dt_15

Hey Guys, just picked up my 2017 Gransport...and the car is beautiful! However, I've been reading the warnings about purchasing the wheel and tire protection plan (as a must have). I'm going to be daily driving the car (Connecticut) and have already purchased the Michelin Pilot Alpin PA4 winter tires (Going on later this week). I received a quote for $1,090 for a 60month wheel and tire protection plan (with cosmetics) from Dennis. My question is, wouldn't it make more sense for me to purchase a 2nd set of wheels ($1,800) to put the winter tires on? With purchasing the snow tires from Town Fair tire, I already have life time free flat repair. And If I purchase a 2nd set of wheels, I'll always have them (longer than the 60 month period) and they will always have some extra value for resale should the wheels crack. Just wanted a few more opinions to see if I'm missing something. I figure, spend $700 more, and have an extra set of wheels (One set for winter, one set for spring), should something happen, I can always swap one out. If nothing happens, I can resell the set of wheels with the car at a later date. Hoping for input. If I'm unfortunate, and something goes through the side wall, well...can't win every battle? Thanks!

Kevin A Jones

Considering all the cracked wheel stories we see here it's starting to sound like a wheel/tire protection plan is a must for a daily driver.
However since you are going from summer to winter tires having the spare set already mounted to a second set of wheels sounds like a great idea. Certainly a lot easier and less expensive to just swap wheels than having to remount tires twice a year. And having the extra wheels in case of damage is icing on the cake.

I wouldn't however expect to recoup the cost of the extra wheels if/when you sell the car.
A potential buyer will probably like to have them, however will most likely expect you to throw them in rather than pay you for them.

dvilin

I think you got it right. Extra set of wheels, and forget the "what if" money on a tire and wheel protection plan.

striper

I purchased a protection package when I got my last new car (2014). I've had four punctures since then, the first two days after I picked it up. How convenient to just bring the car to the dealer and have them replace it with a new tire while I was driving a free loaner car. I would definitely buy it again. Repairs have never cost me a penny and no loss of my personal time either. What's ironic about this is I haven't had a flat tire in years until I got this car.

JerryU

^^^

For my Grand Sport figured I can control hitting pot holes (we have few in Eastern SC) but can't control nails! I bought "tire only" insurance from Discount Tire for $240 soon after I brought the car home. Checked and could have purchased "insurance" from where I usually had my Vette flats fixed, Firestone, but they wanted $325 for the same coverage.

I had visited the new Discount Tire store that came into town and saw they had the proper equipment to deal with the wide, low profile Grand Sport Tires. They were having a $40 special, which is why I only paid $240.

wveruner

Easiest thing to do is find an American Tire and buy warranty from them like $250.00

1SG_Ret

Tire road hazard - yes Wheel protection - not so much (unless your daily driven roads are really pot-hole'd)

LoganExplosion

Wheel protection plan a must?? What are you people doing to these cars?! Do they apply ceramic coating to the tires? Haha! Might I interest you in some volcano insurance??

Yes! Absolutely just get another set of wheels/TPMS and tires. Unless you really like Dennis and are trying to help him out..

DWS44

Another benefit to the extra set of wheels for the winter tires is the ease of swapping as the seasons change. Just swap the wheels when ready and no need to keep unmounting/re-mounting/balancing tires!

bbrown450

purchased the wheel /tire plan and am on my 3rd new replacement tire. With run flats most places will not patch, they do not want the liability./...worth it

JerriVette

A bent rim costs about 100 dollars at most fix a wheel places...for 1000 dollars I'd pass.

That assumes you'll need two wheel fixes a year for five years.

I daily drive my corvette in the NY metro area , have 19/20 inch z51 c7 rims and tires, have 115k miles that I put on my c6 z51 and I don't spend 200 bucks a year fixing my rims..

When I went into manhattan weekly I used to repair a rim every couple of years. Never had a problem with a tire. You are on the right path to question a 1000 dollar tire and wheel guarantee...

Should you need a replacement instead of a repair should that even happen? Buy off the forum for sale section..much cheaper.

With a winter set of wheels and tires...you can easily put one on if you need to have a vent wheel repaired overnight...and still use the car.

I do dig the forum vendors for the mechanical gmepp warranty for a extra of 48 months and however many miles you anticipate driving per year for all those months. I usually buy that before the 30th month and before 30k miles...I think with a $100 deductible it cost me $400 a year for 1600 . The forum vendors s had the best pricing on gmepp warranties and the service was always top notch locally.

Enjoy your new ride! It's a beauty..

JerriVette

Ps..if you end up buying the wheel tire protection pay no more than 600 dollars for five years...

The $1000 they are cleaning your clock..

I have the second set of snow tires and wheels I'll put on next month till April...

Not a real cost as it extends your tire life on the summer tires so it's a wash.imo

JerryU

Hmm, yep when I lived "Up North" always had winter tires mounted on separate wheels to handle Ice and Snow (no Vettes until I move South 35 years ago.) $600 sounds very cheap.

Checked on tire/wheel insurance from the local Chevy dealer for my Grand Sport and they wanted $1400! Did not press for a better price but knew the finance person who gave me the quote from our BMW purchase. Bought my Grand Sport from Kerbeck.

Wound up buying just tire insurance from Discount Tire for $240. Have few pot holes in Eastern SC.

JerriVette

$240 for tire insurance makes sense. I hate to say it but think my michelins for my 19/20 inch z51 wheels come for $12 each a two year road hazard warranty...I never had a problem with tires but that's just my high mileage daily driving experience up here in the NY metro area...i.e. I travel to Ct quite often and the roads are better than in NY city...that trip was a pain in my butt with the manual transmission so I'm glad I'm done with that crap..lol

$1000 for wheels and tire warranty is Not something I would do.

Enjoy your new grand sport...it's a stunning sports car...world class performance machine.

Save the money for gas and use the car as it was meant to be enjoyed.

Jmo

JerryU

^^
Yep, those 335 rear Grand Sport tires pick up nails very easy! I don't worry about mpg!

Side Bar:
Moved to SC from CT 35 years ago. Loved traveling in NYC on Saturdays! Never know the lights were synced until you do. However drove my CJ5 with big off road tires, V8 headers etc in the City! Would go over all the metal plates and holes etc as if off-roading as I had in Ohio!

However the Jeep was terrible on the icy roads we had in Ridgefield. At the time CT was not using salt. After it slide sideways on a steep hill, sold it and bought a Dodge Colt. Also needed better gas mileage as the Jeep could not get to Laguardia and back on one tank of fuel! I traveled a lot and when you could only get gas every other day depending on the last digit on your license plate, recall staying wherever I was several times until the next day so I could fill up to get home!

When I got my Dodge Colt Turbo bought special winter tires made in Sweden that had a compound better for ice. Mounted those on the 13 inch OEM wheels and bought 14 inch wider wheels with Pirelli P7's for warmer weather!

Vetteman Jack

For $1K, I’d skip the tire/wheel coverage. Buy the extra set of wheels, mount the winter tires on there and just do a swap twice a year.

If you wanted some kind of coverage, just go with the tire policy.

Italianfox

That's what I did. Bought second set of wheels from forum vendor for $1K for a/s 3+. Cast wheels though.

Thunder22

you don't need to spend $1000 on the wheel/tire insurance, i got it for $500. If that helps make your decision.

GregNYC

Are these plans from the dealer? I'm picking my GS up next week....

Thunder22

I bought the plan from Criswell when I bought my car. You can call them and buy it from them if you like.