Adventure Location: Decatur, Al.
Adventure Date: 7/28/2021
The center of the rear tires of Sierra were worn out due to having 32# of air in them when they were first being used. 32# is correct when the Castle tongue load is on Sierra. Most of the time Sierra is running around with an empty bed and not hitch load. Per factory Goodyear spec the tire is supposed to have 28# in them. The excess pressure caused the middle part of the rear tires to wear out.
Ok so it was time to get some replacement tires for the back. Now some history. On the trip back to Texas last year the left front tire of Sierra got badly worn down to the cords on the left front tire. The trouble turned out to be a failed lower ball joint. But before we knew that we had to purchase a replacement tire and the little town in East Texas did not have the same Walmart tire available. So we purchased another major brand in the proper size and went on to Rockport, Tx.
So now we have one different brand of tire, Firestone, than the other three. No problem with driving etc. When we got back to Decatur, the rear tires center had worn enough we thought replacing them to be proper.
So we went to Walmart this afternoon to price the identical tire that was on Sierra. They had them in stock but would not sell them to me and install them on Sierra because of the Firestone tire that had a different shaped street tread than the Walmart brand. So they expected me to throw away the Firestone with about 5000 miles on it and buy three Walmart branded tires instead of two. They are only allowed to put on the same tread pattern as is on the other tires of the vehicle. So it seems that Walmart has sold the OFM Teams its last tire.
Inevitably a single set of four tires never makes it to the end together. There are too many things on the roads to damage tires when you are rampaging the country like Rvers do.
We went to a local tire store that we had heard of and got fantastic service when we bought the two needed tires for the rear. The response is that the Walmart rule is NOT a state or federal rule. Apparently just a Walmart stupidity trying to force you to unnecessarily purchase replacement tires.
Now Sierra is all set for when we leave here to get back on the road trying to have tooooo much fun.
I'd bet that Walmart rule was made by some guy in an office who never worked in the tire dept and probably never changed a tire in his life. I have bought my last set of Walmart tires because the people working at "my" Walmart were inept. I would rather support a local business also. I still will trade there for their good values and selections...just not auto service! Glad you're all set.
ReplyDeleteThumbs up on this comment, Andy. A cubicle rat at corporate headquarters probably came up with this rule.
DeleteThe local tire shops are worth a second look.
Need to put the new tires on the front and the mismatched tires on the back!
ReplyDeleteNone are mis-matched just slightly different M+S P series tire treads all of the same tire size and rating.
DeleteWalmart tires, even name brand tires, are watered down in quality, so Wal-Mart gets them cheaper from the manufacturers, so they can retail them cheaper. US Corporate profit taking wins out every time.
ReplyDeleteCostco has similar, archais rules, as Wal Mart! Go to a local, independent owner tire shop as you did!!
ReplyDeleteDumb! Not providing customer service means no customer. How does that serve Walmart?
ReplyDeleteIf it's a four wheel drive all the tires should be the same. I need to replace 2 tires on my truck (they were on the back and are almost totally worn out while the other two have good tread yet) and because it is four wheel drive I was told I need to get the same tires as are on the truck now.
ReplyDelete