‘Proof:’ Arizona Man Goes to Discount Tire to See If They Really Road Force Balance Tires. Then He Catches a Worker in the Act

"Never had a problem, and yeah, I watch."

Photo by: TikTok

By: Alexandra Samuels

Jul 16, 2025 at 1:00pm ET

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A car expert went viral on TikTok after accusing a Discount Tire in Scottsdale, Arizona, of skipping a critical step in tire service.

In the video, TikTok user @stwdirect films himself outside the store, explaining to viewers that he stopped by to see whether technicians actually road force balance customers’ tires.

He was not impressed by what he found.

“Proof Discount Tire does not road force balance your tires,” @stwdirect says in the clip.

As of this writing, the video has pulled in nearly 100,000 views.

What Did the Man See During His Visit?

In his video, @stwdirect quietly records employees from a distance, avoiding any direct interaction as he observes their workflow. He notes that he wanted to see for himself whether Discount Tire actually performs road force balancing, given that the location he visited had the tool available.

“Now, I know they got the machines, and I’m about to go in there and show you the exact ones they got,” he said, before panning over to the service bay setup.

He quickly points out that the shop is equipped with a Road Force Elite Wheel Balancer. “It’s the exact same machine I got,” he tells viewers.

But his enthusiasm turns to criticism when he watches a technician handle a tire. According to @stwdirect, the employee failed to use the machine to perform a proper road force balance.

“He’s not going to road force balance those tires,” he says in the video. Then he calls out the company directly: “Why have the machines if you’re not going to use them the right way?”

What Is Road Force Balancing, and Why Does It Matter?

Road force balancing is a more advanced method of tire balancing that goes beyond the standard spin-and-measure approach. It simulates real-world driving conditions by applying pressure to the tire as it rotates, mimicking the weight and force of a vehicle on the road.

This technique helps identify hidden issues that traditional balancing might miss, such as uneven tire stiffness, bulges, or slight variations in the wheel’s shape, known as runout. Left unchecked, these imperfections can cause vibrations, reduce ride comfort, and contribute to premature tire wear.

The main advantage of road force balancing is precision. Accounting for how the tire behaves under load allows technicians to make more accurate adjustments, which often results in a noticeably smoother ride.

It’s especially useful for drivers who continue to feel vibrations even after a standard balance. In those cases, road force balancing can help isolate and fix the problem.

In short, it’s a smarter, more detailed approach to tire balancing—one that can improve ride quality and help your tires last longer.

Discount Tire Does Offer Road Force Balancing

Despite what @stwdirect observed, Discount Tire does advertise road force balancing as one of its services. According to the company’s website, it uses load-roller technology to simulate road conditions and diagnose issues with wheels and tires more precisely.

“We gather data on your wheels and tires to find accurate solutions for their performance issues,” the website states. “If standard nor road force balancing is addressing the issue, it may not be your tires or wheels causing the vibration.”

And while @stwdirect’s video called out one location and one technician, that doesn’t necessarily reflect how every Discount Tire shop operates. After all, his experience may be the exception, not the rule.

Viewers Push Back On Discount Tire Criticism

Not everyone watching @stwdirect’s video was ready to condemn Discount Tire. Many commenters argued it was unfair to judge the entire chain based on one employee’s actions at a single location.

“It’s one store out of thousands,” one viewer wrote.

“You have to ask specifically for that service,” another added. “Never had a problem and, yeah, I watch.”

A third chimed in with firsthand experience: “Former Discount Tire employee here—the machine does it automatically for you if it needs it based on the first initial spin. On the old machines, you were able to turn off the road force, but [on the] the new ones you couldn’t.”

Others took the video as further proof that Discount Tire may not be the most trustworthy option for car maintenance.

“They are crooks! I would never buy from Discount Tire,” one woman said.

“Why use Discount Tire to begin with?” another asked.

Some commenters raised questions about @stwdirect’s clip itself—namely, whether the customer even paid for road force balancing, how long @stwdirect observed the work, or if he ever directly confronted the mechanic.

“Why would you get something you didn’t pay for? It’s technically extra labor,” one TikTok user pointed out.

“Cost more for road force, bud,” another noted.

What do you think?

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“They won’t do it unless you ask, from what I’ve found,” added a third.

Motor1 has reached out to @stwdirect via a TikTok direct message and to Discount Tire by email.