STS Tire & Auto Centers

They’ve been taking care of our cars for about 18 years now. Over the years:
1993 Saturn SL2
1995 Plymouth Neon
1998 Chevy Prizm
1998 Ford Taurus
2002 Audi A6
2002 Honda CR-​V
2010 Ford Fusion
2013 Mazda CX-​5
Some people have reported individual bad experiences with them here, but I think we have a better statistical sample, going there for dozens of services. They consistently do good work, they don’t upsell us on services we don’t need, and their labor rates are way below any dealer. OTOH, if something needs to be done that only a dealer can do, they’ll tell you, rather than trying it themselves and making things worse.
Two examples: In 2005, our Taurus started dripping a tiny bit of coolant. They told us that a freeze plug was leaky. We were all set to have them fix it, but they said we shouldn’t bother, because they’d seen with this engine that when one goes, the other ten were sure to follow, and it wouldn’t be worth it to pull the engine to replace them all.
Yesterday, my Fusion belched a huge cloud of steam out the tailpipe. Fearing a blown head gasket, I took it in to be checked. It wasn’t that; somehow water had condensed or otherwise gotten into the exhaust system, and there was nothing wrong with the car. Not only were they honest enough to tell me that, they didn’t even charge me for looking into it.
Last point: Over the years we’ve recommended them to a lot of people, and nobody has ever come back to us saying they weren’t happy.

Where do I start? Well. I usually go to the STS in Highland Park where they do a fabulous and fast job (even on busy days) on oil changes/​tired changes. Yesterday my neighbor and I went shopping at Bridgewater Commons and when we came out her oil and maintenance required light came on. Because of my past positive experiences at the store in Highland Park we decided to give this one in Raritain a try assuming that it would be done good. We walked in with the tall man with grey hair who did not greet us until a few minutes later when he was done using the computer. Upon trying to ask us what we wanted done his cell phone rang, he picked it up and talked to his buddy about how costumer a earlier have him a great tip and what not. Ten minutes later he finally realizes that maybe he should hang up and do his job, so he did. My neighbor asked for an oil change and tire rotation, we were told the wait time will be 1.5 hours. That’s when it all started. 50 mins down of us waiting and watching her car in the lot not touched. Throughout that 50 mins. One regular customer since the man working the front knew her name immediately took care of her car and then his male friend came in a Subaru asking for the service 40 mins after us got their services done before us. When asked how much longer the man said in the most nasty voice «listen lady if you can’t wait I don’t want your business, have a nice day» He did not even give us the option of maybe we would wait or whatever just simply shuts us down, rips the service paper and throws my neighbors keys on the counter and proceed to walk to the garage.
Never had I or neighbor been treated on such a manner. Do not come here!!! Never again. STS of raritain should be ashamed of hiring such an employee.

This was my third service with STS, since I started working in Raritan. Very happy with the employees and service. Everyone is friendly, professional and courteous!

Be careful! I have been to this location of STS several times before. Have had a previous bad experience with oil change, where the oil spilled all over the parking lot a day after the oil change as the mechanic had not closed the cap properly. Had to take it back & they topped off the oil & closed the cap properly. Decided to take one of my cars in again, as I work across the street from them, to get a couple of small things done. Took it in on ³⁄₂₄. Since this was a newly purchased car, I stopped by on ³⁄₂₅ & dropped off the new License plates to be put in place of the old ones. When I went to pick the car on 3/​26, I was surprised that they had charged me $ 46 for changing the License plates. I did not expect it to be done for free, but definitely did not expect to be overcharged. They had not even called & got my permission, which if they had done I would have said that I would change it myself. The person I dealt with was Steve. He said that since the bolt had broken he had to charge that. At the least, he could have called me.
That was my last visit to STS. Will never go there again, & will let my friends & family know about it for sure.
Extremely disappointed.

I have used the Somerville circle STS Tire & Auto Center for various jobs over the years (tires, brakes, a new battery and thermostat), on all of our family cars/​truck, and I have always been very satisfied with their work as they were also always honest me and fair with their prices. However, now I really trust them after bringing my truck in for a «second opinion», i.e., I had gone to a ‘name’ Flemington dealership for an oil change service, and upon doing their checkup, they found these «FAILED — CRITICAL CONCERNS»: transmission lines leaking fluid, ball joint needs replacement and rear axle seal needs replacement with an estimated bill to replace/​fix all of over $ 1700. So I bring my truck to STS and manager (Mike — great guy) says «he is not surprised». .. and they look at all of the above. Their report: no visible leaks on the transmission or lines, ball joints look fine and rear seal is not that bad, but it could be replaced if I wanted it done. Their estimate for the rear seal work was only $ 300, $ 190 cheaper than the ‘name’ Flemington dealership, and after I had it done, the final bill was only $ 250 (i.e., $ 50 less than their estimate). Thus, needless to say, I will be using the Somerville circle STS Tire & Auto Center for all my cars/​trucks servicing needs from now on.

3 Times I had to go back to have my windshield wipers. the First time I had to go and get them replaced which I dont think they even did because a 4 days later it rained and they didnt even work. I went back in and they apparently fixed it a few days later it was snowing and again my windshield wipers stopped working… needless to say both events were very dangerous for me. So the third time I went in it was apparenlty my fault for using the windshield wipers while it was snowing –_​_​– ummm what ??? oh and also it was going to take them a few days to fix … this was not going to fly with me… so basically i had to make a scene in front of thier other customers and demand that since this was the third time i had to bring my car in for the same exact problem that I needed to have it done right away and that everyone else who was coming in that day would just have to wait until they could get my job done right properly the third time in. Its a sad day when you have to travel out of town to find a decent mechanic, Thank god i finally found an amazing mechanic in middlesex (20 mins from where I live but totally worth the trip)

STS Tire & Auto Center was founded in nearby Somerset, NJ in 1958. The location at the Somerville Circle was recently renovated and now features a remodeled tire showroom and waiting area with FREE WI-​FI internet, free coffee, a flat-​screen TV.
I’ve been taking my cars there for several years with generally positive results. They’re not the least expensive when it comes to tires, batteries, or oil changes (expect to pay $ 40-​$ 50 for an oil change and tire rotation). However, it seems that — because STS’s employees are employee-​owners, rather than just grease monkeys paid by the hour — they make more of an effort to build long-​term relationships with their customers than you’ll find at PepBoys or Sears.
Mike, the service advisor at the Somerville location, strongly believes in the «if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it» concept. I’ve never felt as if they’ve tried to sell me unnecessary repairs — like changing the flux capacitor. In fact, I’ve taken my car to STS on at least two occassions for a second opinion after the (Green Brook) Toyota dealership told me that my car urgently required new tires, on one occassion, and new brakes, on another occassion — both expensive repairs — in the interest of safety. STS told me that I could replace the parts if I wished, but there was no urgent need to do so. Further, STS quoted me a price for the work that was approximately 50% less than the dealership for the labor and better-​than-​original quality parts. When both parts finally started showing visible signs of wear months later — of course I went back to STS to have the work done.
The one bad experience at this location occurred several years ago, on a Saturday afternoon, when I had left my car to be serviced. No one called my cellphone to let me know my car was finished before they closed at 5pm and, since they’re not open on Sunday, my car was locked inside until Monday morning. I was stranded 40 miles from home without a car. and had to spend Sunday night with my girlfriend (instead of returning to my Jersey City abode), rearrange my work schedule to take the morning off, and hitch a ride with her back to STS on Monday morning. When I complained, Mike merely shrugged and assured me someone had called my cellphone and left a message. Needless to say, from that point forward, I never wander more than a block away while they’re working on my car.
You can download and print coupons on their website (
). STS also has a buy-​six-​get-​one-​free promotion on oil changes.