Off topic: Tire balancing

[Erick]

I had the tires in my primary SUV balanced the other day because they needed it.
But Mr Tire did such a good job for only 30 bucks I figured I'd bring in my secondary SUV for same even though I wasnt sure it needed it.

Turns out 2 out of 4 tires badly needed it and now both trucks ride true and smooth.
Biggest bang for the buck in vehicle improvement!

Seriously if you haven't gotten a balance in a while you want to.

Also helps ID tires that need replacing due to collapse of the tire carcass since such tires resist balancing.

Anyway that's my public service message

[JoJo]

 Your so right. One other thing though, get your front end aligned also.  You'll be surprised how much better they will handle.

[Erick]

Your so right. One other thing though, get your front end aligned also.  You'll be surprised how much better they will handle.

Just got an alignment as well for the one vehicle.
the other one has an alignment that's maybe 5 months old.

I am not going back to the dealer. the extra money doesn't buy you extra expertise when it comes to things like tire balancing , alignments, I figured out my Mr Tire outlet who charges 60% the cost is actually better than the local dealer at many key skills.

[JoJo]

 Having been a dealer auto mechanic for 18 yrs and another 20 for at a utility I totally agree. Tire outlets specialize in front ends and tires so it stands to reason they will be better at it.

 My stepson is a service manager of a dealership but i take my cars to a tire shop for tires and related repairs. Had my Jeep done 3+months ago. 

[JohnyMac]

Funny story:

I was driving the old F150 when it didn't feel right. After 150K miles you know of know. So I took it into my local shop.

When I came back to get it, the owner gave me a plastic grocery bag with dried out dirt or mud in it.

He told me he got it from the outside of my tire rim I could not see. He then asked me if I had been in a ditch or soft ground and i said, "yeah."

He suggested that the next time I do that to wish out my wheels with a hose.

No cost to me. He just walked away and shook his head as doing so. 

[Kbop]

JM keep that mechanic - most would have charged you and said if it happens again, bring it back

[JohnyMac]

Yupper Kbop. He only charges $27- an hour and is honest as the day is long.

He owns a four bay service facility. He is so busy that the earliest most people can get their vehicle in to me worked on is a week out. 

Here is another more recent interaction.

My truck was in for a oil change and rotation of the tires. I told him that my transmission felt funny. When I came back a few hours later to pay and pick up my truck I asked him if he was able to get around to check out my transmission.

Bill said, "Yes. Your transmission is fine. When was the last time that you had a engine tune up?" I told min that I didn't remember.

Well he went on to explain that as much as he would love to rebuild my transmission he thinks I just need a tune-up. Apparently if a engine is out of sync it sends the wrong information to the transmission. So the transmission does not shift when it is supposed to.

I have an appointment next week for a tune-up. 

[JoJo]

 Out of the hundred or so mechanics I worked with I only knew one thief. The rest were all honest.