A&Q about Lotus
Q:
So I went to Goodyear Saturday needing my front tires balanced, the guy asked me what kind of car it was. I said Lotus, he said well who makes Lotus, I said Lotus makes Lotus. He said ok, I am going to look at the car and be right back...So he comes back and tells me their tire balancing machine won't fit my rims?? So as I walk out to the car to leave, the mechanics are all outside looking at my car (I am the only customer) and they seem disappointed that they can't work on her. So just to make sure he was not lying I say "So your machine can't handle my rims huh?" And one of them tells me that the manager just said that bc he does not want to work on my car. WTF
After thinking about this, I am going to call Goodyear tomorrow and tell them I want the truth and there is no reason to lie to me. Just letting off some steem..Any suggestions
Joseph
A:
consider yourself lucky, lots of ways to screw up the car. if they are unfamiliar with jack points, torque settings etc.
A:
I agree consider yourself lucky-----
Go to a better, read "more professional tire store"---
my recommendation is for one with some customers, that look professional.
A:
It was a Goodyear location that once let me drive away in a different car with over 100 psi in the tires after having trouble mounting normal tires (purchased from Tirerack) on OEM rims. When I called to complain, I was told that they needed to use high pressure to pop the tires onto the rims, and apparently they forgot to adjust the pressure afterwards.
A:
Originally Posted by Shiftlock
It was a Goodyear location that once let me drive away in a different car with over 100 psi in the tires after having trouble mounting normal tires (purchased from Tirerack) on OEM rims. When I called to complain, I was told that they needed to use high pressure to pop the tires onto the rims, and apparently they forgot to adjust the pressure afterwards.
Boy is that a load of $#!t. No sane tire mounter would ever even consider using pressures like that to seat a bead. It's an invitation to explode a tire or a rim. Didn't they ever hear of bead lubricant?!?
I worked 8-1/2 years in the retail tire business in a previous life and any service tech who did something that stupid would walk out without a job in seconds -- assuming they survived their stupidity. This is one for the "Darwin awards." That kind of pressure isn't even used (or needed) to seat the bead on large truck tires. For heaven's sake, STAY AWAY!
My recommendation to Joseph would be to contact Tire Rack and ask for a list of recommended mounting shops in your area. That way, you're highly likely to find someone who'll do a competent job.
A:
I actually got my goodyears from Sam's Club.
I sat with the guys for two hours and helped them jack up the car corner by corner since their lift couldn't fit the car... A bit of patience and I got the job done locally and for a good price.
A:
Originally Posted by lotusport
My recommendation to Joseph would be to contact Tire Rack and ask for a list of recommended mounting shops in your area. That way, you're highly likely to find someone who'll do a competent job.
Unfortunately, the shop that let me drive away with >100psi was a Tire Rack recommended shop. The letter I wrote to the owner of the shop was cc'd to Tire Rack. In all fairness, the shop owner actually called me to apologize, refunded the installation cost, and sent me vouchers for a bunch of free oil changes. Tire Rack sent me an appology letter along with a high quality digital tire pressure gauge. Everyone knew it was a big F-up that should never have happened.
A:
Originally Posted by HardDrive101
I actually got my goodyears from Sam's Club.
I sat with the guys for two hours and helped them jack up the car corner by corner since their lift couldn't fit the car... A bit of patience and I got the job done locally and for a good price.
I know it's a bit off topic but the mention of Sam's Club reminded me of a tire nightmare story that I had a few years back.
I had an 87' Buick GN that I need a set of standard tires for to fit the stock 15" steel wheels , so I went down to my friendly neighborhood Sam's Club and picked out a set from the rack. I brought them up to the service center and had them install them on the car. Now as you know, 15" steel wheels of normal width have to be one of the easiest tires to mount. Yet I waited like 4 hours watching those tire monkeys wrestle with what seemed like to them to be an impossible task. Finally towards the end of the 4 hour wait one of the more experienced techs in the shop saw the others struggling with the wheels and came over to help. It seems they needed to turn the wheels over on the tire machine to mount/dismount them due to the offset of the wheels.
Once they figured that out they seemed to finish shortly afterwards.
But it gets better.....
I finally get out of there, pissed because such a simple task too so long and hit the interstate. As I merge into traffic into the left lane there was a loud "BANG" and with that the wheel started pulling to the left!
The left front tire blew out!
So there I am on the side of a busy interstate changing a brand new tire. I can see right away why the tire blew, there was a large tear in the bead. As soon as I put enough lateral force on the tire it let loose.
So I change it and go back to Sam's Club. I get a hold of who ever was in charge and tell them what happened. They replaced the tire, but unfortunately there was a shift change and the crew that screwed up the tire was gone and I couldn't bitch them out
Sam's Club.....never again!
A:
Wow.. I've never had a problem like that at Sam's.... sounds like you hit the wrong store.
But it reminds me of a visit I paid years ago to a goodyear center with Supra I had... the guys forgot to tighten the lug nuts!!!!! A couple of blocks after I drove away I felt the vibration got out checked, and sure enough... lugs were loose.
I had fun bitching at the idiots.
A:
Many years ago I bought a set of four from NTW for my 911; when I arrived to pick it up, I noticed they had put both the larger rear tires on the right side and the smaller front tires on the driver's side. My baby was listing to port.
When I pointed it out to the manager, he exclaimed, "oh, and so-and-so did that job, and he's the one who can read."
I live in Alabama.
Sigh.
Best regards to all,
Leo
A:
Originally Posted by DeathWish
Many years ago I bought a set of four from NTW for my 911; when I arrived to pick it up, I noticed they had put both the larger rear tires on the right side and the smaller front tires on the driver's side. My baby was listing to port.
When I pointed it out to the manager, he exclaimed, "oh, and so-and-so did that job, and he's the one who can read."
I live in Alabama.
Sigh.
Best regards to all,
Leo
A:
Originally Posted by snitch456
So I went to Goodyear Saturday needing my front tires balanced, the guy asked me what kind of car it was. I said Lotus, he said well who makes Lotus, I said Lotus makes Lotus. He said ok, I am going to look at the car and be right back...So he comes back and tells me their tire balancing machine won't fit my rims?? So as I walk out to the car to leave, the mechanics are all outside looking at my car (I am the only customer) and they seem disappointed that they can't work on her. So just to make sure he was not lying I say "So your machine can't handle my rims huh?" And one of them tells me that the manager just said that bc he does not want to work on my car. WTF
After thinking about this, I am going to call Goodyear tomorrow and tell them I want the truth and there is no reason to lie to me. Just letting off some steem..Any suggestions
Joseph
You should definitely contact Goodyear. Put it in writing and send it to the corporate headquarters in Akron, Ohio. They do respond to customer complaints.
Here is the link to their website:
The address is also :
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
1144 East Market Street
Akron, Ohio 44316-0001
(330) 796-2121
Fax: (330) 796-2222
Consumer Relations
A:
Originally Posted by Shiftlock
Unfortunately, the shop that let me drive away with >100psi was a Tire Rack recommended shop. The letter I wrote to the owner of the shop was cc'd to Tire Rack. In all fairness, the shop owner actually called me to apologize, refunded the installation cost, and sent me vouchers for a bunch of free oil changes. Tire Rack sent me an appology letter along with a high quality digital tire pressure gauge. Everyone knew it was a big F-up that should never have happened.
Sounds as if both did what they could to make it right. I sure hope the shop manager educated whoever mounted those tires -- he might still be alive today.
A:
You should definitely contact Goodyear. Put it in writing and send it to the corporate headquarters in Akron, Ohio. They do respond to customer complaints.
Here is the link to their website:
Thank you, for the info guys! I am going to contact Goodyear tomorrow. And wherever I go to do this, I am going to be the one driving it and watching them do every step.
Joseph
A:
Took mine to the local pep boys to have the tires installed. No problems, but they overcharged me. Think I will call the toyota dealer next time. They are the only ones around who can align my car anyways.
A:
Why not go to the tire store that your Lotus dealer out-sources its work to?
A:
I went to get new tires today and they did a great job (my buddy manages this particular place and I know all the techs), but I did take my jack and provide specific instructions about NOT using the air wrench and using jack point B to lift the car one side at a time