lug nut woes

[mobomelter]

first off i want everyone to know why you shouldn't go to tires plus.

They can't put lug nuts on right.

so my question is what size lugnut goes on the 3s with stock rims? advance and autozone haven't a clue (big surprise)

 

[tsunami]

can't you just bring it to the dealer and get another one? i would also suggest taking off a lug nut and bringing it into napa or where ever ...they can just try spinnin it on threaded rod until they get the right pitch... also i would suggest check the rest of your lugs if you haven't already, i took my truck to discount tire and the same thing happened to me, i checked the rest of my lugs and found 1 more real loose, and 3 just under torqued.... def sketchy!!

 

[mobomelter]

i don't have the right size torque wrench. and i couldn't get any of the other lug nuts off. somebody has to know the size.

 

[tsunami]

you couldn't use the one with the car? if it doesn't give you enough leverage use a big box end wrench or a length of steel pipe to give you more torque to get them off, they shouldn't be that tight, they over tightened them... man what a mess...good luck man!!

 

[mobomelter]

i used the x style lug nut wrench i have. couldn't get them loose. bottom line is i'm never going back to that store.

 

[Aricjm15]

take it to the dealer, tell them you need a lugnut, shouldnt really cost you to much, maybe a few bucks, if they charge you labor your dealer is gay

 

[mobomelter]

i haven't let the dealer touch the car since i got it. i never had a problem with tires plus with my focus. i don't know whats going on with that place.

 

[tsunami]

the dude was probably...(beer)..... or....(stoned)... being a tire jockey isn't the most intellectually straining job...

 

[mobomelter]

seriously give me the job i'll do it better than they will. and i don't even know tire sizes.

 

[willy65000]

first off i want everyone to know why you shouldn't go to tires plus.

They can't put lug nuts on right.

so my question is what size lugnut goes on the 3s with stock rims? advance and autozone haven't a clue (big surprise)

They pulled the same B.S. with me a couple of years back. I got home, checked all my lugs as I alsways do after someone works on my car and all of the lugs were way over tightened. I think I broke two or three of them just trying to remove them.

 

[GimmeA3S]

Always take your car to Mazda, or some reputable shop that always uses a torque wrench for this job. I took mine to Pep Boys for a simple tire rotation...they put my lugs back on WAY too tight. I broke two sockets trying to get them off. Bad for the lugs, studs and rotors and wheels. 80 FT LB is plenty tight for alloy wheels.

 

[mobomelter]

yeah i have a feeling i'm going to be in trouble if i take them off. damn if i was getting paid i would never overtighten stuff. i mean you're getting paid to put bolts on ffs.

 

[mobomelter]

problem solved. dealer charges 5.95 for 1 lugnut. no wonder they get called the stealership.

 

[ag bullet]

the dude was probably...(beer)..... or....(stoned)... being a tire jockey isn't the most intellectually straining job...

What the hell are you basing that comment on? I have been in the tire business for almost 3 years now. I started in the shop and now I am an assistant manager. There will always be mistakes and errrors no matter where you work or what you do.

Our training process is a lot more difficult than you could expect. DTC/ATC has a very rigid training program and all of our techs are signed on on various tasks once they are mastered according to our guidelines.

And to further qualify this I have a four year degee from a university. I worked in the non-profit sector for a number of years, before I decided to do something a little more in line with my interests. Now I make more and I am happier than I was sitting behind a desk.

Just thought that I would share the other side of the coin, since you fired off that reply with nothing more to offer.

As for the lugs you can switch to a spline drive and prevent damage to the lug holes and the plus is that each one is a lock. You will need a 12x1.5 thread and a 21mm head to match the type on our cars. Make sure that if you replace the lugs, that you retorque them to 90 ft/lbs after the first 25-50 miles of driving.

 

[mobomelter]

hey notice i didn't bash the whole tire industry. just tires plus in saint marys. i feel since i went in about 45 min before closing they rushed the job and screwed up.

 

[anarchistchiken]

Well you seem to be a pretty smart guy, but if you really think that most people who work in most tire shops are smart people, then you're an idiot. There are some good ones, but for the most part, even the managers are not quite up to the level of flies on the intelli-meter.

 

[ag bullet]

Well you seem to be a pretty smart guy, but if you really think that most people who work in most tire shops are smart people, then you're an idiot. There are some good ones, but for the most part, even the managers are not quite up to the level of flies on the intelli-meter.

Well, like I said, it is all in the training. I work for the biggest and best independant tire co in the US, so I know I can speak for us as a whole. As for our competition.... well read the first post of this thread again.

 

[AzMz3]

Well, like I said, it is all in the training. I work for the biggest and best independant tire co in the US, so I know I can speak for us as a whole. As for our competition.... well read the first post of this thread again.

I can see what he is saying. I only buy from Discount Tires and I stand and watch them all of the time. One time that I didn't they ended up buying me a new rim from Ford and 4 new center caps.
And my last experience with the TPMS with them was pretty bad too.
You have alot of faith in your company to speak as a whole.
It might not be the training but the person.

Sounds like you are very passionate in your work and that is the type of person I want to do work that I can't do to my car.

But I will say that they are the best tire shop out there.IMO

 

[mobomelter]

i mean if i had my own lift i wouldn't even go to a tire place. except to get the tires mounted on the rims.

 

[anarchistchiken]

Or balanced, or alligned. If you take your car to the shop to get your tires rotated you might as well throw $20 down the drain. Just do it yourself! It's a little work, it takes like 15 minutes, and you get the satisfaction of not only knowing you just helped keep yourself healthy, but you also did work on your own car!


AG bullet, what company do you work for?