New tires for the old girl
June 25th, 2010, 10:17 AM
#1
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Nanaimo BC Canada
Posts: 129
New tires for the old girl
I finally got rid of the unsafe tires that I was riding on. They were old bias ply that were all cracked and worn. I've got nothing against the bias ply, I really like the look, but I went with some radials because they were available.
What an adventure getting them installed. I dropped the car off and was told it would be about an hour. The counter guy asked if I had wheel locks. I told him no but I do have left handed threads on the drivers side and make sure the guy installing the tires knows that.
He asked me what that means....
An hour later my car is still parked where I left it..no new tires. They told me the tire guy went for lunch. When he got back, it turns out he's a young kid wearing one of those stupid fancy ball caps cocked to the side and he's moving at a snail's pace. It took him at least 5 minutes to take the lugs off one rim.
Anyhoo...I come back an hour later and their just putting on the last tire.
They installed the white walls in not out!!
I told the counter guy and he said "you wanted them out?" well...let's see...it came in with wide whites...why wouldn't I want to leave that way?
He told the tire guy to flip them around. He wasn't happy and took even longer to do it again.
4 hours later I'm finally on the road.
I must say, the radials are a huge improvement. The old tires would catch a rut and sometimes feel like they're trying to pull in 4 different directions at once. It used to be an adventure to get that car up to highway speeds. On the way back from the tire shop I had her up to 75 on the highway and it was smooth as silk!
My to do list keeps getting shorter. What a great feeling that is
What an adventure getting them installed. I dropped the car off and was told it would be about an hour. The counter guy asked if I had wheel locks. I told him no but I do have left handed threads on the drivers side and make sure the guy installing the tires knows that.
He asked me what that means....
An hour later my car is still parked where I left it..no new tires. They told me the tire guy went for lunch. When he got back, it turns out he's a young kid wearing one of those stupid fancy ball caps cocked to the side and he's moving at a snail's pace. It took him at least 5 minutes to take the lugs off one rim.
Anyhoo...I come back an hour later and their just putting on the last tire.
They installed the white walls in not out!!
I told the counter guy and he said "you wanted them out?" well...let's see...it came in with wide whites...why wouldn't I want to leave that way?
He told the tire guy to flip them around. He wasn't happy and took even longer to do it again.
4 hours later I'm finally on the road.
I must say, the radials are a huge improvement. The old tires would catch a rut and sometimes feel like they're trying to pull in 4 different directions at once. It used to be an adventure to get that car up to highway speeds. On the way back from the tire shop I had her up to 75 on the highway and it was smooth as silk!
My to do list keeps getting shorter. What a great feeling that is
June 25th, 2010, 10:43 AM
#2
Past Administrator
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Rural Waxahachie Texas
Posts: 10,010
That's great news that the car drives better, bad news about the service. There is no excuse for poor service like. I wouldn't ever go back there and be sure to tell everyone that every needs tires about my experience if that happened to me, they deserve the bad PR.
June 25th, 2010, 11:10 AM
#3
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Sherwood Park, Alberta
Posts: 2,623
I finally got rid of the unsafe tires that I was riding on. They were old bias ply that were all cracked and worn. I've got nothing against the bias ply, I really like the look, but I went with some radials because they were available.
What an adventure getting them installed. I dropped the car off and was told it would be about an hour. The counter guy asked if I had wheel locks. I told him no but I do have left handed threads on the drivers side and make sure the guy installing the tires knows that.
He asked me what that means....
An hour later my car is still parked where I left it..no new tires. They told me the tire guy went for lunch. When he got back, it turns out he's a young kid wearing one of those stupid fancy ball caps cocked to the side and he's moving at a snail's pace. It took him at least 5 minutes to take the lugs off one rim.
Anyhoo...I come back an hour later and their just putting on the last tire.
They installed the white walls in not out!!
I told the counter guy and he said "you wanted them out?" well...let's see...it came in with wide whites...why wouldn't I want to leave that way?
He told the tire guy to flip them around. He wasn't happy and took even longer to do it again.
4 hours later I'm finally on the road.
I must say, the radials are a huge improvement. The old tires would catch a rut and sometimes feel like they're trying to pull in 4 different directions at once. It used to be an adventure to get that car up to highway speeds. On the way back from the tire shop I had her up to 75 on the highway and it was smooth as silk!
My to do list keeps getting shorter. What a great feeling that is
What an adventure getting them installed. I dropped the car off and was told it would be about an hour. The counter guy asked if I had wheel locks. I told him no but I do have left handed threads on the drivers side and make sure the guy installing the tires knows that.
He asked me what that means....
An hour later my car is still parked where I left it..no new tires. They told me the tire guy went for lunch. When he got back, it turns out he's a young kid wearing one of those stupid fancy ball caps cocked to the side and he's moving at a snail's pace. It took him at least 5 minutes to take the lugs off one rim.
Anyhoo...I come back an hour later and their just putting on the last tire.
They installed the white walls in not out!!
I told the counter guy and he said "you wanted them out?" well...let's see...it came in with wide whites...why wouldn't I want to leave that way?
He told the tire guy to flip them around. He wasn't happy and took even longer to do it again.
4 hours later I'm finally on the road.
I must say, the radials are a huge improvement. The old tires would catch a rut and sometimes feel like they're trying to pull in 4 different directions at once. It used to be an adventure to get that car up to highway speeds. On the way back from the tire shop I had her up to 75 on the highway and it was smooth as silk!
My to do list keeps getting shorter. What a great feeling that is
June 25th, 2010, 10:46 PM
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Nanaimo BC Canada
Posts: 129
I should have known better right from the start. The guy at the counter asked what year and make of car. I told him it was a 1956 Olds. He looked out the window and asked if it was the one over there in the parking lot....I told him no it's the other one over there!
Then he asked if it had air conditioning!
Then he asked if it had air conditioning!
June 26th, 2010, 06:31 AM
#7
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Plano, TX
Posts: 11,798
Best of all it drives great and they did not screw up the lugs!
Fresh tires make such a difference, even going from 6 year old radials to new ones. In hot TX, the rubber hardens and ride and traction diminish.
Fresh tires make such a difference, even going from 6 year old radials to new ones. In hot TX, the rubber hardens and ride and traction diminish.
June 28th, 2010, 06:20 AM
#8
Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Edmond, OK
Posts: 15,902
You should have told the guy that customer service is like making love to a gorillia...you're not done when you're satisfied, you're done when the gorilla is satisfied.
That is hilarious! At least they got the tires on without breaking anything. I would have watched them like a hawk!
June 30th, 2010, 08:12 PM
#13
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Great Bend, KS
Posts: 174
Even with my ho-hum car I still try to make it as obvious as possible for 'em. I even lay the wheelcover lock on the dash right in front of the steering wheel. haha.
I just might have turned around and walked out though when they asked what left handed thread meant!
I just might have turned around and walked out though when they asked what left handed thread meant!
July 1st, 2010, 02:20 PM
#15
Registered User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Nanaimo BC Canada
Posts: 129
I just went with some cheapies to get the car cruising for the summer.
Canadian tire Motomaster SE. P225 75 R15
It's only a thin whitewall but it's better than the old cracked bias ply that was on there.
Of course last Sunday I was at a car show/swap meet and there was a booth set up with BFG Silvertown wide whites ! Seemed a little pricey though.
Canadian tire Motomaster SE. P225 75 R15
It's only a thin whitewall but it's better than the old cracked bias ply that was on there.
Of course last Sunday I was at a car show/swap meet and there was a booth set up with BFG Silvertown wide whites ! Seemed a little pricey though.
July 2nd, 2010, 04:12 AM
#16
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Posts: 26
Know what you mean.
Jaymann,know what you mean about the bias ply tires. Had them on the 47 Oldsmobile Coupe. Was like controlling a boat on any road. Had 16 X 6.5 now have radials 15 X 8 in the front a nd 15 X 8.5 in the rear. Drives like another car. Wonderful. Big O tire, in Hillsboro, OR help me out. Dave the owner is a motor head himself and knew what I wanted. Great job.
I am glad that it all worked out for you, and enjoy the new ride.
I am glad that it all worked out for you, and enjoy the new ride.
July 2nd, 2010, 05:23 AM
#17
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: NW Arkansas
Posts: 411
and, 4 out of 5 is excellent, if you're shooting from outside the 3 point line.
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