Tire mounting at Walmart

"Ash78, voting early and often" (ash78) 07/08/2017 at 15:46 • Filed to: None

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After almost 20 years of only visiting specialized tire shops, I finally said “Hey, we drive an appliance now, why not just take it where everyone else goes?”

I got a decent deal on some new Pirellis for the Odyssey through them, and the $9 per tire lifetime R&B helped seal the deal.

First in line at 7am and it still took 2+ hours. And...I have to go back. Look closely, then apply palm to face.

Granted, it’s small print, but it’s in four languages. And even if they had missed it, the law of averages says that half the tires would be mounted wrong. Nope — all four. Bangup job, Walmart! At least future R&B work won’t require remounting...

EDIT: I’m not considering this super-urgent because these tires are only slightly asymmetrical and not being used for spirited driving. Thoughts based on the pic below? Going back right away is a huge PITA...

Left side is outer shoulder (but should be inner shoulder).

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 15:54

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You’re lucky they didn’t install them inside-out

CaptDale - is secretly British > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 15:54

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WOW.... That is just sad to an amazing level.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 15:56

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Other than one Walmart refusing to service my Volvo because they “didn’t have the right lift for Volvos” they did surprisingly well putting new tires on my very broken V70R.

WilliamsSW > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 15:57

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I’m struggling with how they managed to go 0 for 4 here...

Ash78, voting early and often > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 07/08/2017 at 16:00

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I didn’t used to go there because my Passat had 9 fasteners (4 different kinds) holding the belly pan on, so the upcharge could get out of hand. And they would usually lose something.

Ash78, voting early and often > WilliamsSW 07/08/2017 at 16:01

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My theory is one guy mounted the first one wrong, then a second guy just followed his lead based on the tread pattern. This is the most low-key “inner” text I’ve ever seen, but still...YOU HAD ONE JOB.

WilliamsSW > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 16:05

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My theory is that they read it, but misread it as “exterior” or “this side out”.

Alternatively, your wheels look like they should be mounted inside out (no)

Bytemite > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 16:06

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As sad as it is, I think you are just fine. They’re pretty symmetrical and doesn’t look like it provides much grip anyway even when mounted correctly.

Ash78, voting early and often > WilliamsSW 07/08/2017 at 16:10

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Project Widebodyssey is underway!

Ash78, voting early and often > Bytemite 07/08/2017 at 16:11

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That’s what I’m thinking, I doubt we’ll notice much more than maybe some uneven wear. These are 700+ treadwear tires, just midrange touring all-seasons.

Xyl0c41n3 > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 16:13

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I’d take it back right away, just in case down the line someone there tries to say that you can’t prove it was Walmart that did it and that having them that way voids your warranty.

It’s a PITA, but just take a good book with ya.

Ash78, voting early and often > Xyl0c41n3 07/08/2017 at 16:17

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Yeah, some kind of “Ash vs Pirelli vs Walmart” battle over a problem would suck hardest of all...

Dave the car guy , still here > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 16:17

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Maybe the guy who mounted them can’t read at all.

citrus > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 16:30

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I worked in a tire store, and once one of the other techs asked me with a straight face if the “OUTSIDE”on the tire mean to mount two with that side out and two with that side in...

Captain of the Enterprise > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 16:34

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Belle Tire put one on backwards once. Another time they put my lugs nuts on backwards on one corner.

Bytemite > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 16:42

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Gee don’t you think that’s stretching your dollar a bit too far?

Tires drastically affect your braking and handling, even if not spiritedly, then emergency maneuverability. Those things look like the rubber they use for hockey pucks. After discovering top grade summer tires cost the same as crap tires, sometimes even less, I don’t think a bit extra tread life is worth it.

DipodomysDeserti > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 17:07

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I would check your lug nuts. You may drive an appliance, but it’s an appliance that can kill you if the guy attaching your wheels couldn’t care less about what he was doing because he’s working at PayyourworkersshitMart.

DipodomysDeserti > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 17:39

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Check your lugnuts. I know I would never take my dishwasher to WalMart for repairs. Sure as shit wouldn’t take a vehicle there.

Birddog > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 17:40

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Oof! That means 2 more hours at Wal Mart.

Birddog > DipodomysDeserti 07/08/2017 at 17:44

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That ain’t a joke!

Wait, it is!

Nsfw language.

DipodomysDeserti > Birddog 07/08/2017 at 18:03

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I have definitely never had that happen to me...

Except that one time...

Steve in Manhattan > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 18:16

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Well, they had 4 jobs ... fucked ‘em all up.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Bytemite 07/08/2017 at 18:17

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Winters are where they get you, if you need a weird size...

I wonder why no-season tires tend to be the most expensive.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 18:25

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Have you heard how they train people for these jobs? I am not entirely sure I’d trust them to work on any car I actually cared about being done right. There are plenty of places with cheap tires that have properly trained people.

That said, I’ve found the ones way out in the boonies tend to be better because most of these kids had some experience before the “training”.

littleBenny > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! 07/08/2017 at 18:54

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Did you ask them “What is the right lift for volvos?”

Nauraushaun > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 20:06

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Ican see the possibility of insurance trying to pack out if paying in a crash since the tyres aren’t mounted correctly. Might compromise safety.

Not sure they would, just a thought

Die-Trying > Ash78, voting early and often 07/08/2017 at 20:10

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it was probably the “new guy” stuck doing the tires........

Ash78, voting early and often > DipodomysDeserti 07/10/2017 at 10:13

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To be fair, they’ve given pretty broad raises recently, but IMHO you can’t pay people to create morale — you have to hire the right people. I’ve always seen Walmart’s role in society as “a step above welfare” for lack of a more sensitive term. But I’ve known far more people who have had good luck there than at Costco, who is very well know for their tire shop (among big box stores, that is). I just got sick of years and years of weird runaround and bait & switch at places like Firestone, even though I trust them more. Walmart was at least very up front about pricing, services, etc, so I gave it a shot...and learned my lesson.

DipodomysDeserti > Ash78, voting early and often 07/10/2017 at 11:39

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I have a friend who works at a Costco tire shop and likes it. Definitely pays a lot better than “just above wellfare”. Paying people more money definitely helps morale when they’d otherwise be living in poverty. Where is doesn’t help morale is when the person is already being overpaid to sit in an office and read Facebook all day. You always have the chance of getting a shithead that doesn’t want to work, but for the guys that do they definitely appreciate being paid well. I ran a print/envelope/mail shop for almost a decade with about five guys. We did the same amount of work as a shop with thirty guys because we all got paid well and had no problem busting our ass for the pay we received.

Ash78, voting early and often > DipodomysDeserti 07/10/2017 at 11:56

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I sure wish my bosses had that attitude when I was busting my ass for $4.25 an hour in the 90s. And basic cars were still $15k like today. Average houses were almost as much as they were a couple years ago. PCs were $2,000. Gas was $1.50 a gallon. Costs were basically like today, but minimum wage was seriously lagging. I have no idea how anyone made it back then...I don’t exactly shake my head when people balk at $10-$15/hour, I just have some perspective. Thankfully I was just a high school kid working for beer and gas — and not trying to raise a family on that.

Ian Bruce > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 07/23/2017 at 20:59

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4muddyfeet — How does one get in touch with you? I’m asking some people take a crack at ideation for a narrow vehicle concept, and I was impressed by some of your work at Northumbria. ibruce@alphamotors.com if you’re interested. Cheers — Ian