danny5002
Oklahoma
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Joined: 03/22/2004
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We were south bound on I-15 and pulled into a station on the right side of the road for a rest break. It was a Chevron station with a parking area for big rigs in the back and was located on the north side of the exchange road. Across the street south was a Texaco with a tire center next door to the station. While eating lunch we notice a golf cart circling our 5th wheel and truck. We had just finished lunch and the same golf cart appeared and man knocked at our door. He informed me that I had a defective right front tire that was ready to blow out. He led us across to the tire center where he said he had a replacement tire. We pulled the rig over to the tire center and he pointed out the “defective” spot on the right front tire and described it as a bulge that was going to blow out. He also pointed to a line that ran completely around the tire and he described this as the entire tread getting ready to separate. The tire he had to replace the “defective” tire turned out to be some third party “off road” thing, not a road tire and not a Michelin as he originally claimed. And oh by the way, since this tire was radically different from the other front tire I would have to buy two of them so I would have a matched pair on the front. At this point bells started going off and I remembered seeing an article somewhere about the “dimple” on the sidewall of most radial tires that results from the melding of the ends of the sidewall and the seam from putting the tread around the circumference of the tire.
Although concerned after this “tire expert” had claimed I was about to have a disaster I went on down the road looking for a Firestone center that could have a look at these tires that I had just bought a year ago. I found a tire center and just as I had thought, this “bulge” turned out to be the spot on the sidewall where the radial tire was put together and the ridge around the tire is where the tread was formed. I had no tire problem at all but this whole exercise had cost us a half a day of travel time.
So beware, there appears to be a tire scam going on in this area.
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coolbreeze01
Redding, Ca
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Joined: 08/24/2006
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Amazing!! Glad you didn't fall for it and it sounds like you know more about tires now.
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LB, SRW, 4X4, 6-Speed Auto, 3.73, Prodigy P3, Blue Ox Sway Pro........
2007 Komfort 212 on 225 75R 15E Maxxis ST Tires.........
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BroncosFan
USA
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Joined: 06/23/2006
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others have posted this same scam on the forum here. I guess it's a popular one.
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2oldman
Winchester WA
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Yep.. been there. I will give them credit for actually pointing out unusual tire wear which eventually cost me a front-end rebuild, but their remedy of new shocks would have been a complete waste of money.
This was in Scipio.
* This post was
edited 07/12/11 10:12am by 2oldman *
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danny5002
Oklahoma
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BroncosFan wrote:others have posted this same scam on the forum here. I guess it's a popular one.
Ah ha! How about this location? Has it been mentioned?
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BroncosFan
USA
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Joined: 06/23/2006
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Just search the archives for more locations. Even 2oldman above had it happen, it's well know here, take care.
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grey`eagle
N31° 55’ W95° 30’ ----- ESE of One Tree, TX
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Only way these folks can be put down is to file a "scam" report with the Utah State Attorney Generals office.
From what I understand, the State of Utah will go to great ends to protect their Travel Industry. Things such as this will give any state, city or municipality a very big black eye.
You might also forward a copy of your letter or email to the largest newspaper in Salt Lake.
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Now enjoying mother earth at ground level and one mile per minute.
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tsetsaf
Full-Timer
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Our very first trip with the fiver and I knew nothing about tires. We had a blowout on the highway and one of these honest individuals sold me 2 "new" tires. 400 miles later another blowout. Turned out the 4 "new" tires were between 8 and 9 years old! Thus began the tire learning curve most fiver owners end up going through.
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retired1
arizona
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Joined: 09/20/2004
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The same thing happened to us at the Flying J just up the road last year. Same MO with fellow on golf cart. Just happened to have a set of tires to fit our trailer. Dire consequences if we continued without new tires. We didn't buy, and made it home just fine.
Retired1
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Searching_Ut
Utah
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Joined: 05/09/2011
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Hmmm, it would seem that attempted scam has been going on there for years. I encountered the guy in what sounds like the same area several years ago while getting fuel, and it was my truck tire he was concerned about. At that time he wasn't in a golf cart though, and the guy ended up running like a frightened jackrabbit after we had a discussion regarding how angry I tended to get when people tried to rip me off.
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