Tom
Administrator
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2005
- Posts
- 51,898
This is in The Shade Tree because it would be a comedy if I wasn't serious.
We're trying to get ready to hit the road (finally), but I've procrastinated over new tires for our coach. The last couple of weeks I've tried unsuccessfully to buy tires.
We live in the boonies, so there's nothing in the way of tire dealers/installers close to us.
A referral from a friend who buys a lot of commercial tires for his business resulted in a price over the phone for Yokohama tires and a promise to call back with other options. A follow-up call received a "oh you talked to xxxx, so no surprise he didn't call back, and I'll take care of you". Another promise of a call back, but nothing.
Meanwhile, I figure I'll try the FMCA/Michelin Advantage deal. After a few false starts, I finally register my CC with Michelin, and call their only dealer anywhere close to us. Everything is fine until I ask about his bays, and I hear "we have a big dip as you exit, but I can put ramps out there".
Yesterday we headed out to the big city to check out these tire guys. On the way, we stop at a relatively new Les Schwab outlet. I had a good feeling about these guys, but the only tire they sell in my size is Michelin and at a much higher price than the Advantage program. A phone call to their regional office, and the bad news is that they're not in the Advantage program.
Off to the first guy I talked with on the phone. A huge tire installer with a large inventory, and big bays, easy to get in and out of, after navigating narrow city back streets for some time. The only tire my size is Yokohama, the same load rating as our current tires, but lower than the Michelin. I ask about alternatives, and get this "made in America" speech. I ask about date codes, and he takes me out to his inventory. After crawling around stacks of tires for a while, he decides to ask the warehouse guy. This guy finds the tires on his computer, then pulls out a hard cover notebook filled with penciled notes. He hops on his electric pickup and eventually returns with a tire. The date code is kinda OK, but stamped on the tire is "Made in Japan". Not a problem, but so much for the 'made in America' speech.
Off to the second guy I talked with on the phone. I inadvertently pull into a different location of the same dealer. Talk to the guy there, and he's willing to help, although I'm in the wrong place. He gets on the computer, then I ask about the "dip"; He says "oh yes, you have to cross a river and, if you get stuck, they have a fork lift that will get you out".
This isn't sounding good, but off to their other location. Ignoring the nails on the ground at the entry to their one "big bay", the (narrow) exit has a huge dip into the gutter and onto a busy street.
I finally get in the car and tell the driver to head home so I can do more research.
We're trying to get ready to hit the road (finally), but I've procrastinated over new tires for our coach. The last couple of weeks I've tried unsuccessfully to buy tires.
We live in the boonies, so there's nothing in the way of tire dealers/installers close to us.
A referral from a friend who buys a lot of commercial tires for his business resulted in a price over the phone for Yokohama tires and a promise to call back with other options. A follow-up call received a "oh you talked to xxxx, so no surprise he didn't call back, and I'll take care of you". Another promise of a call back, but nothing.
Meanwhile, I figure I'll try the FMCA/Michelin Advantage deal. After a few false starts, I finally register my CC with Michelin, and call their only dealer anywhere close to us. Everything is fine until I ask about his bays, and I hear "we have a big dip as you exit, but I can put ramps out there".
Yesterday we headed out to the big city to check out these tire guys. On the way, we stop at a relatively new Les Schwab outlet. I had a good feeling about these guys, but the only tire they sell in my size is Michelin and at a much higher price than the Advantage program. A phone call to their regional office, and the bad news is that they're not in the Advantage program.
Off to the first guy I talked with on the phone. A huge tire installer with a large inventory, and big bays, easy to get in and out of, after navigating narrow city back streets for some time. The only tire my size is Yokohama, the same load rating as our current tires, but lower than the Michelin. I ask about alternatives, and get this "made in America" speech. I ask about date codes, and he takes me out to his inventory. After crawling around stacks of tires for a while, he decides to ask the warehouse guy. This guy finds the tires on his computer, then pulls out a hard cover notebook filled with penciled notes. He hops on his electric pickup and eventually returns with a tire. The date code is kinda OK, but stamped on the tire is "Made in Japan". Not a problem, but so much for the 'made in America' speech.
Off to the second guy I talked with on the phone. I inadvertently pull into a different location of the same dealer. Talk to the guy there, and he's willing to help, although I'm in the wrong place. He gets on the computer, then I ask about the "dip"; He says "oh yes, you have to cross a river and, if you get stuck, they have a fork lift that will get you out".
This isn't sounding good, but off to their other location. Ignoring the nails on the ground at the entry to their one "big bay", the (narrow) exit has a huge dip into the gutter and onto a busy street.
I finally get in the car and tell the driver to head home so I can do more research.
but we got all eight new Goodyear RV tires last year from Purcell Tires in North Las Vegas (not far from the Flying J). Jerry specified that he wanted good dates and Purcell really came through on that - every one of them was made the previous month. Can't beat that! Of course, paying the bill was painful but....
