Another opportunity for a rant. Any takers?

[Huw Powell]

> > In southern NH/northern MA, where should I take my new Potenzas?

> > NTB (Nat'l Tire and Battery, a division of Sears) in Portsmouth
> >
>
> Oh, god no. Don't go there. Maybe they hire college graduates for that
> particular branch, but in my experience, the wrenches at NTB don't know
> which end of a wrench to sit on.

Maybe... all I know is the half dozen times I have been there have all
been ok.  Wheels properly balanced, torqued, etc., customer practically
encouraged to go into the work area and watch.

> They couldn't get a locking wheel cap off one of my cars.

I don't even think twice about that.  I put goofy hubcaps on my car, I
take them off for anyone who has to work on it.

>  They couldn't figure out which direction to mount directional tires.

I onlyhad to remount one tire when I did it myself.  And you'd think,
how hard can it be?  Two lefts, two rights.  Two of each.  When I was
done I had three of one and one of the other.... doh!

>  They leave cars outside, with the keys in the
> ignition, with the window open, in the rain.

I drive mine in, and drive it out.

I guess I want to minimise my car's exposure, to the work that actually
needs to be done.   Seems to work ok.

> Tire Rack has relationships with a couple of good shops in New England,
> including the Little Foreign Car Garage in Waltham, and Direct Tire.

As I said, any reasonably successful independent shop ought to be able
to handle tire mounting and balancing with aplomb.  Heck, if *I* can do
it, anybody with a tire machine should be able to!

--
Huw Powell

http://www.humanspeakers.com/

http://www.humanthoughts.org/