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Belle Tire

Belle Tire review: Refused to replace the tire! 13

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12:00 am EDT
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I went to Belle Tire in Lansing and bought two new tires for the front of my Astro Van. 3 months later I noticed a bulge in the side-wall of the front left tire. I took it in for warranty replacement and the salesman looked at the tire and claimed it was damaged. I pointed out that there was no damage to the rim or tire. He took his ink pen and circled a hair-line crack (which was caused by the bulge) and said it was damage. Long story short, they refused to replace the tire. I called the home office and spoke to the customer rep. who asked if they removed the tire to inspect it. I told him no. The next day he called and sided with the salesman without even offering to look at the tire.

The kicker... my brother was an engineer for Goodyear and he built tires for Formula and Indy. I had him look at the tire and within a minute he pointed to a tool mark inside the sidewall which caused the damage... caused by Belle Tire.

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13 comments
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Indiana Jeffs
, US
Feb 18, 2023 8:55 pm EST

They say they offer free flat repair, 1/2 tread left on tire I got a screw in the tread in middle of tire. They said they can’t repair it and recommended me buy two new tires estimated cost $400+. Scam

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Ajay Ojha
, US
May 20, 2017 8:49 am EDT

Belle tire is all about charging money and not delivering. Do not purchase the warranty - they have no intention of honoring it. It happened to me twice. The first time, they said it was because I hit a pot hole - the damage was my responsibility. The second time they said since only one tire was damaged in an all wheel drive car - the other tires were a year and a half old (I know about difference in tread; but it's my car, my problem) they would not replace the tire. The guy just flatly refused.
And Reginald Adams, you are an annoying troll. No one believes you.

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Josy02
, US
Jul 28, 2012 7:19 am EDT
Verified customer This comment was posted by a verified customer. Learn more

Each BelleTire is going to be different. Each store has a manager who hires technicians and it really depends on the management style and quality of service they feel is necessary. It also depends on each individual technician hired. Some have good work ethics and morals and some do not. Those who do not, give Belle Tire their bad name. However...that is Belle Tires fault all the way. It is their company and if they want a consistently reputable business then it is they who needs to make it happen.

I have had great service from Belle Tire in Portage, Michigan for years until just recently when most of the staff changed. Now I hate it and clearly am not happy for multiple reasons. I may give them one more chance, but then they will have lost my business forever. I went to Belle Tire in Battle Creek and the service was very unwelcoming and uninviting.

It's too bad, because now I need to start my search over for a consistently reputable technician somewhere out there. Good luck to myself.

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bruce
Lansing, US
May 26, 2009 10:50 pm EDT

Discount>belle

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Ben Estep
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Feb 19, 2008 4:16 am EST

None of this is true, Belle Tire does'nt add mounting disposal and balancing to their price like discount. And i know rick from the Taylor store, I can tell you that store is very busy and he works his butt off. The tire company would be responsible for a defect not the dealer. If you read your warranty you would see that side wall issues are not covered nor can they be fixed. I dont work for them and never have, so i have nothing to gain. I have sat at discount for hours waiting for one tire. This is bs and you sir should rethink the situation and realize most people can see thru your lies

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rob haskell
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Jan 18, 2008 9:16 pm EST

your so full of ###. belle tire has the best service in lansing and they will beat any other tire shop in the area. discount wanted to charge me 60 $ more than belle for 4 new tires. at belle the price was the same price with an alignment which costs 45$

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john podlaseck
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Jan 15, 2008 2:44 pm EST

I have to agree with belle tire its all about the money. I wanted to prove it to my self so this is how my scenario went. I sent my wife to get a price on 4 new pirelli p6 4 season tires from our roseville belle tire store here on gratiot. They were for our kia spectra 5. Not the internet price of tirerack , not even close. I , the next day, took my mazda protege 5 which has the same identical size tires and guess what? my price was 89.50 less then the price they gave her not 24 hours before. So ladies beware have hubby go get your tires or call me ill go get em for ya. Oh ya anyway discount tire was another 38 dollars cheaper then the lower" man "price I got . go to discount if at all possible------------I know better now

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Rick G
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Dec 19, 2007 11:07 am EST

Belle Tire has never ever screwed me. I have had two problems that they have both rectified. I am in cusotmer service and if I ever told anyone tough luck, its the last I would ever see of them. Better to give the cusotmer the benifit of the doubt than say they are nuts...

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Bruce DeLand
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Dec 07, 2007 8:20 am EST

Two months ago I visited Belle Tire on the west side of Lansing to have two new tires put on the front of my Silloute Van. Coming home in a bad snow storm on Friday evening I thought I had an accumulation of snow built up under the fender so continued on slowly. The next day I looked at it and could see that somehow the front tire had kicked out and was sitting at a 30% angle. When my mechanic took a look at it and he said; one stud was broken, 4 lugnuts were missing and there was only one lugnut left which was so loose he could turn it with his fingers. This caused the holes to become elongated and ruined the rim.

When talking with the manager of Belle Tire, he denied that Belle Tire had any responsibility in the matter. He stated that there must have been vandalism. I am convinced that if the tires had been properly installed I would not have had this problem. I am a retired person who lives in a rural area and I know all of my neighbors. I resent the implication that one of my neighbors might have tampered with my vehicle. The fault lies with Bell Tire and I am here to warn you.

It cost me $350 for these two tires (not to mention that now I need a new rim at $500) and Belle Tire will never see me darken their doorway. I hope the rest of you take heed.

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Debra Morgan
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Dec 06, 2007 1:36 pm EST

I agree that Belle Tire has the worst customer service out of any tire company I have ever worked with. I purchased four new tires with a 65,000 mile rating for my Chevy Venture Van. The original tires from the factory had just lasted 72,000 miles. Since we had a new Belle Tire open in our area, my husband decided to give them a try. I also purchased the extended warranty. After 28,000 miles (less than a year) I had a tire that continuualy would go flat. I took my van into Belle. They stated that the tire had damage to the sidewall which was from hitting/rubbing against curbs. Since I had a teenage son who had just begun driving (3 months) I thought this could be a factor. They then proceeded to tell me that this was not covered under warranty although they would give me a discount, but I would have to buy two tires at a cost of almost $200. There was also "A lot of other things wrong with my

I went to Discount Tire and was able to buy one tire for $50 (with no discount) which they proceeded to mount on my van and I had no additional problems with that tire.

Over the next two month the other three tires developed the same problem as the first tire. The technicians at Discount Tire told me that they had never seen anything like this with a tire. I contact Belle Tire customer service and they said it was damage and they would only give me a "discount" on the purchase of new tires.

Just two weeks ago, my son and his friend took this friends car in to have a tire repaired at Belle Tire. After waiting for 1 1/2 hours, he was given an estimate for $400 to "fix" all the problems with his car. He said he just wanted the tire repaired. So they repaired the tire. After the boys left the shop, the car was driving shaky. His friend went home to his father who works on cars and he had to work for about 4 hours that weekend to "undo" all the "fixes" that had occured at Belle Tire.

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Elmer Toad
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Dec 01, 2007 12:55 pm EST

Reginald Adams in my opinion has a bogus complaint... read on please.

Reginald Adams:

I have been doing business with Belle Tire sense they opened their first store in West Bloomfield Mi. some 40 or more years ago and I know for a fact they put the customer first "except for a bogus complaint" but I have seen them eat the cost of some things that were not theirs if the customer treated them like they are human beings and not abused by someone that is rude and for Belle Tire not to help this person out "my opinion" there had to be a good reason believe me. I am one of these customers they helped out but I am able to keep a subjective opinion in this case.

Reginald Adams:

What does your so called expert brother in law have to do with anything pertaining to your complaint "nothing-zip-zerro" and so what he worked for Good Year big deal.

Reginald Adams:

Its like I said Belle tire is a good company and always has been but to be sure I checked for any other complaints from customers at the Lansing Mi. store and guess what yours is the only bogus complaint they have not had any others "period in the years they have had that store open".

Reginald Adams:

You first state you purchased 2 tires then your second complaint its now changed to 4 tires which is it 2 or 4 you appear to be not truthful case and point bogus complaint on your part...? If you had gone there two separate times even and you had such a bad time with your lug nuts why did you go back for a second time your not making any sense. If a business sent my wife out the door with stripped lug nuts "by the way how did the lug nuts get stripped but not the studs "oh well another trying to get even tactic on your part. The proof is your next statement by you.

Reginald Adams:

Believe me, my opinion is valued by a number of people that could have possibly been potential customers of Belle Tire. Regards.

Reginald Adams:

You wrote that statement above and my opinion is this you are so desperate to get even with a good company that has had no other complaints "none" other then yours that I feel you would and are still trying to get even for a mistake that you made yourself "grow up" your statement says as much. If I was Belle Tire I would have you in court for slandering them and posting your bogus complaint on the internet... opps I think I gave some thing... never mind you will find out soon enough.

Reginald Adams:

Now explain your other comment your expert tire relative voiced "there was a tool mark on the inside of the tire that had to of caused the damage "not"-His statement so you say "by the way whats his name" if he made a statement of sorts he shouldn't mind having his name on the internet or in court again your statement below.

Reginald Adams:

The kicker... my brother was an engineer for Goodyear and he built tires for Formula and Indy. I had him look at the tire and within a minute he pointed to a tool mark inside the sidewall which caused the damage... caused by Belle Tire.

Reginald Adams:

By the way was this a Good Year tire? You could go after the tire company if its a valid complaint but apparently you do not want to get them involved "why".

Reginald Adams:

Like I said so what- how does a tire tool damage the inside side wall of a tire there is no way possible for this to happen. I have changed tires before its not possible the way you say.

Reginald Adams:

I agree totally with the last persons post and I do not agree with you or your tactics trying to use the internet instead of dealing with this manner in a adult way instead of a childes way. Its as if your saying either give me my tires or I am going to go home and cry.

Reginald Adams:

I like I stated last paragraph agree totally with the last persons reply so no need for me to give my opinion on how or why it happened its not needed "but I will say one thing if you have cupped tires" your "vehicle is out of alignment and or your shocks are shot like your bogus complaint.

Reginald Adams:

You expect for Belle Tire to give you free tires or tire for a bogus complaint from a tire damaged in a road hazard. Tire companies will replace tires that are defective but not damaged from impact so why would Belle Tire give you a free tire and then eat the cost them selves? Read your warranty that you say you purchased about road hazards.

Reginald Adams:

Three months is a long time for someone to let their wife and I hope not kids also drive a vehicle with a damaged tire let alone drive one that has tires that are cupping as "you say it". Your lucky your wife didn't have a blow out and if she was hurt then who would you try to blame>?

Reginald Adams:

Its people like you that make things bad for honest people this is why in some cases prices keep going up on things such as tires. Tires are a MVSI and are Federally regulated so there is no way a company "any company" would send any person out the door either with a defective tire that would have shown up when balanced or minus stripped lug nuts and studs plain and simple. No company that has been in business over 35 plus years would take a chance in doing what you claim nor would the manager - salesman - mechanic - and if I was you I would be watching for a summons you might have one coming and in my opinion you would deserve it.

Cheers to all except ones that post bogus complaints in my opinion. This reply was mine and is my opinion and only an opinion and is subject to be changed by me if I determine other wise.

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Jim Davis
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Nov 17, 2007 5:21 pm EST

Let me start by saying it's amazing how ignorant some people are. You noticed the bulge on the side of your tire after 3 WHOLE MONTHS of driving on it? A bulge in the sidewall is characteristic of an IMPACT BREAK. Basically, you drove your van over one of the millions of potholes in your lovely Michigan roads that you've become so used to after years of doing so. A tire is a cushion; when there is a severe impact (such as a deep pothole) the sidewall flexes and the lip of the wheel will actually go down and hit the road surface, with nothing but a folded piece of rubber between the weight of your multiple thousand pound vehicle and the asphalt, thus causing a belt in the sidewall to break or separate. The wheel in most cases will not have any damage because it never actually touches the road, it's still cushioned by the tire. Ever had a blood blister? Same effect.

As for your "brother who worked for GoodYear", unless he was a detective for CSI instead of a tire guy, he would never be able to tell what caused what mark where in a sheet of rubber. Give me and anyone else with two bits of common sense a break.

You even said it yourself: "the crack in the tire was caused by the bubble". That's a sign of damage right there, genius.

If it was in fact caused by Belle Tire (which is next to impossible, considering the amount of force that would have had to have been exerted) it would have shown up THAT SAME DAY, not 3 MONTHS LATER, you ###. I'm sure you're just like everybody else when they get new tires: when you walk out to your car, you look at the new rubber on the ground. You would have seen it then.

My guess is you're upset because you didn't purchase a road hazard warranty (which I know for a fact they offer for a measly $6 a tire) and want to weasel your way out of the situation by causing a scene.

I've worked as a customer service rep in the warranty department of one of the biggest tire companies in the world, and you would not believe the idiots I've had to deal with. You sir, are right up there with the rest of them.

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Reginald Adams
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Sep 25, 2007 10:59 am EDT

This is my second complaint on this issue. I had stated previously I had purchase 4 tires from Belle tire, along with the extended warranty($12 per tire). One of the tires turn out have a defect, so I took it into the store to have it replaced. Not only did the Belle Tire facility not honor my warranty, they tried to say two of my tires were defected (or cupped, which they say is not covered by the warranty), then tried to sell me two tires, instead of one, for a price greater that I paid for the original ones. Not to mention they had my wife drive away with three lug nuts one one of the wheels (there should have been four), which they "stripped, then later repaired after I filed a complaint. This is one of the most frustrating and appalling experience I have every had with a tire company. Believe me, my opinion is valued by a number of people that could have possibly been potential customers of Belle Tire. Regards.