New car tire problems

[Ale-8(1)]

My wife bought a brand new 2024 Toyota Rav4 eight months ago. It now has a little over 5000 miles on it. She really likes the car.

It developed a rather nasty front-end shudder/vibration and she took it back to her dealer who attempted to re-balance the front tires. One of them wouldn't balance no matter what they tried. They told her the tire was defective, possibly cord/tread separation, and that she'd have to take it up with Firestone, the manufacturer. She had them move the bad tire to the rear, for which they charged her twenty bucks. She then took the car to a local Firestone dealer who told her they don't do warranty on tires unless they sold them to you . . . they don't cover tires that come on new vehicles.

Way back when, I ran into the very same thing with the then-new Firestone Wide Ovals that came on my 1967 Mustang . . . cord/tread separation. Long story short, I created such a nuisance of myself in our very small town that the Firestone guy eventually replaced all four of them, but I was on his crap list forever after.

Is there a solution for this these days? Personally, I think Firestone ought to be responsible for new-car tires.

 

[Dan in MI]

That should be a dealer issue.

 

[Jim Walsh]

My last new car was a 2021 that had a 36,000 mile “bumper to bumper” warranty. I would have thought a Toyota would have something similar. Regardless, in my new owners paperwork is a tire warranty from the tire manufacturer which applies once past the bumper to bumper new car warranty. Surprised you don’t have the same.

 

[WAYNO]

Tires are on a separate warranty than the car itself. There will be inserts with the owners manual, outlining the tire company responsibilities. Or their lack of responsibility.

I have had failures on relatively new tires on a new vehicle, and I never have received any help whatsoever from the tire manufacturer.

 

[hittman]

Where’s GasGuzzler when you need him?

 

[Jeepnik]

Contact the regional sale folks. Heck usually if you just tell the dealer to give you their contact info a "senior service writer" will authorize the repair.

But, did they road balance the tire/rim. Did the remove the tire and check the rim for being out of true.

 

[eveled]

Doesn’t sound safe to be on the rear either.

 

[GypsmJim]

Tires are a Tire Company issue, not the auto manufacturer. All the warranty papers so state.

I only had a bad tire on a new car ONCE. I went to the tire dealer. They checked the car mileage, verified I was the first owner, verified it was under warranty, and they gave me a new tire post haste.

If your tire dealer did not do as they should, you need to file a complaint with the BBB, and the tire manufacturer.

You got screwed. The dealer you went to should be fined. It's their responsibility whether they sold it to you or not.

 

[GypsmJim]

Doesn't sound safe to be on the rear either.

It's OK as a temporary expedient until the tire is replaced. Sometimes things take time for the goon to contact the manufacturer and validate the job.

 

[eveled]

I wouldn't take any highway trips on it. Especially if my wife and kids were in the car.

I’d pay to replace the tire then look for reimbursement after.

 

[bedfordboy]

Firestone pretty much says it all, I remember all the Ford Exploders having that exact issue all the way back to the 90’s, guess some things haven’t changed.
My 2024 Silverado came with Goodyear’s which I’m not a fan but I’ll leave them on there until they wear out and then I’ll get Michelin’s. Tires are definitely one of those things that you get what you pay for.
If it was me I wouldn’t have bought the car until the dealer changed the tires… Firestone’s are a piece of crap IMHO
“That’s about all I’ve got to say about that”

 

[DGW1949]

I got bit by a set of Firestone tires back in the 60's and haven't bought one since.

DGW

 

[bigbillyboy]

My opinion , the dealer should have went ahead and replaced it just out of goodwill .

 

[ArizonaTea123]

From my experience, many manufacturers put the most basic cheap tire they can legally install on a new car.
I bought a brand new Toyota RAV4 in 2008, and the factory tires were almost bald at 35,000 miles.
Same thing, dealer said not their problem.
I contacted Dunlap and was told that was normal wear on "that particular tire"
So Toyota put soft sticky tires on the RAV4 for better handling but soft compounds wear out faster.

 

[Cholo]

She had them move the bad tire to the rear, for which they charged her twenty bucks.

Good grief, what poor customer service to be so petty and charge you $20 on a brand new car!

 

[Justice B. Swift]

I would give a hard push for the Dealer to make good on their product. If no luck then take it straight to Toyota Customer Service, along with a bash on the selling dealer and a promise to notify the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and see if you can "inspire them." If that doesn't do it, then replace them out of pocket and be thankful that no injury resulted. Back in 1999 we bought a new Ford Explorer (Exploder) with the faulty Firestones. Ford blamed Firestone. Firestone blamed ford. Nobody wanted to own it, and endure the cost. I valued the life of my wife and children, so with no warranty resolution I made the choice to replace them with Michelin ATX, keeping the Firestones just in case. Later when Ford eventually stepped up on the replacement I hand delivered the "take-off" Firestones, which they refused to take. They PIAD me for them, but didn't physically want the tires. I asked if they wouldn't want to destroy them and was told 'no, we just want the D.O.T. number. After receiving their check I asked what would keep me from reselling them? Their reply was "NOTHING, GO AHEAD." So much for safety! I cut them up with a Sawz-All.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Direct quote from the Toyota WARRANTY AND MAINTENANCE GUIDE FOR THE 2024 RAV4 HYBRID, Tire Limited Warranty . . .

All tires supplied as original equipment on new Toyota vehicles are warranted by the individual tire manufacturer only, and not Toyota. Coverages by individual tire manufacturers may vary.

The terms of the tire manufacturers' warranty can be obtained from the tire manufacturers' websites. If you wish to obtain a hard copy of the warranty terms, please contact the tire manufacturer directly.

They do provide contact info for Bridgestone/Firestone.

Still trying to review Firestone's position, but they claim no responsibility for new vehicles' tires in certain cases.

 

[roylt]

20 bucks just to move the tire. Way to kick you when you were down. That dealer wouldn't be getting much more business from me.

 

[GasGuzzler]

Obviously the OP has made it past some of my advice but I relied as if I were first to do so in case anyone needed the info later.

Where's GasGuzzler when you need him?

I come here in the mornings only on week days.

I cannot speak to Toyota specifically but usually issues like this are industry wide.

First I'd go to the dealer and demand a refund of $20 for moving a tire front to rear. That kind of work is generally done by an hourly employee and there is no cost loss for such a menial task. Second, I would have a discussion with the sales manager at minimum and the GM if needed on the lack of help ... ASSuming this is the dealer from whom you bought the vehicle. If not, they really don't have an obligation if Toyota doesn't warrant tires for Firestone.

That's the next issue. Technically the tires are warranted by the tire manufacturer and there is a booklet thrown in with the other papers. In GM's case though, a dealer can use the GM warranty to replace defective tires (not road hazard or wear). This is something that changed around 1998-2000. Before that, you were on your own. Study the new vehicle warranty disclosure for detailed info.

The dealer still needs chewed out. They should at least help you to a solution even if they cannot do it themselves. Leave the local tire shop alone. They cannot do it. If you need to go through the manufacturer, it needs to be on the wholesale level through their customer service, not an independent franchise.

Good luck. Should be a simple process but people are making it tougher.

I would give a hard push for the Dealer to make good on their product.

It's not the dealer's product. It's Firestone's product installed on Toyota's product.

 

[David Lee Valdina]

When you are buying a car from a dealer, you can ask for the tire you want. In some cases, no additional charge. Other cases, a nominal charge. You do that before you sign. The sales department will be your friend, they want the sale and the commission.

 

[Johnnu2]

My dealer would have replaced the tire. He's smart enough to know he will lose AT LEAST one future customer, and maybe more.
I'd contact their Sales Manager....via email and in person. What can you lose?
IMHO,
J.

 

[GypsmJim]

From my experience, many manufacturers put the most basic cheap tire they can legally install on a new car.
I bought a brand new Toyota RAV4 in 2008, and the factory tires were almost bald at 35,000 miles.
Same thing, dealer said not their problem.
I contacted Dunlap and was told that was normal wear on "that particular tire"
So Toyota put soft sticky tires on the RAV4 for better handling but soft compounds wear out faster.

I have only bought new cars with a factory towing package. Years ago if that was on the build list they would put premium Goodyears on the car. They don't do that any more.

Today GM and Ford put honest first line tires on. Not "premium" 80,000 mile tires, but more like 50,000.

Dunlop tires, IMHO, were crap 40 years ago. When they were bought out by Sumitomo (Japan) they didn't get much better. Their largest North American plant was recently shut down. Now most are made in Japan. Motorcycle tires are stull USA made.

Don't get me started on trailer tires. For the longest time they were ALL Japan. Crap is an understatement. Only one time did I ever buy a new car and it had OEM Japan. I switched at about 10,000 miles, not because of wear, but they handled like ****. The new Goodyears were amazing.

 

[bigbillyboy]

My dealer would have replaced the tire. He's smart enough to know he will lose AT LEAST one future customer, and maybe more.
I'd contact their Sales Manager....via email and in person. What can you lose?
IMHO,
J.

Exactly , why would you alienate a customer over one tire . Not to mention , he is going to tell the story over and over as in this forum .

 

[Randyzzz]

Many dealerships are also tire dealers. The Toyota dealership local here is also a tire dealer. Now, if your particular dealership does not sell tires, I can imagine them not being able to warranty a tire. At that point I would try a different tire dealer, hoping for better results.

Bridgestone tires are among the best, in my opinion. I have been BFG and Michelin tire certified in the past. I love BFG’s for their truck line, and Michelin is a quality tire across the line. ( but Bridgestone Blizzaks are the best snow tire, period) Firestones have always had a less than stellar reputation.

But- if the dealer you purchased the car from charged you $20 to move a tire, I would be furious. I would go back and ask for the GM and politely let them know that even though they couldn’t help you out on the tire, the one thing they could have helped you out on is moving the tire- and they dropped the ball on that. I would be amazed if the GM didn’t refund the $20…

 

[ArizonaTea123]

My 2022 Kia Niro got a flat a couple of months ago. I've only got 38,000 miles on it. I went to the nearest tire shop and they said they couldn't patch it because the puncture was too close to the sidewall. So then I go to Walmart. Same thing.
I call my local Kia dealer and they said that they had original tires and would replace the tire for $300.

I took my Niro into service and waited. About 30 minutes later they told me it was done. I asked for the bill and the service manager said "no charge".

That is fantastic customer service. When I received a text message asking me to complete a customer satisfaction survey, I gave a glowing review of that dealership and their service department.

 

[ArizonaTea123]

Korean cars usually have either Kumho or Hankook and they are great tires that last and perform well.

 

[larry8]

When I was working (am now retired) I worked on the rubber machinery in Goodyear, Firestone and Bridgestone, Dunlop, Bandag, and a few others. I watched how they made the tires and what inspections were made, what type rubber used, and found out that Goodyear had the most inspections and is the most critical of any error on the tire. Firestone greatly improved the Bridgestone line after that Ford problem and Is in all probably just as good as Michelin was at that time. If I were to buy any tire, I would buy a Bridgestone first, then a Goodyear, then a Michelin. But these are all the best tires you can buy. But remember that each brand has cheap tires and expensive tire models, so you get what you pay for too.

 

[GypsmJim]

Korean cars usually have either Kumho or Hankook and they are great tires that last and perform well.

My 2011 Lincoln came with Hankook. When I saw them on the car I almost ******. They lasted as long as I would expected from an OEM tire, but when I replaced them with Goodyear Assurance tires the car performed 100% better.

I once had a Bridgestone motorcycle, but never a tire. I had several new cars that came with Michelin, but I would not buy one myself. Every one was replaced with a Goodyear and everything got better.

 

[JMD101]

My wife bought a brand new 2024 Toyota Rav4 eight months ago. It now has a little over 5000 miles on it. She really likes the car.

It developed a rather nasty front-end shudder/vibration and she took it back to her dealer who attempted to re-balance the front tires. One of them wouldn't balance no matter what they tried. They told her the tire was defective, possibly cord/tread separation, and that she'd have to take it up with Firestone, the manufacturer. She had them move the bad tire to the rear, for which they charged her twenty bucks. She then took the car to a local Firestone dealer who told her they don't do warranty on tires unless they sold them to you . . . they don't cover tires that come on new vehicles.

Way back when, I ran into the very same thing with the then-new Firestone Wide Ovals that came on my 1967 Mustang . . . cord/tread separation. Long story short, I created such a nuisance of myself in our very small town that the Firestone guy eventually replaced all four of them, but I was on his crap list forever after.

Is there a solution for this these days? Personally, I think Firestone ought to be responsible for new-car tires.

I drive like an old man, my new subaru tires lasted 20k.
I think most new car tires is where they save $.

 

[Cholo]

My 2011 Lincoln came with Hankook. They lasted as long as I would expected from an OEM tire, but when I replaced them with Goodyear Assurance tires the car performed 100% better.

I had Hankook tires on a '16 Nissan Rogue and had the same result when switching to the Goodyear Assurance. My '23 Honda CR-V has Hankooks and seem to be doing better. I'm still going Goodyear when the time comes. It doesn't hurt that my son gets 35% off coupons for family and friends