Firestone Sucks
 

Got new rear RE-11s and an alignment. Love fresh rubber.

Drove it away, back end felt weird.

Couple days later I entered a high speed corner, heavy braking and the tail started wagging - disconcerting. Made my right hand turn in... and the back end stepped out by about 3 inches. Stayed in it so as not to have it snap back and run me off the road. Made it through the turn more than a little freaked out.

Went home, cleaned the feces out of my pants and setup a string alignment. Left rear: NEGATIVE .15 toe. Other wheels were out too, 3 tires with negative toe.

Took the car back and told them they screwed up the alignment. REDO IT!

Picked it up. Same thing. Measure again. Now NEGATIVE .18 toe on left rear. Still 3 tires with negative toe.

This time I set the toe myself and it drives great. Guess I'm just going to buy a camber gauge and do the whole alignment myself each time because...

...what good is a lifetime alignment from Firestone if I'm dead?

Might want to try another Firestone location/shop.

There should be at least one decent alignment shop in the Orlando area. Ask around.

I don't get it. It's within spec.

Perhaps. But at this point I'm very leery of trusting it to any chain shop. Going to find a speed shop that will get it right and to the specs I want, not just "in range".


I don't think negative toe is in spec for the Z. Am I reading your comment wrong?

I had a bad experience with Firestone Dealer as well years back. I had purchased a set of tires for an 2004 WRX. I would go to this location to have the tires rotated since it was free since I bought the tires there. I had indications that they also needed re-aligned and they kept saying they were fine.

Of course a few months later I failed inspection, even after I told them over and over they needed re-aligned every time I went there. Went to a new shop and bought new tires they lasted years.

So yes, never again I set foot on Firestone.

I bought a lifetime alignment from Firestone a few years ago with the Z.
In my hometown, I lived by a pretty honest shop that would always do my car and get it in good specs.
After moving, I haven't found a good shop yet.

It's always been a runaround: "We don't do low profile tires" "Your wheels are too large" (19") "Our mounting tools would scuff your wheels at that profile"
I ended up getting a referral to a TiresPlus after going to 4 shops, which ended up forwarding me to another Tires plus.

At the end of all that, they said they couldn't do camber in the rear, despite my Z having camber arms that make it ridiculously easy to adjust.

Ever since, I've taken it to local independent shops that charge under $50/alignment, do it exactly as I've liked, and don't give a runaround.

Firestone's lifetime warranty might be a good deal if you have time to play their game, but the added hassle and lower quality service isn't worth it for me.

I take my cars to a speed shop dat aligns racecars. Never a problem

Same experience on initial install of new tires. Went to 3 Firestones before I found one that said they could do it. Didn't inspire confidence.

Let this be my request for recommendations for an Orlando shop that does race car alignments. Anyone? I'll pays the money, I just wants the good service!

I thought you mean:rofl2: Firestone Tyres Sucks.

It is hard to find a good alignment guy. If you find one, stick with them.

Crap. I guess I accidentally made clickbait.


I'm learning that. If I ever do I will. Until then it'll be me I guess.

wrong,
positive toe...little up front & a little more out back/also it changes with fuel on-board...full tank=more -camber & toe,,,as fuel is burned out...wheels pull more upright & give more positive toe....
Toe can change as much as .250" total...pending fuel level.

I took my car to Tire Kingdom to install 4 brand new Hankooks. I run 255s and 305s. When I came back to pick my car up, those idiots put my 305s in the front and 255s in the rear. That was the last time I'm ever doing business them. Now I just bring my car to one of those Vietnamese tire shops with lawn mowers and weed whackers out front. They're cheaper, faster, and get the job done right.

Well, in their defense you have a front wheel drive car and need all the traction in the front :bowrofl: :roflpuke2:

Goodyear alignments suck too. Years back while getting my Vette aligned, I saw the alignment guy banging on the sensors that mount to the wheel. Banged them a little then did the wheel turn thing and checked the numbers. Kept doing it until the machine said it was in spec. Freaking retard! In a 69 Vette you need shims for the rear toe adjustment. So bought a shim set and had it ready for them. This time at Wheelworks, this guy still wouldn't touch it. It's worth the extra money to have it done by someone who isn't an idiot. I haven't let anyone touch the alignment on the Z yet. Tires wear perfect so I'm not going to let them screw it up.

Good call, don't touch the alignment until you have a reason to ; i.e. uneven tire wear or handling issue.
The majority of shops will screw it up even more.

I've got a 5 year agreement with NTB that I use every 6 months or whenever I put on new wheels or tires. They cost me $25 per alignment and that number goes down each time I go in. I've never had any issues and the guys are always willing to let me watch them work and even chat with me about the adjustments. However, I run stock wheels, near-stock size tires, and all stock suspension.

When I begin replacing suspension parts, I will be taking it to the local speed shop. It will be much more expensive than my NTB agreement.

I agree 110%. Firestone sucks a$$!

With my last car, a Fiat 500 Abarth, they ended up screwing up every single brand new wheel just by replacing the tires. Every wheel had an 1" gash on the lip. The wheels were dirty and I didn't notice until the next day when I washed the car. I should have suspected it since it took 3 morons over 4 hours to mount 4 tires!

I'll NEVER go back to a Firestone.

It is WELL worth it. Those are the only guys I trust to do mine, besides me. Plus they can do cornering balancing and everything else which is nice too.

I'm not sure why, but this really seemed appropriate here :ughdance:

LOL

I just go to a local shop that will take the time to dial in both sides equal. Firestones vary so much that I just don't bother any more. Majority of them will just make sure each corner is within spec without any other regards.