Search “Mavis tire reviews” and the star rating you find depends entirely on where you look.
PissedConsumer shows roughly 1.6 out of 5.
A combined Google, Yelp, and BBB average puts it closer to 3.9.
Neither number tells you the full story, so I went looking for something more concrete: the actual legal and regulatory record behind this company.
⚡TL;DR — Mavis Discount Tire & Mavis Tires & Brakes
- Founded in 1972, headquartered in White Plains, New York. Operates under several names depending on region, including Mavis Discount Tire, Mavis Tires & Brakes, STS Tire & Auto, Suburban Tire, and Weldon Tire.
- In 2018, Mavis merged with Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers under private equity firm Golden Gate Capital, creating a combined network that has since grown to roughly 3,500 locations across the two brand families.
- The finding that matters most: Mavis has real, official legal history beyond customer complaints. A New Jersey class action settled for $650,000 over undisclosed fees charged after the online estimate. The EEOC settled a religious discrimination case for $303,758. A separate EEOC sex discrimination lawsuit against Mavis is active.
- The recurring customer complaint pattern: warranty denials despite policy language that appears to cover the exact damage in question, being charged twice for services already included in a package, and vehicle damage disputes during service.
- Mavis and Discount Tire are separate, unrelated companies, despite similar names — a common point of confusion.
- My take: a legitimate, high-volume national chain with real convenience and often-good pricing, but a documented pattern serious enough that you should read your paperwork closely and know your rights before you sign anything.
What Is Mavis Discount Tire?
Mavis started in 1972 and has grown into one of the largest tire and automotive service chains in the country.
It’s headquartered in White Plains, New York.
Depending on your region, you might see the name Mavis Discount Tire, Mavis Tires & Brakes, STS Tire & Auto, Suburban Tire, Weldon Tire, or Mavis Discount Tire / Cole Muffler & Brake. These are all the same parent company operating under different regional names.
In 2018, Mavis merged with Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers, another chain we’ve reviewed separately, under the ownership of Golden Gate Capital, a San Francisco-based private equity firm.
That combined company has grown significantly since the merger. As of recent trade reporting, the network spans roughly 3,500 locations in the US and Canada across the Mavis and Express Oil Change brand families combined.
How I Evaluated This Company
I cross-referenced independent review platforms including PissedConsumer, the Better Business Bureau, and Google location reviews, alongside official records from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and published class action settlement documentation.
I specifically looked for patterns that repeated across many different locations and multiple independent sources, rather than isolated complaints that could happen at any large retailer.
Why the Ratings Look So Different Depending Where You Look
This is worth explaining before anything else, because it’s genuinely confusing if you’re comparison shopping.
PissedConsumer, a platform people specifically visit to file complaints, shows Mavis Discount Tire at roughly 1.6 out of 5 stars across more than 2,000 reviews.
A separate aggregation combining Google, Yelp, and BBB reviews puts the number closer to 3.9 out of 5 across more than 13,000 reviews, with the large majority landing at 4 stars or higher.
Both numbers are real. They’re just measuring different things. Complaint-first platforms structurally attract people who had a bad experience and went looking for somewhere to say so — a satisfied customer who got an oil change and left has little reason to visit PissedConsumer afterward.
My practical advice, consistent with what I’d tell you about any large chain: check your specific local store’s recent Google reviews before booking, rather than trusting either extreme number as the full picture.
The Legal Record — What Most Reviews Don’t Mention
This is the section I think matters most, and it’s the part almost no consumer review site covers, because it requires looking past star ratings into actual government and court records.
A Real Consumer Fraud Settlement Over Undisclosed Fees
A class action lawsuit filed in New Jersey (Bratton v. Mavis Tire Supply, d/b/a Mavis Discount Tire) alleged that the company charged customers for a TPMS Service Kit and tire recycling fees that were not included in their online estimate and were not disclosed until after the work was already completed.
Mavis denied the allegations, but the case settled with a fund of $650,000 to compensate affected customers, offering either a cash payment of $5 per tire (capped at $20) or a $40 purchase certificate to eligible class members.
I think this is directly relevant to anyone booking online: get your total price confirmed in writing, and specifically ask whether TPMS service and tire recycling fees are included in your quoted estimate before you agree to the work.
An EEOC Religious Discrimination Settlement
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission investigated a complaint that Mavis declined to hire a job applicant for a managerial position after he requested Friday evenings and Saturdays off to observe the Sabbath, then retracted a lower-level job offer after he repeated the same request.
The case resolved through an EEOC conciliation agreement requiring Mavis to pay $303,758 in back pay, front pay, and compensatory damages, revise its religious accommodation policies, and provide employee training in the affected region.
An Active EEOC Sex Discrimination Lawsuit
Separately, the EEOC has an active lawsuit against Mavis Discount Tire, alleging the company did not hire women for roles including Manager, Assistant Manager, Mechanic, and Tire Installer because of their sex.
This case is ongoing, and the EEOC has posted a dedicated page inviting affected applicants to come forward.
Why I’m including all of this: these aren’t anonymous online complaints. They’re official government investigations, a settled case, and a filed federal lawsuit, drawn from public record. I think a genuinely complete review of a major national chain should include this alongside customer service feedback, not just star ratings.
The Real Customer Complaint Pattern
Beyond the legal record, a specific and repeated pattern shows up across independent customer reviews, distinct from generic “bad service” complaints.
Warranty denials that don’t match the written policy. One detailed account describes a road hazard warranty that explicitly states coverage for “cuts, snags, bruises, and impact breaks,” only for the customer to be told their specific damage was excluded, with staff reportedly shifting blame to the vehicle’s alignment.
No credit for unused warranty on early tire failures. Another customer describes tires failing well before their warranty period ended, only to be told at replacement time that no prorated credit would be applied — a practice the customer specifically noted was different from what they’d experienced at other tire retailers.
Being charged twice for included services. A separate account describes paying for a computerized balance package at the time of tire purchase, then being charged again for balancing at a later rotation visit.
Vehicle damage disputes with escalating estimates. One BBB complaint describes a missing lug bolt discovered during wheel removal, with the repair estimate reportedly climbing from an initial $350 to $1,900 to $3,500 over the course of the dispute, with the customer’s vehicle held at the shop for multiple days in the process.
Diagnosis disagreements. One reviewer describes being told a tire needed full replacement for $350 due to a puncture, then visiting a different tire shop nearby that found the puncture hadn’t gone through the tire at all and required no repair.
I want to be fair here: large chains generate complaint volume simply through transaction volume, and I’m not suggesting every visit ends this way.
But warranty-denial and unexpected-fee complaints specifically are frequent and specific enough, and consistent enough with the settled New Jersey lawsuit above, that I think they represent a genuine pattern rather than isolated bad luck.
What Customers Also Consistently Praise
The counterweight to all of this is real and worth including.
Specific locations earn genuinely strong, consistent praise for fast, friendly installation and honest brake service — one location’s reviews specifically cite a 92% satisfaction rate on installation speed, and another holds a consistent 4.1-star rating for courteous, professional staff.
Several detailed reviews describe problems getting resolved once escalated to a regional manager, including store credit and refunds issued after a fair hearing of the complaint.
The honest synthesis: like most large service chains covered on this site, your actual experience depends heavily on which specific location you visit and which staff member you get, even though the underlying corporate patterns above are real and worth knowing about in advance.
Is Mavis the Same Company as Discount Tire?
No, and this is a common point of confusion given how similar the names sound.
Discount Tire is a completely separate, unrelated company, founded in 1960 and now majority-owned by Sumitomo Corporation of Americas through TBC Corporation.
Mavis is a distinct company with its own ownership under Golden Gate Capital, merged with Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers. If you’re trying to decide between the two, our full Discount Tire review covers their pricing, warranty structure, and service model in detail for direct comparison.
Mavis vs. Other Major Chains
| Retailer | Structure | Known Strength | Known Weakness | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mavis Discount Tire / Tires & Brakes | Corporate-owned, PE-backed | Wide footprint, competitive pricing, fast service at strong locations | Documented warranty and undisclosed-fee complaint pattern | Buyers comfortable confirming pricing and warranty terms in writing upfront |
| Discount Tire | Mixed corporate/franchise | Consistent nationwide pricing and free flat repair policy | Store-to-store service variance | Buyers who want the most centrally consistent policy |
| Big O Tires | 100% franchise-owned | Local ownership, strong at specific locations | Warranty records can vary between individual franchise locations | Buyers building a relationship with one specific local store |
| Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers | Same parent as Mavis | Fast oil-change-first model | Documented pricing-transparency complaints, similar to Mavis | Quick routine maintenance in one stop |
How to Protect Yourself at Mavis
Based directly on the documented patterns above, here’s what I’d actually do.
Get your total price confirmed in writing before work begins, specifically asking whether TPMS service and tire recycling fees are included — this is exactly what the New Jersey settlement was about.
Photograph your wheels and any existing vehicle condition before drop-off, especially with aftermarket wheels, given the documented damage-dispute pattern.
Read your specific warranty’s covered-damage language before you buy it, and keep a copy, so you have something concrete to point to if a claim gets disputed.
Get a second opinion before authorizing a full tire replacement for a puncture, given the documented case where a competing shop found no repair was even needed.
Check your specific local store’s recent reviews, not the brand’s aggregate rating in either direction, before booking.
Who Should Use Mavis?
It’s a reasonable choice if you:
- Live near a specific location with consistently strong recent reviews
- Are comfortable confirming pricing and warranty terms in writing before authorizing work
- Want a wide footprint with generally competitive pricing on routine tire and brake service
You might want another option if you:
- Strongly prioritize the most centrally consistent, predictable pricing policy — see our Discount Tire review for comparison
- Have had a specifically bad experience at your nearest location and a comparably priced alternative exists
- Want to avoid a company with an active federal discrimination lawsuit on principle, regardless of service quality at the counter
Final Verdict: Are Mavis Discount Tire and Mavis Tires & Brakes Good?
Mavis is a real, legitimate, high-volume national chain, and plenty of customers get fast, fairly priced, honest service — the positive reviews are as real as the negative ones.
But I don’t think a genuinely complete review can stop at star ratings. The legal record here is more substantial than what you’ll find behind most tire retailer reviews: a settled consumer fraud class action over undisclosed fees, a settled EEOC religious discrimination case, and an active EEOC sex discrimination lawsuit.
Those are official records, not anonymous complaints, and they line up closely with the specific customer complaint pattern documented above.
My honest recommendation: use Mavis if your local store has a strong recent track record and competitive pricing, but treat the fine print — your total price, your warranty’s exact covered-damage language, and your right to a second opinion — as non-negotiable homework before you sign anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mavis Discount Tire the same company as Discount Tire?
No. They are separate, unrelated companies. Discount Tire was founded in 1960 and is owned through TBC Corporation and Sumitomo Corporation of Americas. Mavis is a distinct company owned by Golden Gate Capital, merged with Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers.
Why do Mavis tire reviews vary so much between websites?
Complaint-first platforms like PissedConsumer show ratings around 1.6 out of 5, while combined Google, Yelp, and BBB data shows closer to 3.9 out of 5. The gap reflects which platforms attract complaint-driven versus general reviewers, not a factual disagreement about the company.
Has Mavis Discount Tire been sued?
Yes. A New Jersey class action settled for $650,000 over undisclosed TPMS and tire recycling fees charged beyond the online estimate. The EEOC settled a religious discrimination case against Mavis for $303,758, and a separate EEOC sex discrimination lawsuit against the company is currently active.
Does Mavis honor its road hazard warranty?
Coverage exists and is honored in many cases, but a documented pattern of complaints describes warranty claims being denied despite policy language that appears to cover the specific damage. Read your warranty’s exact terms and keep a copy before you need to file a claim.
What is Mavis Tires & Brakes?
Mavis Tires & Brakes is one of the regional store names used by the same parent company as Mavis Discount Tire, alongside other names including STS Tire & Auto, Suburban Tire, and Weldon Tire.
How many Mavis locations are there?
The Mavis Discount Tire brand specifically operates well over 1,300 locations, and the combined network including Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers spans roughly 3,500 locations across the US and Canada.
Disclosure: This review is based on research across independent review platforms including PissedConsumer, the Better Business Bureau, and Google location reviews, combined with official public records from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and published class action settlement documentation. I was not compensated by Mavis Discount Tire, Golden Gate Capital, or any retailer for this review. Prices and policies mentioned are approximate and subject to change — always confirm current terms directly with your local store.
