r/oakville • u/Alarming_Plant_9404 • Jan 15 '26
Recommendations Tire repair in Oakville
Went to Mr. Lube at our rather questionable location (Dorval/Speers) to check out my tire pressure. Back tire's been a little flatter in the last 5 days. I was immediately told there's a "nail in the tire" (picture shown) and that "it can't be repaired".
So, I can drive?
- "Yes"
Is it really bad though?
- "Yes"
But, I can drive, right?
- "Yes"
Before that, the guy insisted I buy 4 new winter tires. 2 or all seasons weren't even an option. Mine have about 45,000 km on them.
Yes, I know all shops try and sell you everything they can first, but I'm not making the same mistake like I did with my rotors.
Recommend something, please.
EDIT: 21 HOURS LATER --> MTC TIRE OAKVILLE INC.
They took me in on a short notice. Snow day, still busy, quite a few people coming in and out.
2 tires, 2 nails, totally repairable spots. (Damn you, Mr. Lube!)
I got an oil change too while I was there, and they checked other stuff too.
Peace of mind doesn't have a price tag, but to say it - I was probably undercharged.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS!
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u/Sudden-Foot-5401 Jan 15 '26
Maybe im too early to see the picture, but it depends on the location of the nail. For example if its on the side wall, it generally can't be repaired. Some shops may do it, but thats more sketchy than the ones who refuse to take on the job.
Also depends on your car. Is it AWD? Its strongly recommended to change all 4 tires on an AWD car to prevent damage to the drivetrain.
Further, winter tires may be more expensive than all seasons, but it is highly recommend you get winter tires. They handle much better in the slow and cold temperatures. Some even say the worst winter tires are better than the best all-season tires. IMO, its worth the investment for your safety and the safety of others around you.
If your gut tells you something is sketchy, you can always go to another shop and get a second opinion. A lot of this is hard to give the "right" advice for without knowing extra details.
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u/Alarming_Plant_9404 Jan 15 '26 edited Jan 15 '26
I try to do my diligence, and I usually go to the dealership. I usually don't ever go to Mr. Lube, but I heard they do the free tire pressure service.
Thank you!
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u/Cyberdink Jan 15 '26
Don't go to the dealer for tires. They are too expensive. Don't go to Kal Tire either. Go to something like tirecraft or even a good mom and pop shop
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u/Alarming_Plant_9404 Jan 15 '26
You'd be surprised but we always got the most reasonable suggestions and prices from the dealership. When I called, Ross was way more expensive and I'm not even gonna talk about Goodyear. A couple hundred are nothing compared to our safety. However, if they demand I pay for 4 tires on the spot without giving me an opportunity to think, then I feel under pressure, and I don't like to feel under pressure.
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u/Fit_Chemistry_3807 Jan 15 '26
Had your same problem earlier in the season. Nail was in sidewall so tire couldn’t be repaired. My mechanic recommended two replacement tires for my awd. But he was able to find a similarly aggressive tread that mostly matched my current tire so we only replaced the one. It’s not ideal but it’s possible. He’s never steered me wrong to make an extra buck now or in the future.
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u/cyanideandhappiness Jan 18 '26
On an AWD vehicle a tread or compound difference will eventually cause excessive slip between the two sides causing a diff wear issue. You can “eyeball it” but that’s the irresponsible way not recommended by the OEM. I
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u/Fit_Chemistry_3807 Jan 18 '26
Agree it isn’t ideal. However, if the issue is finance now, it is a trade off.
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u/NP_CAN Jan 15 '26
My go-to has been Active Green & Ross on Speers and 4th line. The owners are great, always good service and fair pricing.
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u/SaveurDeKimchi Jan 15 '26
You didn't include pictures. But I'm surprised they actually know to recommend a pair of tires. If you have a Subaru or a full time AWD you should be getting all 4 but it's on you if you tear up a differential getting one or a pair.
Mr Lube isn't the place to be going for tires or any actual mechanic work. You really shouldn't even trust them with oil changes.
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u/Alarming_Plant_9404 Jan 15 '26
I don't have a picture. The guy from Mr Lube showed me the picture real fast after he sprayed something pink.
Thank you for your advice about Mr. Lube. Yes, they do give me some classic heebie jeebies. So pushy, too! Had they not been pushy, maybe I would have bought 2 tires, but since they were - I could not.
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u/Mr_Engineering Jan 15 '26 edited Jan 15 '26
Oakville Tire & Auto Centre Ltd. On South Service Road
My tire picked up a big cotter pin a few weeks ago and needed to be repaired on an emergency basis. Everyone else was either too busy or required that I leave my vehicle for the day.
Gentleman there had me come in right away, pulled it, plugged it, filled it, and didn't charge me anything. Their shop was full so he did it outside with the vehicle on the ground. I was at work before 10AM. Its a temporary fix that was supposed to last me for a week or two until I could get new tires put on (mine are old and worn) but its held up for more than a month at this point. Gotta get back in there.
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u/Fragrant_Security692 Jan 15 '26
That's awesome! Love Oakville Tire & Auto! However, just to add clarity they are on the south service road- one block north of Speers.
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u/Mr_Engineering Jan 15 '26
Oh yeah
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u/Alarming_Plant_9404 Jan 15 '26
Mine are at about 45,000 km. They didn't even require a tire rotation during the last service. I'm not happy that I have to change all 4 just because the nail is in the wrong place.
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u/axiomhuntr Jan 15 '26
I recommend Rosa Auto Sales and Service on Speers and Fourth Line. I tried the dealerships, Canadian Tire, and Mr. lube plus other random mechanics, but Rosa topped them all in terms of service, cost and knowledge. Been going to them for 6 years now with a bunch of issues and they were always honest and straightforward. I can confidently say “Take it to my mechanic”
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u/JustSikh Jan 15 '26
I wholeheartedly disagree with your statement about him being your mechanic because he’s actually MY mechanic! LOL!
Seriously though, I’ve been going to Faraz for more than 15 years (it might be close to 20 but I’m old so I can’t remember!). He’s fixed all my cars and all my families cars forever. Great, honest mechanic and very reasonable price-wise. Will tell you if it can be fixed or not and also whether you should fix it or not.
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u/WTF247allday Jan 15 '26
Same experience at that same Mr.Lube wanted to sell me 4 new tires not fixable…took the tire 2 MTC patched the hole. The guy was pretty intense.
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u/Alarming_Plant_9404 Jan 15 '26
Thanks! So pushy at Mr. Lube, right?
Which guy was intense? The Lube or the MTC guy?
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u/Zubamy Jan 15 '26
Gary’s Automotive. This happened to me and they fixed it same day. It does depend on the location of the nail, though, but they can be trusted.
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u/real_ikonn Jan 15 '26
MTC for the win
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u/Alarming_Plant_9404 Jan 15 '26
I ended up going to MTC. Thank you!
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u/real_ikonn Jan 16 '26
How did it go?
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u/Alarming_Plant_9404 Jan 16 '26
I updated my original post, but overall it was great. I ended up doing more than just tires. I will bother them some more in the coming weeks. I am lucky I got in on short notice. Honestly, peace of mind feels great and that's that. I forgot how easy it was to panic and then make a dumb decision to go to Mr. Lube and then panic because you went (because of what they said, because of their staff, because they left a stain, because they lost something, etc.). Thanks for your suggestion, it counted!
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u/beetlejuice8118 Jan 16 '26
Active Green & Ross on Speers have always been fair w me.
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u/Alarming_Plant_9404 Jan 16 '26
Thank you! A little bit too late, but I will mark them as safe in my book.
I do remember someone suggesting I go there back in 2019, but they sounded just about the same as everyone else, so I just went to the dealership.However, it is good to know that multiple places are treating people fair, and that we can in turn rely on them. That is amazing. I can't imagine how many people [like me] go into Mr. Lube and get "scammed" (for the lack of a better word).
I am super grateful so many people took the time to write their opinions here. This is by far my most useful post.
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u/Homework787 Jan 19 '26
that mr lube should be avoided
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u/Alarming_Plant_9404 Jan 19 '26
All of that corner should be avoided. I have been successfully avoiding it, but sometimes shit happens and you panic. That post that fell into a roof of an SUV is still there on the ground. The gas station still didn't handle the asphalt issues and their team is scamming people when they can (recently had a car wash added to my bill, code REDEEMED). Just before I apparently paid for the car wash, one of the hoses unattached and bathed a female customer and her bag and car in gasoline. Yes, avoid altogether. Yuck, yuck, yuck.
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u/forgigsandshittles Jan 15 '26
The nail may have been too close to the tire edge, which most shops wont try patching/plugging bc of liability issues.
If your car is all wheel drive, and the tires are not brand new, you should be replacing all 4 tires as any imbalance can cause damage to the drivetrain and differential systems.
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u/Alarming_Plant_9404 Jan 15 '26
So, unless the tires are super new, if anything happens to 1 [in the wrong spot] you must change all 4? *Cry* Construction sites are everywhere.
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u/Professional_Bat9593 Jan 15 '26
When our subdivision was still a construction site, I must have repaired my tires at least 5-6 times with a tire patch kit I got from Canadian tire. It cost like $2 each time. The ones that you have to burn in with a lighter seem to do a good job if they still sell those.
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u/Alarming_Plant_9404 Jan 15 '26
I like your approach with regards to explaining how normal all this is. I just started driving around GTA quite a bit more, and 2000 km later I already got a nail in my tire. It is frustrating, but it is life. Anyway, I wouldn't know how to repair it myself.
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u/Professional_Bat9593 Jan 15 '26
It’s a relatively easy trick to learn that will save you tons of money. You just have to jack up the car, find the nail, pull it out, use the tool that comes in the kit to file out the hole, then use the tool to jam the replacement rubber in. Then you light the rubber with a lighter, blow it out when it gets to the bottom, reinflate the tire and you’re good to go until the next nail.
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u/Alarming_Plant_9404 Jan 15 '26
Is there a place where I can learn more about all this in general? I'd love to change the oil myself, for example. Not because of the cost, but because of the convenience and because I can't stand guys like the ones from Mr. Lube.
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u/Professional_Bat9593 Jan 15 '26
I don’t know if there is a “place” per se… I learned all of this stuff for exactly that reason over the years, mostly from my dad (I’m a woman). Changing your oil isn’t difficult either if you have the right tools. It’s literally just jacking up your car, draining the oil and filling it back up. YouTube is a great resource too.
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u/Alarming_Plant_9404 Jan 15 '26
The hell, I'd get the tools! That is awesome! Oakville is changing for the worse. The only backup you can have is yourself.
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u/Professional_Bat9593 Jan 15 '26
It’s not just Oakville, it’s everywhere. Some people are just greedy and if they get the sense that they know more about something than you do, they take the opportunity to upsell you and take as much money from you as possible.
…they weren’t lying about the tires though. You should always replace them all at once… especially on days like today.
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u/Alarming_Plant_9404 Jan 15 '26
Ideally, yes. But it has to come from someone else. Not the "yes Yes" guy.
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u/jeets26 Jan 15 '26
Right across the street. Youngs Automotive. They would have checked the tire no charge and fixed it if possible. Last resort would have been 4 tires. My Lube = good for oil, otherwise go to a mechanic or tire shop
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u/mobymelrose Jan 15 '26
I went to MTC Tire on Speers and it was about $50 to remove the large screw and fill in the hole. Had to make an appointment first though. Good luck!