In retrospect I should have dropped it off and said “just do whatever feels good and if it’s cheap I won’t bitch”. Would have saved me some confusion.
Tire Confusion
I had the weirdest conversations at the tire place. Note, this ain’t Les Schwab, it’s very rural. (It’s not really a “tires” place. More like “We fix basic shit whenever it’s pretty basic. Tires are simple and round so we do that. Don’t even slow down if you’ve got an EV. We’d probably put a new cord on your table saw if you ask nicely.”*) They also sell fuel, leather gloves, off road diesel, electric fencing insulators, propane, tires, tractor lubricant, ice cream sandwiches, live bait, oil (in gallon containers only), farm seed, hunting licenses, and windshield wipers… it’s like a step back in time to what a “full service gas station” once was. It makes me happy to spend money there.
Anyway I roll up in my hulking one ton diesel, gingerly towing a tiny boat trailer with no boat and temporary magnetic trailer lights zip tied down to the frame. It’s got pathetic little tires which are probably near rotten. They didn’t bat an eye. Love those guys!
So the dude’s like: “If you want, I can just cram tubes in those old tires. It’ll hold for a while.”
I’m cheap but not that cheap. “No, I want fresh tires, and especially I need the wheel bearings packed.”
“Suit yourself. For those peanut tires we can order 4 ply for $37.”
“Cool. About $70, plus labor for the bearing pack? Very reasonable.”
“Or we can do 6 ply for $3 more.”
“Oh heck yeah, do the six ply.”
“Both sides?”
“Yep, thanks.”
“I’ll order it up. Tires will arrive tomorrow. You know we can do tire and rim for $65?”
I was baked in the heat and not thinking well. I should have said yes, but I was out of brain. I stuck with a pair of 6 ply tires. I dropped the trailer where instructed and went off to do other errands.
A couple hours later it dawns on me that I don’t own a spare. Driving around without a spare in a weird tire size increases the odds of unwanted drama. So I call them back.
“It’s me again, I realize I’ll need a spare. So get me two pre-mounted tire and rim combos. $65 each right? Keep the two crappy old tires and I’ll have two useful spares.” I’m trying to stay on a budget but secretly I’m swayed by the idea of shiny new rims; and I really need a spare.
“Can do.”
The next day they call. It’s done. The guy tells me there was only one tire/rim combo to be had so he had to “make do”.
OK fine, it’ll be ugly having one side with a new rim and the other with an old rim (but a fresh tire). But it is what it is. Plus the remaining old tire is now my spare.
When I get there he’s elected for a combination I hadn’t imagined. Both old rims are on the trailer, clad in brand new tires. Leaning against the trailer is a brand new tire/rim set. Just sitting there, gleaming. So I now have three tires and the spare is nicer looking than anything else. Not what I imagined but it’ll do.
Somehow the $65 tire/rim combo has turned into something like $98. Good thing I only got one! Plus now I’ve bought 3 tires instead of 2. But it still was reasonable.
In the end I had no idea what was going to happen, how much it would cost, and why such decisions were made. But it was under $200 and the guy was nice. Who am I to complain? And the bearings are repacked… I think.
A.C.
*I exaggerate about the table saw. Lawn mower? Maybe. Electric stuff? Nope.
