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What should I do about this ongoing tire problem?

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by MizzzC, Jul 1, 2020.

  1. MizzzC

    MizzzC Junior Member

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    I own a 2016 Prius with 47347 miles on the odometer, and the original tires are Hankook Optimas. I live in the Virginia suburbs. My driving habits are mostly city driving, roughly 20 miles per day on work days.

    In mid-March my dashboard told me I was having a low air pressure in my tire and I could visually tell it was the back passenger side. I took the car to my local Goodyear and they proceeded to dismount the tire and roll it out to show me a screw firmly imbedded perfectly in the center. So they sold me one tire, a Goodyear Assurance. My remaining 3 tires are all 6 and 7/32 so not ready for replacement yet AND this was at the beginning of my area’s COVID-19 craziness and they were equally fast to get rid of me as I was to get out of their waiting room.

    About a month later my dashboard light came on again, and I returned to the same Goodyear shop where the same employee went around a checked all my pressure then informed me that “someone must be messing” with me, as my valve stem had been loosened on the same tire they had replaced the month before. He tightened it up, and I left. I was underwhelmed with the Goodyear shop at this point. Sure I have plenty of enemies, but none of whom would get their hands dirty on my tires! Haha. It seemed a weird thing for him to say, that someone must be messing with me by messing with my tires.

    Today, my dashboard is telling me again that I have a low tire. Visually it appears to be the driver side front which is now also missing the end cap. I did not have my tire gauge handy.

    I am loathe to return to the Goodyear shop, and I want to have 4 well inflated tires that I don’t have to worry about. I realize the car is approaching 50000 miles and this will probably mean new tires before Winter or before cross country driving. Where should I take the car to have this tire situation fixed once and for all?
     
  2. NewHybridOwner

    NewHybridOwner Active Member

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    Did you check the tire pressure with a regular tire gauge? If that shows OK, maybe you have a bad TPMS sensor or the sensor needs a new battery.
    Ask around in your own area for recommendations for a good tire shop.
     
  3. CooCooCaChoo

    CooCooCaChoo Active Member

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    Or you have a bead leak where the tire doesn't seal properly with the rim of the wheel. Definitely take it to a good tire shop, or some place like Costco that has good policies for the buyer.
     
  4. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Was a new tire really needed, i.e. was the old tire not patchable? The center is usually repairable.

    If they didn't give a credible explanation for why the original tire should not be patched, but simply moved to sell you a new one, then they were somehow taking advantage of you. I'd never return to them.
    If the stem itself was loose, on only the tire they worked on, then that employee is the first suspect to consider as the "someone" who is messing with you.
    Three inflation problems and your own pressure gauge still hasn't come out? If it is lost or buried or inaccessible, then go buy a new one. Now. Buying a new one will be cheaper than repeated trips back to tire shops for troubleshooting.
    Any respectable tire shop ought to be able to fix this. Since you clearly have lost confidence in this chain/location, then pick another shop or chain or location. But I'm too far away to have any clue of the tire shop choices in your area.
     
    #4 fuzzy1, Jul 1, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 1, 2020
    kithmo likes this.
  5. RRxing

    RRxing Senior Member

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    What Fuzzy said. You should only need to replace the tire if the screw or other object is embedded in the sidewall, not the main tread.
     
    kithmo likes this.
  6. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    OR.....if the object in question left an irregular, jagged hole.
    BUT the default for most ALL tire shops is to sell you a new tire whether you NEED one or not.
    I'm surprised that they didn't INSIST that the other 3 were unsafe too.

    My best tire experiences have been at Sams Club.....for years.
    Recently had a puncture plugged at WalMart too, just because they are close.

    Just go to another tire shop to get the right pressure in all of them AND inspect the caps after to be sure all are tight.

    And don't totally discount the possibility that someone IS messing with you.
     
  7. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Replacement will also be needed if one of the belts or cords is cut. But most of the time this doesn't happen. Shops have been willing to patch most of the flats I've taken to them.
     
  8. Kenny94945

    Kenny94945 Active Member

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    Do I understand the OP's issue?
    Wants a local tire shop they can trust?

    Making sure the valve stem caps are on, checking tire pressure when the tires are cold, setting the preferred tire pressure and resetting the TPMS dash setting (owners manual show how), tightening the valve stem TPMS attaching nut (noting a possible o-ring) all seem to be at home do it yourself items.
    Home Depot sells a nice 12 volt tire inflator (Husky brand name) for about $35.

    FWIW In my area a good tire shop is somewhat hard to find. So you are not alone in your quest for a good shop.
    Again not sure if I understand what type of help, comments, witty remark :), the OP is seeking.
     
  9. sam spade 2

    sam spade 2 Senior Member

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    YES.
    And that's impossible to answer unless you live in the same area........since competency can vary WIDELY from one brand name shop to the next within the same brand.
     
    #9 sam spade 2, Jul 2, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2020
  10. FuelMiser

    FuelMiser Senior Member

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    Your original tires (at least the three original that are remaining) are certainly ready for replacement. That should fix your concern with having four reliable tires.

    I've always been happy with Discount Tire. They match (and sometimes beat) internet prices. They offer good service: free pressure check, free rotation, prorated warranty if tire is damaged.
     
    DevilDogDoc likes this.
  11. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    At 6 and 7/32nds remaining, it seems rather early to replace them.
     
    MizzzC likes this.
  12. MizzzC

    MizzzC Junior Member

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    Unfortunately this was a large, heavy-duty screw.
     
  13. MizzzC

    MizzzC Junior Member

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    After having the Low Tire Pressure light come on 2 more times after posting, I think the problem has finally been solved by a shop called Virginia Tire and Auto. I now have 2 Bridgestone Ecopias on the front end, AKA the business end. Thank you for the recommendation of Discount Tire, I think I bought a set of tires for my Dad's truck there in 2012 and they were quite good.
     
  14. Vman455

    Vman455 Senior Member

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    Holes from large screws can still be plugged. I picked up a #12 wood screw in front of a construction site once and my local tire place was more than happy to patch it.

    I'm surprised the shop only sold you one tire; typically the recommendation is to replace tires in pairs so you don't have slightly different diameters and different friction coefficients/grip by having the same tire model with the same tread depth on both sides.