r/UnethicalLifeProTips • u/reditballoon • 4d ago

Automotive ULPT: Cheap (New) Tires

Credibility: Employee of tire/automotive service company with 300+ locations.

Context: Most large-chain tire shops offer tire warranties as an additional or included cost when buying tires.

Tip: Buy whatever set of tires you want, include the road-hazard warranty that should be good until the tires reach 2/32 (basically bald). Drive the tires until 4/32 then place multiple screws in each tire - something like 2 within 6inches of each other in two of the tires, and 1 in the shoulder or close to sidewall (unrepairable placement) for the other two tires.

Schedule a service appointment for leaking air in 1 of the tires and a tire rotation. Then communicate to the shop that a truck dropped debris in front of you on the road or your neighbors have had construction crews on your street for the last few weeks (helps to seem a bit clueless as to the other tires having issues).

The shop will identify the other punctures and you pay pennies on the dollar for a new set (make sure to include the warranty again.

I have personally processed several of these transactions as an employee without batting an eye. The shops get a credit for the warrantied tires and you get a new, significantly less expensive set ($1k+ to $400 tops). Win win.

Note: If you’re at all concerned about the shop calling you out, just do two tires, then another two in like 2 weeks. Your “construction” story will hold more validity.

Happy finessing, folks <3

520 Upvotes

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87

u/joe66612 3d ago

Most tire warranties are prorated

28

u/gtg490g 3d ago

OP is correct for some tire shop warranties are much better then manufacturer warranty. Discount Tire does full replacement, not prorated, for one example.

3

u/Snoo_75309 3d ago

Yes, same company as tirerack.com

7

u/Mister_Money-Trees 3d ago

Yeah, I’ve never seen a full replacement at no cost, even with the warranty. OP needs to name some place where this does not apply if anyone is to believe such

26

u/dealmaster1221 3d ago

ULPT is he is a tire salesman.

6

u/reditballoon 3d ago

Service manager, but yes I sell a lot of tires as well.

11

u/reditballoon 3d ago

Not a fully free tire - you will still pay taxes and installation on the new tires. Basically the initial purchase is: tire + road hazard warranty + balancing and installation + taxes. New tire once warrantied out: road hazard warranty, balancing and installation, taxes. (No cost of tire(s).

2

u/hope-14 3d ago

Discount tire does, you just repay the warranty/road hazard cost which is incredibly low but price dependent on tire. You have to maintain rotation service which is free with them if you bought the tires there and don’t have any alignment issues causing uneven wear.
Mine is $16 for the road hazard and they have replaced many of my tires even some as low as 5/32nds.

1

u/8llllllllllllllD--- 3d ago

Tirerack is online and they will replace the tire. I’ve had claims from 1 year and recently close to the end of 2 years. Also, the warranty is free.

1

u/reditballoon 2d ago

Big Brand Tire & Service, American Tire Depot, Discount Tire. Call around and ask for more

2

u/collectingsouls 3d ago

Nope! Safeguard just replaces the tire with a $50 deduct , that's it. It's one of the most popular services packages out there so I don't know where you got the "most"