to me. I'd make sure I got to use the warranty (hint hint)
Otherwise, all sounds normal - You've learned how to (and how NOT to) buy tires.
Next time, buy from TireRack - Great prices, no added costs, and it helps support NICO!
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ricebike
- Posts: 3381
- Joined: Sat Feb 15, 2003 7:03 pm
- Car: 1989 240sx se 5spd (donated to my brother in law)
2002 Quest
2005 Altima - Location: CNJ
u can get your $ back if u don't want road hazard; customers @ pepboys are offered that option, but some are selling their cars soon, so they don't want it. <from my recollections, not working there now>
tire disposal fee: i tell them to put the old ones in the trunk & i'll dispose of them myself; cherry hill tire reycyling center is 1 mile from me.
valve stems: make sure u go into a parts store & buy a pack of stems yourself...cheaper that way
balancing: gotta have it <hopefully it's lifetime for the life of the tires--means u go back to their store for the free tire rotation, eh?>
make friends w/ a vo-tech school & pay them in donuts/pizza...ha
PS: usually w/ an alignment job, they'll give u a printout of B4 and After any changes they will make... if the #s are extremely off, then he'll do a visual on the suspension components to see if anything's damaged/bent...
tire disposal fee: i tell them to put the old ones in the trunk & i'll dispose of them myself; cherry hill tire reycyling center is 1 mile from me.
valve stems: make sure u go into a parts store & buy a pack of stems yourself...cheaper that way
balancing: gotta have it <hopefully it's lifetime for the life of the tires--means u go back to their store for the free tire rotation, eh?>
make friends w/ a vo-tech school & pay them in donuts/pizza...ha
PS: usually w/ an alignment job, they'll give u a printout of B4 and After any changes they will make... if the #s are extremely off, then he'll do a visual on the suspension components to see if anything's damaged/bent...