I started dealing with Tires Plus in 1993 when I bought four Pirelli 210 winter tires ($700). We drive two Lincolns and a pick-up and over the years I have spent several thousands of dollars there.
In February I purchased 4-high performance tires from the Tires Plus, 1201 Gateway Drive, Hudson, Wisconsin 54106 (715) 381-5551 for my Mark VIII. Purchase price with mounting, balancing and road-hazard warranty was $903.48. I had also bought some after-market custom rims (not from Tires Plus) and had the tires mounted on the new rims at time of purchase, by Tires Plus. At the time they charged me $7.96 for tire recycling but I kept the original tires, as they were in pretty good shape and would fit my other car. When I went back for a refund, the person at the desk said I would have to take it up with the person who sold me the tires. He was not there, and I did not pursue if further as I had already made one stop there too many. I have since used the tires and plan to drop them off to TP, so they can recycle them, as charged.
In April I noticed the left rear tire on the Mark was low. The tire was not deflated, just low. The vehicle had been sitting all week and I assumed correctly that it was a slow leak. As I had an appointment, I filled the tire after pulling out of my garage (I have a small compressor) and drove about 30 miles. After my appointment, I stopped and checked the tire pressure. It was down a couple of pounds, so I filled it back to 36 PSI and drove to Hudson Tires Plus.
I had the tire repaired; it had a nail it according to the tech. I drove it home and parked it. I do not drive this car very often, it's my baby but when I did drive it on the freeway, it had a definite shimmy or wheel hop. I took it back to Tires Plus in Hudson. Jason told me I had ruined the tire by pulling out of my garage when it was flat. I said it was not flat, it was low. He said that would also ruin it. I asked him, if the tire was ruined, why did it not shimmy when I drove on it; he shrugged and said he didn't know. I was furious at this blatant deceit, but stupidly went ahead with it.
They replaced the tire under the road hazard warranty. It had 14,000 miles on it; he said there was half the tread left and charged me $95.58. After waiting about an hour, I walked across the shop doorways to see if I could see what was taking so long. I looked in and saw a technician working on the tire (on the chrome rim) with a 3-foot long iron bar! When I took possession of the car, I checked the rim. It had a long strip of chrome peeled off the outside of the wheel and was generally battered.
I went back into the store and pointed this out to Jason. He said they did not guarantee work on chrome rims. I went back a day or so later and talked to the store manager. He said he could do nothing without the tire, which was nowhere in the shop. He also said they did not guarantee work on chrome rims, even if some incompetent clown worked them over with an iron bar.
I had other negative experiences with this shop, and should have learned. I had ordered four Blizzacks for my wife's car. After a week, TP called and said they were in. I told them I would be in Sunday; it snowed on Saturday. I took it in as agreed but they had sold the tires to someone else. I asked Jason who had sold them; he shrugged and said he didn't know and would not look to see, which made me think it was he (I subsequently went over to Firestone and bought a set).
I have custom wood trim in my car; it had been installed for several years. After a visit to Tires Plus in Hudson, the trim piece around the window buttons on the driver's door was missing. I didn't notice it for several weeks, but it had to have been peeled off as it was glued on and out of the way, and this vehicle is never left open unattended. As it had been so long, I wasn't comfortable taking it back and accusing them of theft, so it went unreported. I guess the wind could have blown in there and peeled it off, but it's strange that it had been in the car for years, and it was gone after a visit to them.
Anyway, let the buyer beware of Tires Plus in Hudson, Wisconsin, and Jason. You will recognize him; he's the short, arrogant guy who is now the store manager!
PS. I liked the tires so much (Firestone FZ50 EPs) that I bought another set last year. At Discount Tires for $852saved $50 bucks and a lot of headaches.
0 comments