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Tire shop shenanigans?

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Jenny867, Nov 19, 2022.

  1. Jenny867

    Jenny867 Member

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    This is to follow up on a post of mine from November 11, 2022. (I wanted to edit the post, but I didn't see the edit button anymore.) I got some great advice from fellow members here, and bought some tire sensors on Amazon. Thank you to all who commented. I took the sensors to another tire shop. (Prior to my November 11 post, I had visited a tire shop that wanted to charge me $500 to replace all the sensors, and they claimed 3/4 were bad. They also said I had 10K miles left on my tires.) At the new tire shop which promised to replace the sensors for $30, I was told that I misunderstood them on the phone, and what they meant was $30 per tire, not for the full job. I then called around and the $30/tire was a good deal for my neighborhood. So, I said, ok, do the job. They said they need two hours. I was first person there that day, and another customer (guy) pulled in in front of me. I went home, and quickly got a call from them saying that the tire sensors are all fine, and that it's the two front tires that need to be replaced, but not necessarily right away. I return to the shop, and they show me a slit in the front drivers side tire. (Is this slit intentional? There is a lot of crime in my neighborhood, including catalytic converter. I installed a cage - thanks to this forum.) I don't see anything wrong with the passenger side tire. They say they will charge me $250 for the whole job (2 tires and install). They reset the yellow tire sensor light. I walk away not having paid anything and with the sensors from Amazon. The light has not come on again since that day (November 17, Thursday).

    If anybody is still with me here, I would very much appreciate it if you take a look at the photos I took of the front two tires. Prius 2008. I watch prepper channels on YouTube, and I am hearing tires are in short supply, and it's best to buy them now before their price spikes even more. Same with filters (oil, fuel, and air). Buying supplies now in anticipation for more inflation spikes or shortages may be worth another thread. Thank you in advance. IMG_4182.jpg IMG_4183.jpg
     
  2. prius16

    prius16 Active Member

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    That tire slit isn't from a knife. It may be from road debris, or from uv/sun.

    A good way (but, not 100% accurate) to see that the the slit is from tire (and likely cracking), is by measuring the crack at various point, from some reference. I increased the size of the photo, and the crack distance from the smooth inner area, was rather consistent, (at ~~18.31mm, from by my photo expansion).


    From the second image (on the upper right, in the oval circle), you can see that the tire was made on the 8th week in 2016 (xxxx0816) ( Tire Date Code: Reading a Tire's Manufacture Date | Goodyear Tires ).

    The tires do have a lot of thread left.
    Is the car parked outside, or mostly in a garage?
    LA is/was a desert, and it can also get strong UV/sun (depending on the smog).

    Damage from road debris is more common that most people think.
    Once, I had it happen within 500 miles after I put on some expensive, not east to get, tires. :-(


    Good Luck!
     
    #2 prius16, Nov 19, 2022
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2022
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  3. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    Isn't this forum terrific...but I digress.

    Your tires are six+ years old if indeed that 2016 date mentioned was accurate. While they may not have been installed until late in 2016, most reputable folks say that once a tire reaches the ripe old age of seven, you are living on borrowed time.

    I know. I know. Cash, money, while some folks like the poster Bisco on this forum seem to be independently wealthy ( tee-hee) :LOL::LOL: most of us work for a living or pretend to and cash is not always available. Funny thing is that the photos don't seem to match with a seven-year-old tire.

    But if indeed they were seven, I would replace all of them. Just me, and I was involved in a major traffic accident a few years ago, so I am now major cautious. And you probably could have had tire place supply the sensors and install and calibrate for $50-$70 each, at least in my area. Good luck and stay safe. You don't want to skimp on tire safety,
    Kris
     
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  4. alftoy

    alftoy Senior Member

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    $500 for sensors that didn't need to be changed. I wouldn't be going back to that shop.

    Notice your tires made in Thailand. Not sure of the brand. Check with Costco for tires
    Noticed they have BF Goodrich $114 each. At least Costco employees aren't on commission.
     

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  5. cyberpriusII

    cyberpriusII Prodigyplace says I'm Super Kris

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    And go to Costco for batteries, I needed a new batt for my Subaru and the parts stores were wanting $170-$210. Costco sent me off with an interstate battery with three-year free replacement for $80.
     
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  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    and don't watch prepper channels :cool:
     
  7. Jenny867

    Jenny867 Member

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    Thank you for this great response. Very good information.

    The car has been parked outside in the sun. LA has so much road debris, and the roads are in horrible shape.

    I wonder if I could get that slit patched.
     
  8. Jenny867

    Jenny867 Member

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    Thank you, Kris! Great thoughts on all this. I'm rarely driving nowadays - for the past three years. Less than 500 miles a year. Car is parked on a sunny flat driveway. I'm wondering if the $250 for two front tires is a good price, and what questions I should be asking the 2nd tire shop.

    Thank you! Yes, how nuts is that. $500. And you can probably guess I'm female. That tire shop has amazing reviews, and lots of them. When I showed up that day at open, there were a few females already waiting. I guess the guys at the shop are very nice and polite, and make females feel comfortable paying for things they don't need. But also interesting how the shop told me I had 10K miles left in the tires.

    I don't know! The world is so nuts right now, even prepper channels are starting to sound sane. lol!

    Thanks! 2nd recommendation on this thread to go to Costco. Noted!

    --Ok, Costco it is (per this thread)
     
    #8 Jenny867, Nov 20, 2022
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 20, 2022
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  9. Jenny867

    Jenny867 Member

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    ----

    I don't know who might find this update as of February 26, 2023 useful, or if this will be seen, but funny news: the tire light turned off on its own. We are having historic storms in Southern California. My car is safe. But when I started my car yesterday morning, the light was off! No money spent to fix this. Unlike what the tire shop wanted to charge me ($500). Thank you again to all who responded to my posts about this! Jenny
     
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  10. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    And to answer your question about patching the sidewall, definitely don't do that. Dangerous area to patch a tire with that large of a slit.