94RedSiGal
Senior Member
Sorry this is so long. Read only if you are very bored. 
Background: About eight years ago, I bought four Toyo Proxes tires from Direct Tire in Watertown, MA on a special promotion. I paid full retail price (less 10% for having a Star Market card) and in return, for as long as I own my car (forever), my Toyos have a lifetime warranty that includes road hazards and even wearout. So far I've gotten eight free tires from them. But it was their promotion... and I do buy snow tires from them.
Three weeks ago, I noticed a bubble in the sidewall of my front drivers tire. Right away I bought my car in and got the tire replaced. It was suggested at that point that perhaps I had hit a bad pothole, although I didn't remember having done so. Oddly, at that point, the tire shop guy, Ivan, didn't suggest I have my alignment checked.
So... two days ago, I go for an oil change and do my usual undercarriage inspection. Hmmm... my front passenger tire is badly worn on the inside and there is a flat spot. Not good. I never let my tires get that way. So I make an appointment for yesterday (Friday) for the tire replacement and an alignment at Direct Tire.
I go in, and about an hour later, I am summoned to talk to the alignment tech. Joe accuses me of racing in my car and having lowered it. He also mentions that my car is old and with high mileage on it. The issue is that my camber on the front drivers side is way off. Now remember, the bad tire is on the right... well I am not willing to be rushed into any hasty repair decisions, so I tell the tech to do the best he can, and that I need my tire replaced. He tells me that another tech has to do that. I go back to Ivan. He doesn't want to replace the bad tire until I have the camber issue addressed. So I remind him that I have a FWD car and that I wish for my back set of tires to be moved up front. He agrees and asks for another hour and a half to complete that assignment.
I get my car back and go to my dealership to talk to my friends over there about my options for repair. Then I go home to stew about the events at the dealership. It takes me awhile, but I make my notes... and returned this morning to press my case yet again.
1. The bad tire is old and worn... but has always been on the righthand side of the car. The other tires are much younger.
2. The camber issue is young. My snow tires are evenly worn, even after going down to Florida in them and up to Toronto before returning home. I would have had the car alignment three weeks ago, had they suggested it.
3. I have separate rims and tires for my autocrossing. In no way is my car lowered. I have 3"+ gapes between my tires and the fenderwells. WTF is wrong with that tech's eyes?
Ivan was not very happy to see me back today and called me a troublemaker. I remained calm and referred to my written list of notes. I presented my case logically and loudly enough for the rest of the customers in the waiting area to hear me. I think a letter needs to be sent to the owner of the shop about Ivan though. It further annoys me that the bad tire actually was still on the front of my car this morning. Grr....
Well I go back to get my car at noon.
Background: About eight years ago, I bought four Toyo Proxes tires from Direct Tire in Watertown, MA on a special promotion. I paid full retail price (less 10% for having a Star Market card) and in return, for as long as I own my car (forever), my Toyos have a lifetime warranty that includes road hazards and even wearout. So far I've gotten eight free tires from them. But it was their promotion... and I do buy snow tires from them.
Three weeks ago, I noticed a bubble in the sidewall of my front drivers tire. Right away I bought my car in and got the tire replaced. It was suggested at that point that perhaps I had hit a bad pothole, although I didn't remember having done so. Oddly, at that point, the tire shop guy, Ivan, didn't suggest I have my alignment checked.
So... two days ago, I go for an oil change and do my usual undercarriage inspection. Hmmm... my front passenger tire is badly worn on the inside and there is a flat spot. Not good. I never let my tires get that way. So I make an appointment for yesterday (Friday) for the tire replacement and an alignment at Direct Tire.
I go in, and about an hour later, I am summoned to talk to the alignment tech. Joe accuses me of racing in my car and having lowered it. He also mentions that my car is old and with high mileage on it. The issue is that my camber on the front drivers side is way off. Now remember, the bad tire is on the right... well I am not willing to be rushed into any hasty repair decisions, so I tell the tech to do the best he can, and that I need my tire replaced. He tells me that another tech has to do that. I go back to Ivan. He doesn't want to replace the bad tire until I have the camber issue addressed. So I remind him that I have a FWD car and that I wish for my back set of tires to be moved up front. He agrees and asks for another hour and a half to complete that assignment.
I get my car back and go to my dealership to talk to my friends over there about my options for repair. Then I go home to stew about the events at the dealership. It takes me awhile, but I make my notes... and returned this morning to press my case yet again.
1. The bad tire is old and worn... but has always been on the righthand side of the car. The other tires are much younger.
2. The camber issue is young. My snow tires are evenly worn, even after going down to Florida in them and up to Toronto before returning home. I would have had the car alignment three weeks ago, had they suggested it.
3. I have separate rims and tires for my autocrossing. In no way is my car lowered. I have 3"+ gapes between my tires and the fenderwells. WTF is wrong with that tech's eyes?
Ivan was not very happy to see me back today and called me a troublemaker. I remained calm and referred to my written list of notes. I presented my case logically and loudly enough for the rest of the customers in the waiting area to hear me. I think a letter needs to be sent to the owner of the shop about Ivan though. It further annoys me that the bad tire actually was still on the front of my car this morning. Grr....
Well I go back to get my car at noon.
