Wheel/tire insurance worth it?
08-14-2018, 02:01 PM
#1
Wheel/tire insurance worth it?
I'll be picking up a 2017 GS at McMulkin on Thursday and they offer a GM backed wheel/tire insurance policy good for five years at $1200. Would you? It has these rims, "WHEELS, GRAND SPORT BLACK-PAINTED ALUMINUM, 19" X 10" (48.3 CM X 25.4 CM) FRONT AND 20" X 12" (50.8 CM X 30.48 CM) REAR." The car is still on the website if you want to see what wheels are on it.
I bought a 2011 GS from them in 2012 and did not have any problems. I do, however, live on a dirt road in the western Catskills, NY....and the roads are pretty rough. I've hit plenty of stuff that I thought would knock my teeth loose, but never had any damage to the C6. Also, I've always run non run-flats.
I'll be down to ECS soon...again.
I bought a 2011 GS from them in 2012 and did not have any problems. I do, however, live on a dirt road in the western Catskills, NY....and the roads are pretty rough. I've hit plenty of stuff that I thought would knock my teeth loose, but never had any damage to the C6. Also, I've always run non run-flats.
I'll be down to ECS soon...again.
08-14-2018, 02:15 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Dec 2015
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I’ve had it on the last six cars I’ve owned. It has just paid for itself on a couple, and more than paid for itself on a few.
Two tires have been replaced so far on my 2 1/2 year-old 15,000+ C7.
It’s just luck of the draw, along with how many miles you’re going to drive, and over what surfaces.
I have read on this forum the GS wheels have had a few issues.
jmo
Two tires have been replaced so far on my 2 1/2 year-old 15,000+ C7.
It’s just luck of the draw, along with how many miles you’re going to drive, and over what surfaces.
I have read on this forum the GS wheels have had a few issues.
jmo
08-14-2018, 03:18 PM
#3
Insurance companies do not offer these policies at a loss. Does that answer your question? Put your $400 in a mutual fund, and see if you can buy an extra wheel and tire in 5 years. I'd bet you can -- and so do they.
Last edited by hammong; 08-14-2018 at 03:19 PM.
08-14-2018, 03:47 PM
#4
Racer
I posted the same question on this forum last week, and based on what everyone has said, I think I'll pass on the protection package for now. If I have a wheel issue that seems out of the ordinary (bent wheel without hitting a huge pothole or other large impediment), I'll replace the wheel on my dime, and then add the package, because that point, I'd be convinced the C7 GS wheels are weak. If I don't ever have a problem, I'll be money ahead. I had a 2012 GS that I put 40,000 miles on, and never had a problem, so I'm inclined to believe I'll have the same experience on the 2019 GS. Just makes me a little weary, with the reports of bent wheels on this forum, but as many have said, the unlucky few are the ones that post problems; the thousands who don't have an issue, typically don't post, so the forum is a small sample size.
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toog (08-15-2018)
08-14-2018, 03:48 PM
#5
Intermediate
I got it on my 2019 Z06 from Kerbeck (it has upgraded rims)...negotiated a reasonable discount. Run-flats have tight parameters for patching. Each tire costs $500+. Also depends on where you live and frequency of flats you have experience. These low profile tires tend to pick up flats more easily. That said, I only had 2 flats on my C5 in 13 years and no rim issues. Really a matter of choice. One thing to keep in mind; I've heard some C7s have experienced excessive tire wear because of the camber...warranty would cover that.
Last edited by VenomStriker; 08-14-2018 at 03:51 PM.
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Mello Yello Maizey (11-09-2018)
08-14-2018, 03:49 PM
#6
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Feb 2013
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My experience with Vettes is that the insurance is a good deal. Vette tires seem to attract all kinds of stuff. Every Vette I have owned has gotten a road hazard two or more times in a tire that could not be patched. My latest was an inch and a half piece of steak knife. Depending where you buy the replacement it would have been a $600 - $700 replacement. Bend a wheel and the cost goes up. When you buy insurance the insurance company is betting you will not have a problem and you are betting you will. So, go with how lucky you feel.
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08-14-2018, 03:50 PM
#7
Racer
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...rotection.html
And no, warranty won't cover excessive tire wear due to alignment. read the exclusions here....https://www.chevrolet.com/protection...eel-protection
And no, warranty won't cover excessive tire wear due to alignment. read the exclusions here....https://www.chevrolet.com/protection...eel-protection
08-14-2018, 03:58 PM
#8
Team Owner
Never a good way to spend your money. These policies are all money makers and rarely does the consumer come out on top.
08-14-2018, 05:49 PM
#9
Melting Slicks
IMO getting the wheel insurance depends on the probability of damage. e.g.; frequent track use, driving on potentially damaging roads.
For me, the probability of wheel damage is low, so I passed on the GM plan and bought the Discount Tire repair/replace/rotate/balance plan for $40ish a tire.
For me, the probability of wheel damage is low, so I passed on the GM plan and bought the Discount Tire repair/replace/rotate/balance plan for $40ish a tire.
Last edited by jimmbbo; 08-14-2018 at 05:50 PM.
08-14-2018, 05:49 PM
#10
Racer
I’m replacing two wheels from a pothole on interstate highway. I would have benefited in this 2017 GS but never any of my others.
The thing is, if a pothole gets your front wheel it’s probably going to get your back wheel before you have time to react at highway speed. A raised hump at a highway seam might get all four at once.
The thing is, if a pothole gets your front wheel it’s probably going to get your back wheel before you have time to react at highway speed. A raised hump at a highway seam might get all four at once.
08-14-2018, 06:57 PM
#11
Very dependent on where you live and how you drive. It has paid dividends for me on my daily drivers but I probably should not have done it on the Vette but I did......................
08-14-2018, 06:58 PM
#12
I'll be picking up a 2017 GS at McMulkin on Thursday and they offer a GM backed wheel/tire insurance policy good for five years at $1200. Would you? It has these rims, "WHEELS, GRAND SPORT BLACK-PAINTED ALUMINUM, 19" X 10" (48.3 CM X 25.4 CM) FRONT AND 20" X 12" (50.8 CM X 30.48 CM) REAR." The car is still on the website if you want to see what wheels are on it.
I bought a 2011 GS from them in 2012 and did not have any problems. I do, however, live on a dirt road in the western Catskills, NY....and the roads are pretty rough. I've hit plenty of stuff that I thought would knock my teeth loose, but never had any damage to the C6. Also, I've always run non run-flats.
I'll be down to ECS soon...again.
I bought a 2011 GS from them in 2012 and did not have any problems. I do, however, live on a dirt road in the western Catskills, NY....and the roads are pretty rough. I've hit plenty of stuff that I thought would knock my teeth loose, but never had any damage to the C6. Also, I've always run non run-flats.
I'll be down to ECS soon...again.
08-14-2018, 07:37 PM
#13
Drifting
I agree that the insurance companies are in business to make money. That said it depends where you live. I live where there is a lot of demolition and new home building close to the city center. This leaves a lot of nails, screws and metal debris in the roadway. I replaced three tires which were unrepairable on my last car, a Carrera, and repaired one tire. Not good for three years. I purchased a wheel and tire warranty for the first time when I purchased my Stingray three weeks ago. I already have had one tire replaced under waranty. I have recovered 45% of the premium already.
Last edited by Michael T*; 08-14-2018 at 07:37 PM.
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Mello Yello Maizey (11-09-2018)
08-14-2018, 08:32 PM
#14
Race Director
Member Since: Mar 2001
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No, not for me.
08-15-2018, 06:28 AM
#16
Race Director
$1200 dollars?
not if your keeping it a weekend toy..
as a daily driver its still pretty steep.
i daily mine to the tune of 12k miles a year over the past decade in NJ..
when i roll in and out of manhattan i tend to warp the wheels...the tires are fine..
around NJ even with the potholes...i manage to have no issues..
if your daily driving the car maybe...although used rims all four will be 1000 bucks on this for sale section of the site...all four new wheels can be had for 1400 bucks..
the tires rarely get hurt...
$800 yes..1200 no...and even then why bother,
either way good luck with the car.
jmo
not if your keeping it a weekend toy..
as a daily driver its still pretty steep.
i daily mine to the tune of 12k miles a year over the past decade in NJ..
when i roll in and out of manhattan i tend to warp the wheels...the tires are fine..
around NJ even with the potholes...i manage to have no issues..
if your daily driving the car maybe...although used rims all four will be 1000 bucks on this for sale section of the site...all four new wheels can be had for 1400 bucks..
the tires rarely get hurt...
$800 yes..1200 no...and even then why bother,
either way good luck with the car.
jmo
08-16-2018, 02:41 PM
#18
Melting Slicks
I skipped it on my 2016 Z51. My replacement tires came with road hazard insurance from Tire Rack and I'm glad they did as I've already had to replace one that was only two months old. However, there are a number of Grand Sport owners that have had and are having issues with their wheels cracking and I think if I were to purchase a Grand Sport today, it would be worth the cost for the insurance. If you price the cost of a wheel and tire replacement, one loss would more than cover the cost of the insurance.
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Mello Yello Maizey (11-09-2018)
08-16-2018, 07:37 PM
#19
Burning Brakes
I skipped it on my 2016 Z51. My replacement tires came with road hazard insurance from Tire Rack and I'm glad they did as I've already had to replace one that was only two months old. However, there are a number of Grand Sport owners that have had and are having issues with their wheels cracking and I think if I were to purchase a Grand Sport today, it would be worth the cost for the insurance. If you price the cost of a wheel and tire replacement, one loss would more than cover the cost of the insurance.
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Mello Yello Maizey (11-09-2018)
08-16-2018, 07:47 PM
#20
Instructor
They have highly paid actuaries whose job it is to study loss ratios and make sure they will not lose money. Also consider if you do need to replace a tire you don’t need OEM factory new. Lots of take offs and better options in the For Sale forum. I bought a set of 4 OEM rims with tires for less than cost of insurance.