Everyone Refuses To Patch Run-Flat
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 133,592
Likes: 30
St. Jude Donor '11, '16
Good for you, I didn't have the same luck...I don't blame the dealer, just GY....
Pro
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
my family owns a few dealerships and i noticed one of my tires was always a little low in the morning at first i thought it was because of the cooler nights brought it to the service area of our jeep place it had a nail or screw in it i said patch it they said it can't be done on run flats so they replaced the tire.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,174
Likes: 1
From: NOVA VA
The problem at this point is that for every 1 good GY service center, there are 5 that are terrible and have no clue about GY's own policies and warranties.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: San Diego California
In my experience, Corporate Goodyear customer service is great! The problem lies with the tire shops. Most shop employees are paid on commission…and warranty work doesn’t pay the same rate of commission.
I recently presented an irreparable tire (rear Supercar, 9 month old car with 7/32’s tread depth by my gauge) to my local Discount Tire Center. The sales rep measured the tire at 5/32’s and offered a minimal prorated discount. When I suggested he erred in his measurement, we went to the car and he measured again…jabbing his tool into the tire to make it represent an inaccurate reading (he was not aware of my background/experience). Rather than argue, I told him I’d pay full price for a new tire (paying full price gave me rights of possession to the old tire). He was extremely irritated (after the job was done) when I asked for the old tire as evidence. I photographed the old tire with my gauge inserted into the tread indicating the actual depth of 7/32’s and sent it to Goodyear’s customer service. They responded with an apology and the arranged for me to pick up a check for the full cost of a new tire from the same jerk (at discount Tire) that tried to rip me off!
Please note...most Discount Tire Centers are great! My local shop is not...being paid on commission makes people work hard...but sometimes it makes them dishonest.
I recently presented an irreparable tire (rear Supercar, 9 month old car with 7/32’s tread depth by my gauge) to my local Discount Tire Center. The sales rep measured the tire at 5/32’s and offered a minimal prorated discount. When I suggested he erred in his measurement, we went to the car and he measured again…jabbing his tool into the tire to make it represent an inaccurate reading (he was not aware of my background/experience). Rather than argue, I told him I’d pay full price for a new tire (paying full price gave me rights of possession to the old tire). He was extremely irritated (after the job was done) when I asked for the old tire as evidence. I photographed the old tire with my gauge inserted into the tread indicating the actual depth of 7/32’s and sent it to Goodyear’s customer service. They responded with an apology and the arranged for me to pick up a check for the full cost of a new tire from the same jerk (at discount Tire) that tried to rip me off!
Please note...most Discount Tire Centers are great! My local shop is not...being paid on commission makes people work hard...but sometimes it makes them dishonest.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7,588
Likes: 6
From: Montreal Qc
Ok, I called Goodyear Customer Service and they got the tread reading from the tire shop. The tread was half-way down, so they pro-rated the price I paid on the tire and I will now be getting a refund for the difference.
Overall, I'm thoroughly impressed with the way that Goodyear and Black's Tire (my local tire shop) handled it. Even though the tire wasn't patched, I still got a refund off of the replacment tire. I called them at 4:30pm and it is only an hour later and the problem has been resolved.
Thanks for everyone's info!!!
Overall, I'm thoroughly impressed with the way that Goodyear and Black's Tire (my local tire shop) handled it. Even though the tire wasn't patched, I still got a refund off of the replacment tire. I called them at 4:30pm and it is only an hour later and the problem has been resolved.
Thanks for everyone's info!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 8,514
Likes: 235
From: Currently somewhere in IL,IN,KY,TN,MO,AR,MS,AL, or FL
Needless to say, that I went with it and now have one new tire on the right rear. After comparing it to the left rear tire, I can notice a considerable difference between the two treads. Now, I find myself ordering another tire for the left rear. I will just keep the one on there now as a spare in my shed.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
You could clearly look at the treads and see a difference between the two. The new tire is 11/32 on right rear and the old tire is 6/32 on left rear.
I figured that the old tire would break traction more often than the new one, and this was confirmed as I drove it around yesterday. Instead of driving around with such a huge tread difference b/t the two tires, I'm just going to have the old left rear tire replaced too. I just have to wait for them to order the tire for me.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,284
Likes: 3
From: Southwest Florida
Do it yourself. Purchase NADA Balkamp Vulcanizing plug kit #710-1028. The kit has a gun it it. You prepare the hole and stick the gun in the hole. You pull the lever a couple of times and the plug with a head on it goes into the tire. When you pull the gun out the pluh head stays in the tire and the plug fills the hole. When you put air in the air puts pressure on the plug head and the hole is sealed. Be sure to follow instructions.
I've been plugging runflats for many years. Never a problem. If the plug is done right, it'll never leak and there is zero chance it will fly out at high speed. At 186 MPH, your tires are only rotating at about 3000 RPM so it isn't like the plug is going to be forced out by centrifugal (centrepetal) force.
Mike
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Advanced
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Ocean County NJ
I just went thru this nail in my 2007 w/ Z51 GY EMT's, rt. rear, 2 weeks ago. I called the GY Certified Tire Ctrs. 800# on the GY brochure. Was prompted to put in my zip code and suddenly the system dialed a local GY tire shop, one mile from home. The mgr. there said they don't do any EMT repairs on rims over 17". He didn't want to be resposible for any damage to my rims. When I insisted that his GY shop was a cerified center he become a bit obnoxious and told me to go to the shop that fixed my 2003 C5 EMT (which I told him about). Next, I called the GY customer service 800# on the same brochure to seek help. I reported the local shop negative experience contact. The CS rep was bewildered and dialed another farther away GY cert. ctr. and made a same day appointment for me. This GY tire shop fixed my runflat in a few hrs., but broke the tire pressure sensor. They replaced it at no charge. I had to get it recalibrated at my dealer service for a cost of $49.75. The GY shop said they would reimburse me for that cost. Lets see, I'll be stopping in today. Bottom line...GY has to back up their product as described in the brochure. I was lucky to have at least one responsible certified ctr. within a 10 mile radius.
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
Just so you know. Discount uses a patch/plug combination when patching tires. The only problem with run flats is the difficulty getting them off the rims. You run the possibility of ripping the bead if not done properly. Most DT have people that are highly competant at fixing vette tires and not damaging the sensors. I would strongly suggest not patching your own tires with what-ever kit. Have someone who knows what they are doing work on it. It is your life( oh and car) on the line. Worth a little wait to have it done right. just my .02.
Pro
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 518
Likes: 0
From: South Florida
Do it yourself. Purchase NADA Balkamp Vulcanizing plug kit #710-1028. The kit has a gun it it. You prepare the hole and stick the gun in the hole. You pull the lever a couple of times and the plug with a head on it goes into the tire. When you pull the gun out the pluh head stays in the tire and the plug fills the hole. When you put air in the air puts pressure on the plug head and the hole is sealed. Be sure to follow instructions.
a plug kit will do the trick, have done this for years even on runflats with great results. I choose this route b/c I have yet to find a good tire shop that can take the tire off the rim without scratching it, the runflats are really difficult due to the solid sidewalls. I've read that the plug reduces the speed rating, but unless you're constantly tracking the car at very high speeds, the plug is a simple fix.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 8,824
Likes: 3
From: The left Coast
St. Jude Donor '08
Bought my Firestones from Tire rack and had them installed by America's Tire. I was at Tom Wong's Performance having the mufflers installed when we noticed a staple in the right rear. The tire was not leaking. Tom grabs a pair of pliers and pulls the staple out and sure enough the leak started big time. We filled the tire and I drove home, approximately 40 miles. It was too late to make it to a tire shop. I had about ten lbs pressure by the time I got home. I put my floor jack under the car overnight, pumped up the tire the next morning and drove to America's Tire. I noticed they had installed the sensors on the wrong sides. The DIC was telling me the left rear was flat. So, they fixed the flat and swapped the sensors for free. I've purchased several sets of tires from them and they always treat me right.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: Newport Beach CA
GY runflats CAN be patched unless a) there is a massive gash or b) the puncture is on or within some small radius of the edge of the tire (that part that is not quite tread and not quite sidewall).
You can call GY to verify this.
Patches that CAN be fixed are warrantied for the life of the tire down to 2/32" of tread left.
If the tire is unable to be patched according to GY's written standards, then the tire is to be REPLACED as per GY warranty, which is free replacement for the first 2/32" of tread used and prorated thereafter down to 4/32" of tread left.
This is ALL written in your GY warranty pamphlet that came with the car (at least it came with mine) OR can be obtained by called GY's customer service themselves.
All of that being said, it has been my experience that the GY authorized dealers are the most UNINFORMED people in regard to their own warranty and most that i have encountered have refused to honor the warranty even in the face of the warranty pamphlet.
Both issues that I had with my OEM set of GY's had to be resolved by getting Goodyear Customer Service involved and having THEM explain to the tire dealer how to deal with the warranty. (One place I tried to deal with STILL refused to listen to even GY's own customer service people)
One place was even selling road hazard warranties on GY runflats that ALREADY come with this warranty.......... a fact that I pointed out very vocally to them with lots of interested customers standing around.
To that end, I replaced my GY's with Firestone Wide Ovals. I refuse to do business with a company with such practices.
If you paid out of pocket for this replacement, then I would advise you to contact Goodyear Customer Service as you should be due some reimbursement (providing that the tire was not down to 4/32" of tread left). If the tire could have/should have been simply patched, then the tire center might have some 'splaining to do to GY as to why they didnt.
Hope this helps.
You can call GY to verify this.
Patches that CAN be fixed are warrantied for the life of the tire down to 2/32" of tread left.
If the tire is unable to be patched according to GY's written standards, then the tire is to be REPLACED as per GY warranty, which is free replacement for the first 2/32" of tread used and prorated thereafter down to 4/32" of tread left.
This is ALL written in your GY warranty pamphlet that came with the car (at least it came with mine) OR can be obtained by called GY's customer service themselves.
All of that being said, it has been my experience that the GY authorized dealers are the most UNINFORMED people in regard to their own warranty and most that i have encountered have refused to honor the warranty even in the face of the warranty pamphlet.
Both issues that I had with my OEM set of GY's had to be resolved by getting Goodyear Customer Service involved and having THEM explain to the tire dealer how to deal with the warranty. (One place I tried to deal with STILL refused to listen to even GY's own customer service people)
One place was even selling road hazard warranties on GY runflats that ALREADY come with this warranty.......... a fact that I pointed out very vocally to them with lots of interested customers standing around.
To that end, I replaced my GY's with Firestone Wide Ovals. I refuse to do business with a company with such practices.
If you paid out of pocket for this replacement, then I would advise you to contact Goodyear Customer Service as you should be due some reimbursement (providing that the tire was not down to 4/32" of tread left). If the tire could have/should have been simply patched, then the tire center might have some 'splaining to do to GY as to why they didnt.
Hope this helps.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,867
Likes: 307
From: Wantagh,L.I. New York
Do it yourself. Purchase NADA Balkamp Vulcanizing plug kit #710-1028. The kit has a gun it it. You prepare the hole and stick the gun in the hole. You pull the lever a couple of times and the plug with a head on it goes into the tire. When you pull the gun out the pluh head stays in the tire and the plug fills the hole. When you put air in the air puts pressure on the plug head and the hole is sealed. Be sure to follow instructions.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: FL
Goodyear, their warranty, and "authorized dealers" are a horrible joke....
You made out pretty good at 320$...The only problem being that you bought GY again...My next tires will be anything but GY....
Some people will say they had great luck, some (including me) not so great...to me it is just not worth putting up with the GY
Good luck....
You made out pretty good at 320$...The only problem being that you bought GY again...My next tires will be anything but GY....
Some people will say they had great luck, some (including me) not so great...to me it is just not worth putting up with the GY
Good luck....
I have had TWO flats with my factory tires, both on the right rear. First one was a 1'' screw (center of the tread) . The second one was a small piece of wood which went in the grove (center of the tread).
Both repairs were made by my local GY store about a mile away. Both times the same tech worked on my 07 coupe. He even used jacking pucks !!!
Both repairs were under the GY warranty.....no questions asked!!
What can I say....but...NOT A JOKE WITH THE GY WARRANTY !!!