**Plaza Tire #5 - Cape Girardeau, MO**…read more
I'm not sure if this was because I'm a woman or not, but here's my experience.
On 6/3/2026, I took my car to Plaza Tire #5 in Cape Girardeau for a state vehicle inspection. I've used this location before, and so has my family. The inspection was completed, but I was told my car barely passed because it needed four new tires.
While paying for the inspection, I asked for a quote on replacing the tires. The total was about $530, which seemed reasonable, so I considered moving forward with it.
When I got home, I asked my husband to take a look. His assessment was, "You could probably use two front tires soon, but the rear tires are fine." My husband also needed two tires for his vehicle, so we decided to go ahead and order all four tires for my car and asked Plaza Tire to return my two rear tires so we could use them on his vehicle. I hardly drive my car, so it isn't unusual for my tires to have less wear than expected for their age.
On 6/4/2026, I dropped off my car for the tire installation with no issues. Later, I received a call saying my vehicle was ready for pickup. A few minutes later, they called back and said, "Oh, I forgot to mention--your front brakes need to be replaced."
Given the discrepancy from the day before regarding the tires, I took this recommendation with a grain of salt. Before leaving to pick up my car, I checked my maintenance records and saw that my front brakes were last replaced in 2018. Based on that information, it seemed entirely possible that they were due for replacement.
When I arrived, I mentioned that I hardly drive the vehicle and that the brake pads had been on the car since 2018. I said I would likely replace them within the next year but wasn't in a hurry. That's when the employee stated, "Well, with your front brakes at 1-2 mm, your car wouldn't pass a state inspection."
I then informed him that I had been there the previous day specifically for a state inspection and that the inspection report only mentioned the tires. I asked why the brakes weren't flagged during the inspection if they were truly at 1-2 mm and would cause the vehicle to fail. He didn't really have an answer.
To be clear, I believe my front brakes probably do need replacing based on their age. However, I do not believe I needed the two rear tires. In fact, I took pictures of the "bad" rear tires they returned to me, and the tread depth gauge shows they are still several millimeters away from replacement.
My brakes may have needed attention, but the rear tires did not.
Thankfully, I know enough about cars--and have a husband who knows even more--to question what I was being told. My advice to others, especially women: learn about your vehicle, ask questions, get a second opinion when something doesn't seem right, and teach your kids the basics of vehicle maintenance. It can save you from spending money you don't need to spend.
