As I was driving on the motorway towards Lahore, I decided to stop at the last tire shop just as the motorway begins from Islamabad. This shop is located in a small complex that also has some rooms for rent. I needed to check the air pressure in my tires, so I pulled over.
The shopkeeper, who seemed friendly at first, checked the air pressure in all four of my tires. After inspecting them, he told me that the tire nozzle on the driver's side was damaged and that it wasn't holding air properly. He insisted that the nozzle needed to be replaced, claiming it was the reason why the tire wasn't maintaining pressure.
I initially paid him Rs. 50 for checking the air pressure, and he left. However, after a moment, I had second thoughts and decided to try filling the tire myself. I called him back and told him, “You’ve already taken the money, so let me try filling the tire myself. Maybe it’ll work.”
As I started filling the tire, I noticed that the pressure began to build up normally. Just as it was reaching a good level, the shopkeeper suddenly returned and rushed over to the air gauge. He began pressing a button on the gauge, claiming that the tire wouldn’t fill properly in automatic mode. He said he had switched it to manual mode, implying that I wouldn’t be able to fill the tire unless he did it.
It was clear to me that he was trying to deceive me by creating fake issues and then overcharging for unnecessary repairs.
In the end, I realized that the shopkeeper was attempting to scam me. It’s unfortunate that such dishonest practices are happening, especially at a shop so conveniently located for those embarking on long journeys.
If you ever find yourself on the motorway from Islamabad to Lahore and need to stop for tire services, be cautious—especially if it's at the last tire shop before you leave the city. There are scammers out there looking to take advantage of unsuspecting drivers.
