Hi.. I spent half my day at a mazda dealership today regarding a damaged tire.. I posted about it on anandtech forums. Since I'm sure you guys are more knowledgeable about mazda warranties and such, please take a look at it and see if you have any ideas for me..


anandtech post

Thanx in advance

 

Let out the air and call em up. Tell em its flat.

 

I would try a different dealer and see if they want you as a future customer for all your service. (lot of money for a dealer) Then call your original dealler and "thank them, but you will no longer be needing there services, and you've decided to use _____for your future service and Mazda needs."

Second option is take it to a Dunlop dealer, they have a roadhazzard warranty which this WILL be covered. (Had the same thing happen to me a few years back.)

This should be covered!

Don

 

Stick a nail in the tire...

 

no.... they would just patch the tire. A blister is dangerous and wouldn't pass any safety inspection. I sidewall is a very important part of the tire, if the blister pops your in for quite a ride.

IF, and I mean "IF" your going to do anything to the tire, slash the blister and drive a 1/2 block.

Try the other dealer or Dunlop first.

Don

 

What the hell? If what you posted is the warranty then it says they will cover the replacement of your tire.

The thing about blowouts is that they will reimburse you for a tow truck or whatever if you get a flat.

Obviously your tire is damaged and must be replaced ... that warranty statement says they'll do it. I don't see how the flat tire part applies since you aren't claiming roadside assistance money...

But .. if they really don't want to honour the warranty then see if you can get back the money you paid for the extra coverage. Also, try a different dealership for the tire coverage... and talk to Dunlop because they do have a roadhazard policy .. you should have got that booklet with your car.

 

rjakobs: haha i know.. it says in plain english that it should be replaced.. They simply dont see it that way. They interpret it as you NEED a blowout/flat to get it replaced by them. They completely disregard the first sentence.

don668: Discount Tire Co. sells dunlop tires.. I'll see if they can help me out somehow. thanx for the advice

 

and I would look at another dealer....

Don

 

Did you get the separate warranty brochure from Dunlop when you bought your car? It has all of the details of the Limited Road Hazard Warranty applicable to your tires. According to Dunlop's warranty, your tires are covered for the situation you have described, although you may have to pay a fixed road hazard charge depending on how much tread is worn off your tires.

Your best bet is to call Dunlop directly - they can hook you up with a dealer who will honor the warranty:

In Canada:

1-800-247-4468

In NY State:

1-800-334-4646

Outside NY State:

1-800-662-0200

 

It's not likely to get covered. You usually have to go purchase the road hazard separate from the actual tire dealer. Tires are considered a normal wear item. Damaging a tire from hitting a pothole is no more a covered part than putting a hole in the oil pan from running over a stump. If the tire developed this bubble on it's own from a error in manufacturing then it would be covered. Look at the wheel itslef right beside the bubble. Is there a tire mark or nick on the wheel from the impact? The dealer looks for that evidence to help determine if it's covered or not. They likely saw that and have already noted it. Just buy a new tire and get the roadhazard with it.

 

If you don't tell the dealer that you ran into a pot hole then it wouldn't be a road hazzard issue, it would be a defective tire. They should replace it per the dunlop phamplet that came with the warranty information. Any dunlop dealer can do it, if I read the pamplet correctly....

 

Nope.... Dunlop has a warranty regardless. Nothing to purchace. Check their website out.

Don

 

All the discussion about who warrantees the tire and blah blah blah is useless - the guy has the warranty in black and white. It says clearly that a DAMAGED tire is covered. Nowhere does it state that the tire MUST be flat to be covered.

Dude, keep bothering this dealership until they replace the tire. I know - it's Mazda giving you the trouble, and not the dealer per se, but the dealer is your link to Mazda HQ, and they have to help you out. Call every single day to bug them. Stop by the dealership every coule of days, and have them call HQ and ask differnt people all the time. Squeaky wheel gets the grease, my friend - get in their hair enough, and they will replace the thing just to get rid of you.

And if all else fails, go to the dealer, complain again, then just drive around the block, let the air out thru the valve stem, then ***** the bubble with a pin (in this order just to be safe) - make a TINY hole, go back to the dealer and demand it be fixed, cuz now the freakin' thing is FLAT!

You have a legit fight on your hands - especially if that tire fails and then something tragic should happen like a serious accident. Mazda will be paying you off big time. Yu say you don't have any "lawyer friends"? Well, get the phone number to Mazda HQ (listed earlier in this thread), call them up youself and pose as "Bill S Preston, esquire " attorney representing "deadman", and quietly inform them of the monster lawsuit that WILL come their way if the failure of this tire should cause any serious accident or something like that. If they have a shred of common sense, they will immediately get that tire replaced for you - play it off well enough, and they might even waive the deductible .

 

Assuming we're talking about a 2002 P5, you're out of luck.

According to the Mazda warranty booklet, page 9 - Tires - Tires are warranted by the tire manufacturers.

The tire manufacturer (Dunlop) offers no "road hazard" warranty on OEM ires which would cover a "damaged" tire. The warranty covers only defects in manufacture.

Don

 

Thanks Don. I'll elaborate even more. This is verbatim
text from the warranty booklet.

WHAT IS COVERED.

Every original equipment Dunlop passneger
car, lightweight temproary spare, and light
truck tire that becomes unserviceable within six
years or 72 months of the date of manufacture
for conditions other than those which are listed
under "WHAT IS NOT COVERED" will be replaced
at a cost based upon the amount of usable
tread wear down to the last 2/32nds of an inch.


WHAT IS NOT COVERED

Tires rendered unserviceable by road hazard-type
damage such as impact breaks, punctures, cuts or
snags; or as a result of obstruction on the vehicle,
fire, corrosives, running while flat, improper inflation,
overloading, improper mounting or rim fitment; or by
spinning, as in mud, snow, sand, on ice, or during
on-the-vehicle balancing


What this means to you.
Your tire was damaged by a road hazard. It is NOT covered.
You will need to purchase a new tire. In the event a tire
failure is caused by a manufacturing defect it still isn't
going to be replaced at 100% no cost to you. It will be
pro-rated based on the amount of tread is left on the tire.
If the tire is worn half way, then you get a new one at 1/2
price.