Wrenching

[RainMaker]

Decide it's time to do the spline maintenence, put in a relay so that my voltmeter gives me "direct from the battery" measurement, put on my new Progressive shocks, trailer hitch, etc.  Got the relay installed and wow - 14 volts!  Good news - alternator is working great.  Now, take off the seats, the saddlebags, saddlebag guard, rear fendor and...  hey! what's that? - on the center stripe of my General Altimax - R E P L A C E   T I R E.  Replace tire?  Did I already wear that sucker out?  That's the mileage indicator and it actually has the words "replace tire".  So, went to Discount Tire to get a Falken ZE-512 205-60-16 (can't find a General Altimax in 205-60-16 anywhere in the DFW area.  Or for that matter, an Austone Taxi Tire).  They had a total of one in stock (they are special order in most places) so were probably happy to get rid of the single.

Anyone tried to buy a car tire lately?  Not easy.  First, you better know what kind of car a 205-60-16 tire fits.  2001 ACURA 3.2TL 4 DOOR SEDAN is one that works. 2000 LEXUS ES 300 SEDAN works. 

Discount Tire now has some guidelines that make it very, very difficult to just get a "cash and carry" tire there.  Seems their lawyers are all over the "darkside" stuff.  The salesman told me that some people try to buy these tires for motorcycles and they are now expressly prohibited from doing so. I said "OMG - are they nuts?  A car tire on a motorcycle?"

They put it in my car and I went home.  Opened the hatch and looked - 15" tire.  Back to Discount Tire.  Got the 16".

Now, the home wrench party is serious.  Gotta' have it back together to ride to Galveston on Friday.

Clank, work, curse, bang.......

[Jess from VA]

Shoot all safety fanatics.   

[SideCar]

Dang lawyers. A few tires burst into flames and they get nervous. Good luck with the wrenching.

[Red Diamond]

Don't think it's the lawyers, it's a sales lie by Discount Tire. That's to get unsuspecting and unknowging customers to purchase unneeded services, like valve stems, road hazard, lifetime balancing and their over priced installation costs. I just told them to kiss my ......... And ordered the tires from Tire Rack, delivered in couple days and mounted/balanced by an independent. Did the same for car and Valkyrie. Don't tell anyone that I run a Darhside, I'll deny it.

[michaelyoung254]

As far as I'm concerned, Discount Tire is nothing more than a rip off joint. It seems that for at least the last year or so they have decided that they will not mount new tires on the front of your car. They insist that the new tires be mounted on the rear because they claim their studies have shown that it's safer to have newer tires on the rear. Total Bullshit! I argued with the salesman, and told him that I didn't care what Discount Tire's study showed, that I wanted the new tires on the front and my front tires (which were in very good shape by the way) rotated to the rear. He basically refused to do what I wanted, until I told them just to forget the whole thing, and that I was going to Firestone. In all honesty, it was a major pain in the ass! Just the other day, my father (who is 84 years old) went to Discount Tire, and wanted new tires put on the front, and once again they refused to put them on the front, and insisted on putting them on the rear. The salesman actually told him that it was against the law for them to put new tires on the front. What a pile! This is nothing more than a scam to get people to buy more tires. I'm thinking that they do this because they know that there's a lot of gullible people who don't know any better, and they won't realize that they're being ripped off, and just go ahead and buy four tires instead of two. I can honestly say that I'll never deal with them again. I make it my personal policy not to deal with people who try to cheat people.

[Daniel Meyer]

tirerack.com

Right to your door. Usually far cheaper than you can get 'em anywhere. Shop by size, not vehicle.

Also, if getting actual tires for the car, have 'em shipped right to a "preferred installer" and they'll put 'em on.

The wife's car...I can buy an $89 tire, ship it to my goodyear guy, pay him to mount and balance it, and still come in HALF the price of the SAME tire at the goodyear store. Goodyear guy is happy do to it this way, as he has no control of the price he has to get (franchise) and his shop is making the install money.

[Houdini]

I had a good experience with Discount Tire when I took a friend Darkside a few months back.

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,59932.0.html

We all stood around talking about Darksiding a bike while he was writing up the invoice.

[RainMaker]

TireRack, Universal Tire, etc - all good options if you don't have a ride you are planning in 5 days, a tire that says "replace tire" and 1 day to complete everything. 

As usual with topics, this one has taken a different turn so I'd like to give my opinion on Discount Tire.

I've dealt with Discount Tire for a long time and yes, they do try to upsell as much as possible. That happens everywhere and on every website I buy items from. There is a price to be paid for convenience.  It's not enough of a difference to cause me to order from TireRack and while I order a lot from the 'net, I also like to shop locally for convenience and if the price difference is not significant.  Better for the local economy, even with a national chain as the workers being paid to work there are in my community.  I've had mostly good experiences with them and they've always made good on any issues.

As for the front tire/rear tire argument, Discount Tire is not alone.  TireRack has a full article on this saying the same thing - new tires on the rear

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=52

So does Michelin

http://www.michelinman.com/mediabin/Approved/Michelin/Visuals/Digital/Two_Tire_Poster_Michelin_042009.pdf

As they are selling 2 tires, there is no benefit to Discount Tire to force the issue- only your benefit to drive safer.

Remember, cigarettes used to be healthy for you, too.



Now, back to wrenching.  Beautiful day to do it!

[WDAN]

I have had nothing but good experiences with Discount Tire. Wouldn't go anywhere else. What would be the point?

[RainMaker]

Never will get it inspected with this showing....

[Houdini]

Dang RM, you got at least 10K left on that tire.   

[RainMaker]

Dang RM, you got at least 10K left on that tire.   

That's what I thought but it is actually at 3/32" on the center.  Better safe than sorry - the Falken is on the wheel now - just have to finish.  I may have to start waking up at 4am to work on it since there is never time in the evening and Sunday was shot due to business issues.

[Daniel Meyer]

Actually it would still pass. Wear bars have to be flush/showing 3/4 of the way across the tread for it to fail inspection..

[RainMaker]

Well, anyone wanting a General Altimax HP tire 205-60-16 that apparently has life left in it but says "replace tire" speak up - I've got one and it's free.

[Daniel Meyer]

Well, anyone wanting a General Altimax HP tire 205-60-16 that apparently has life left in it but says "replace tire" speak up - I've got one and it's free.

Heh...we can match that up with my front Avon Cobra that bead leaks (about 10 pounds/day) when the temp goes under 35 and have just one dandy set! 

[RainMaker]

Had my assistant take over the office today and I finished the wrenching.  Splines in superb condition, new o-rings, moly and waterproof grease applied,  new Progressive shocks installed.  Scrubbed off the grime from the rear wheel.  Left off the trailer hitch for now - maybe install next time.  Cleaned up and polished areas that are only accessible when the wheel is off.  Repacked the saddlebags with all necessary items (tools for worst case scenario, etc).

Ready for the ride to Galveston.  See those of you going at the GOTF Friday afternoon.

RainMaker

[the bull]

Saw that you said you did not reinstall your hitch.  Do you want to sell it, or is there anybody out their that has one for sale?

[the bull]

If anyone can help, my email is richbullis@hotmail.com  Thanks

[tvalk52]

Got mine at Sears, order online, in about one week pick up at local Sears store. Cost  $92.00

[RainMaker]

The Falken I bought was $76 out the door at Discount Tire.