Tire balancing and don't go to Discount Tire Centers (El Monte)
Aug 14, 2004 | 09:22 AM
#21
Contributing Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 10,666
Likes: 5
From: Oklahoma State
We only have one store in OKC that has a Hunter Road Force balancer (Jackie Cooper), so guess where I buy my tires. Even then sometimes it takes 2 trips to get them to zero them out good. They usually do a good job on the front tires because they know you'll be back real quick if your steering wheel shakes, but they don't take the time to zero out the back set, so I rotate the next day and test the rear tires on the front.
Aug 14, 2004 | 10:54 AM
#22
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Originally Posted by Bob_98SR5
Wow, talk about a blast from the past 
For clarification, its not "Discount Tire Co" with the red signs. Its called "Discount Tire Centers" and they're a local chain. They have purple signs. Curiously I noticed that they no longer have their purple themed websites anymore. Also, i noticed that the one I went to has a different website w/ a name that doesnt even come close to Discount Tire Centers.
anyways...
Buddha: I'll say that Longo has always treated me right b/c I am nice to them. Theres a few service writers that I like over there. Rob Mcguire is good, Danny (i forget his last name) is good too, and there's another guy w/ the last name "Ellingsworth" or Ellingswood. He's very cool too.
Like any dealership, make sure you call around first to other dealers and then call a few guys in the same dealership to make sure the pricing is comparable. I've called for quotes on some work in the SAME dealership and have it vary by a few hundred dollars
But anyways, Longo did it right the first time re balancing. Their service dept to me, is the heart of their operation there. Never once have I had to ever take anything back.
Bob
For clarification, its not "Discount Tire Co" with the red signs. Its called "Discount Tire Centers" and they're a local chain. They have purple signs. Curiously I noticed that they no longer have their purple themed websites anymore. Also, i noticed that the one I went to has a different website w/ a name that doesnt even come close to Discount Tire Centers.
anyways...
Buddha: I'll say that Longo has always treated me right b/c I am nice to them. Theres a few service writers that I like over there. Rob Mcguire is good, Danny (i forget his last name) is good too, and there's another guy w/ the last name "Ellingsworth" or Ellingswood. He's very cool too.
Like any dealership, make sure you call around first to other dealers and then call a few guys in the same dealership to make sure the pricing is comparable. I've called for quotes on some work in the SAME dealership and have it vary by a few hundred dollars
But anyways, Longo did it right the first time re balancing. Their service dept to me, is the heart of their operation there. Never once have I had to ever take anything back.
Bob
I went in @ 7 this morning, and was out of there by 9:45....I wasn't thrilled that it would take so long, but having the big screen tv's to watch, and the nintendos to play made the time go by faster. Did i mention i got a nice cup of joe at the instore starbucks?
Anyways, the balance went good, i can still feel a little (and i mean a little) vibration on certain sections of freeway, but the the truck finally feels good. Cost me 100 to get it done, but at least it was done CORRECTLY. I'm hoping that it will last and I'll keep updating....
So far, they have a new customer...
craig
Aug 14, 2004 | 12:41 PM
#24
Registered User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
I found a place today while getting tires for my moms Jeep Liberty(don't ask why a Jeep
)that had a HunterGSP9700 Road Force Measurement machine.So I asked about them balancing the tires on my Tacoma.I have a place I usually go to who are very good with a regular machine I just wasn't happy with the new people they are getting(they don't care as much)so I'm looking elsewhere.Anyways they said they will do the balance on this Hunter machine for $20 a tire is that good? I thought it was a little cheap considering I pay $10 a tire now.
)that had a HunterGSP9700 Road Force Measurement machine.So I asked about them balancing the tires on my Tacoma.I have a place I usually go to who are very good with a regular machine I just wasn't happy with the new people they are getting(they don't care as much)so I'm looking elsewhere.Anyways they said they will do the balance on this Hunter machine for $20 a tire is that good? I thought it was a little cheap considering I pay $10 a tire now.
Aug 18, 2004 | 10:48 AM
#25
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: SoCal
Finding a place with a Hunter Balanacer
Guys, if you need to find a place that has a hunter balancer, check this link from their website:
http://128.242.141.111/pub/search/findgsp9700.cfm
Just type in your info and it'll find places that ue the Hunter balancer...
Craig
http://128.242.141.111/pub/search/findgsp9700.cfm
Just type in your info and it'll find places that ue the Hunter balancer...
Craig
Aug 18, 2004 | 11:52 AM
#26
Contributing Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 10,666
Likes: 5
From: Oklahoma State
Originally Posted by 4RunnerBuddha
Guys, if you need to find a place that has a hunter balancer, check this link from their website:
http://128.242.141.111/pub/search/findgsp9700.cfm
Just type in your info and it'll find places that ue the Hunter balancer...
Craig
http://128.242.141.111/pub/search/findgsp9700.cfm
Just type in your info and it'll find places that ue the Hunter balancer...
Craig
Aug 18, 2004 | 03:53 PM
#28
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 0
From: Decatur, Alabama
Yeah, I recently ditched the crappy Dunlop Radial Rovers on my truck. I was determined to buy some Michelin tires at a place with a Hunter machine. I used that link and purchased a set from a place down the street. I also used Michelins webiste to find Michelin dealers.
Having to take my tires to someone else for a Hunter balance if I had balancing issues would have been extra money that I didn't want to spend.
Just because they have a Hunter machine though, doesn't mean they even have a clue as to what balancing a tire is about. When I replaced one Dunlop tire at Goodyear, they lied and said it was alignment that caused the tire to go bad. They balanced my other 3 old tires and the new one one a Hunter-all of which were out-of- round!-new one too. I found that out after I paid $60.00 for another local shop to re-balance them on a Hunter machine. They said I better get new tires because those were bad! They were right, my truck rides like another vehicle with the Michelins.
Either the people at Goodyear are very stupid and didn't tell me or they knew and just wanted to cover it up and get my money. A little of both I'm sure.
Having to take my tires to someone else for a Hunter balance if I had balancing issues would have been extra money that I didn't want to spend.
Just because they have a Hunter machine though, doesn't mean they even have a clue as to what balancing a tire is about. When I replaced one Dunlop tire at Goodyear, they lied and said it was alignment that caused the tire to go bad. They balanced my other 3 old tires and the new one one a Hunter-all of which were out-of- round!-new one too. I found that out after I paid $60.00 for another local shop to re-balance them on a Hunter machine. They said I better get new tires because those were bad! They were right, my truck rides like another vehicle with the Michelins.
Either the people at Goodyear are very stupid and didn't tell me or they knew and just wanted to cover it up and get my money. A little of both I'm sure.
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