Suggestions for Safe Tire Rotation at Discount Tire

[zvez]

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It's just not worth it to me, dealer charges $30 for rotation. I'd rather spend the time doing other things. It's just a preference thing. And I used to do most of the service on all my motorcycles.

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[zvez]

I purchased these. Don't know if some stickers will fix stupid, but at least I can point to the labels... I cut the arrows off the 'life here' stickers so they fit and I felt it reduced confusion on where 'here' was.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCY4XHRB
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M7YV3PL

I actually painted the little arrows that are molded into the lower valance yellow so they could easily be seen.

 

[RickMachE]

Going to a reputable shop is key, but not perfect. A member here had a DT in Las Vegas jack on the front under the fender and crush the fender into the door.

I have been going to DT for over 40 years (with a gap when we moved out of their territory). I always WATCH closely. With the Mach-E, I mention the pucks, the service writer nods, and then it goes into the bay. Done it twice, and both times I caught one of the techs (often there are 4) doing it wrong. Either no pucks, or using a puck on the battery rail.

After Covid, I had DT give me new tires on my F-150. I watch as close as I could, but too many people running around (crew of 5). I ended up with one dented wheel (hammer to remove wheels stuck on vehicle), and three scratched from the tool that they use to remove the tire from the rim. Eventually, I got 4 brand new wheels from DT, and tire certificates for both vehicles (and got to keep the old wheels which I sold for something like $75 each). The VP and I that spoke said "during Covid we had to lay off everyone, and many found new jobs. We are training as fast as we can, but some just quit without notice. And our machines were out of calibration and that damage should never have happened".

So even the best places you have to watch carefully.

 

[Teslaeata]

I realise the sponsors are probably region-relative but who is allowing advertising of illegal products that, if taken up, leaves driver/owners liable to prosecution?

 

[Teslaeata]

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On my way ?

How near is your local ten pin bowling alley?

???? ?

 

[rhougey]

It's just not worth it to me, dealer charges $30 for rotation. I'd rather spend the time doing other things. It's just a preference thing. And I used to do most of the service on all my motorcycles.

How much time do you spend driving the car to the dealership, talking, waiting, paying, driving home. Taking it to the dealer for rotations takes longer and costs $30 to boot. Same with oil changes on your ICE.

 

[Space_Pony]

Going to a reputable shop is key, but not perfect. A member here had a DT in Las Vegas jack on the front under the fender and crush the fender into the door.

I have been going to DT for over 40 years (with a gap when we moved out of their territory). I always WATCH closely. With the Mach-E, I mention the pucks, the service writer nods, and then it goes into the bay. Done it twice, and both times I caught one of the techs (often there are 4) doing it wrong. Either no pucks, or using a puck on the battery rail.

After Covid, I had DT give me new tires on my F-150. I watch as close as I could, but too many people running around (crew of 5). I ended up with one dented wheel (hammer to remove wheels stuck on vehicle), and three scratched from the tool that they use to remove the tire from the rim. Eventually, I got 4 brand new wheels from DT, and tire certificates for both vehicles (and got to keep the old wheels which I sold for something like $75 each). The VP and I that spoke said "during Covid we had to lay off everyone, and many found new jobs. We are training as fast as we can, but some just quit without notice. And our machines were out of calibration and that damage should never have happened".

So even the best places you have to watch carefully.

That's why I'd rather do it myself. I recently had a recall on my Goldwing and the Honda tech obviously used an impact wrench to tighten the seat bolts and damaged the seat. I'm only 66 so I'm not crippled yet and will continue to do simple jobs like swapping wheels. It's sure a lot easier than stacking hay or cutting firewood.

 

[RickMachE]

I have my tires rebalanced every rotation also.

 

[steve.panse]

Brightly colored, permanently installed pucks are a good way to prevent error. Then, I agree with standing just outside the shop door to make sure they’re using them. Discount Tire is top notch, but mistakes happen everywhere. So for simple rotations it’s DIY for me. Unless you feel a vibration or have a lot of wear rebalancing every rotation is just unnecessary.

 

[CameraCarl]

Just to update this thread. I took my car to the nearest Discount Tire. They have worked on Mach-Es before and even said one of their mechanics owned one. They got the car into the shop, rotated the tires and had me on my way in about 30 minutes. (This was unusually fast even for Discount Tire.) Only bummer is that they said my tires were wearing quickly and that I would probably need new ones before my 39 month lease expires. No reason why. I've never done jack rabbit starts and always keep them inflated properly. Maybe it is just the mediocre Michelin tires on the car..

 

[rhougey]

Just to update this thread. I took my car to the nearest Discount Tire. They have worked on Mach-Es before and even said one of their mechanics owned one. They got the car into the shop, rotated the tires and had me on my way in about 30 minutes. (This was unusually fast even for Discount Tire.) Only bummer is that they said my tires were wearing quickly and that I would probably need new ones before my 39 month lease expires. No reason why. I've never done jack rabbit starts and always keep them inflated properly. Maybe it is just the mediocre Michelin tires on the car..

I wouldn’t characterize the Michelins on the car as mediocre. They represent a pretty good balance of design goals. You haven’t stated how many miles you have on these tires or how often you have been rotating them or whether you have been inspecting them for uneven wear. If you drive them conservatively and your alignment and inflation is good, and have a good rotation schedule, you should get 50K miles or more regardless of age, as many have reported.

 

[Mach-Lee]

I wouldn’t characterize the Michelins on the car as mediocre. They represent a pretty good balance of design goals. You haven’t stated how many miles you have on these tires or how often you have been rotating them or whether you have been inspecting them for uneven wear. If you drive them conservatively and your alignment and inflation is good, and have a good rotation schedule, you should get 50K miles or more regardless of age, as many have reported.

Mine were done in 20k. Properly inflated. It’s a heavy car with narrow tires so they wear out faster. I would say it’s impossible to get to 50k on the factory tires.

 

[azerik]

Oddly enough I always have to have my own pucks. The local Discount to me loses them constantly. I can't tell you how many times I have to tell a Tesla owner that the red thing under their car is the tire shops and they forgot to remove it.

 

[rhougey]

Mine were done in 20k. Properly inflated. It’s a heavy car with narrow tires so they wear out faster. I would say it’s impossible to get to 50k on the factory tires.

Maybe you are right. I just looked back, and I replaced mine at 47,889. They all had 3/32’s or more remaining.

 

[Just Lurking]

How much time do you spend driving the car to the dealership, talking, waiting, paying, driving home. Taking it to the dealer for rotations takes longer and costs $30 to boot. Same with oil changes on your ICE.

Dealer came to me and did my tire rotation in my garage! And used the points I earned with the purchase of the car so no cash out of pocket.

Just mentioning this so people know it might be an option with their dealer, too.

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