Discount Tire for balancing/alignment?

Has anyone used Discount Tire for balancing/alignment?

I would doubt they have the proper alignment equipment but not sure.

I've had mixed results with Discount Tire...

Quotes source post: 9486922

If you go this route, make sure you: 1) Confirm they can dynamic road force balance 2) Document, with pictures, your wheel's current state of condition 3) Review the condition of your wheels with the service writter

Quotes source post: 9486922

No, but I have used other indy tire shops and save for one (Custom Alignment in Mountain View CA) I would never use any again. They do not pick up the car right and even for my non-Porsche cars the alignment was crap. Sincerely, Macster.

Never again for me, I had to go back 5 times and there was still a shimmy. I work for a Cadillac Dealer and one of the tech's I'm friends with cleaned all of the 2 way tape off from all of the weight locations, washed the back of the wheels and nailed it on the first try. He calibrated the machine before he did my wheels. We use Hunter equipment, it's the best out there.

After my recent experience with a large nationwide tire retailer, I'd never let Discount Tire align my car. Go to a shop that knows how to align Porsches. It'll cost you a little more, but it will be worth it.

I'd never blindly trust, or DISTRUST, any store...or indy. It seems to come down to exactly who at the store is doing the work.

Thanks for the input. Water pump crapped out yesterday do I am going to have my Indy do it all at once.

It's the individual, not the business or the equipment that make the job turn out right. My brother had a high end dealership bend an OZ 3 piece wheel on his Turbo a few months back using their Hunter machine. He even knew the tech, this did not work out well. I have used an family run alignment shop for several semi exotics, trucks, etc for years. They have done SCCA racers since the '60s and know alignment very well. They will do what is necessary to make the car do what you want or need as long as it does not affect the integrity or safety of the vehicle. I recently talked to them about a handling issue on my Turbo that I ended up sorting myself. They would do a complete alignment on it for under $60. I have used 2 different Discount tire shops in town. I will use them if I remove the wheels and carry them in. They quoted me nearly $100 to mount and bal 4 tires. Too much for 20 minutes work.

Quotes source post: 9488149

This is the key, as long as the equipment is calibrated & working properly the operator is the only variable. Quality tires help with the balancing too.

I've always had good luck with the Discount near my house. Most of the guys at this particular location are car enthusiasts themselves, rather than just some trained monkeys who needed a place to work, so I can trust that they'll take good care of my stuff.

Quotes source post: 9488960

I agree. I use Discount Tire down here in San Diego (on Poway Road) and had a perfect balance first time. I actually had a shimmy before on the old Conti's from a previous owner, and the new tires and balance fixed it. I can't speak for alignment, never had them do that for me.

If they have the right eqipment then depends on if the tech knows how to use it. I had bad experience at dealerships in past .. Often put trainee mechanics on the job with poor supervision .. So prefer to go to Porsche indie with lots of experience. Flintworks in Campbell will align for $149 .. Worth the little extra over wheelworks etc

If they have the latest and greatest road force balancer (they have an online locator).... For a tire balance yes! (you will see porsche dealers use the same road force balancer) Carry in the wheels and WATCH while they handle them. Tell them they are hub centric (I have seen shops think they are lug centric). Tell them not to bounce them on the ground. Specify exactly how much air to put in. Carefully remove the existing balance weights before you bring them in otherwise they'll just pry them off with screwdriver and scratch your wheels. Clean the wheels before you bring them in and make them look good and they will treat them better because of that. For an alignment, been there done that, I wouldn't waste your money. Take it to a good Porsche shop or dealer.

Quotes source post: 9486922

Balancing yes, quite often. I use them to mount and balance my race tires. Tell them exactly what you want done, leave nothing out or it will not happen. I always use Boardwalk Porsche (Dealer) to align.

Quotes source post: 9488149

This is the truth. My friend that is a Financial advisor that drives a ML55 AMG and Porsche Boxster S works at PepBoys part time. Everyone wants him to work on their cars. lol.

Tires and road force balancing - yes. Alignment - no. Partly because my local Discount Tire doesn't do alignments and partly because I believe an alignment requires more technical knowledge and skill than mounting and balancing does.