How to Make Sure You Didn't Get Ripped Off at the Tire Shop

It's time to switch from summer tires to winter ones, and we all head to the tire shop. How can you be sure the work was done properly? The most reliable option is to be present for all of the work being done. But if you don't have the time, here are a few things to look out for. If you went to the tire shop to swap summer tires for winter ones, check the rear wheels after the changeover, specifically whether they have balancing weights on them. Many shops skip balancing the rear wheels to save on weights. You also need to make sure the tires were mounted on the rims in the right direction. Some tires are directional, and are marked either with "inside" and "outside" on the sidewall, or with an arrow showing the rotation direction. If the tires are mounted incorrectly, the tread will wear much faster, and the car's traction and grip on the road will be much worse. Now let's look at another situation. Say you have a punctured tire, and the only fix is to repair the cut or puncture. Here is what to watch for. When the repair is finished, a patch should be bonded to the inside of the tire so that no bulge forms on it. If a bulge has formed on your tire after the repair, you can be sure the work was done poorly, or that the shop skimped on the patch. Most importantly, remember that sometimes the same job can be done better and more conscientiously at an ordinary small tire shop than at a big specialized center!