Goodyear Assurance Tires

[mickeyboat]

I replaced the tires on my Windstar two months ago. I purchased Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread tires. Ever since I brought the vehicle home, I have heard a rubbing noise. I brought it back to the tire place and they told me nothing was wrong. But the noise continued.

I was going to make an appointment at my regular garage to have the car looked at for some other source of the noise. Last week, one hubcap came off and I have been unable to find it.

I brought the car back to the tire place today. Apparently, they received a fax from Goodyear about a month ago which said they have been having a lot of complaints with these tires when they are mounted on regular wheels (as opposed to fancy aluminum wheels). There is some flange which goes over the wheel which is at the same height as the hub cap. It causes the tire to rub against the hub cap and can cause the hub cap to fly off unexpectedly.

The tire dealer recommended I contact Goodyear, who hemmed and hawed about doing anything. At the least they should replace the hub cap, but I don't want to be fighting with them every month to get a new hub cap. Undoubtedly this will happen again. So what I really want is a new set of tires which do not have this problem.

Goodyear is going to call the tire dealer and call me back. Anyone else have this problem? Any other suggestions?

Denae

 

[mudnuri]

well......here's what I'd do.

1st off- I'd have the tire place do all the contacting with Goodyear. They're the ones who deal with them, not you. goodyear could care less if they lose you as a customer- but they dont want to use this tire place as a distributor.

2nd- I've never heard of a tire being "better" fitted to aftermarket rims. Thats a first for me. I'd contact another tire place and see what they say. That in itself sounds weird to me. And I've bought a lot of tires- from 15" all the way up to huge mudd boggin tires none of them being placed on any "special" rim...

3rd- your hubcap should never be in contact with your rim, if this is the case- the tire place sold you the wrong tire size, and should have seen this when they put the hubcap back on.

I'm off to do some searching for you, I frequent quite a few car/truck sites...I'll let you know what I find

Brandy

 

[mudnuri]

I cant find anything other than praise for these tires...

I'm still searching.....but am not sure what I'm going to find.....

Brandy

 

[mickeyboat]

Brandy, thanks for taking a look. I am still having a devil of a time getting this resolved. I am ready to call in the local media.

Apparently, Goodyear sent some sort of bulletin to its dealers in June saying that this tire does not work well in this particular situation (not an aluminum wheel, a plastic hubcap - I guess it makes a difference). They told the dealers it was not good for this application. The tire dealer claims he did not read the bulletin until September, after the tires were installed.

That doesn't make much sense to me since I brought the car back to the dealer in October for the rubbing noise and they said there was nothing wrong with my car.

Anyway, Goodyear says it is not a warranty situation, but for the sake of customer satisfaction, they will replace the Assurances with the Regattas which are not as good in the snow and ice and aren't warrantied for as many miles, they will pay to replace the hub cap, but these tires are $20 cheaper a piece and they won't refund me the difference. That is not acceptable.

The dealer wants me to replace the tires with Nokian tires, and pay the extra $20 per tire. I am not sure if Goodyear will replace the hub cap in that situation - so I am out up to $160 for the extra charges and the hubcap.

This whole thing stinks. It is not my fault that the dealer and Goodyear had some sort of miscommunication about these tires. I don't really care - they need to make it right as far as I am concerned and I shouldn't even be involved. The dealer told me he is so furious with Goodyear that he won't carry that tire anymore .. right.

You're right, I should let this be between Goodyear and the dealer. The dealer keeps saying he is an independent dealer, etc, but he is the one who recommended the tires, advertises the tires and installed the tires.

Wish me luck.

Denae

 

[my3kids]

I would call the Better Business Bureau for the community where the tire place is located. If you want the Goodyear replacements installed, the hub cap replaced and the price difference refunded, tell them that exactly. I bet they can help you arrive at an appropriate resolution.

 

[mickeyboat]

I talked to Goodyear this morning and told them the following:

their solution was not satisfactory,

that the communication problem between them and the dealer was not my problem,

that I checked their website and even Goodyear recommended those tires for my exact vehicle,

and that I would be contacting the Better Business Bureau or my local news media if they did not come up with a reasonable solution.

The Goodyear person said he would call me back a little later.

I'll keep you posted.

Denae

 

[mudnuri]

Denae-

Were the Nokians Hackapallettas? If they were- and you can upgrade them for 20 bucks a tire- DO IT!!!!!!

I had Hacka II's on my grand am- they are SNOW/ICE tires, the MOST aggressive you will ever find...they kicked butt! When my envoy needs them I'll be getting the Hack II SUV model.

Keep on them- I'd tell your dealer you want the Nokians FOR FREE.......after all- HE RECOMMENDED THEM!!!!!!!

Good luck

Brandy