Tire Hell

[whitecl0ver]

So as some of you know i've been tire shopping since I got a nail in my Dunlop rear on my VFR. So I had my heart set on a pair of Pilot Roads. I've heard nothing about good about them.

So I did my research found them on-line for $207 shipped, and start haggling with local shops. The shop I normally deal with would not go any lower then $330 (tires, installation, and tax) so I floated my offer to another shop here in Tallahassee, Florida Motorsports. They are the Ducati, Aprilla, KTM, Triumph dealer here in Tallahassee. They met the price I was looking for ~$300 for everything (they got me checked out for $311.57). That included everything, tires, tax, installation, etc. So they were supposed to be in Tuesday (the 29th).

I called them Tuesday - "The supplier we ordered from typically ships in the afternoon so they should be here this afternoon". Ok cool,

Call on Wednesday "We got your rear, but not the front let me check on it and get back with you. Sure OK I hear nothing for the rest of the day.

Call back Thursday, starting to get kinda irritated. He informs me that the front is back-ordered and expected to ship JULY 30th!!! That is un fukin acceptable to me! I am heading to North GA on the 23rd for vacation and the bike is going (riding the Gap for the first time).

So he tries to make it right and offers a Bridgestone BT-021 front and get it done Friday. I didn't like the idea of mismatched tires, and I'd read reviews on those and they sucked.

I told them to just refund my money and I would order them myself. "Well there will be a 30% restocking fee, but what do you think about the Perilli Angel St's?" So glad he made an offer to make it right after that restocking fee comment (i was livid at that point) I gave him a chance to make it right. Service manager tells me let me work it out and I'll give you a call back. Knowing there was only a $27 diff. in price according to Jakewilson.com I know the price should be the same or maybe >$20-30 more. Prepaid to rip him apart if he called back saying any more then that.

Well I just got off the phone with him and I'm getting a new set of the Perilli Angel ST's which are supposed to be a good sport-touring tire. and they will be ready to mount them when they arrive Tuesday.

So all is well that end's well, and I again roll on perilli's!

Also a Big A+ to Florida Motorsports for making it right! 

[Mark]

I'm sorry, but that is not "A+" service to me.

Let's count the mistakes:

1. They told you the tires would be there Tuesday. They weren't.

2. They waited for YOU to call THEM to find out there was a problem. They should have called you when they realized they couldn't fulfill their promise.

3. They obviously hadn't checked stock before ordering your tires (and taking your money), yet they gave you a delivery/install date, which they apparently had no control over.

4. When you called Wednesday, they said they'd get back to you. They didn't. You had to call them back.

5. When they finally bothered checking stock and found out the tire was backordered (for a MONTH!), rather than find another supplier (it's a very popular tire), they offered you an inferior tire.

6. When you asked for your money back because they failed to deliver on their promise, they wanted to keep 30% of your money. If they make a mistake, THEY should have to pay, not you. Besides, they would still have a tire they could sell to someone else. You would simply be out $93.47 with nothing but aggravation and broken promises to show for it.

7. In the end, it's four days after your promised delivery date, you still don't have new tires ("they'll be in Tuesday"... that sounds familiar!), and you're not getting the tires you asked for (and paid for!).


Florida Motorsports has a history and reputation for lying and underhandedness. There are other threads on this forum where members have complained about their lying and bad customer service.

The only bikes I've ever taken to Florida Motorsports are the ones I've wrecked, and that's because I knew they'd try to screw me on the price of repairs, driving it high enough that the insurance company would simply call it a total loss and cut me a check.... and in that respect, Florida Motorsports came though as expected. And even then, I got the whole, "it'll be done in a week" spiel, and they didn't finish for closer to three weeks... and ONLY because after a couple of weeks I started calling EVERY DAY to ask them when it'll be done. On the third week, they finally admitted they hadn't even started on it, but that they would do it right away.

So, to me, that's "D" customer service at best.

[Chef]

Agree. I dont like that store except there bikes haha. On a lighter point, Don has those tires and loves them! I think he bought some stock in Perilli. You didnt find any good tire deals at Orion's or Precision?

[whitecl0ver]

Agree. I dont like that store except there bikes haha. On a lighter point, Don has those tires and loves them! I think he bought some stock in Perilli. You didnt find any good tire deals at Orion's or Precision?

No Orion wouldn't go any lower then $340 on Pilot Roads and Precision was ~350ish

Mark all in all your right, it was a friggin head ache.  I said A+ because they made it right with me.  I'm happy as long as my Angel ST's are in on Tuesday like they promised.  I'm excepting no excuses from them on this set.   THe only excuse i'll except is Jesus Christ personally came down and stopped the FedEX truck in it's tracks, and picked it up, and threw it to China! 

Also in their defense the supplier that sold them the tires said they were back order until 6/10/2010 (i ordered 6/23/2010) so i'm sure they [florida motorsports] fully expected them to ship on-time.   Then the supplier told them 7/20 after everything was said and done.

Needless to say, I  will not be going back even though they made it right this time.  I knew I should have just stuck with Orion's. 

[Zach!]

Florida Motorsports is HORRIBLE for customer service. Between Mark and his totaled bike story, Kyle and his cam chain tensioner nightmare, and TJ trying to test drive a 1098 like it's supposed to be driven to no avail, I won't be using them.

Also, the BT-021 is what I run on my biker, and Joker sold me on them. They are a pretty sweet tire actually.

Don is running the Angel ST's on his bike, and will not shut up about them. I really hope he doesn't see this thread and start talking about God's gift to motorcycles . I think you actually came out on top, with the Pilot Roads being out of stock......the Angels are better.

Did you try TPS? They usually have the cheapest tire prices, because they mass order for like nine dealerships. Also I know they will match internet prices, dunno if that includes tires though.

[Don]

Once again I'll say Orion can charge me 10 or 20 $ more cause of the following;

1. He will personally make sure it's right.
2. Orion has had part that have not shipped, but he always accepts responsibility for it, and once again "makes it right"
3. Will not let you spend money you don't need to spend
4. Keeps his word!!!!!!

I have had a lot of work done by Orion, and I have yet to be let down.

Also, on a side note, you will love the Angels, I know the VFR forums love the Pilots roads, but trust me you will love everything thing the Angels have to offer. Expect a little vibration on the break in, thats normal due to deep tread sipes on the   tires.

[Mark]

I hadn't heard of the Angel ST's. If they're better tires and you're not getting charged more for them, then I do commend Florida Motorsports for stepping up in that regard.

I didn't mean to be all "Florida Motorsports sucks" or anything. I personally wouldn't do business with them because every experience I've heard from their customers sounds the same, but if they're doing good by you and you're happy, that's good.

I'm going to be shopping for a new rear tire in a month or so. I'll probably try Orion and Precision and see who's got the best deal on a single rear tire.

[spadoc79]

just for future reference i coulda got you those same tires shipped and installed out the door $285

[yzfr1guy]

ehhhhh!! you guys need to go to TPS where they'll meet/beat any price that you can prove someone has offered, internet or local.

[spadoc79]

^^^^^ i can beat there prices also ;Dnot trying to cock block anyone but i dont have over head or employees to pay...i just do this stuff on the side as a hobby so im not out to make a living off it just a few bucks spending cash.

[whitecl0ver]

ehhhhh!! you guys need to go to TPS where they'll meet/beat any price that you can prove someone has offered, internet or local.

Where?  Because if my tires are not in today.  I will be bringing it to you.

[Zach!]

Tallahassee Powersports, either the one on Monroe or Pensacola, but yzfr1guy works at the Monroe location, good guy.

[yzfr1guy]

Where?  Because if my tires are not in today.  I will be bringing it to you.

Yea if they are not in today, come on by the monroe location and we can figure something out.  We have a pretty decent selection of tires and definitely can make a deal/price match.  If we needed to order specific tires for you we first would check all of our other 8 stores to see if they have them in inventory, and if not we can check the availability of the ones you want to find out when they would arrive. 
That whole scenario that your going through is pure lazyness.  They definitely can tell when the tires are suppose to be in and also if they are on back order right when you order them. 

[whitecl0ver]

The Angel ST's came in as promised on Tuesday.  My VFR is at their shop right now having them installed.  All should be done around 12:30-1

[Don]

Let me know what you think of the Angels, I was behind you this afternoon on North Monroe!!!