I'm going to give the bad before the good, so you'll know what you're committing yourself to.
You will be in the elements. Rain, scorching heat, freezing temperatures are just the tip of the iceberg. Working an all day shift can vary between 10 and 11 hours a business day depending on what time the store finishes working on the last car. Discount Tire closes at 6pm Mon-Fri and at 5pm on Saturdays. Keep in mind, if cars were written up at closing time or before, they must be serviced. Meaning, if 20 cars drove in at 5:59PM, you're not leaving at 6PM and won't be until they're all worked on.
You will sweat, you will cramp, you will have to be fast or no one will want to work with you.
Management varies between stores like any other franchise. Get on their good side, regardless, if you want your days off or hours given to you.
A common theme at all Discount Tire backrooms is that all employees egg on each other. When you become a regular and you hangout with the others outside of work, expect to make friends but also expect a lot of trash to be talked. It's just guys being guys.
Some stereotypes:
All DTC emplyees dip at work. False. Not all, but I've met quite a few that do.
All DTC employees are men. False. There are some women in the company that can change a tire or repair a flat faster than you could.
You're supposed to have a 30 min lunch and two 15 min breaks if you work all day. You'll only get the 30 min lunch. Usually, the store is too busy to hav
ProsGreat pay for a part-timer/college student, Company takes care of its employees, bi-annual bonuses, discounts(obviously), Will change the way you see others that service your vehicle
ConsWork in the weather and 30min lunch for 11 hr shift
I've worked at discount for about 3 years at a few different stores. First store I was at, I loved the culture and environment. It was guys constantly whooping and hollering, encouraging eachother by challenging them, guys occasionally racing on an all 4 to prove who was faster, and the oh so important lovingly trash talking. It was an amazing environment that focused on banging out cars as fast as humanly possible all day long, and yet even though you left the store every night exhausted and sore (and often times a lot more past closing time than you wanted) it just feels like you're hanging out with the dudes for 10 hrs a day. The group of guys that were there when I started all keep in touch like best friends to this day, even tho most have gotten jobs elsewhere and half of them are in other states.
I also feel the need to say if you are really wanting to move up through the company, it's an easy place to actually do it. A lot of jobs say there is always room for upwards mobility, but at discount they actually mean it. If you want it, and you are willing to do the work, you can move up relatively easily. In management, we're actually strongly encouraged to get everyone promoted as much as possible. You always start as a trainee, but I got certified in two weeks then you get a dollar raise and are now a Service tech. It's not that hard from there to crew chief, then with a little experience and hard work you can be a service coordinator, then you become an apprentice tech
ProsEasy to move up, decent pay
ConsA lot of stress, too high of expectations, bureaucracy in upper management
Good job if you are active teenager, but moving up the ranks will take years
Work starts at 7:45 and runs till the last car is done (if you work all day).
Regardless of your position at the company, you will be working hard; be ready to pick up heavy tires. I learned a lot about tires at my current position and I learn about how to communicate with customers. The management is okay, the store I worked at is very strict when it comes to company policies but overlook some basic problems that I would consider a part of the problem of why they are not the best store in the area (within the company tree). Be ready to be overworked and understaffed, and because of that the 10 min break thing is not going to fly with the management, basically shaming you for asking and saying thing along the line like " there is too much work to be done or we are almost out just push through or would you rather go home on time or have your break". The pace of the job is usually the hardest part especially if management understaffs the backroom or brings up new guys too early because then the guys in charge in the backroom have to be doing double duty that the management should be doing( training up the new guys properly, not in the description of any part-time position).
Also, the over-booking of work to worker ratio is pretty bad usually setting the guys up in the back for failure if any hiccups come up. Do not expect to be approached an offer for moving up the ranks, you are going to be forced into the next position as fast as they can even if you are not ready or do not w
ProsDiscounts, 401k match (part-time included), company paid appreciation trip for all, weekly pay, hire from with in
Consno 10 min breaks, always busy, no over time at all for part-time, understaffed, weak training structure, short lunch to work ratio, a lot of heavy lifting ( so be careful or you can get really hurt))
I was considered a Service Coordinator although I never knew how to fully use the computers, besides looking up some stuff and clicking cars in and out of the bays.
On a typical open-close day, you show up to work 7:30am. Grab a cup of coffee, turn on the compressors, oil the guns, and calibrate the balancers, etc as you would to prep the bays. Then if you have time and your boss is okay with it. Smoke a cig before the store opens at 8:00am and talk to coworkers.
Some days are busy, some days are slow. I learned never to expect a slow day because sometimes those days can get busy and blows! You should expect to be working fast and lifting up to 80 pounds to get some cars done in 15 minutes. There's a lot to learn right away but in about 3 months, you should know how to do the basics. Fully understanding workflow takes a bit longer to grasp. But someone will always be there to guide you and help you if you need it. You will never work by yourself unless you're doing a flat repair or a special trailer tire lay-away.
The typical coworker is usually a guy, age between 18-30s, and all we talk about are, cars, funny stuff, idiot customers, and hot girls. It's a boys club.
The hardest part of the job is cranking out cars when you're 15 cars down and your bay times are averaging 20 minutes and if you have a mean manager, they will be jumping down your throat to get the car finished and you're thinking "he's such an a**h***". On top of that, no one had a lunch break becau
ProsGood exercise, friends, learn stuff about cars (from other coworkers) and tires
ConsPossibly no breaks, work past closing hours
2.0
Apprentice Automotive Technician | Tucson, AZ | Aug 25, 2019
A Joke
I've been working for this company for about 5 going on 6 years now. When I first started it was a fun place to work at. Management was alright and my coworkers were pretty cool. I was also making $0.50 more than minimum wage (Which was $7.25 at the time). It was tough work, but the environment itself made up for the physical stress. I did get raises often and I would move up the corporate ladder pretty fast. It wasn't until I became an Apprentice Technician did I start to realize what a joke this company was. In essence, it's a literal cult, They make you feel bad if you're not a good'ole boy with them, and they try to make you seem like the company cares for you, but in all actuality they could care less about you. And I am not the only one who feels this way. When i first started working, I had to come to work self-motivated. It was either put-out or get-out. And I personally thrive in that type of environment because it gets the best out of a person. Nowadays it's my job to motivate new/er people because they can't be bothered to come in and do the job they were hired to do. Management puts pressure on people like me to motivate these newer individuals, which stresses us out, and on top of all that the individuals in question don't want to be motivated.
Another talking point is the pay. I used to make $6.25 above minimum, but ever since the new minimum wage law went into effect in Arizona I now make $2.50 above minimum. By next year it'll be $1.50. No one saw a cost of l
ProsDiscounts on Tires/Wheels
ConsNo LEGAL PAID-FOR breaks, only 1 30-minute lunch for working over 8 hours, horrible management, rude and entitled customers
Working at Discount Tire was a great experience, at first... You start as a Tire Technician, changing/ fixing tires, rotating and balancing customers tires, etc. Then slowly start moving up the chain. At Discount Tire there is NO such thing as "Merritt" based promotions! It doesn't matter if you are the first one there, the last one there, it doesn't matter if everyone of the customers you helped that day left happy. The only way to get promoted here is to "Know someone, or be related to someone, its not what you know, it's who you know".
Discount Tire is however a great job if you happen to be in high school and want a decent paying job for a high school-er.
If you want a career, I would recommend looking else where. The only position you can make "Real" money in is being a Store Manager or higher (which is almost impossible anymore). There are dozens of hard working guys that I've have had the pleasure of working with, that have spent more than a decade trying to get promoted to "Senior Assistant Manager", time after time, they get passed up for promotion by some "twenty-something year old" who just started working for the company a year and a half ago. As an assistant manager you work five days, and an average of 55 hours a week. Regardless where you live, and regardless if you happen to live 5-15 minutes away from a Discount Tire, you could end up driving 1 1/2 hours away to a different location. Assistant Managers transfer stores every 1 1/2 years, so if you have any
ProsCo-workers, Company Picnics, Employee Pricing, Company Events (SEMA, Lake Tahoe)
ConsLong Hours, Pay, Management, No Merritt Based Promotions
Great coworker culture between part timers and the redshirts who work in the backroom
Discount tire is what I would say, very stressful on the body and mind. The physical demand outweigh the pay. Almost all the benefits are for full time only. Part timers get a 401k maybe and that’s it. You spend high majority of your time during a week at work and barely time at home. Back pain, hand injuries, basically given a couple minutes to breath then you have walk it off, expected to clean the backroom with minimal time before close while management sweeps and mops the showroom in 15 minutes then watches you and barks at you to hurry up. Management complains about everything you do wrong and take minimal to no responsibility over accidents that take place. You are rushed to do everything within 15 minutes or less almost irregardless of the situation. The best part of working there is you can usually be as loud as you want and your fellow tech’s and the few redshirts that come in the back end up being ur buddy’s. Sometimes you can feel accomplished for your work I guess. Best practice is “required” to do but management can do what they want but if a tech doesn’t follow it they get taken to the office by those same managers. You’re told to walk away for a breather if you get overly stressed but really it means tell ur service coordinator you need to punch sometime in the accessories room scream in ur hands maybe cry for a second and then walk back out with a smile on your face ready to work and act nice. I guess I can just say, you’ll love your fellow workers, semi despi
Part time pays good, management is not worth the time lost
They start everyone as a tire technician, with more than decent pay for the position. Stick with it a few years they ask you to be a salesman. They then offer to promote you to "assistant manager" which is a joke because you share that position with up to 8 other people at your location. Once you accept the promotion they switch you to salary with "Chinese overtime". It seems like you're making a lot more money at first, till you realize they're making you work upward of 50+ hours a week. If you can stick it out 8-10 years the actual managers are rewarded very handsomely with great salary plus quarterly bonus checks of %20 of your locations net profits. All for the manager! The pay structure needs to be changed so that there isn't a manager making $300,000/yr while the next guy below him doing most the work is only making 50,000/yr.
DTC has a phenomenal culture and always takes care of its employees. Company retreats, annual picnics, sports tournaments etc. They treat their employees with so much respect and it is typically a fun work environment. If you have ever been to discount tire as a customer, you've probably found that integrity, honesty and genuine care for people are common traits found in the people you interact with, that is no coincidence its about how the business is run. The customer is always right, and they always take care of their own at the same time.
In summary, if you are looking for a part time job, doing manual labor, it is a fantastic place to
ProsFun work environment, cultivating upper management. Regional presidents very involved on an individual basis.
ConsHours. If you are full time, you are making about 2/3 what a part time employee makes hourly.
All about who your manager is, merit based promotions are a joke.
I’ve spent enough time arguing with those above me over how they’ve treated employees during the covid crisis. The company makes money off of exploited labor, your labor. The money at first glance seems decent comparatively, but for the work you’re asked to do, for how long, for lack of benefits, & on top of how much money you’ll be putting into working that job, it’s hardly worth it. If your manager is a competent, you could end up enjoying the job. Unfortunately, my last 2 store managers were terrible leaders who for the life of them could not relate to their employees, and it showed in how they treated us. You’re ultimately liable to get taken advantage of, as that’s how the company makes a profit. With over 100% turnover rate, the company makes a profit via underpaying their physical labor employees. I am very disappointed with how my time at Discount has come to an end, with promises of promotions having been squashed due to covid. I was asked to go back into work when there was completely inadequate safety precautions being implemented. On top of my coworkers completely ignoring said precautions, as there was no incentive to. If anything, there was pressure to ignore them. My boss even lied to me about the health of another employee who was showing covid symptoms. Unless you’re fresh out of high school and want a way to get some experience in the industry, I would avoid the company until they offer better benefits to their employees.
ProsFlexible scheduling, great for those who want to stay on their feet all day
ConsShort breaks, lack of benefits, pay for your own clothing, long hours, lack of communication, & the culture is kinda cultish truthfully
5.0
Apprentice Automotive Technician | Northglenn, CO | Feb 18, 2016
Exciting and engaging work flow as a whole company
During my time at Discount Tire, I have made plenty of memories within my job and the people of Discount Tire. Managers and techs become family and treat you as a member. The job can be stressful when busy, trying to increase the work flow can be a challenging task when forced to rush all day. Manual labor is not difficult once learned after practice. I am usually a chosen technician for expensive and precise wheel and tire fitments. Exotic and rare cars are always taken under my super vision to perfection. I enjoy doing the difficult challenge on precise wheels and tires. The hardest part of the job is staying warm during the cold winter season while every one is trying the get their tires the night before the first wave of snow. We close doors at 6 pm and stay until 10 pm finishing all the vehicles that had purchased snow tires to be installed. We are very dedicated in taking care of our customers and will always go the extra mile to take care of them. The CEO is a man who gives back to the people. He owns a multi-billion dollar company but keeps very little to himself. He donates to many charities, has several groups and organizations built within the company to provide for certain needs for families and kids. He also gives back to the employees of Discount Tire as a gratitude for our hard work. This includes trips to SEMA car shows, Lake Tahoe, and several others. He give back with frequent bonuses to every employee of the company. Millions of dollars are given within jus
Does Discount Tire allow its workers to have facial hair? Like moustaches or goatees?
Asked Sep 15, 2016
As of now Yes you can grow out beards and other facial hair.
Answered Sep 19, 2021
Simple answer no facial hair no exceptions
Answered May 2, 2021
What tips or advice would you give to someone interviewing at Discount Tire?
Asked Mar 7, 2018
Don’t buy into the way the company up sells itself. Remember they make money by up selling tires to customers and they get employees by up selling their company to people that apply.
Answered Aug 29, 2020
Great place to work if you like teamwork. Great opportunity for anyone with a positive attitude. Almost all of the well-paid managers were entry level techs when they started.
Answered Aug 10, 2020
If you were to leave Discount Tire, what would be the reason?
Asked Mar 27, 2017
I left discount tire because I wasn’t happy working there and I found a better opportunity in a better career field which honestly wasn’t very hard to do. Had I stayed an went full time they told me They wouldn’t work with a school schedule and at that point I would have literally been stuck there as you really don’t get anything from this company that can help you anywhere but with this company.
Answered Aug 29, 2020
Honestly terrible work enviroment, there a is constant harrasment, bullying, and "physical" harrasment going on. There is also no consequence to these actions, because the Seniors don't report their buddies or are doing it themselves. The goal of this company is not to make dreams come true anymore but to make the managers a bigger bonus. Full time employees didn't even receive a raise when the minimum wage went up so now the new technicians are making almost as much as the guys that have been there for years. Way to show your love and appreciation.
Answered Aug 4, 2020
What is the interview process like at Discount Tire?
Asked Jun 27, 2016
The manager didn't know I was coming, he somehow missed the interview email hr sent, so it can be a little disjointed.
Answered Jun 24, 2020
I got interviewed at an office location, and the interview went pretty much as expected. The Regional Manager looked over my resume and asked me about several parts of it, short and long-term goals, etc. Afterward, I was offered the job and went through a couple of months of training at the store.
Answered May 16, 2020
What is the best part of working at Discount Tire?
Asked Nov 28, 2019
Co workers, summer and winter bonuses
Answered Sep 13, 2020
The only thing that is nice is flexible hours and the people you meet along the way
