Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Life Lessons - Tire Balancing


There are many things I have learned in life, the hard way, and I thought I would use my stupid mistakes as examples to help all of you, in this new series I've aptly titled, Life Lessons.


This is the first in the series: Tire Balancing



I think that asking if you want a newly mounted tire "balanced" for an additional cost is some sort of mechanics' practical joke.

I learned this lesson in my early 20s while getting a new tire at a used tired place.



I was wrong. Even though I only had $50 to my name, I REALLY did want to spend that extra money, but I was working under the assumption that tires are actually round by nature.  They're not. I think they might be triangular, or hexagonal, but they sure as hell aren't naturally round, which I learned, as my car rocked and wobbled as I drove it away from the shop, fifteen dollars richer, but substantially less comfortable.
I'm surprised they weren't openly laughing at me when I came back a few days later to report there was something wrong with the tire they sold me.

Zed: Well, you said you didn't want it balanced!
Me: Right, because I didn't realize that "balancing" was a secret code word for AN ACTUAL WORKING TIRE!
And then I paid $15 to get my tire made in to a circle.



So here's your lesson:
You want your new tire balanced. It's worth the money. Only an asshole gives you the option to drive away on a triangular tire.

10 comments:

  1. And any asshole who charges you extra to make something you've already paid for useable is a mega-asshole of the upper echelon of assholes.

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  2. I've never paid to have a new tire balanced... even when I've mounted craptastic 'used' tires.

    Those guys were dicks.

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  3. Do they balance spare tires? I have one around my midriff that I'd pay $15 to have removed.

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  4. The worst thing is when your car starts acting like a dog shitting a bone at 70mph! Get them balanced and tracked! Tracking wheels might be another post for you :-)
    Di
    X

    ReplyDelete
  5. I was under the impression that they always balanced the tire when they gave me a new one. If they are charging me extra for it they don't tell me and just throw it in with the overall price so I am none the wiser. I am alright with that as long as it was necessary and everything works in the end.

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  6. Bah, mechanics. Always trying to screw you out of one thing or another. I'm surprised he didn't up the price on your second visit.

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  7. That mechanic really is a dick! It sucks that that happened to you, but at least you got a good post out of it!

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  8. I can't wait for more life lessons. I feel smarter already.

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  9. "Your mechanic is a dick"

    (sigh)

    You make everything better.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I've never had a tire changed by a mechanic. It's always been my father, and he's free.

    ReplyDelete

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