Strafford Tire and Battery inc

[Bu11dogg2]

I popped a tire last night in Portsmouth :mad:


My car takes 235/45/R17 97HH rated tires so finding a replacement is a *****.

I called around to all the usual suspects and found pricing ranging from $267.00 (VIP) to a low of $189.00 and arrival dates ranging from tomorrow to next week :eek:

Then I called Strafford tire.

Not only did they get the tire in 3 hours, but they blew the comp away with $159.00, mounted and balanced.

If that wasn't enough, they let me watch and shot the **** with me the entire time.

It has been a loooong time since I felt so comfortable with someone working on my car.

They are located in Dover just past Reds Shoe Barn on the left :)

[ValuePack]

Take it worth a grain of salt, but...

There isn't a dealer anywhere I trust less than them, and I was deep in the tire game professionally all over New England for 4 years. They've botched work done on a former car of mine fairly badly(PM if you want details), and the owner is about the biggest scumbag I've ever met. I'd really recommend giving your business to Davies or Yudies in Portsmouth instead if at all possible.

Sorry to hijack.

[Bu11dogg2]

No, please do.

I've never heard of Davies or Yudies?

[jonny-rockets]

strafford tire was good to me for a while too. sucks to hear a story like that.

screw pms, post the details! we should all know about stuff like this.

[unsakred]

strafford tire was good to me for a while too. sucks to hear a story like that.

screw pms, post the details! we should all know about stuff like this.

its a sordid tale. a coming of age tale rather...

i still flip them off for you dana, right along w/ somersworth nissan lol

[ValuePack]

i still flip them off for you dana, right along w/ somersworth nissan lol

Well played.

Long story short, they replaced the fuel filter in my Forester, along with the flexible inlet hose. That hose cracked shortly(should a two month old line be dryrotted?) and puked a few pints of gas in a 3 foot arc over my engine. Upon removal, I thought it looked older than the car, and not quite right for the application. The part number revealed that it was just a remnant from an old air line, probably whatever they had lying around in the shop. It wasn't even the correct size. I don't **** around with safety.

Around the same period of time, they were buying 40-50% of their tires from the wholesaler in Manch I worked for, so I was making daily deliveries there. The owner, who we'll call Poodle Mullet, since I can't remember his actual name, is a total clam. Poodle Mullet would regularly make a scene or withhold payment without provocation when I dropped off, and once chased me out of his shop with a Johnson bar after I told him he couldn't have his tires without the required COD. ****bag, hot wife though. Run, don't walk, away. Since that time I've dragged their name through the mud whenever possible... I've met more people that think that place is the hot ****.

So, on to the competition, Davies Tire Co. and Yudy's Tire. Davies is on Islington St., and is the hot spot for any special passenger tire work you may have. They're also the only independant Nokian Hakkapelitta dealer I know of east of Keene and south of Portland. Cramped lot, but a decent crew. Yudy's(Albany St., visible from Islington, up the road from Pic N Pay/Portsmouth Pizza Factory) is just a good all around clean tire shop. Good counter help, heated waiting room, a shop floor clean enough to eat off of even during the winter, and usually a few dogs sleeping inside. I think I trust them more than anyone on the seacoast... I sent my own mother there exclusively for a year.

Should you need emergency work further inland, Graham Tire & Auto on Portsmouth Ave. in Exeter is good in a pinch. I dig the owner... nice guy with a firm temper and he takes care of his employees. There's also a good Subaru repair specialist in Sandown, All Japanese Auto on 121A.

If there's one piece of advice I can give, it's that usually when you pay less at a tire place, you *will* get less. Pay the extra 10-15% for a place that'll properly balance your tires, and that won't give you a face full of **** if you ask for 72ft/lb lug nut torque. Competition is tight... if you think you're getting ****ed, walk out. There should be another tire place about 90ft. down the road.

Enough of this ****, I need to go to bed.:)

[Bu11dogg2]

cool, thanks man :)

[TurboRush]

Sullivan Tire in Dover... end of story, never an issue.

[Bu11dogg2]

Sullivan Tire in Dover... end of story, never an issue.


They don't install others tires and they are expensive.


I will agree that their service and qaulity of work is superb.

[TurboRush]

They do install others tires.. I bought my rims and tires seperate and brought to them to mount and balance...

A bit pricey, but I am willing to fork over the cash for quality of service... $100 more for work is cheaper then having to replace a rim.

[Bu11dogg2]

Really?

They wouldn't mount my snow tires :(