DO NOT TRUST THESE GUYS These guys will do anything to rip you off. I dropped my car for a lower control arm and ball joints replacement. They came up with a huge list of repairs which continued to add up as they worked. After less than two weeks , my steering wheel is still hard to turn and the car seems to need a new alignement. Bottom line : definitely not happy, but i guess it's my own fault for going against my better sense. Lesson learned. Ps: not a big fan of online reviews but advance tire is the reason i joined yelp. read more

I agree great customer service. I needed to replace a flat tire and stopped in carrying the flat tire from the car. The staff were all so nice in rushing to help me and encouraged me to just stop in front next time. Though it was the end of the day, they quickly made the replacement. A friendly family business - I would return. read more

Absolutely wonderful customer service. We've brought our car in several times over the last 6 years and they have always been so helpful and knowledgeable. Definitely recommend. read more

Not a bad place at all. I got a flat tire and called them up. Hank was really friendly on the phone and he made sure the tire I needed was in stock. He called me when the tire was ready (they had to pull it from the warehouse) and a bay was open, which was only about 15 minutes later. I showed up, pulled in and was out of there in like 15 minutes. It's a little on the pricey side, but for the convenience it was worth it. Would go there again. read more

I have to echo a recent review from Lisa S about the inspection. I came couple months ago for annual inspection. In short, they failed my car yet could not provide a logical explanation. We went for another mechanics that was recommended to us by a local friend. Passed. No issue - not surprisingly. So you can draw your own conclusions. Here are some details. My car was installed with 4 Michelin's Defender tires, which supposed to cover for 90,000 miles. This car is now at the 20K out of the tire expectancy of 90K. I have done all the rotates every 5K. Also, the car was garaged in Southern California till my company shipped it to the east coast. So I'd say I have 2K accumulated since moving to Cambridge. The guy from advance tire rejected the inspection citing "safety concerns" of these tires! When I asked him to elaborate on the "safety concerns", he gave me nothing concrete. I then told him about the history of my cars. His answer was "no, nothing covers 90k." Although I acknowledge such possibility, I told him that these tires were lightly used as can be easily seen from the groves and the general shapes that they are in. He then said, in rapid yet barely comprehensible English ended like "you drove less, so!" He didn't even finish the sentence, as if this were too obvious. It was not because his heavy accent, rather, he really didn't want me to understand, or he was aware that his "theory" didn't hold water. But like many in Cambridge, we scientists go by reasonings, not BS. We checked MA law about the tires and didn't find the clear backing for his gibberish. So my husband went again and showed that the grooves were above 1/16 of an inch. Unfortunately, he met the same guy who wanted to overpower as this guy really had no case on his side. He even pointed something so superficial (yet not consequential) to back himself up. As the stupid trick became too clear to us (the guy just abandoned reason altogether), we decided not to waste our breath and to go to another better rated mechanics. And not surprisingly, the car passed swimmingly. Truth always prevail. Some suggestion: do not treat your customers like they are brainless. Most people in Cambridge can think pretty well. Sincerity and honesty will win you customers not trickery. read more

I have had extremely sub-par service with them on tire jobs. I have gone to them a couple of times - once when they replaced all four of my tires and the second time when they replaced the driver side front tire. The driver side front tire has been a disaster as it has not been able to hold pressure at all and its been a couple of months. But of course they will not take it back. Will not be going to them again. read more

Been there 3 times in the last 10 years. Despite the grimy appearance, they've always been nice, honest, fast and thorough.

They must be the last honest auto shop for hundreds of miles around! Honesty, my brand new tire kept having very low pressure, I have a light that indicates this. Had AAA over twice with the diagnoses that I must have a nail in my tire. Drove around to different auto shops, they all wanted to keep it for the entire day. I kept insisting to them just put the tire through a leak test and see where the nail is, this should not be a all days work. One shop even said its probably the rim that's damaged and that would be $240 dollars to replace. These shops see a woman with out of state license plate and they figure lets take her! I was referred to Advance Tire by this fella who works in my building. I was complaining to him about the dishonesty of shops. He told me to go here, I'm very happy I did. While I waited they put the tire through a test, found nothing wrong with it. They said it was due to sudden temperature change that I was getting the false signal. They could have charged me for service not rendered, instead they stayed one last honest shop around charged me a minimum fee. Hooray for Advance Tire shop!!! read more

I bought a brand new Toyota truck last year and was having problems with vibration and balancing that the dealerships could not resolve. I decided to get the truck road force balanced at Advance Tire and they were able to fix in a couple hours what Toyota could not fix in 20 days. read more

I've been going here for a few years now and always leave happy. I trust the owner to give good advice and not oversell on parts/services I don't need. There have been a couple times that I took my car in thinking I had some expensive problem and left with a much smaller bill than I was expecting. read more

Got alignment work done - they were fast, nice, and inexpensive. I see there've been some negative reviews, but I've got to say that my experience with them was really good! read more

I went here for a big staple that was stuck in my tire. Goodyear Auto in Somerville said it couldn't be patched by them. Advance took my car in within 25 minutes and had it fixed within 45 minutes of me dropping it off. The patch cost me $35 which is much better than buying a new tire. The customer service was exemplary. Thank you Advance! read more

Needed a tire so I could get on the road for a road trip tomorrow. Got sent over to advance from Goodyear because Advance had the tire I needed. I drove up and Rick was waiting in the window for us. He opened the garage, and 15 minutes later we were back on the road with a new tire. They were polite, fast, and reasonably priced. They really gave me a lot better service than I've come to expect from most auto service shops. Very happy. read more

I researched my tires in advance so I don't know about their selling/upselling procedures but I can say that Rick, the manager, was very friendly and helpful on the phone. I ordered tires and made an appointment for installation. The job was done within an hour. They were prompt, appreciative of my business, helpful, and professional. I'll return to Advance Tire in the future for my tire needs. read more

Yet another great experience at Advance Tire! Old-school, solid service and neighborly interactions has become a lost art but remains upheld by this family run business in the heart of high tech Kendall square. I had a crisis with one of my tire valves that was releasing air. I pulled in, they remembered me from last time, asked how I liked my tires I got last visit and asked how they could help me now. I explained my situation and they got me in a bay immediately and assessed the situation. It turned out it needed a special order part and they were sensitive to my busy schedule and worked around it to get the part in-house and installed on my car as quickly and painlessly as possible. Once again the provided warm, friendly, professional service at very fair rates. Thanks Advance Tire! read more

Got a barely used tire mounted and balanced for cheap and they fixed my bent rim free of charge. Super friendly and so fast I didn't even know the job was done. Thank you Rick and crew! read more

Went it to repair a strong leak but couldn't unfortunately due to me using a tire repair kit on the tire prior to coming. They offered me a used tire to replace, took about 30 minutes in and out. Great service and friendly staff. Would recommend. read more

Fantastic, fast, professional and friendly service. Had a flat in our van while travelling from Maryland and read a good online review. Replaced my tire the morning my wife was running in the Boston marathon! Great people and a very fair price. read more

I needed to have my '91 Volvo inspected, and my usual place was jammed, so I drove over to direct tire who took really good care of me, and entertained my kid while we waited. I don't know anything about whether they are good at tires, but they sure are great when it comes to inspections! read more

I really wish I could give these guys 10 stars. I have awful tire luck, I'm always running over nails or spikes or something, and earlier this year my mother told me to try these guys to replace a tire. I took it in and they told me I didn't need it replaced, they could fix it and save me like a hundred bucks... sure! This summer I realized I needed 2 tires because 2 of mine were practically bald, then when I brought it in it turned out I needed 3 of the 4 replaced... but I told Rick I couldn't afford a whole set of new ones on a single working mom budget. He told me he could give me a pair of matching GoodYears and a pair of matching Hankooks for $250... the tires had just been swapped off of a car that came in and they were practically brand new. My car is RWD so the GoodYears would be best in the back. That price is unheard of, and the job was done in record time. I was happy and safe on the road again. Now, not 3 months later, I have run over a bolt that destroyed one of the Hankooks, and my spare appeared to have a slow leak... my gauge said it was only 32 PSI and wouldn't read any higher even though I inflated it. So off to Advance I go. Rick remembered me and my car, and I was seen immediately. For $30 they patched my bolt-ridden tire, reinflated my spare and adjusted the valve stem (which was apparently was the reason I couldn't get a good read on it's pressure, the tire is actually fine) and I was out of there in less than a half hour. Not only that, I told him my gauge was a cheap $2 pink girly one from Target and that I should probably consider buying a new one... he reached into the cabinet and pulled out a brand new Accutire gauge that came with 4 spare valve caps in the package, and didn't charge me a dime for it. I tried to give a tip but he refused it and instead asked me to buy my daughter an ice cream with it. My daughter is now his biggest fan I have had nothing but good experiences here, I see reviews about people thinking they've been ripped off but I think some people just like to hate. They had a chance to tell me today that my bolt ridden tire AND spare both needed to be replaced... and they didn't. Love it here, I highly reccommend them! read more

Wow. I can't remember the last time I received attentive, polite customer service at an auto shop. This place blew me away. As soon as I walked in, I was greeted and assisted. I needed a flat tire replaced. I handed over the keys, they inspected my car, and minutes later they gave me a reasonable quote on the price of a new tire (and weren't pushy about upselling). They put it on in no time. I was in-and-out of there in 20 minutes total, with a smile on my face. These are good, honest, hard-working people. Give em your business. read more

Good service. Owner Rick is friendly and fair price. I got my Bridgestone snow tires changed in 30 mins. They waited for me to change the tires specifically before they get off work just so I can't get those summer tired changed lol. They also store your tires. It's 40 dollars. read more

The folks at Advance Tire were the best part of a bad week. They were flexible, fast, and the whole experience cost me less than I feared it would. And, really, they're the nicest guys in the Tire business. I am very happy I called them, and I'll be headed back for every repair from now on. read more

These guys did a bunch of work on my '91 volvo and my 2008 prius. Everything's always been prompt and quality work and i never felt ripped off. They had multiple chances to charge me an arm and a leg on the volvo and never did it. They are as honest as any mechanic i've ever seen. I love these guys and highly recommend them. As a business owner, I resent the people who will post stuff like b.s. did on 3/12/2011. Without specifics he shouldn't be allowed to impact a quality shop's reputation like that. Anyone who takes those reviews seriously is a fool. read more

The short version: I was very pleased with the honest diagnostic work and the quality of service. I would definitely return. My 2002 Saturn has been making many bad noises and I had also been told months ago that it was in need of an alignment. On the recommendation of a friend, and despite the negative reviews I read on Yelp, I called Advance Tire yesterday afternoon to see if I could bring my car in. I explained that I wanted to have the brakes, muffler, suspension, and transmission checked out and also that it probably needed an alignment. Rick told me that I couldn't bring it in that afternoon and asked me to bring it in this morning. I typed up a short document to explain the noises (where they were coming from, when they happened) and the recent service history of the car. I met Rick when I got to the shop, gave him the list, and briefly explained the problems. He told me they would take a look and get back to me at some point today. Within 2 or 3 hours, I got a call from Rick. He checked out all of the issues and basically told me that it was not worth getting any of them fixed. Contrary to the recommendation of Mirak in Arlington, Rick said that it was too risky to flush or change the transmission fluid because the transmission is on its way out anyways. Given the age and condition of the car, it is unlikely that I would pay to have the transmission replaced, and Rick didn't even suggest it. Also contrary to what Mirak said, Rick said that it wasn't worth getting an alignment. The car needs a couple of minor parts in the front suspension replaced, but it's very hard to find these parts for old Saturns, so Rick said don't bother with the alignment because it wouldn't take without replacing the suspension parts. They examined the suspension and told me that the work done recently by another shop on the suspension should mean that the suspension was fine. As for the brakes, he confirmed what 2 other shops had told me, that the brakes are fine and the noise is nothing to worry about (which makes sense because they were done 18 months ago and I don't drive much). Finally, at my request, they tied up the muffler with wire, because the strap that held it in place had rusted away and the strap is not manufactured any more. I had been dreading a diagnosis of multiple expensive repairs. The good news was that Rick suggested no repairs whatsoever. The bad news is that the car does not have much longer, but that was not a surprise. I was very pleased with Rick's honesty and his polite service. read more

I never wrote a bad review and honestly in the first impression these people are very nice and looks like doing a great job. DO NOT TRUST THEM AND JUST DO NOT GIVE THEM YOUR CAR. They are lying and use very cheap parts for remplacement. I change my front brakes about a year ago. Got a good experience with them. After less then a month I heard noise come back but have been told that they do not hear anything. Again about a month ago, I started to hear NOISE from my front brakes. Was sure it is not the brakes but something else. I took it for a fast check to my neighbored garage and he told me that they put on very cheap brakes and I should got back to the place (Advance tire) and told them about. I was very surprised and went back there, give them the car to be checked, but they have told me that there is nothing with the front brack and can not heard the voice, how could be???? I am driving and can hear the noise it is completely obvious. I took my car to an other place and they fix the prob. It is a very disappointing experience to the fact that you trust the people. By the way I WILL NOT TRUST THE OTHER REVIEWS. Sorry for the bad review but you guys should be careful and honest. read more

I had a wheel plate that needed to be fixed and tires needed to be switched out. The service was great and quick. The owner was clear on explaining what needed to be done and how much everything would cost. I don't usually trust car places/dealerships (if you read my review on Watertown Lexus, you will know why), but this place has earned my trust and I will be back if issues come up. read more

Very nice family run business. Extremely quick service, was in and out. Talk to Rick, he will take care of you!

Great place with a strong Cambridge history - been around for a very long time. The proprietor is very helpful and does his best to be accommodating. They do a lot more than just tire replacements. Definitely coming back! read more

Just had my front two tires replaced and ordered an inspection sticker here. Rick was super friendly, great customer service. Took me the same day within an hour of calling, and was very helpful when it came time to pick the tires. Great place - I'll definitely be making this my go-to for car work in the area. read more

Went in for an oil change. Location is super convenient for working in Kendall square and central square. They scheduled me for the next day, everyone was very courteous and service was performed fast. Would recommend. read more

I came in a few days ago with a tire issue that I needed examined. It was in the morning and traffic was a nightmare, as it normally is in Boston. As I pulled in close to Advance Tire Company, an employee stopped what he was doing, and helped direct me into a spot to park that saved me from the aggressive drivers of New England, which turned what would usually be a stressful experience into something painless. I got out, and explained my issue. I found it really easy to talk to him because he was actually listening, and after giving some feedback he introduced me to the owner for me to get more details. I went into the main office, which I know sounds weird, but it was clean, organized, and inviting as a doctor's waiting room. The owner give me details on the issue with the tires, and let me know the options. Not once did he pressure me with tire prices, he only gave me information on what was best for me. Even after we discussed that, we ended up just chatting. I have to say how impressed I am with how their operation as a whole is ran. I learned they are family owned, obviously passionate, and incredibly personable. I can't recommend enough, because I felt respected and taken care of. read more

I very rarely write reviews, unless something exceptional has happened. I've been taking my cars to Rick at Advanced Tire for years. In this business, it's incredibly challenging to find a mechanic and service garage that you trust. Rick and his team have never steered me wrong, and have saved me literally thousands of dollars today. I had an issue with a newer car that was still under warranty, and the dealership was unwilling to fix the issues without completely overhauling or replacing MAJOR components... all without an official diagnosis of what was wrong. I was faced with a staggering quote, and knew I wanted a second opinion. I immediately called Rick to talk options. Rick talked with me multiple times about what could possibly be wrong, and what my alternatives were, and how he could help. He offered me some sound advice, and put me in touch with some folks that HE trusted. Today, Rick and his team finished the remainder of the work to be done and I'm out a mere fraction of what I could have been. Additionally, throughout the years, this place is great with their work, does it on time, is very reasonable with costs, and are accommodating and friendly throughout. Couldn't recommend this place more. read more

Had some major work done on our car (first time in and was referred by a neighbor). Great work and really good customer service. Reminds me of a neighborhood shop but with all the bells and whistles needed to get the job done. read more

Just signed up for Yelp today so I could give this place a 1 star rating. So yesterday I took my car to for a re-inspection at Advance Tire because it is closer to my work and I could go during my lunch break. I was past the 60 days, so I needed to pay the $35 again, but whatever. I thought for sure my car was going to pass this time, but somehow the car failed the safety inspection and passed emissions (initially my car had only failed emissions). Supposedly the man who did the inspection felt that my tires were unacceptable and that a small dent on the side of the car was unsafe because he claimed someone could cut themselves if they leaned against my car. Mind you, this dent has gone through two other inspections in MA and passed both times. I had the prior inspection reports claiming this, but the guy didn't want to hear it. In terms of the tires, I did the penny test on all of them once I left, and the tread depth was perfectly acceptable to pass the inspection. Took the car back to the place where it had originally been inspected in Brookline immediately after work on the same day and asked for their opinion on the inspection. He told me to just put some duct tape over the dent to cover up any sharp edges. In terms of the tires, he admitted I probably needed some new tires before winter, but that the tread depth was acceptable to pass the inspection. He said I could go back to Advance Tire to re-do the inspection and show that the dent had been covered and that the tires were acceptable. I didn't want to deal with this place again, so I just had them re-inspect the car at the place in Brookline. Needless to say, I had the car re-inspected the SAME DAY and it has now passed the safety and emissions test. Did not like my experience here at all! read more

One of the very few repair shops where you actually feel good about the experience. The prices are very fair and the staff is extremely friendly and helpful. They've done good work for me and I gladly refer them when possible. read more

Just had another great experience with Rick at Advance Tire Company. I came in with a slow leak and one of his crew members put off taking his lunch to repair. I'm always treated so well here, I wouldn't think of going to any of the nation brand places. read more

Great experience. We started coming to Advance for car inspections and they have become our go-to place. Recently, the car was making an odd noise which was concerning me. I gave them a call about it and Rick told me to come right over. They saw me right away and corrected the issue. I was back at work within the hour. You don't usually hear the words friendly or customer service used to describe a garage, but these guys really care about taking care of the customer. I will definitely be back. read more

I can't say enough good things about this place. I have been a customer for several years, starting with when I got my first snow tires. Since then I have had brake work done and flat tires fixed. The service I have received is phenomenal, everyone there is friendly and courteous. I feel like I can trust them to be honest and do a great job! The manager Rick is especially terrific! I would recommend Advance Tire to everyone who wants good service, fair prices, and friendly folks! read more

I was 5 hours from home when my car started making an awful noise. They got me right in and thankfully it was just a loose heat shield. I was quickly on my way home. Fast and friendly service. I highly recommend this shop for all your tire and auto repairs!!! read more