Getting faulty tyres replaced, am I being unreasonable?

[Hi]

I bought some 'all weather' tyres from a well known tyre company, although I purchased through their ebay account, 2 years ago. The tyres have been on the car for just over a year and have cracked badly around the shoulder of the tyre (still got 5mm tread).

I contacted the company to ask for replacements, they said they are happy to send replacements FOC, but a few things concerned me and I wanted to check whether I am being unreasonable or whether I should pursue what I deem to be fair.

Firstly they said they will send the old tyres back to the manufacturers to asses them, if the manufacturers decide that the cracking in the tyres is not their fault, then they will bill me for the replacement tyres. This sounds to me like they could just turn around and say that it's not their fault regardless of the problem and leaves me open to having to pay for a faulty set of tyres. (I have only used them on the road and always kept them at the correct pressures, so no neglect from my point of view)

Secondly, they said they will have to collect the old tyres before they arrange delivery of the replacements. What am I meant to do with my car if it has no tyres? It makes sense to me for them to deliver the new tyres (to a tyre garage) and pick up the old ones at the same time?! But they say they won't do that.

Thirdly, I was expecting them to pay the cost of having the tyres swapped over, as if there tyres hadn't cracked like this then I wouldn't be swapping any tyres, thus not incurring any costs. But again they say I have to pay for the tyres to be swapped over.

So over to you guys, am I being unreasonable or do you think I am correct to ask them to pay for the tyre swapping and to send the new tyres before or at the same time as collecting the old ones so as not to leave me without use of the car.

Any suggestions of how to proceed would be great.

[sticks090460]

Read the BTMA code of practice on their website. I've got a case going with them at moment on a pair of 2.5 year old Pirellis which were cracking all over the place. No reply yet, but there's always social media if they don't behave.

[Hi]

I have found this webpage and read it, including the PDF documents linked at the bottom of the page, but I can't see anywhere that mentions about who should pay for the replacement tyres to be swapped over or whether it is reasonable to expect the replacement tyres to be delivered before/at the same time as the old ones are collected.

It does mention that if you disagree with the tyre manufacturers findings then you can appeal and involve an impartial tyre expert, but at your own cost. It doesn't appear this cost can be claimed back regardless of whether the appeal is successful or not.

[anonymous-user]

They will want to check for chemical damage and user error. You may not have run them under-inflated but I bet a lot of people with cracking have done.

Do you use tyre dressing products or take the car anywhere that might use cheap and nasty tyre dressing - e.g. a hand car wash place?

Maybe I'm being too nice to them but I'd imagine the manufacturer wouldn't want to brush a cracking issue under the carpet as if it becomes a widespread problem the reputational damage would be enormous. As to reciving the tyres before they send the new ones out I can't blame them for that, imagine the number of bogus requests for tyre replacements they must get.

Got to say I'm a bit surprised they don't have any authorised agents/fitters who can handle this for you with less inconvenience though.

[essdaytwelve]

Standard procedure.

They WILL find no issue with them
You WILL be charged for the new tyres

Been on the merry-go-round before
My advice is stick with your current tyres.

[Hi]

Thanks for the replies, I thought that would be the case, hence my concern.

I think they said one option is they would refund me for the tyres (instead of sending replacements) and then after the 'investigation' they would re-bill me if they found no faults. That is probably preferable as I think it would be easier to argue against them billing me for tyres I don't have any more. Plus that option means I don't have to deal with such a dodgy company any more.

[shost]

I had an issue with newly fitted tyres being to soft in the sidewall. Caused instability. Anyway I had to pay for new set whilst originals were checked. Took months but they did conclude they weren't up to spec and refunded me. Ultimately of tyres are cracked they need replacing anyway its just a matter of who pays. They should fit new when removing old rubber though.

[anonymous-user]

Where were the tyres stored before they went on the car? What's the DOT (age) code on them?

[bearman68]

I had this problem on one of a set of 4 pilot sports. Had them fitted at a decent tyre place on the Saturday, and one had cracked and bulged alarmingly on the Wednesday following. Funnily enough that was my fault too. I ask you??
So I don't buy premium brand 'French' tyres anymore, and encourage anyone else not to That will teach them. I bet my 20 odd tyres a year are really making a difference to them.

[paintman]

If you don't know how to tell the age of your tyre this link shows how:
http://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-article/tyre-age-and-...
Scroll further down & you'll find another tyre showing the letters DOT, 2 groups of letters & numbers and then the numbers 4208 in a box. Means the tyre was made in the 42nd week of 2008.

Another here (Bridgestone Australia) which suggests that they consider tyres over 6 years to be too old due to the way they age: http://www.bridgestone.com.au/tyres/passenger/care...

[E30M3SE]

charltjr said:

Where were the tyres stored before they went on the car? What's the DOT (age) code on them?

..a nd what brand are they, Continental?