Mavis Chain Tire Store Rant

[Trainmaster]

Yeah, I know I promised myself a hundred times never to return to Mavis Discount Tires again.

But I needed four Michelin tires, Mavis was down the block and their price was cheap. What the heck, right? Tires went on, no problem and they were balanced right.

A month goes by and I get a flat. Can't get the tire off. No how, no way. Broke a 30" Snap-On breaker bar on it. The 1/2" pneumatic gun did nothing. Couldn't break ANY of the lugs loose. So back to Mavis, where they broke three of their Harbor Freight breaker bars jumping on a 4' cheater pipe then tried to tell me to take a walk. So I call their corporate office. Run by the whole lawsuit thing.

Finally I get them to call a real truck tire company, since the chain doesn't own any real tools or employ any real mechanics. The mobile truck road service outfit comes and gets the tires off. Cost them $250. Now I have 20 ruined lugs that were monkey hammered by Mavis. So that's $100 for McGuard solid lug nuts. And Mavis fixed the flat with a plug instead of a patch, because "they don't do patches, because nobody does".

So it may be time for small claims court anyway. I'm looking at $100 in lug nuts which isn't a big deal, but I'm sure Michelin will say a month old tire with a plug is ruined, so that's another $200.

Think I learned my lesson yet? Never, never deal with a chain tire place that pays its help minimum wage.

You'll be sorry.

 

[GlennSullivan]

I learned the Mavis lesson a long long time ago, took me a couple of times as well.
Buy yourself a new tire (I would never run on a plugged tire for any period of time) and the new lug nuts and call it lesson learned the hard way.
I buy all my tires from Tire Rack and have a local shop I know well do my mounting and balancing. I also torque each lug personally.

 

[Adieu]

How the hell did they manage that?

Don't these clowns know to at least NOT use their biggest air impact tool to tighten down lugnuts?

Although most likely they just had a customer lose a wheel after they did their thing recently and instructed their staff of rejects to REALLY fasten them down. I just don't see that happening by accident.

 

[Trainmaster]

I just don't see that happening by accident.

I honestly asked myself the same question. After all, the weather was 40 degrees warmer when they were tightened, and damn, they could not be loosened. What makes someone do something stupid - consistently - on 20 nuts? Hey, I tip well and I treat workers like gentlemen, so it wan't personal. And there wasn't a bunch of "class envy" over my 14 year old asset worth perhaps six grand.

I guess the fool just didn't want the lugs to loosen. Ever.

 

[bws2015]

Sorry for your bad luck, but I've never had a plug fail, had patches fail though, I would run it, just my opinion though.

 

[dcsang]

My understanding is that the "proper" and safest way to repair a tire is by using a combination plug patch such as this. Of course, safety guidelines regarding the size and location of the puncture still applies. With that said, none of the small independently owned tire shops I am aware of actually uses them. The last time I repaired a tire I distinctly asked the tech if he knew what a plug patch was and if it could be used for the repair. After a resounding "YES" he proceeded to apply a standard patch to the tire.

Since Mavis Discount Tire is a Michelin authorized retailer and installer they should have followed this guidance to comply with the warranty. Their failure to do so should not be your liability and I highly suggest that you call Michelin directly to discuss a warranty tire replacement. They have great customer service and I suspect you might be pleasantly surprised at the outcome.

 

[Boostedbus]

If they were that tight I’d be worried that they stretched the studs and threads. You may wanna add new wheel studs to your small claims court tally. Take a look at them and see if they have an hour glass shape.