Tire Shopping blah blah [cars]
Aug. 22nd, 2024 11:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rebeccmeisterQuestion first: I need to shop for new car tires. Mechanic #2 says Discount Tires offers the best pricing around here, but also notes if I eventually wind up having problems with a tire while in New York I won't be able to take advantage of their guarantees because their closest location out there is in Scranton PA.
So the question is: Any other thoughts or suggestions on where to buy new tires? I'm inclined to just go to DT anyway while I'm here, but perhaps there are other factors I should consider that I'm ignorant about because I spend most of my time thinking about bike tires.
Other than that, let me just note a couple of other things about cars and mechanics:
Mechanic #2 listened patiently to my whole shaggy dog story when I first went over, and also took time to explain how things worked to me. Then he noted that he wouldn't be able to look at the car until that Friday, so why don't I just hang onto it until then. Promptly Monday morning, he sent over a very detailed and thorough inspection report, conveniently color-coded according to the urgency of various things, with photographs to support or illustrate the observations where appropriate. I actually got a similar report from the mechanic up on Scottsdale Road in 2021 when dealing with my uncle's car. I just want to say I really, really appreciate that as a business practice. I saved a copy of the report so I can refer to it when dealing with whatever motor vehicle excitement strikes next. This is in contrast to the mechanic who inspected the car when we were deciding whether or not to buy it, and in contrast to the Tucson mechanic.
When things were delayed an extra day due to parts logistics, he called immediately to let me know. That, too, is one of those details that makes a difference.
In any case, he also said that as it turned out, getting access to the engine's knock sensor by pulling off the manifold wasn't any kind of problem at all. (He had a different perspective on a separate issue he identified with a blown shock, which he suggested putting off until I can leave the car in the shop for long enough to tackle that larger Pandora's box, so I'll have the joy of more car work in Seattle, yey).
Collectively, all those things just make me think that the Tucson mechanic just didn't really want my business. Which okay, fine. Now I know.
Also, it turns out that years of dealing with bike maintenance does help when it comes to understanding car maintenance. If I hand my bike over to a bike mechanic, it's important that I can communicate clearly with the bike mechanic, same as communicating clearly with the auto mechanic. And some shops have personalities more in line with my own, as compared to others.
So the question is: Any other thoughts or suggestions on where to buy new tires? I'm inclined to just go to DT anyway while I'm here, but perhaps there are other factors I should consider that I'm ignorant about because I spend most of my time thinking about bike tires.
Other than that, let me just note a couple of other things about cars and mechanics:
Mechanic #2 listened patiently to my whole shaggy dog story when I first went over, and also took time to explain how things worked to me. Then he noted that he wouldn't be able to look at the car until that Friday, so why don't I just hang onto it until then. Promptly Monday morning, he sent over a very detailed and thorough inspection report, conveniently color-coded according to the urgency of various things, with photographs to support or illustrate the observations where appropriate. I actually got a similar report from the mechanic up on Scottsdale Road in 2021 when dealing with my uncle's car. I just want to say I really, really appreciate that as a business practice. I saved a copy of the report so I can refer to it when dealing with whatever motor vehicle excitement strikes next. This is in contrast to the mechanic who inspected the car when we were deciding whether or not to buy it, and in contrast to the Tucson mechanic.
When things were delayed an extra day due to parts logistics, he called immediately to let me know. That, too, is one of those details that makes a difference.
In any case, he also said that as it turned out, getting access to the engine's knock sensor by pulling off the manifold wasn't any kind of problem at all. (He had a different perspective on a separate issue he identified with a blown shock, which he suggested putting off until I can leave the car in the shop for long enough to tackle that larger Pandora's box, so I'll have the joy of more car work in Seattle, yey).
Collectively, all those things just make me think that the Tucson mechanic just didn't really want my business. Which okay, fine. Now I know.
Also, it turns out that years of dealing with bike maintenance does help when it comes to understanding car maintenance. If I hand my bike over to a bike mechanic, it's important that I can communicate clearly with the bike mechanic, same as communicating clearly with the auto mechanic. And some shops have personalities more in line with my own, as compared to others.
no subject
Date: 2024-08-22 11:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-08-23 12:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-08-23 02:26 am (UTC)Tires very rarely fail on their own. Problems are usually sidewall damage (driving hard into a jagged curb) and things like that. Find out the details of the warranty before deciding if you're likely to need it. If they don't cover incidental damage like that, only manufacturing defects, you probably don't need it.
The mechanic wants to make sure you have plenty of tread, but I'm not sure it's that bad yet. This is kind of a thing with mechanics... they don't get sued if your engine breaks, but if your brakes fail or you crash in the rain and don't have the manufacture specified amount of tread, they do. If it's really bad, they'll make you sign a liability wavier that states you understand the risk and accept all liability before they let you out of the shop.
One old rule of thumb is if you stick a penny, Lincoln's head first, between the treads, the tread should go up at least to his head. Completely bald tires are dangerous in the rain and useless in snow but even a little tread goes a long way in rain. I'm suspecting you could put that off a year.
I should take a photo of how almost bald the Salsa's rear tire is.
Definitely familiar with bike mechanics who really don't want to touch my bike and do the least they can get away with... and also ones who go above and beyond.
no subject
Date: 2024-08-23 04:47 am (UTC)