Frustrating tire experience

[NorthernRedneck]

So my '17 f150 was due for a new set of tires. I had Firestone destination xt tires installed around 85000km. They were great tires but I'm now sitting at 200k on them and they were shot.

A $2000 set of tires was not in the budget this fall so I was planning on nursing them along another winter until I picked up a screw in one a couple weeks ago.

Ok, let's see what I can find on marketplace. I assembled a full set of goodyear duratracs for $200 total. The two on the right were almost new. The two had a little more wear but had plenty of life left.

Ok, so I booked an appointment in the city at a reputable national brand tire shop to have them mount them up.

Here's where it gets interesting. I dropped off the truck with 4 tires and the old Firestone that was flat with a screw and left it for the day. They called Mr a couple hours later to tell me they only installed 2 tires as two were shot with cords showing through. Really? Ok. Throw them back into the truck and I'll try bringing them back. I triple checked them and they were fine before I brought them in. But whatever. So I had my son drive me back to pick up my truck that was supposed to be done. I get there and they tell me they won't reinstall the tires on the truck as I had replaced the original 2 piece crappy Ford ones with solid chrome aftermarket ones back at 85k. They said they weren't safe and refused to install forcing me to spend another $80 on garbage factory lug nuts. I was fuming when I left. Told them to remove me from their system as they will never see my face in there again. I went to my local garage where I trust the mechanics. They said they would have no problem with the tires or lug nuts. Ok. So I dropped off the two replacement tires and one flat on a rim.

This is one of those tires they claimed was shot. With cords showing through the sidewalls.

 

[J5 Bombardier]

I always liked Duratrax 's ,but the last set I had of 285/17 couldn't get them balanced ,so I sold them and went to Bridgestone .

 

[Melensdad]

I hate dealing with the big tire shops or dealerships.

We have a little shop in town, owner is so old he makes me look like a young man.

Always fair. Always fast. Always willing to do what needs to be done.

 

[bczoom]

I NEVER do national chains for any service. They'll rip you off every chance they get. Unless it's a warranty item, I don't use dealers either.

I have a local shop I've used for nearly 20 years and trust them 100%. They're good enough to tell me the long-term forecast for my vehicles (e.g. when it's time to consider dumping them as they get a new inspection now but may not make it in a year or 2).

Something to consider doing when dealing with a shop you may not know or trust. When taking in parts to be installed, take a permanent Sharpie (normally silver color) and put a discreet mark (normally a couple dots) in a place that can be seen when the service is done to assure they used the parts that you gave them. Take pictures of the markings for evidence. If you don't see the markings, they've taken your parts and given you something else.

 

[NorthernRedneck]

I just installed the final tire on the truck. Remember that this is one of the tires that was showing cords through the sidewalls. Even if I get a couple years out of them, I'll be happy for $100 for the pair vs almost 450 per tire new. The back ones have maybe 10k on them for mileage. I got them for the same price.

 

[NorthernRedneck]

K. I understand what all the fuss is about with these duratracs. With just the rears done last week, I could feel the difference in rain. ZERO feeling of the back end wanting to hydroplane. Now that I have all 4 done, I went to the woods to try the traction on a twisty gravel road. Some freshly graded. Some had washboard in the corners. I was going almost twice the speed I normally drive and didn't feel the back end kick out even on washboard. One word to describe them? Traction.