Tire change experience from hell...

[Quad T]

My '05 has 21,000 miles on it now and the 17" BFGs are shot. I looked at a lot of tire options staying within the standard 285/70-17 size as well as pricing out both mail order and then local balancing or a local tire store for everything. Because I really had to save some money, as the 2 cars have needed lots of tires this year I decided to try the Kumho KL78, and for price my local Dunn Tire store was the best option.

So, on Saturday morning while it was raining and cold outside I figured it would be the perfect time to go sit around and waste some time having the tires changed. Oh what a lousy day the Titan and I had...

I got there before they opened at 8:00 and at 10:00 my Titan finally went in. When I noticed it was no longer in the front parking lot I decided to take a walk around the outside of the building so I could see what they were doing. Well sure enough the Titan was jacked up and they were well under way with the mounting and balancing, AND THEN, to my complete horror this is what I saw.

Entire scrape showing dent near top


Close up of scrape showing all the way down to bare metal and pushed in


When they pulled the Titan into the service bay they cut the corner sharp and crashed the side of my truck into the concrete door opening.

Obviously they have agreed to pay for the repair at a body shop of my choice, but I'm so mad this happened. Now keep in mind this is not all they did...

The Kumho tires vibrate real bad at 60+ mph. As soon as I realized this I went back and they remounted and balanced them, and said the road force was not very even so they made it much better by remounting them. After the 2nd drive the Titan still vibrates and when I called them the guy said something like "yea, I was afraid of that. One of the tires has a much higher reading than I like to see.' But the dolt sent me out of the store without telling me this.

What's happening now? They have ordered a replacement KL78. I have an appointment to get an estimate done for the damage. I'm thinking of taking the Titan over to my original salesman and asking him to give me two trade-in values, 1 would be my truck prior to accident and 2 would be my truck after accident and body work repaired. I'm hoping the loss in value will be enough I can force this tire dealer into giving me the next best tire the Bridgestone Duelers for no more money than I paid for the Kumhos.

All in all, I should have just stayed home and watched the rain…

What do you guys think?Do I have a chance in hell of getting the Duelers for no extra money? Clearly the body work will be done at my shop of choice and that will not cost me, but now I'm just irritated at the fact that it will take 5 or more Kumhos to get a truck that rides smoothly.

[d0va]

Sorry for what happend to your truck!! as for the duelers you should get them for free for the inconviniense...

[bestatchess]

If it is bent to where they have to fill, then push for a new bed side instead of body filler, which probably leads to painting at least half of the rear door on that side to blend the paint match.

I ended up with a new fender, door & wheel & about a month in the body shop on my "tire shop from hell" experience.

[Quad T]

Holy crap bestatchess, sounds like you went through hell for some tires too. Sorry man, I'm seeing 1st hand this is not going to be fun...

Thanks to you both, I need to hear what others would be expecting as an outcome for all this hassle. Just based upon your replies I'm feeling like I should clearly be pushing for a tire upgrade at no more cost to me, although I'm not sure I can sell them on Free Duelers and a full refund on the Kumhos.

I have a body shop I really trust, I'll be out there on Tuesday, I'll see what they say and keep you guys posted.

I'm still mad about the fact that after they crashed my truck they sent me out the door for the second time knowing full well one of the tires was bad.

[Joshj84]

This is when I'd probably give the district manager a call saying what happened see what he can do for you maybe? They are paying for the damages but bring up that they sent you out with tires the 2nd time even knowing you would have problems. You might not have to ask for a full refund and tire upgrade. Just say through all the inconvience and missed work and damage to the resell of the vehicle you should get the duelers and a refund for the huge hassle. I dunno I've learned it never hurts to try a little bit extra and see if you can get what you want. You'd be surprised how well it works sometimes.

[gixxer0.6g]

I'm sorry to hear about your fiasco. I was irate when the broke one of the studs let alone doing that kind of damage. This is mainly why I never hand the keys over to a shop unless it’s absolutely needed.

You know what you might try and do is try and settle on a monetary value of the damages and get a refund for your tires and go somewhere else. I’d get something in writing of what value that made your truck depreciate and throw in a little time lost and try and settle on that. That kind of crap should never happen and I know if you brought an attorney in (or just threaten with one) you’ll get much more then you think.

[Quad T]

Hmmm, even more great ideas, THANKS!!!

Maybe in the end this will all work out for the best, but you are right, this is going to take a fair amount of time. Plus they can be sure they will be paying for a rental car while my truck is getting fixed, as winter is very close there is no way I'm going to take the chance of subjecting one of my cars to road salt.

Here is a funny – when I saw my truck sitting in the service bad, jacked up off the ground and realized it had been driven into a wall, I let out a “what the f_ _ _ “ in a rather loud tone. All the mechanics scattered like roaches and I found myself standing there all by myself. I guess there was a degree of tone in my voice.

[phugoid]

holy toledo!
and i have a heart attack just from car wash scratches!
sorry to hear that happened. if and when i get my tires changed, (at TownFair) ill make sure they dont hit the building.
ud think they would design the tire/oil change pllaces w plenty of clearance for car/trucks.

years ago at a car wash the guy back up my car into another car!.. minor damage but still.....

[Quad T]

I think this car jockey had never driven anything bigger than an Accord. I'm still in shock actually, I just can't believe they drove my truck into a wall, and then NEVER bothered to tell me about it.

I would think the 1st thing they should have done was to tell me what happened before they started doing the tire change. It really bothers me they were not up-front about it. I mean after all, if someone drove your truck into a wall would you then want them changing your tires?

I also keep wondering why could I find no evidence of paint on the wall where the truck hit. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I almost got the feeling they had cleaned up the concrete wall and were then going to act surprised "but your truck was like that when we pulled it into the garage, we did not do that." I'm not saying this is what they were about to do, but I do find it odd I could see no evidence of red paint on the garage door opening. And I find it odd they did not tell me it happened as soon as it happened.

[sudden urge]

Originally Posted by Quad T

I think this car jockey had never driven anything bigger than an Accord. I'm still in shock actually, I just can't believe they drove my truck into a wall, and then NEVER bothered to tell me about it.

I would think the 1st thing they should have done was to tell me what happened before they started doing the tire change. It really bothers me they were not up-front about it. I mean after all, if someone drove your truck into a wall would you then want them changing your tires?

I also keep wondering why could I find no evidence of paint on the wall where the truck hit. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I almost got the feeling they had cleaned up the concrete wall and were then going to act surprised "but your truck was like that when we pulled it into the garage, we did not do that." I'm not saying this is what they were about to do, but I do find it odd I could see no evidence of red paint on the garage door opening. And I find it odd they did not tell me it happened as soon as it happened.

That is strange they didn't tell you right away. They probably freaked, wiped away the evidence, then decided to see if you noticed. Anyway, I feel your pain.

[Quad T]

Originally Posted by sudden urge

That is strange they didn't tell you right away.

So it's not just me who thinks this is strange? I have had a lot of time to think this over, and the fact that they did not bother to tell me right away does bother me.

What do you other guys think? Does it seem strange to you a garage would not tell you right away if they did something like this to your Titan?

[Quad T]

Originally Posted by sudden urge

They probably freaked, wiped away the evidence, then decided to see if you noticed.

I guess a customer standing in their service bay shouting out "what the f _ _ _, you crashed my truck" must have indicated I noticed...

[RedHotTitan]

OH MY GOD!!!!!!! I think I would have screamed and then fainted. Unbelievable!!!

I would try to give the tires back. Plus those are the old version of the Kumhos.

[Quad T]

Originally Posted by RedHotTitan

OH MY GOD!!!!!!! I think I would have screamed and then fainted. Unbelievable!!!

I would try to give the tires back. Plus those are the old version of the Kumhos.

Trust me, I thought I was going to pass out, I would have hated to know what my pulse was at that point in time... I drove one of the cars today just becaue it bothers me so when I see it.

Yea, I know, I was unable to confirm the new sidewall was even available in my OEM 17" size. I had decided I was going to be okay with the older version, but now that the truck vibrates because of road force issues I'll be asking for the Bridgestone Duelers for free or for no more money that what I laid out for the Kumhos. I have to get all my estimates and facts together before calling the corporate office.

[konigfritz]

Dude that sucks! I would have had an absolute fit!! Heads would roll!! Make Them trade out for the revo's, fix the truck and refund your money.

Stuff like that makes me mad. The fact that they didn't come tellyou immediately is reason enough to take them for all you can.