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 ...

John of El Mirage AZ (08/30/08)
I purchased 4 tires for my 2001 GMC Jimmy in August of 2006 at the Big O store in Surprise, AZ. The manager, Dan Groman, proposed that I buy the Big O brand and I did at 130/tire. He assured me that they were 70,000 mile tires and I was good with that. Now it is 2 years and 22,000 miles later. Coming back from Los Angeles, I threw a balance weight off my right front tire. No big deal, changed it out and continued on.

In the middle of the desert I heard a rattle in the left rear area. We stopped at a rest stop 2 miles down the road and noticed that the left rear had a chunk of the tread missing. I already had used the spare, and now had a dilemma. I changed it with the unbalanced tire and drove the final 130 miles home.

Went to the Big O store the next day and they said it looked like an alignment issue and offered to check it for me. I am a mechanic and am not stupid. I would never let a tire shop do an alignment as they have something to gain by a mis-aligned suspension. He then offered me 2 tires for 190 and I refused. I called their corporate office and explained all of this. They promised to call back and never did,

I called them back and they said that tread wear would be used to prorate. I wanted mileage to be used and reported them to the Better Business Bureau. Got quite the response from Mr. Groman accusing me of taking his time away from his family. I know what tires mean for the safety of my family and check/service them every week. I rotate them every 3 months and check my alignment every 6 months. I will never recommend them to anyone again.

Ralph of Arvada, CO August 12, 2008

Ralph of Arvada CO (08/12/08)
I have bought tires there for a number of years at least 5 sets of tires so far, up to this point, I have been very satified with my dealings with big O. But I took my truck in for an estimate for brakes and tha manager told it would be 500 plus, I said I can,t afford that much said thanks and started to leave when the manager said thanks for wasting my time. A few weeks later I brought my truck back for a tire rotation and now my truck shakes like crazy it did,nt before. I may never shop there again for my tire needs, because I believe they did something to my front end and now I don,nt trust your manager or mechanics.

Derek of Auburn, WA July 12, 2008

Derek of Auburn WA (07/12/08)
I purchased Big O Exclusive tires all around on my 1996 Camaro. I purchased 4 Falken 329 series tires at approx. 500 for them with the install. After about 4,000 miles the driver rear tire has a blow out through the wall of the wheel. I call the nearest store since I am 25 miles from home and they inform me that blow outs aren't covered on the warranty offered with Big O EXCLUSIVE tires. So, like a sucker, I purchase another tire from them. I'll never use Big O Tires again. Not bad customer service, just a failure to back their product.

Rosana of Indio, CA July 11, 2008

Rosana of Indio CA (07/11/08)
My husband went to Big O Tires and Service Center in Indio CA. to have a tire changed and he spoke to Javier Plata and Mr. Plata said that he woud be happy to help him. So Mr. Plata lifted the car and my husband Francisco fallowed him out and heared an employee by the name of Angel call out to Javier did YOU TURN THE SWITH OFF and Javier said no. So when he put the car down it did not lift nor balance out any more. The car that they lifted is a Lincon Town car and this is important to know these procuder and be trained to do this .

Javier knew that they were neglegent in there part and to have this repaired woud be exspencive. We were diapointed to see that they washed there hands on the matter. This is a faluse andvertisment in the companys part that they have well trained staff and excelent guest service.

The damage that that was done to the car is that the springs that nolonger lifted because of not turning the swith off. Francisco and I only want to be reemberst for the cost of the parts that we bought, because this was not our fault and the cost of these parts where 407.00 and we only want what is fair. We have tried to contact the owners 4 times to get compensated and the only answer was will call you back. I think that as a costermer we deserver reembestment and answers.

Rosana of Indio, CA July 10, 2008

Rosana of Indio CA (07/10/08)
My husband went to BigOTires in Indio CA. to have a tire repaired and an employee by the name of Javier Plata agreed to assist him. Our car is an Lincon Town car and before you lift these cars there is a swith that needs to be turned off before lefting. Javier lift the car to change the tire and when an employee by the name of Angel held at him to say hay did you turn the swith off he then stop to put the car down and the car never lifted and the was pure negligents in his part and of the company when we reported this.

We had this repaired and the only thing we wanted was to reemberst for then parts that we bought which was 407.00. BigO tires claim to have will trained employees and good costumer service. We have called the owner of the branch and just been jacked around.

The car when lifted and the swith was not turned off, when let down it nolonger balanced or lifted from its norm. The car stayed at about 6inch from the ground. We bought the parts from Ford to have this repaired. 

Mike of Chico, CA June 7, 2008

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