On Sunday I ran over a nail right by my house so I put on the spare and took the tire down to Big-O to get repaired first thing Monday morning. The service was quick and friendly and they even did it for free (it wasn't a Big-O brand tire or even purchased there). So I was happy with everything....

Then last night (the next day) I went to install my new sway bar when I found that two of my bolts were not in all the way. That was because they cross-threaded them so bad. The result is that the whole hub and lugs have to be replaced because they were destroyed.

Fortunately, Big-O took reponsibility when I took in the damaged parts and they have purchased the new hub and lugs from the MINI dealership waiting for me to pick them up on my way home from work. The crappy part is that my MINI is up on jacks and I haven't been able to try out the new sway bar I installed. I guess I have something to look forward to after I grease up my hands again tonight.

 

I had a bad experience with my local Big-O. They scratched/gouged all four wheels during a tire install and would not take responsibility. I had to work through my insurance company to get the wheels replaced.

 

Unfortunately, all too common.

YD

 

Big-O = Big Suck-O

 

Find a good independent shop ....you know the kind ...the one where the owner gets his hands dirty.

I found a place like that in Norwalk, CT, it's called Safeline Tire ...no one but Ray touches my wheels/tires. He's the man.

I'm sure your town has a guy like Ray hanging out somewhere ...you just have to find him.

Dean.

 

I've never heard of Big-O before. I guess that is a good thing. Here, small tire shops are the norm.

 

Wow, you're pretty ballsy to take the car back to a place that performed a repair for free.....LOL...

 

We have a local independent shop do all our tire work. They did the tires/wheels for the local Ferrari dealer. He put the Falkens on my Mini, and I LOVE them. They did beautiful work, too. Wouldn't trust it to a chain, really.

 

When I have had to take my MINI to a "tire" shop, I get to and tip the tech with CASH to install the lugs my hand and leave the air tools in the tool box.

 

Well I didn't exactly take the car back. It was on jack stands in my garage. I came in with just the ruined hub and bolts. I felt bad about the whole thing since the repair was done for free but I definetly would have been willing to pay for the repair. In fact, when I was there initially and the guy handed me my key and said I was good to go I asked him "don't I need to pay for this?" and he said "no, it's free." Besides, I think the tire repair cost/revenue was completely immaterial in the end when you consider the cost for the new hub and bolts. I am sure that cost Big-O a good $300.

Good guys there, just an incompetent staff.

 

It doesn't take a genius or longer than maybe twenty minutes to patch a tire the oldschool way.

The danger is in mounting performance tires, or low-profile tires on big rims. You risk taking a chunk out of the wheel and damaging the tire (it's where those ugly little bulges on the sidewall come from when it's done wrong).

 

"(it's where those ugly little bulges on the sidewall come from when it's done wrong)."

I think you just answered a question I had.
I just bought my Mini on Wednesday and didnt realize until later that night that my front drivers side tire has a little bulge in the sidewall.
I was hoping to have it replaced under warranty but it sounds like you are saying it is a bad install which I assume would not be covered.

Having just bought the car and not knowing what it feels like to drive a "normal" Mini, is this bulge affecting the way the car drives, sounds, feels?

Thanks
Ty