Best place to buy tires?

Is there a store that offers stuff like lifetime alignment, and does a good job on wheel balancing for Falken wildpeaks?

 

Do you mean lifetime balance? Because an alignment is different and has nothing to do with the tires.

If you are talking balance, I’m a huge fan of Discount Tire. They will balance and rotate your tires for the life of the tires. Heck, DT is rotating and balancing my OEM tires for free because I’m an existing customer.

 

I mean lifetime wheel balance. My truck tends to go to the right a lot. I’m assuming discount tire offers alignment service? I hope so. That’s great that they offer free balancing and rotation for the life of the tires.

 

When you say "a lot" do you meant it happens often, or that it is a sever pull to the right?

If it's a sever pull to the right then an alignment and balance could fix it, but it it keeps happening, then something is wrong. Do you have a significant other who likes to hit curbs?


If it's a gradual drift to the right, and it just seems to do it frequently, then it could just be the crown of the roads. Most roads are higher in the center than the edges so that water will run to the gutter/ditch. The result is that a perfectly aligned and balanced vehicle will drift in the downhill direction, which is to the right.

 

It’s a gradual drift. I’ll move the wheel so the car is driving as straight as possible, then let go and it drifts to the right.

 

Is Firestone’s lifetime alignment good? Anyone have experience they can share?Reading online that the techs are undertrained and they work under commission? If this is true I’ll just find a local shop to perform the alignment since discount tire doesn’t offer alignment service, bummer.

 

If it's gradual I would guess it's the road crown or that you have lower tire pressures on the right. You can swap the right and left tires to see if that correct or helps. If it does, then it's your tire pressure.

 

Makes sense. Maybe I’ll buy the new tires and just see if it still drifts. Would save me an alignment job if it doesn’t drift after installation.

 

Tirerack.com

 

Isn't it El Grullo?

 

I'm a huge fan of Discount Tire.

I religiously have my tires rotated and balanced every 5,000-10,000 miles. It is a great service.

That being said, they are opening a Big O Tires very close to my house.

I would consider switching, strictly for convenience sake, it they also offered free rotation and balancing.

I tried looking on their website and I see no mention of this service.

Does anyone know if Big O offers free rotation and balancing?

 

The deal is great, but the workmanship and customer service varies by store.

 

I go to costco for the warranty/points and service plus lifetime rotation/balance.
I go to my local AAA mechanic shop for alignment.

 

Yeah, no alignments or brakes. Just wheels and tires.

 

I, too, am a big fan of Discount Tires. I've been a customer for 40ish years and have never had a problem. Their road hazard warranty has paid off several times, and they even wrote certificates for the tires on my daughter's car even though they didn't sell the tires. She had a flat shortly after we bought the car, a nail in the sidewall, and had to buy a new tire. The manager looked at the tires and offered to write certificates for them since the tires were new and they sold that brand. Free balance and rotation, free air checks while you wait, and a friendly staff that knows their business. As for alignment, ask around. Alignment shops vary depending on the skill of the technician.

 

Their disclaimer also says that they will only align to manufacturer specs. If you have aftermarket UCAs looking to make adjustments outside of Toyota spec, you’ll be wasting your money.

 

I haven’t really had issues with their alignment service and I’ve taken my truck in there about 6 times with 2 full suspension changes and then later on UCAs. So it wasn’t just a toe and go.

Just make an appointment instead of a walk in/drop off. Otherwise you might be the last one picking up your truck.

 

I like Discount Tires. Their pricing is superb. Especially if you need a tire replacement and you have their warranty coverage.

Their customer service varies, just like everywhere else.

I got new tires on my truck right after I got the truck. They didn't have the tires I ordered in stock, but when I asked them if they can make it faster so I could stop there on the way back from the dealer, they called around other DTs and had the tires ready for me when I got there.

The installation was fast, but not flawless. The low pressure light came on within minutes of me leaving the lot. Turns out two of the sensors were DOA and they didn't take the time to check it. They fixed it for me later for free, but still....

They torque the lugnuts to spec instead of just air wrenching it on, which is a bonus. (They have a chart on their wall...)

 

Tire prices have ready jumped up in the last few months.

 

Just like everything else.

 

Except my salary