I had a recent blow out on my dual axle trailer which sent me to Discount Tire. It made me think it was high time to write a review of years as a loyal customer. My family has been customers at Discount Tire for a long time. I called my local shop to see if they had the date we started shopping with them. Sadly, the only information Discount Tire had kept is from 2002 and on.
While researching with my father, we realized that we have had at least 15 cars and trailers on the account dating back at least 25 years.
The Flat
While hauling my trailer a few weeks back I heard a noise. I looked to see if it had a blow out but my F250 didn’t react as if there was one so I had to pull over to check. I always have a spare so I mounted it and noticed I had belt separation (the metal bands inside of the tire had separated from themselves and started bulging the tires treads).
After work, I took the trailer and dropped it off with Discount Tire. Because I had purchased my tires through Discount Tire and I always buy the certificates. With the certificates, Discount Tire just replaced the bad tire and sent me on my way.
Certificates
Or “certs” as you might hear them called, are a way that Discount Tire warranties the tires you buy in addition to the manufacturer’s warranty. The price for the certs vary from tire to tire but in the end they will save you a good amount of money. When you get a flat tire and the tread is still within safe driving tread they will fix the flat. If the flat is in an area of the tire like the side walls, where they cannot fix the tires, they replace them with a new tire.
Balanced and Rotated
Discount Tire also offers free balance and rotation for your tires and they always check air pressure. It is recommended to follow your vehicles maintenance schedule but for those of us who just are looking for a general rule of thumb it should line up with your oil changes, 7500 miles or 7 months whichever comes first.
Why I Have Been Loyal To Them For Years
They don’t do all kinds of car maintenance. They focus on what they are named for and they do it well… TIRES. This means they are never going to put the wrong brand of blinker fluid in your car. You are not going to be charged for consulting fees because you came in for a flat fix and they decided to rummage through your engine looking (or creating) a problem they can charge you to fix when the only thing wrong was your flat tire.
With loyalty, that does not mean I do not shop around for the best price. They have price matched a competitor’s price for me in the past.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to taking care of my vehicles I start at my tires. I am known by the manager at my local store. I am there enough getting my vehicles and trailers tires balanced and rotated that they know me. My father started me using them and I am glad I have. My truck is always taken care of. I am always in and out in a quick and timely manner.
One final comment, keep in mind this is a large company and there are always going to be a few bad eggs out there. If you have a bad experience, it pays to not hold on to the anger but to share your thoughts and opinions with their customer service. I talked with a few today and it was a very good experience.