Big O Tires

Big O • Tire quality • Sales practices • Damage, errors • Auto service ---- • Sears Sells NTB to Big O Parent

Big O, with about 450 stores in 19 states, is part of TBC Corp., which calls itself the "industry's premier private brand tire marketer." We're not sure what that means but it sounds like Big O sells private-label tires at what are supposedly bargain prices.

TBC's latest acquisition is National Tire and Battery, which Sears unloaded after running it into the ground. Other brands include Carroll Tire Co., with a network of 5,000 retailers in the Southeast; Tire Kingdom, with 150 stores in the Southeast; Northern States Tire, a wholesaler in the Northeast; TBC de Mexico; and Superior Tire, a Las Vegas-area retailer.

Some recent complaints ...

Stephen of Mesquite NV (01/05/09)
I took my 1986 Toyota motor home into Big O Nov. 4th 2008 to have the tires replaced, aligned , oil change and the transmission flushed. Nov. 8th on my way home the transmission blew up on the highway. I called Big O who came to see if they were the cause. They left and I had my rig towed to their shop in Mesquite. After a week of checking it out they had it towed to Mesquite Transmission And Performance to have it repaired. The owner, Allen,transmission shop said it was done and that I had to sign a release at Big O to get it. I signed the release Big O proffered and went back to pick up my motor home.

The overdrive unit no longer worked so I took it back. Allen said he forgot to check a solenoid and it needed replacing. The shop charged me 230.00 dollars for a new solenoid. I turned the receipt in to Big O even though I had signed the release because the transmission was not repaired as promised. They had not paid me for the towing expenses either and I figured they would soon settle up. Finally the transmission man's solution was to bypass all the electronics and rig the overdrive unit directly to the battery and engage it with a toggle switch which he would put on the dash board. I said that was not acceptable and I wanted my motor home just like it was before I took it to Big O.

He said then it was my problem and that he washed his hands of it, and I should take it to Toyota to get it fixed because he could not. I went back to Big O and spoke with the manager, Tom, about what the transmission man had said and he said my problem was with the transmission shop that Big O had finished things when I signed the release form even though the transmission wasn't fixed and I never took possession of my motor home, it was still at the transmission shop and it was now January 2nd two, months later. It was at this time he supplied me with the invoice the transmission shop presented him about the work being done. Had I been presented with that when I signed the release I would have noted that it said the transmission was complete all parts included and not paid him an additional 230.00 out of pocket.

I then got the name of the district manager in St. George , Utah (Terry) and he said not to take it to the Toyota dealership that he would get back to me with the names of other transmission shops that would be better in his estimation. I awaited his return call and even called his cell phone twice to inquire about the transmission shops he mentioned. That was over a week ago and he won't answer my calls or respond at all.

My out of pocket expenses for a new relay, solenoid and towing are over 400.00 and the transmission isn't yet fixed. I have an appointment to take it into Toyota in St George and have them fix it in two days. They charge eighty dollars an hour and I can see this is going to hurt.

Wester of Salt Lake City, UT January 4, 2009

Wester of Salt Lake City UT (01/04/09)
I bought an Audi A6 off lease with 67,000 miles on it. There was documentation in the glove box from this Big O store where the tires on the car had been installed less than a year before I bought the car. There was a noise in the cover on the center of a rear wheel but I just assumed it was a faulty cover. I took the car in to have snow tires installed at Discount Tire two months after the purchase. I have been satisfied with their prices and work on two other cars in the past.

They did the installation but told me the noise was from TWO lug bolts that were stripped in the hub. I had to have a new hub and bearing replaced at a cost of 430 at a repair shop where I have real confidence in their work. I contacted the previous owner and he verified the information and the fact that Big O had been the last place where that wheel was off the car. He is an attorney and offered to approach Big O at no charge to me because they had damaged the hub when he owned the car. I'm deciding whether I want to go that far but decidedly I will NEVER recommend Big O to anyone and intend to pass on my story whenever I can..

Cost me 430. With 3 lug bolts holding the wheel on I'm lucky I didn't have other problems

Traci of Las Vegas, NV December 28, 2008

Traci of Las Vegas NV (12/28/08)
My check engine light was on so i took the car to have a diagnostic check. It did not appear to have any noticeable mechanical problems. Two hours later they called and said that i needed 2100 worth of work and that the car shakes. It never did that prior, but now it shakes and makes a loud noise.

Don of Henderson, NV December 12, 2008

Don of Henderson NV (12/12/08)
On Oct. 23, 2008 I went to Big O Tires in Henderson, NV to buy new tires for my pick up truck. They didn't have the Michelin tire I wanted in stock, so they talked me into buying one of our Big O Brands. I put on about 500 miles driving around Henderson and noticed what seemed to be a slight vibrtion that I thought might just be the bumpy road. In November we drove down to Yuma for the Winter and noticed shaking at certain speeds on the highway and city streets. I thought the tires may need to be rebalanced, so I took it to Big O Tires in Yuma. They balanced the tires and said one had a flat spot. At that time I said I did not want these tires and could they give me a price to up grade to Michelin. They said they would credit me the price I paid for my tires and charge me the difference for the new tires plus parts & labor, but first they wanted the manager to check the tires himself.

So I brought the truck back when the manager was in. He didn't find a flat spot, but they rebalanced the tires and rotated them on the truck. During the next week, the problem was still there. I took it back and said I wanted to up grade to the Michelin. Now they will only give me half price for what I paid for my tires originaly. My tires only had 1100 miles on them when I first brought them in, now I have 1441. I feel there is an internal defect that they can't find and they should take these tires back, after proating for the slight wear, and let me up grade to Michelin. I paid 69.00 a tire and they want to give me 35.00 per tire. I feel this is unreasonable.

Now they tell me these aren't Big O Tires so they won't honor the warranty. They sell that brand, REMMINGTON MAXXUM, but it's not Big O. I have been driving this truck since new for 20 years. I know when something is not right. I'm not happy with these tires and all I want is a fair exchange. I purchased a warranty for road hazard and workmanship/material. I feel these tires have an internal defect due to workmanship/material. Regaurdless, I am not happy and do not want these tires.

Lehni of Las Vegas, NV December 11, 2008

Lehni of Las Vegas NV (12/11/08)
On November 13, 2008, I took my car to Big O to have a coolant flush. A week later, my engine light was flashing. According to my car manual that if the engine light is flashing that I would need to take it to the dealership. I took my car to the dealership and they informed me that whoever did a recent coolant flush put the wrong anti-freeze in it. They explained to me that my anty-freeze's color is supposed to be orange, but when they showed me the actual color, it was green.

After getting my car repaired, I immediately went back to Big O and spoke to Kevin, the store manager. I explained to him that one of their men put the wrong coolant in my car and asked for a compensation (a free oil change would be nice) but he rudely interrupted me stating it was my fault for not taking my car to Big O in the first place when my engine light was flashing. The only reason why I didn't bring it Big O in the first place because I had no idea that the coolant was part of the problem. He also claimed that all of their coolant anti-freeze's color are all Green. That didn't sound right to me. The manager wouldn't even consider helping me at all.

I lost 261.00 out of pocket because of Big O Tires. It makes me wonder...if I was a man standing in front of him, would he give me the same bologne excuse that all of their anti-freeze's color are green or would he even consider helping me if I was a man instead of a woman. All you single women out there...don't waste your time and money on Big O. If you want to take a chance, bring a man with you.

Melanie of Dayton, OH December 9, 2008

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