For Overall Satisfaction Score:
In the three categories of rankings with dark green being the best, then lighter green being the big group in the middle, then a big yellow group at the bottom, Town Fair was in the big yellow group at the bottom.
Also in the big yellow group at the bottom was:
Amazon.com
BJ’s
Canadian Tire Corp
Firestone Complete Auto Care
Mavis Discount Tire
Midas
Mr. Tire
NTB Tire & Service Centers
Pep Boys
Tires Plus
Tire Kingdom
Town Fair Tire Centers
Walmart
Consumer reports jan-feb 2026 tire retailer rankings. Town Fair Tire is between ntb and Firestone in the middle right of the chart. Luckily that issue was still handy. Les Schwab is a west coast chain that’s known for their customer service. We’ve had equally great service from Discount tire and Costco…
Thanks woly!
Town Fair is very highly reviewed by customers in New England, so I can’t imagaine what they’d think of Les Schwab, and other tire sellers in the upper left-hand column.
Of all people, why are YOU asking?
Barefoot and shirtless guys mount your tires in the street
Any tire store chain is only as good as how the local store treats you. Montana and Utah are as far east as Les Schwab goes being founded in Oregon although it’s under new ownership since Les passed. Popcorn in the lobby and freezer pops in the summer. We’ve simply had more experience with Costco and Discount locally
What I mean is that since Town Fair is so prevalent throughout New England, and what service/products they provide are so highly rated there, if those same people ventured into Schwab tire-ritory(!) they might think they ‘died n went to Heaven’ in a Les Schwab store!
Another note:
Town Fair, Discount Tire, as highly as customers rate their experiences there, employees on sites like Indeed and GlassDoor? Not so much.
Employee ratings, especially among those at store level, hover around the mid-3-stars, 3.3 to 3.9, out of a total 5-stars.
It’s grunt work. I know, I applied at Town Fair during my recent return to the States, and I got the feeling that the manager who interviewed me had sized me up from the moment we shook hands among the stacks - of tires that is.
Back in his office, he felt I might be better suited for a driver role - of Town Fair’s white pickups that do inter-store transfers of up to a dozen tires, or custom wheels, or supplies such as wheel weights and valves, etc.
A six-day work week (Mon - Sat) is mandatory, with an average of 62 hours round year, 65 or more hours during busy (read: winter) season. November through February.
Did I get a call back for further interviewing, or a position offer?
I think you know the answer to that.
Well of course we do. The constant complaining about your problems are getting tiresome. Did you really drag this 3 year old thread up just so tou could complain because Town Fair did not hire you ?
But did YOU follow up?
Did you make more calls or emails expressing your continued interest and asking if you’re still being considered?
And yes, You WERE being sized up. Everything you did and said, as well as your body language, tone of voice, etc. were all being filed away in the interviewers head
The store manager / interviewer told me succinctly: “Don’t call us, we’ll call you”, even if it’s been two weeks since.
I don’t read CR anymore. Just don’t find it relevant, plus looking at the staffing, things seem to have changed over the years. I’m not sure they know or care much about cars. Could be wrong, my loss.
Bruce Williams used to say move if you can’t find a job. New England is maybe not the best place to start over. Now Australia has thousands of openings for anyone that can oerform a trade. They eliminated their tech schools and now a great shortage. Plus they sort of speak English.
What position did you apply for? I think people our age are too old for that kind of work. Look around at the crew busting tires all day long. Even the counter people are on their feet and moving all day long. It takes quite a bit of physical strength and stamina to work in the shop there, and the counter staff needs to have the ability to multi-task and provide customer service to a sometimes demanding clientele. Those jobs can be quite draining.
Many years ago my Dad told me, “All business is personal” and never were truer words spoken.
When buying tires INSTALLATION is is the key, top of the line tires because a ■■■■■■ installation equals ■■■■.
My Local Independent can get any tire you want for about the same installed price as Tire Rack, has been in business for many years but most importantly has installers who have been with him for years and really know their business. Don’t expect a Latte, or a coffee or even a waiting room but when they say it’s done, it’s really done and done right.
For those whose expectations are different, my local Costco was tolerable although it took over 2 weeks, with the tires sitting at my location, for Corporate to send the TPMS sensors, which I ultimately ended up purchasing and providing myself. So if you’re just looking ONLY for tires, Costco may be acceptable.
BTW When then the C word ending in a P, meaning junk, worthless shoddy or worthless becomes a banned word you sincerely need a new AI screener.
Independent tire shops have been well rated in cr for some time. We only need tires every 8-10yrs with Discount and Costco providing easy tire rotations and no questions warranty claims after the sale. But everyone had their own experience.
I bought my last 3 sets of tires from Sam’s Club. I ordered the tires I wanted and made an appointment when they arrived at the store. The store near me has a shop that is dirty and not well managed… that was the first set of tires The next two were installed at a Sams Club in nearby Cape Coral. Clean shop, conscientious techs, great install.
As a long time Tire Rack customer, I found their prices, especially on Michelins, was identical to Sam’s Club and installation would be more expensive. This seems to be the trend since Discount Tire bought them.
That dirty shop at Sam’s is reminiscent of the tire bays at BJ’s. I used to have a BJ’s membership, and every time I walked past the filthy tire bays at multiple BJ’s locations, I was tempted to contact the EPA. And, their tires were mostly low-end. For a few years, I was a TR customer, but now it’s Costco for me.
One of the worst things you can do, imo, is leaving tires outside for an extended amount of time
When it rains, water collects in them
That’s a guaranteed mosquito breeding ground
Wow!
I have heard of using tire grind for paving but not that they caught fire!
I use to buy tires are BJ’s until the one near me sourced out the tire dept to Monro. Went in for my free tire rotation from the tires I bought at BJ’s and Monro is trying to tell me I needed new ball joints. I knew they were good. That was the LAST time I bought tires from them. Since then, they kicked out Monro and now do it on their own again (probably because of complaints)
Probably not many mosquitoes around with all the smoke.