$170 for Tire Patching?

[Christopher1000]

My R1T is at the Rivian service center in the DC area for a number of things and they said they found a nail in a front tire and would patch it for $170. That seems extreme since Discount Tire said they'd patch it for free as a courtesy (although that store is an hour away) and my local Exxon would charge $40 for a plug (which they said they've done on numerous Rivians and Teslas and that worked fine - they service many high end cars daily). $170 seems like an insulting rip-off?

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[Polar]

OEM Shop Rates - nothing new here

 

[tbinmd]

What's the hourly rate at a SC?

 

[Hereforthesnacks]

Take a ride out to discount tire

 

[OldGoat]

Clearly way too much.

That said, a plug is not the recommended way to fix a tire. While I've plugged a number of tires in the past and never had one fail, removal and patch is the preferred way (thereby reducing potential liability issues) Obviously, that method requires a lot more time and effort.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Service employees aren't free. Leases on the service location isn't free. Cost to keep lights on and doors open isn't free. What work done for less? DIY and then as yourself how much your time and sweat equity is worth. It goes the same both ways, not just when you are at the receiving end and needing work done.

 

[ndmiller]

Just take it to discount tire. Lexus, Honda, Toyota and Ford all have tried to get me to rotate tires and/ or patch them for shop rates and I always declined to take to Discount tire for free.

 

[VSG]

Dealers charge labor + parts. This sounds like $20 in parts plus $150 in labor, at their standard labor rate. Not a good deal - I would have it done elsewhere unless the convenience and the knowledge that the Rivian SC will at least lift the car properly is worth that much to you. That's why I get my tires rotated at the SC, but that only costs me $60, which is more than the $0 others might charge but that $60 is worth it IMO.

Many years ago I had a Honda in for warranty service at the dealer, and I asked them to replace the malfunctioning TPMS sensor on one wheel. My mistake - I was thinking it would save me a lot of time since I wouldn't have to take it somewhere else and wait around, and besides how expensive could it be? When I got the bill I found out the answer was $225. For one TPMS sensor. Costco or Les Schwab would have done it for $50 (I found that out after the fact). Heck, replacing the entire TIRE would have cost that much at Costco or Les Schwab, including the tire. I was not happy. And the dealer didn't even give me an honest answer, which would have been "labor + parts at our standard labor rate" - they tried to claim it was so expensive because they needed specialized equipment and training etc. And although I did manage to get some concessions from them, I learned a lesson, and I never did business with that dealer ever again. And I will always get a written estimate beforehand, rather than just assuming.

Moral of the story is that at least Rivian is being honest up front and letting you make the decision. I would tell them thank you but no I will get it repaired elsewhere.

 

[Christopher1000]

Service employees aren't free. Leases on the service location isn't free. Cost to keep lights on and doors open isn't free. What work done for less? DIY and then as yourself how much your time and sweat equity is worth. It goes the same both ways, not just when you are at the receiving end and needing work done.

It should be competitively priced, which it is not. They are ripping off customers and frankly it's an insult after purchasing their expensive truck (which requires two major service visits per year every year for three years since I've owned it).

 

[COdogman]

No dealer offers “competitive pricing” from my experience. You can find a cheaper alternative nearly every time. They can charge what they want for a service and if you don’t like it you are free to take it to DT or another tire place where you can hope they remember to use pucks to lift your “expensive truck”

 

[Christopher1000]

No dealer offers “competitive pricing” from my experience. You can find a cheaper alternative nearly every time. They can charge what they want for a service and if you don’t like it you are free to take it to DT or another tire place where you can hope they remember to use pucks to lift your “expensive truck”

Wow really, I didn't realize I had freedom of choice like that. Thanks for that wisdom.

 

[COdogman]

Wow really, I didn't realize I had freedom of choice like that. Thanks for that wisdom.

Thanks for allowing us to read more of your complaints

 

[ENVErider]

My R1T is at the Rivian service center in the DC area for a number of things and they said they found a nail in a front tire and would patch it for $170. That seems extreme since Discount Tire said they'd patch it for free as a courtesy (although that store is an hour away) and my local Exxon would charge $40 for a plug (which they said they've done on numerous Rivians and Teslas and that worked fine - they service many high end cars daily). $170 seems like an insulting rip-off?

That sounds a little high but not a rip-off and about what I'd expect from BMW or other premium brands, especially for a high labor cost state like CA & NY. I'm not sure if these are all for external-only plug prices, but if Rivian is installing an internal plug or a push-through with an internal patch (safer and better), that alone accounts for a $170 add. A free DT tire patch is almost certainly a push-through external plug, possibly with the wheel still attached.

 

[chingwodapigu]

That sounds a little high but not a rip-off and about what I'd expect from BMW or other premium brands, especially for a high labor cost state like CA & NY. I'm not sure if these are all for external-only plug prices, but if Rivian is installing an internal plug or a push-through with an internal patch (safer and better), that alone accounts for a $170 add. A free DT tire patch is almost certainly a push-through external plug, possibly with the wheel still attached.

I've had many tire leaks fixed at Discount Tire, and I assure you, at least at my location, they remove the tire from the wheel and patch from the inside, remount and balance the tire...definitely not a push-through exterior plug.
They do this for free, because there is a good chance the nail is near the sidewall, and they won't repair anything near the sidewall, so you'll more than likely have to buy at least one new tire in that case. Dealerships doing the same amount of work will charge for at least 1 hour of shop time...which is $150. Never have tire service done at a dealership if you have an option to do it at a place like Discount Tire.

 

[Yossarian]

A patch is superior to a plug, from both the safety and longevity perspectives.

A plug is constantly being chewed on by the belts it passes through as the tire moves down the road, though many seem to survive that torture for quite some time. A patch is vulcanized to the inside of the tire and in the unlikely event it does fail, it is usually a slow leak, not a fast de-pressuring as could be the case with a plug failure..

In my experience, the cost for a plug has been closer to $50 at a tire shop but even $170 is less than the cost of a new tire.

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