Nail in Tire and America's Tire warranty

[Sonic dB]

I purchased new Yokohama ES100s, just a month ago...and now there is a big nail sticking out the rear drivers side tire. It has a slow leak.

Last week, I took it into Americas Tire and they told me that they would patch it, but not replace the tire unless it was absolutely necessary. I didnt get it done that day because it was a 2 hour wait.

Im going to have to get it done this week... the question is: How do I convince them that I should have a new tire and not just some crappy plug job?

[air-cool-me]

speed rating of the tire?

before and after the plug?

[randywebb]

Tell them you drive fast and if anything happens your attorney will sue their ass until their ears bleed. It helps if you have a 300 lb. Samoan attorney standing right there, cleaning his nails with a large dirk...

[ubiquity0]

I'm hoping they are planning to patch it rather than plug it.

I'm afraid you might have a hard time convincing them that they need to give you a new tire. Hopefully its too damaged to plug. Have you read the 'small print' on the warranty?

[ruf-porsche]

Don't get it plug, insist on getting it patch. Plugs could blow out.

[randywebb]

anotehr idea -- contact Yoko and ask them - via Email not orally - when a hole requires a new tire. If you like what they say, take a copy in. Also try to find a copy of the technical book that Yoko puts out - might have some info there.

Remember, you are asking to be treated special - most cars are not going to be driven like a Pooschey.

[Spede]

They don't use plugs at those tire places anymore... they remove the tire and patch it from the inside.

[ruf-porsche]

See the following article on when you can repair speed rated tires and when you must replace them.

http://www.i-car.com/html_pages/about_icar/current_events_news/advantage/advantage_online_archives/2003/040703.html

[Sonic dB]

Thanks fellas for the good info. The more I know going in, the more likely that they will replace the tire.

ruf-porsche...thanks for the link. The hole caused by the nail appears to be greater than a 1/4 inch. As the article states, this is too large to fix and must require a new tire. I will print that out and give to them.

[dhoward]

That's one big-ass nail!

[Sonic dB]

Yeah its huge, like a little spike. It actually sticks out of the center of the tread about a quarter inch. I drove it for a week before I noticed that it was there...but I knew it was a small leak.

So yesterday, I was driving slowly and I heard a "click click click" coming back from there...so I look and there it is sticking out. Im afraid to drive it too much...and I want to get the thing fixed on Sunday, but Americas Tire is not open on Sunday...so it has to wait another day

[rlh930]

Yokohama doesn't warranty against road hazards. Why is your nail their problem?

[bigrubberjeep]

If you paid for the Warranty ( I did $11 per tire) they should replace on request.

Not to mention you had them for less then 2 month.

My experience with Americas tires is that they are very customer service oriented and are also price competetive, so it may be fait to ask for a pro-rated exchange price if you did not get the replacement warranty.

[wastintime]

I think most places use a patch/plug these days, it's patch, with a plug that both patches the bottom and plugs the hole... I was in a jam and used one on a racetrack once... it held up at 150mph so they can't be too bad.

[Hugh R]

Do you have a railroad spike lying around?

[ruf-porsche]

Originally posted by rlh930
Yokohama doesn't warranty against road hazards. Why is your nail their problem?

Tire America often tries to sell you a road hazard warranty in addition to the regular warranty with the tire. The road hazard warranty normally provides for the replacement of the tire base on a pro rated use.

A plug-patch designed for use in speed-rated tires must be installed in speed-rated tires to keep the high-speed capabilities of the tire.

Sonic verify that they have speed rated patches if they intend to patch the tire, if they don't have speed rated patches have them indicate on the repair bill that they didn't use a speed rated patch.

Most likely in this "sue you" society of our, they may not want to take on the additional liability and just replace the tire.

[Sonic dB]

Yokohama doesn't warranty against road hazards. Why is your nail their problem?

Did I ever indicate that it was Yokohama's "problem"? The warranty is with America's tire...

And now back to intelligent conversation....

ruf-porsche: America's tire is closed on Sunday, so I took it over to the local Discount tire. They removed 3 nails from the tire (!). This tire is only 1 month old, and already 3 nails. 2 nails were larger, one was very tiny.

Discount Tire patched the inside wall of the tire, using a patch. This cost me $20, no big deal...

The question I now have though, is that they did not use any plug from the inside out....only patched the inner liner. Will this hold, or should I have an exterior plug put in each hole as well?

Note, I rarely take the car over 105 mph...

[randywebb]

it isn't just speed per se, the heat induced by high speed use is also a problem

if you live in SoCal then I would figure 85 or 90 mph is very roughly equal to 100+ mph at 70 oF in the PNW

I would not trust that tire on my car.

[84porsche]

Sonic,

I had a similiar problem except with a 3 inch screw in my rear tire. I took it to Costco and they patched the tire and I specifically asked about speed and they said the tire would be like new and hold to all manufacturer specifications. Of course if they are wrong, I probably won't be around to fight them on it.

[audi2.7t]

If you really want a new tire that bad then "accidently" damage the side wall, sidewall cannot be patched/plugged.