I went to a Firestone today to get a price on a set of Blizzak snow tires. When the clerk asked me what car it was for he got his manager who told me as a company rule, they cannot install tires on any hybrid car. The best he could do is sell me the tires to take to Toyota to install. Has anyone had this problem where they are refused service because they drive a hybrid??

 

While it sounds like ignorance, all it takes is some bad experience for a shop to rule out a model of car. I went to a quick lube place over 20 years ago to have the oil changed in my old 83 VW Vanagon. Then one time I went back and they refused to change my oil because on some other Vanagon they didn't tighten the oil filter and caused engine damage. Besides the fact the wouldn't change my oil because of their mistake, I never got a good deal because they had a rule that they couldn't enter a customer's car for service, and in the Vanagon most of the service items are only accessible from the inside!

 

I called Firestone corporate to complain. The customer service guy was aware that some Firestone dealers have circulated a memo stating that it is basically not worth the hassle to deal with hybrid owners. Can you believe that?!? I know most of us are more knowledgeable about our cars than most, but to be categorically "not worth the hassle". Anyway a regional manager should be calling me in 2 days to solve my problem.

 

It is not just ignorance, it is to some extent self defense. To the best of my current knowledge, Firestone/Bridgestone does not make a Low Rolling Resistance (LRR) tire for winter use, so your gas mileage will suffer on pavement with their tires. The Firestone dealers know this and don't wnat to hear complaints from hybrid owners about FE.

Have you considered these?
Link =http://www.michelinman.com/tires/win...acy-alpin-pa3/

Link = http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....macy+Alpin+PA3

This tire is a winter version of the Energy S8, which is one of the two OEM tires on the TCH (or was in '07, I heard that Toyota may switch to the Primacy MXV4 in the '08 models sometime this year becasue Michelin is phasing out the Energy line and replacing with the Primacy one.)

 

Doesn't anyone find it odd that a car that ships with a Bridgestone Tire as original equipment (at least mine did) would be refused service at a Firestone/Bridgestone service center?

I happen to like the Firestone near me, and they were happy to repair one of my tires and realign the front end.

 

I would expect that the Firestone stores are franchises rather than company owned, and it is the individual franchisee that determines what to do and not Firestone corporate policy.

 

Try pricing Blizzaks at another tire dealer. I got a quote from Firestone, although the guy didn't ask what kind of car I owned.
I went to an independent tire dealer to price a set of Nokian snow tires, and at the same time got a quote for Blizzaks. This fellow knew I had a hybrid and didn't seem to have a problem with it. The price for Blizzaks was practically the same at both places.

 

This is his loss. As we all know, hybrids are here to stay, not just a 2K fad. In the business climate of today, refusing to service a hybrid for general maintanance, tires etc is economic suicide. I can however, see their justification for not tackling "Check Engine" or "Master Warning" light issues. That is best left to the dealer and their trained, equipped staffs.

 

If it's a dealer you've got a history with (as in I've been buying tires here for (insert number) years), I'd remind him of that & ask him if he was willing to loose my business for every car I own & word of mouth advertising will cost him even more customers. Companies have rules but rule #1 is usually that long term customers are always right. Rule #2 is when in doubt see rule #1.

 

Thats fine! As far as I am concerned, they have never made a tire worth a chit anyway!!!