Big O Tires

Big O • Tire quality • Sales practices • Damage, errors • Auto service ---- • Sears Sells NTB to Big O Parent

Big O, with about 450 stores in 19 states, is part of TBC Corp., which calls itself the "industry's premier private brand tire marketer." We're not sure what that means but it sounds like Big O sells private-label tires at what are supposedly bargain prices.

TBC's latest acquisition is National Tire and Battery, which Sears unloaded after running it into the ground. Other brands include Carroll Tire Co., with a network of 5,000 retailers in the Southeast; Tire Kingdom, with 150 stores in the Southeast; Northern States Tire, a wholesaler in the Northeast; TBC de Mexico; and Superior Tire, a Las Vegas-area retailer.

Some recent complaints ...

Mike of idaho falls, ID October 19, 2009

On Thursday Oct. 8th while driving from Afton to Idaho Falls my truck began to vibrate as if was suffering a flat. I immediately stopped and became aware of instead of a flat that all of my transmission fluid was leaking out at the rear of the transmission case just in front of the first set of rear wheel drive u-joints. The vehicle was not drivable so I called Hutchinson's Towing in IF and they towed me to "Rumbles" diesel for repair.

During the repair the transmission itself was found to be intact, but the case was split at the rear of the case. It was also noted that the first set of U-joints were damaged due to the loss of one of the "D" rings that hold the fitting together. According to "Doug" the owner of Rumbles, the failure of the joint, due to the loss of the "D" ring was the cause of the failure. He also stated that had the joint completely come apart, the probable drop of the drive shaft to the pavement could have caused a much more serious incident.

During the repair, he sent the drive shaft to Musselman Eq. to make sure the shaft was not bent, it was not bent and the u-joint was replaced at their facility. They are looking for the damaged u-joint, but the evidence points to a faulty installation. Totally negative experience, 1683.58 to repair, they offered 168.00

WENDELL of springfield, OH October 3, 2009

Bought new tires for my truck and wifes bravadain 2008.We were promised free gas and never received any. They also insisted on alighning my truck bechtel store could get it right after 4 different apointments they sent me to beavercreek store (30 minn drive)they finnaly got it right.whatt a joke

Rudolph of La Mirada, CA September 26, 2009

Our car was working perfectly good when we took it in for oil change...(we mean perfect)! They did a transmission flush, Because Bryan said we needed it. We agreed. The very Next Day, leaking Transmission fluid. Took back to Big O Tires, they said this happens, "We will fix for another 105"... no way! for something they did. We had already pd. 312. (we must add, they also did oil change, other services etc.)

We said later W/you, this should not have happened , if it was done correctly! "we should not be charged again"! We then took it elsewhere, another mechanic, paid more MONEY! but it was done correctly. (the reputable mechanic told us what was done Incorrectly by Big O.

We need to be reinbursed for that service. We can clearly see they take advantage of Women & Seniors! So very disappointed & ripped off!

Harvey of Reno, NV September 7, 2009

One leg of a recent trip took me from Flagstaff, Az. To Las Vegas, Nv. via I-40. I blew a tire, severely damaged an almost new aluminum wheel and damaged the wheel well of my 5th. wheel trailer. AAA came to my rescue, mounted my spare and got me going. The next morning, with my 4 year warrantee in hand I went to the Big O store in Las Vegas, where I had purchased the tires, a little over 3 years ago, to buy a new wheel and get a replacement tire. During a conversation with the manager he said that "tires on a trailer are not covered by any warrantee". When I pointed out that his shop had installed the tires on my trailer and given me the warrantee that I was holding, the conversation came to an end and I left. I think that I have figured out how Big O got its name -- it stands for customer satisfaction!

Val of Woodland Park, CO September 7, 2009

I had been noticing an intermittent vibration in my steering wheel which felt like a tire going (harder to steer), but when I'd pull over, all tires looked fine. I took it to the Big O up here in Woodland Park to make sure it was safe to drive down to Monument, CO and they said my struts were bad, but it should be okay for a while yet. When I got down to Monument (50 miles away), the wheel actually started jerking HARD to the left & there was a simultaneous thunking from the left front wheel, though I could see nothing. Since there happened to be a Big O in Monument, I dropped it off there, telling them what the guys up in WP said. They apparently just assumed it was the "bad" struts (without checking out other possible reasons), charged me over 1000 for parts & labor, replaced a couple of belts & did an alignment, all of which ended up costing me more than 1350. Then while driving up the pass, THE CAR STARTED DOING THE SAME THING--that is, it felt like a tire was going flat & I had to pull over to make sure. I then drove the rest of the way at 45 mph with a continuous vibration in the steering wheel. The next day it seemed fine, but you can understand why I'M FEELING A BIT INSECURE! The guy in Monument said I should just take it back to the WP Big O, but by now I'm so broke and since I never paid them for their "diagnostic," what recourse do I have? I'm afraid to do another 100-mile round trip to Monument, and I'm sure they won't be refunding any of my money since the struts were probably in need of replacement (although a guy at a gas station pushed on the hood & didn't seem to think they were all that bad). All I'll have done in the future at Big O is tire changes!

Jim of Los Banos, CA August 27, 2009

I took my car in for a oil change on 9/21/09. I noticed my drive way was with a puddle of oil. I checked my oil and it was approx. 4 qts. of oil low. I replaced the oil loss and my wife took the car back to Big O Tires the following day 8/27/09. When my wife took the car in she spoke with the manager L. Goldstein and told him I think the oil drian plug must not be tighten because our drive way has alot of oil spilled.

After a hour waiting. The mngr. said that was not were the leak was coming from he then asked if I wanted to wait or a ride home till they figured out where the oil leak was coming from. I (Cathy) said they could drop me off at home and call me when the problem was found. Approx. a hour half later the manager L. called me and said there was two leaks they found one they were able to tightened and fixed that leak the other leak was due to I needed to replace intake manifold gasket which is 64.95 and the labor was 3.60 hrs neede@93.70 per hr. total labor cost is 337.32. L. said I should get the intake take manifest gasket replaced asap because I could damage the engine from loss of oil and would burn up the engine.

L. also found additional work needed strut rod brushing left and right side 2@27.50 each labor 1.50 hours @93.70 per hour totaling labor cost to 140.55. I asked the manager how could this part need to be replaced because before the oil change I didn't have any oil leak problem. L. said due to the car being 18 years old it was wear and tear. After picking up my car I took it straight to our mechanic shop AA auto and spoke to our mechanic Fernando explained the problem to him and gave the paper work that i receieved from Big O tires.

My husband later in the aftenoon picked the car from AA Auto and the mechanic Fernando told my husband that it looks like the oil filter was loose because right below it was covered in oil he cleaned it up and then he checked the intake manifold gasket and didn't see one oil leak and said that was definetely not the problem. Fernando the mechanic then replaced the oil loss and ran the car for an hour and didn't see any oil leak after. Fernando said the car should be fine but driving the car with low oil may have caused permanent engine damage.

Dale of San Jose, CA June 30, 2009

I took my sisters car in for tires to the San Jose Parkmoor store which turned into tires and struts, we did not deny that the struts likely needed to be changed at 100K.... we agreed to the added work. We we went to pick up the car and they only had one new strut in front as per the store "they shipped the wrong strut for the right side" Why weren't we called before you installed just one new strut, struts and shocks are Always changed in pairs and always balanced on passenger cars.

he suggested getting a different strut for the missing one (at added cost to us of course) which would be of different type and therefore different suspension ride making the car unsafe and causing uneven tire wear. I find it absurd that the owner of the store (Emad) would even suggest something that might lead to vehicle handling or possible accident, nor why he did NOT call us before installing one strut and thinking that would be OK for us to wait or refund the difference.....

Caitlin of New Castle, CO June 23, 2009

I have taken my car into big o for tires and oil change services quite often. I was told at my last visit that I needed to replace the oil pan in my 2005 VW Jetta. I asked the tech when that needed to be done he said by the time my next oil change was due. I decided to get a second opinion and took my car to out local VW dealership, the evaluated my car, did my oil change and told me "your oil pan needs to be replaced due to poor mechanical services provided elsewhere, where did you take your car" I explained to them that i had taken my car to big o tires and they had offered to fix it. Little did I know big o was the problem all along. I ended spending over 600 dollars in repairs because my extened warranty wouldn't cover faults by a mechanic. I feel like big o is responsible for doing poor service on my car. This is not the first incident ive had with them and Im not happy.

Martin of Redding, CA June 15, 2009

I wanted to provide this positive comment specific to the Redding California Big O tire store. Sometimes it's these big chains can vary a lot between different locations. I have had my 1990 Chevy truck in on two different ocassions to this store and found them to be honest and cost competitive. The first time, I had my tires rotated and balanced. They did the job quickly and professionally and didn't try to sell me anything I didn't need. The technician pointed out some accelerated wear on the outside of the front tires and suggested an allignment might be needed.

The tires did show some uneven wear and I had my wife take the truck back a month or two later for an alignment. They checked the specs and reported that the alignment was good. There was no charge. They could have easily charged me for an alignment that I didn't need, but didn't. I'll go back to them next time.

Rosalind of Sacramento, CA June 8, 2009

9/9/09 - I came in with a slow leak in one of my rear tires. After checking the tread on my tires it was determined I needed to replace the rear tires. I agreed to replace the tires. 6/6/09 - I went to Sears and had my brakes serviced, my tires were rotated. All was well I thought.

One of my neighbors was checking my car for me and noticed something was not right with my tires. He checked the notice on the inside driver wall and the label stated my rear tires required P255/45R17, what is on my car are 235/50ZR17. According to specifications my rear tires should be P255/45R17. There is a caution note in the drivers manual stating that: mixing tires could cause you to lose control while driving. Also mixing tires the vehicle could cause damage to my car.

I went back to Sears and told them they did not rotate the tires properly and found the size difference. I am going back to Big O tires this morning attempting to straighten this out.

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