Well, I finally ordered 4 new tires for = my van. I decided to get the Yokahama's from Tirerack. I = ordered them Thursday and had them Tuesday, excellent service. I had to go by = Sears anyway so I decided to have them mount and balance them. I had one = flat tire in the back of the van and I was using the spare, which was the = only decent tire on the van. I asked the service manger to make sure that the = spare ( Michelin ) was left alone and the flat tire was replaced. I = even made sure that he wrote it on the job ticket and highlighted it. I was = told " We are very careful with these kind of things, stop back in an hour to = pick it up."

= The van was on the lift with all wheels removed. Two tires, including the = good spare, had been removed from the wheels and were headed towards = scrap. The flat tire was still in the van 6' in the air. After explaining = this to the mechanic ( I'll use that term loosely ) , he apologized and agreed = to remount the spare. I requested the self adhesive wheel weights and = went back to the waiting room.

The "mechanic" = returned and explained that he could not use the adhesive weights, they wouldn't = stick to the wheels. " We could use them, but we would have to clean the = wheels. " NO SH*T !" I agreed that the could use the other one's as long = as they were the right one's for alloy wheels...

Next the "mechanic" = was having trouble balancing a wheel, so he brought "mechanic #2" over to offer his = expertise. Mechanic #2 informed me that they could not balance = this wheel because it was severely cracked, he said I would have to scrap this = wheel. Surprised, I went to check the wheel. I = explained to him that it was road tar, and showed him other spots on the surface = of the wheel. He only hesitantly agreed with me after I removed the = "crack" with my fingernail. Mechanic #2 was no longer interested in helping.

When the balancing = was finally complete, I saw mechanic #1 reach in to turn the steering wheel and = noticed that the door wouldn't shut properly. I looked under the van to see = where the lift was staged, right across the rear of the gas tank. Needless = to say, I quickly pointed out to him that he had crushed my gas tank in two = places. "oh, really? It's not leaking." I walked away frustrated.

A few minutes later = the van was back on the ground. The mechanic greeted me when I came back = out " I checked your tank, it's fine. It popped right back out when I put = it down." So I looked to confirm what he said. The drivers side cross = member was pushed up into the tank, about 1" higher than it should be. = The passenger side was almost back where it should be, but there was a nice = fresh crease about 1/4 -1/2" deep and 3 - 4" long. I asked him to look again. "Oh, I'll see if the manger is here." The assistant = manager came out but was physically unable to look under the van. He asked = mechanic#2 to give his opinion. "It's not leaking." He was also = quick to point out that there was a dent towards the front of the tank and I had = probably bottomed the van out on some big rocks. I agreed with him that = there was a dent, but also showed him the "fresh" creases on both sides of the tank. My point was that the tank was not crushed when I arrived, = it shouldn't be when I leave. "It's not leaking, it'll be ok." = I could have made a scene but I was reassured that the manager would call me to straighten things out the following day.

I also arrived home = to find that I had 3 black valve stems and 1 chrome. They also hadn't removed = any of the stickers off of the tire tread. I know it's purely cosmetic, = but irritating all the same. For $68 worth of nothing but mounting and = balancing, you would at least hope it was done well.

On a positive note, = The tires are excellent. Also the manager did call on time and promised to = pay for a replacement tank. I learned once and for all to avoid the big chains...overpriced and sloppy to say the least. It pays to watch = these clowns, I wouldn't have noticed this tank if I didn't look over his = shoulder. All it cost to mount these tires was $68.00, 2+hours, and a = gas tank...and that wasn't even on sale.