Tire experts come in please

shonoff · May 9, 2005

This is a tire off of my 99GT.This pic isnt the actual tire but it is the same set.Anyway,the tire failed on me,and completely separated on the sidewall along the ridge where my finger is.It split almost all the way around the tire.The tire shop said it was from excessive cornering but I say factory defect.These tires are in almost new shape with over 75% tread left.They are BFG's.Any thoughts?

Kilgore Trout · May 9, 2005

Make an appointment to speak to the store manager in person. Be polite but firm. Mention that if you are not satisfied you intend to write a letter to the home office. No one writes letters anymore so when someone takes the time to do it, the company figures they must really be pissed and takes it very seriously. Combine these tactics with a Better Business Bureau complaint. You can do it online. Do not let the complaint be closed until you are satisfied. Check the Better Business Bureau for other complaints about the store.

If you still do not get satisfaction, go after the manufacturer. Be sure and mention that they may want to discontinue the store who slighted you as a reseller.

You will get your new set of tires, I guarantee it...

CRZYHRSGT · May 9, 2005

Can't tell by the pic, but if the entire sidewall looks like you set it on it's side and ground it in gravel, I'd say that it is a combination of excess cornering and an underinflated tire. If the tire is low on air pressure then when you corner the wheel is going to tend to roll out on the tire, rubbing the sidewall on the ground. The rubber on the sidewall is not designed for traction (except for on soccer mom's vans when they pull up to a curb), so this un-natural usage will quickly weaken the sidewall. Now, if the rest of the side of the tire looks perfect, then...
a.)It might very well be plain-old tire failure.
b.)Follow Kilgore's advice.
c.)I just rambled on for nothing.

shonoff · May 9, 2005

No the sidewalls where in perfect shape,and I run 40lbs of air.Where it come apart it was like it was cut with a knife right on that ridge almost all the way around.I wish I had the actual tire to post pics

DropTopPony · May 9, 2005

Kilgore Trout said:
Make an appointment to speak to the store manager in person. Be polite but firm. Mention that if you are not satisfied you intend to write a letter to the home office. No one writes letters anymore so when someone takes the time to do it, the company figures they must really be pissed and takes it very seriously. Combine these tactics with a Better Business Bureau complaint. You can do it online. Do not let the complaint be closed until you are satisfied. Check the Better Business Bureau for other complaints about the store.

If you still do not get satisfaction, go after the manufacturer. Be sure and mention that they may want to discontinue the store who slighted you as a reseller.

You will get your new set of tires, I guarantee it...

this is good advice! not alot of people properly negotiate with the business when their is a problem, they just get loud and rude....

and 40psi sounds like its on the high side, i run 30-33 with no problems.

CRZYHRSGT · May 9, 2005

shonoff said:
No the sidewalls where in perfect shape,and I run 40lbs of air.Where it come apart it was like it was cut with a knife right on that ridge almost all the way around.I wish I had the actual tire to post pics

40 does sound a little high (I do 33 front, 35 rear) but still not enough to justify a sidewall blowing out. Sounds like a defect in the mold of the tire to me...

bdcardinal · May 9, 2005

sounds like it is a defect in the tire. what you need to do is find out what the warrenty is on that particular tire. if you give me the model, along with the size and speed rating, i can look up what BFGs warrenty is at work. if it is a manufacturing defect, BFG should replace the tire. you might have to pay to get it mounted and balanced.

also 40 is way too high. it might say 40 on the sidewall, but all that is is the maximum that tire can be safely inflated. that does not mean you should run at that pressure.

CRZYHRSGT · May 10, 2005

bdcardinal said:
also 40 is way too high. it might say 40 on the sidewall, but all that is is the maximum that tire can be safely inflated. that does not mean you should run at that pressure.

Going along with this good point, 40 should have been set at cold temperature, meaning the car had not been driven. Once you do drive it, you get the heat from the road and friction which also causes heat which should now take it up a couple more degrees. Factors like these cause the air inside the tire to heat up and expand, kinda like a balloon. And what happens to a balloon when it has too much air in it? The walls get stretched out and weakened, allowing it to pop easier. Same with this, if you have a defective tire and it is over-inflated then the weak spot will become even weaker. Hopefully this happened earlier in the tire's life so if BFG tries to prorate it you should still a good hunk of change out of it.

Tire experts come in please

shonoff

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shonoff

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