What about this tire warranty??

[Allen L.]

I posted this in a thread about rotating tires a few down, but decided to post again as some might not read it.

I've got a 2005 4Runner Limited 4x2 and it came with a tire guarantee for road hazard + an extra warranty for 100,000 mile tire wear warranty if you rotate *from dealer only* every 5,000 miles and let them also balance *if* needed. I read it two or three times and have come to the conclusion it is just a dealer 'come on' and is not really gonna 'pan' out as stated. Dealer wants about $18 for a rotation (+ waiting no telling how long in waiting room), and who knows the "$" for a balance. You *have* to have the rotation every 5,000 miles or you lose the warranty.

Here's the part that gets me...when the tire or tires are down to 3/32nds you buy a new set from your dealer (only) first and pay full retail, and they, or you, ship the old tires off to this place and they are checked and then 'maybe' they send you money back (depends on if the tires were wearing even, etc,...hard as hell to figure out what they mean, and who pays for shipping, etc. but it doesn't sound like you would get much back for your old tires to me, and your supposed to get this 100,000 mile wear 'warranty'.??!

One *knows* that the tires (mine are Bridgestone 265/65/17's), are *not* going to last 100,000 miles rotation or not...so it must be the wording or something. I believe the road hazard warranty (which is a separate deal - same company) will pay, because I've used one of those before, but this thing? I think I'm going to pass on it, as I don't care to sit around waiting who knows how long for the tire rotation or balance and the rip off price for the labor.

Anyone else heard of this 'offer' or 'warranty' on their 2004 or 2005 4Runner??

Thanks,

Allen

 

[TRD04RUNNER]

nope never herd of suck thing. did you buy your 4R use? anyway the tire deal warranty sound like a crack of shi$!

 

[Allen L.]

No, I bought the 4Runner new just a couple of months ago. I agree with you, this sounds very suspicious as far as warranties go. Just sounds like a good way to get you into the dealer and let them rip you off on the rotation. I'd bet they really screw you on the balance job! They always pitch some junk that *they* recommend, not Toyota, for the good of you car! Sure!!

 

[yabedude]

Anyone else heard of this 'offer' or 'warranty' on their 2004 or 2005 4Runner??

A stealer offering a warranty on Dunlop tires? LOL! Sorry, but did you get that in writing?

 

[dawgintn]

I did not get a warranty on my tires but when I got my 2005 4runner it came with tires for life.

 

[Allen L.]

I did not get a warranty on my tires but when I got my 2005 4runner it came with tires for life.

I'm sorry, but I really don't understand what you mean by "tires for life". You mean that no matter what you do the dealer will install a new set of tires for you...no questions asked when your old tires are 'worn' out?? Must be some stipulations...care to share a little more info??

Allen

 

[EDGE]

Consumer Reports had a very interesting article written up in it about so called Tire Warranties, don't take it.

1st off if you ever drove a car with tires down to the last so called useable tread you will know it's like driving on slick on anything but dry roads.

After normal driving and almost losing control I've swapped tires off way before the 3/32 crap, now add in the labor and dealer markup for tires and your probably looking at close to double the price for any set of tires.

If you want 100k tires, after the Bridgestones have 20-30k go with a good set of Michelins and you will make out much better .

Think about it, you could potentially severly damage or total a 40k vehicle cause your trying to meet the guidelines of some tire warranty, driving on tires with no real tread left:

Take the money you would spend on the tire warranty and along with all the other so called warranty cost and save it and their is your next set of tires:

 

[SteveM]

How much you wanna bet that at least one of those tires is going to need balanced at each 5K rotation. Balance is probably $15 or so plus $18 for each wheel rotation and we're at $33 minimum per visit. Now, you're at $660 just to get to the 100K mark. Lets see, you also lose the use of your vehicle for a few hours every 5K miles.

You also have to factor in that they will try and sell you brakes, shocks, alignments, oil changes, air filter changes at usually outrageous prices and you see what road we're headed down.....

Might be a different story if they did the rotations and balance for free though.

This seems like a guaranteed money maker (and a big one) for the dealer.

 

[EDGE]

Most tire centers offer lifetime balancing and alignment:

I still can't figure out why the morons at the Toyota dealer change more for the trucks that just need front adjustments then the cars that need front and rear.

I tried to explain the alignment procedure but they did not understand:awais:

 

[Allen L.]

I'll agree with SteveM & Edge...by the time my dealer got through with me with this special 'warranty', the money I would save by not taking the dealer up on it could buy at *least* a good set of tires and get a free rotation and balance thrown in as part of the deal. I know that Discount Tire gives that offer on rotations, etc.

The bit that *got* me, was the fact that I would have to ship my old tires to someplace (tire warranty store - etc.), and they would *analyze* the wear pattern, and then 'send' the money *they* throught the old tires to be worth...and all this came *after* I pay for putting on new tires at full retail and balance at my dealers. Bet ole dealer would charge a ton for mounting, balance, sending old tires in to warranty place, etc. I would be very lucky to get out of there for $600...and I'd still have Bridgestones or worse!

I do wish "dawgintn", who stated he got 'tires for life', would reply back with some descriptions of what *he* has to do to get that deal...

Allen

 

[HuntRunner]

My 4runner came with this 100K mile tire thing. (I think it is also known as "tires for life") It is part of a package from Gulf States Toyota. Basically as long as the dealer rotates your tires every 5K miles, Toyota will replace them for free when they wear out for the first 100K miles. It works fine, at least at my dealership. I know the service manager and I have watched other customers go through the process; really very simple. The good thing, after they replace the tires the first time, the rotations are free at my dealership.
You are basically paying for a new set of tires up front....Nothing is really free.

 

[Allen L.]

My 4runner came with this 100K mile tire thing. (I think it is also known as "tires for life") It is part of a package from Gulf States Toyota. Basically as long as the dealer rotates your tires every 5K miles, Toyota will replace them for free when they wear out for the first 100K miles. <<snipped>>

How long a wait and how much did your dealer charge for each rotation? Was there a 'push' for balance, and if so, how many #'s?

One other point...do they *keep* replacing them, say every 35,000 miles or so...ie: where you would end up with 2 new sets of tires (3 sets counting the originals)? I notice you said they didn't charge for the rotation after the first *new* set...now*that* might not be a bad deal if you can end up with about 2 sets of tires not including your original ones, and only have to pay for about, say, 8 rotations. Think I would go for that. Also what about the issue of shipping your old tires back for 'evaluation'? That's what it states in the fine print on my warranty.

Comments?

Allen

 

[HuntRunner]

How long a wait and how much did your dealer charge for each rotation? Was there a 'push' for balance, and if so, how many #'s?

One other point...do they *keep* replacing them, say every 35,000 miles or so...ie: where you would end up with 2 new sets of tires (3 sets counting the originals)? I notice you said they didn't charge for the rotation after the first *new* set...now*that* might not be a bad deal if you can end up with about 2 sets of tires not including your original ones, and only have to pay for about, say, 8 rotations. Think I would go for that. Also what about the issue of shipping your old tires back for 'evaluation'? That's what it states in the fine print on my warranty.

Comments?

Allen

--Rotation cost is around $15 - $18 (my oil changes are free so it's like paying this and getting everything)
--Mine have never been balanced
--Once your tires wear out (3/32) you get new ones. You are allowed up to $200 per tire. You pay for them up front and then you get a check about a month later. I am not aware of them sending tires off anywhere.
--Yes, they keep replacing them IF you stay with tires in their program (like the Dunlops, Michelins, Yokohama etc.). If you go with a different tire (BFG A/T KO), you will no longer be in the program because this is not one of the "program tires" at this time. So this is up to you - one set of tires or several.

My truck came with this and it was a fairly new program at the time; no one knew much about it. I am not sure I would buy it separately because it can be a hassle. You are allowed a +/- 500 mile window but you can't miss it. You could just save the money and get what you want, when you want it. Besides most tire shops do free rotations; my local tire shop does them for free on stock tires if you promise to buy your next set from them.

 

[Allen L.]

Thanks to all for contributing to this thread. I'm still not convinced to go to my dealer for the rotations every 5000 and then have him send my tires in and expect to get a price for them that would cover my new set pre-bought from my dealer when the old ones have 3/32nd tread left. I'm glad that some people have had good luck with this warranty, namely HuntRunner, but he's one up on me by knowing the service mgr. personally. I believe I'll be charged the max retail and the max labor for everything, and will have to pay the shipping back and then get some story about uneven wear problem that is *my* fault. I just don't have a lot of faith in these so called 'freeby' warranties that come with the car.

Know I may kick myself later but I'm going to pass on this 'offer'. My luck with these kind of special 'deals' is not that good.

Going to look at my tires and rotate when I feel they need it and only show up at my dealer on the 15,000, 30,000, 45,000 mile maintenance to keep my warranty intact and do the very minimum with this dealer. I get pretty good deals buying from them, but with an '98 Avalon I had, I would go to the dealer for an oil change and get pitched for all kinds of flush this and run a fuel injector cleaner...you get the picture. All not necessary B.S. All for dealer profit...still feel that this rotation deal is just a way to *make* you show up every 5,000 miles so they can *find* something you *need*!

...Allen :arrow: