r/Eugene • u/velo2002 • Nov 14 '24
7th Flat Tire Since Moving Here Moving
As title goes I’ve been in Eugene for 2.5 years now and just got my 7th flat tire. Tf is up with the roads here? 4 years in Portland never had an issue but it seems that shrapnel is just layed throughout the streets here. Seems to mainly be a problem on W 7th Ave when after 10:00 PM when everyone seems it’s fine to play crossy road (almost hit several people crossing in pitch black clothes in a pitch black street). Any cheaper alternatives than going to Les Schwab every time? It’s starting to become a recurring issue.
70
u/PunksOfChinepple Nov 14 '24
How does not hitting pedestrians give you flat tires? I've been driving in Eugene, mostly South Eugene, for 17 years and never had a flat. W 7th Ave is 20mph for most of it, with a section of 30mph, why are you running over and/or crashing into things while going so slowly?
All that aside, I have been annoyed greatly by Les Schwab, Costco Tire, and Firestone. I have nothing but good to say about Discount Tire on 11th, they are fantastic!
14
9
u/dyadyazhenya Nov 14 '24
Thank you for that tip, I have felt like les schwab is always finding reasons to take my money
0
u/Proud_Cauliflower400 Nov 15 '24
There was a time when Les Schwabs felt honest and you were getting something for your money.
Not anymore.
3
u/guitargod0316 Nov 14 '24
I second this, I’ve been buying my tires from them for years. Great service, decent prices and they fix flats for free.
54
u/YetiSquish Nov 14 '24
I’ve lived in Eugene nearly my whole life and have never had a flat in the city. Not sure what your issue is - maybe someone hates you? Is it happening near home where someone is planting a nail under your tire?
-19
u/velo2002 Nov 14 '24
It’s never nails just always scrap metal, usually a few mm thick and 1 inch wide I feel it’s because the people are crossing the roads so often and dropping shit out of their shopping carts I’ve seen 2x4, glass, random sht all the time on that road and at night it’s pretty dark around there so really not much I can do ig. Doesn’t only happen here but just another road to look out for.
24
u/YetiSquish Nov 14 '24
All I can say is it seems you have REALLY bad luck. This is not normal at all. Looking back - I think I have actually had one or two flats that I’ve forgotten about but that’s spread out over many, many years.
3
u/Proud_Cauliflower400 Nov 15 '24
Not once in my life have I ever gotten a flat tire while traveling through the vast majority of Eugene.
-1
u/PunksOfChinepple Nov 14 '24
I have the perfect solution for you, you get flat tires here and not in Portland, go back to Portland!
-1
u/Sheepshead_Bay2PNW Nov 14 '24
This happened to me as well, went through so many tires. When I started avoid crossing the railroad tracks (near highway 99) it stopped. I think maybe bits of metal end up accumulating in the crevices/pot holes surrounding the rails?
44
u/Super_Dinosaurus Nov 14 '24
Big B tires in Glenwood is a good place to replace your tires. 7 flats in 2.5 years seems like a statistical anomaly. Are you sure you aren’t in some sort of Fight Club-esque scenario where your personality is split, and you’re purposefully driving into the potholes and shrapnel?
9
5
u/Kittensandbacardi Nov 14 '24
Check your tires after Big bs installs them. The last time I went there, my lug nuts were so loose I could hear them rattling.
11
u/RisaVacation Nov 14 '24
Big B gave me a tire that exploded on i5 like ten minutes after buying it. They didn’t want to give me a different tire or give me my money back so I had to show up with a friend of mine who is a man and is about 6 foot tall and 250 pounds. When he walked in with the shredded tire and put it on their counter, they immediately gave me a new one. For context I’m a small girl. Was a real bummer and I never felt good going back.
3
u/Kittensandbacardi Nov 14 '24
That is insane! Cheap tires, but seriously a gamble. I had a friend's tire completely peel away on i5 because it was a retread tire from big Bs.
I'm glad you were able to get a new one, but it shouldn't have required you bringing in someone to make them give you a new one, that's fucked.
0
-1
-1
22
u/delcorobmac Nov 14 '24
Maybe you just suck at driving? This isn’t normal anywhere and I’m from a state with actual bad roads.
-27
u/velo2002 Nov 14 '24
Or maybe the city is shit at cleaning their roads? Didn’t happen anywhere else I’ve lived and I regularly see glass from smashed windows (another problem in this area apparently) that sits in the road for weeks at a time and people just have to deal with it.
16
u/delcorobmac Nov 14 '24
I dunno nearly all these comments are suggesting the same 🤷 might be something to think about
8
u/ScrattaBoard Nov 14 '24
Alot of time that glass is from accidents so it's the gritty squared glass that shouldn't really be affecting your tires.
A broken alcohol bottle or something maybe. I drive around 1000 miles a month for work and my main route takes me down seventh, never had a flat, haven't seen glass in a couple months, etc.
Maybe your camber is off and rubbing the side of the tire or something?
-9
u/velo2002 Nov 14 '24
Omfg apparently it’s “non repairable” again even though it’s dead center in the tire 🙄, not sure what constitutes a “repairable tire” maybe a staple or some shit? Another $150 down the drain.. love it here 🙏
15
u/metalmase80 Nov 14 '24
Not to victim blame, but this sounds like a you problem. I've lived here for 8 years and haven't experienced this at all.
2
14
u/Slut_for_Bacon Nov 14 '24
Either you're buying the cheapest tires known to man, or it's your driving.
-4
u/velo2002 Nov 14 '24
Only ever been to Les Schwab, maybe they make em out of sponge? Seems like it at least, I’m only here cause they patch tires really cheap, every other flat was along the wall however so I had to get a new tire every single time
12
u/seaofthievesnutzz Nov 14 '24
37 years in Eugene and no flat tires for me.
5
u/hoffsta Nov 14 '24
Similar. I have another half decade on you, and think I had one flat in the 90s. Roads are not bad compared to many other places.
9
8
8
u/Paper-street-garage Nov 14 '24
There is a lot of debris in those industrial areas. Make sure you’re not ramming into curbs and things like that.
6
u/Tiny-Praline-4555 Nov 14 '24
Les Schwab quality has gone to shit since they were sold.
1
1
u/BLHero Nov 15 '24
Specifically, they still sell respectable tires, but management requires them to "oversell" services your car many not require. (But still go to Discount Tires instead.)
6
u/anecdotalgardener Nov 14 '24
Sounds like tire gnomes. They usually come out when there’s been an uptick in squirrel deaths from vehicles as these gnomes like to use squirrels for their mode of transportation.
3
u/40and20podcast Nov 14 '24
Been here since 2003, and have had exactly one flat tire, caused by my negligently rolling over a curb. It was warrantied by Les Schwab, and they replaced it for free.
Discount Tire, Wyatts, Tire Sport, and Costco are all frequently recommended places.
4
3
u/Broccoli-of-Doom Nov 14 '24
Are you aiming for the potholes? You should aim away from the pot holes.
3
u/cakewalkbackwards Nov 14 '24
Op is parking on some shitty gravel/grass with scraps of metal or sharp objects
4
4
u/Zealousideal_Owl9621 Nov 14 '24
Lived here for 16 years and drive all parts of town frequently, even the area you describe. Never once a flat tire except when I hopped a curb accidently. It's time for new tires, my friend.
2
u/Repulsive_Leg5878 Nov 14 '24
I’ve had two flats in the last few months and I found two big nails in my tires. I’m pretty sure it’s some critter. There’s been reports of glass and other things in bike lanes.
2
u/aaronc0401 Nov 14 '24
Most tire places offer a road hazard warranty. Extra $10 or so and they'll repair or replace the tire for free if you run over something on the road.
1
u/darkchocoIate Nov 14 '24
I've never had any issues with dodging people, shrapnel or flat tires in many years. Not to say it doesn't happen but this sounds a bit absurd.
2
u/SmokeyUnicycle Nov 14 '24
What the fuck are you doing that is giving you flats????
This is insane, are you just driving into curbs all the time?
I've never gotten a flat here, and nobody I know has either.
2
u/BigMowgli Nov 14 '24
I seem to have bad luck when going down alleys or side streets in the greater downtown area. I've started avoiding them altogether as there is constant debris everywhere.
2
u/hezzza Nov 15 '24
That's pretty close to Schnitzer steel. Maybe you're picking up stuff that's falling off metal recycling loads.
2
u/Maximum_Business_806 Nov 15 '24
25 years. 4 flats and I drive on construction sites. I think your jinxed
1
1
u/scalpelchic Nov 14 '24
Been here 1 year and already had 2 flats and my husband has had 1, way more than I’ve had living anywhere else! Keep finding massive nails or metal shards. Kinda BS.
1
1
u/Conscious-Value Nov 14 '24
I literally have had three flat tires in the past three months!!! Screws two times and then a random spring the last time. Driving me insane!
2
u/velo2002 Nov 14 '24
Do you also have to spend $150 every single time? Have they ever been able to just repair it? I literally have to get a new tire everytime this happens
0
u/Conscious-Value Nov 14 '24
Two of the three times, they had to replace a tire but the tire was newer and under warranty at Les Schwab so it was no cost to me. The third time they were able to repair it.
0
u/SmokeyUnicycle Nov 14 '24
How/why are you getting new tires every time?
A patch kit is like five dollars and you can do it yourself, you're being exploited and/or actively destroying your tires somehow.
1
u/adiofan88 Nov 14 '24
Maybe you’re like me and attract nails and shit. I have the worst luck with that.
1
u/washington_jefferson Nov 14 '24
It seems likely that your tires might be failing around the same time.
I didn’t even know Les Schwab sold tires one at a time- I thought they only sold 4 at a time or two if it’s just the rear- in some circumstances. Even if your car isn’t AWD some shops won’t sell them in numbers less than 4 unless your tires are in great shape. $150 sounds pretty cheap for a tire, though.
I stopped using Les Schwab because they no longer give free beef from a freezer. “Where’s the beef?” I sold some snow tires with the stupid studs that were left by someone in my garage to Big B’s they seemed pretty chill. They asked if I wanted to trade them- so I know they are for sure open to selling just one at a time. They said they have “thousands” of tires of varying quality.
1
1
u/Altruistic-Gear302 Nov 15 '24
sooooo many objects lodged in my tires since I moved here and I used to be a Bay Area commuter and now seldom drive.
1
u/RegularFun3 Nov 16 '24
It’s not just you. Our family of 5 has also experienced what seems like a disproportionate number of flat tires within the last few years. 4 vehicles, 5 drivers, and we’ve had so many nails, bolts, etc in tires, not to mention a blowout from a city of Eugene neglected pothole on Coburg that was impossible to avoid. And I don’t think we are bad drivers or driving in unusual places.
1
0
u/Karmageddon3333 Nov 14 '24
Les Schwab is not your friend. Point S in Eugene has been amazing. FTR 25 years in Eugene, 23 years with no flats, three in one month (all screws from an unknown source) and none since.
0
-1
156
u/mrSalamander Nov 14 '24
We have some super crappy roads around here for sure but if you're blowing nearly 3 tires a year it may be time to look inward.