Tyres affecting warranty
Discussion
I’ve heard about this and thought it was all rubbish until a friend of mine told me about his experiences this week.
He had bought a 5 year old German marque with a 1 year manufactures approved used warranty. He some the car within that year and the buyer wanted an inspection by the marque’s main agent.
Everything was fine apart from the fact that one of the rear tyres had a nail in it. The inspecting garage also noted that although all four tyres were manufacturer approved, the front and the backs were different. They were all the same brand but the front two were a letter followed by a “0” and the rear tyres were the same letter followed by a “1”. They said this would have affected any warranty claim and it shouldn’t have been sold by the first garage in that state as the warranty wouldn’t have been valid.
Luckily for my friend, as a result of the above, the inspecting garage managed to get two tyres fitted to the rear for free. It’s assumed that they were going to bill the selling garage for the tyres as the car shouldn’t have gone out with those tyres in the first place.
The story just reinforces some other stories I heard on here previously but I never believed!
He had bought a 5 year old German marque with a 1 year manufactures approved used warranty. He some the car within that year and the buyer wanted an inspection by the marque’s main agent.
Everything was fine apart from the fact that one of the rear tyres had a nail in it. The inspecting garage also noted that although all four tyres were manufacturer approved, the front and the backs were different. They were all the same brand but the front two were a letter followed by a “0” and the rear tyres were the same letter followed by a “1”. They said this would have affected any warranty claim and it shouldn’t have been sold by the first garage in that state as the warranty wouldn’t have been valid.
Luckily for my friend, as a result of the above, the inspecting garage managed to get two tyres fitted to the rear for free. It’s assumed that they were going to bill the selling garage for the tyres as the car shouldn’t have gone out with those tyres in the first place.
The story just reinforces some other stories I heard on here previously but I never believed!
Many warranties have a clause saying that all parts used must be OEM which strictly speaking I suppose the tyres in question would not be. However, I'm pretty sure they can only refuse to pay out on that basis if the failure is in some way related to the non-OEM part in question. For example they might just about be able to argue that a suspension failure was contributed to by the non-OEM tyres but they'd have a job getting out of fixing an engine fault.
It's not that uncommon. Porsche for example are well-known for insisting that you use N-rated tyres otherwise they won't allow you to take out an extended warranty. There any many threads about this if you care to search.
But that's the key point - as the extended warranty is an additional product they can add whatever terms they like. One of the terms of you taking out the warranty, is that your car passes their 111-point check; one of the checks is that the car is fitted with N-rated tyres and additionally they may well insist on these being matched and nail-free. In this case, the car shouldn't have passed the check and therefore the warranty shouldn't have been issued - but this is their fault and not yours, which is why they have rectified the situation for free.
The position with claims is different. If, having taken out the warranty, you change the tyres and then suffer an engine failure then clearly that isn't grounds for refusing the claim. If however you change the tyres and say suffer suspension damage because the tyrewall stiffness is different to spec (I'm making this up
) then that might be a reason for them to kick up a fuss.
But that's the key point - as the extended warranty is an additional product they can add whatever terms they like. One of the terms of you taking out the warranty, is that your car passes their 111-point check; one of the checks is that the car is fitted with N-rated tyres and additionally they may well insist on these being matched and nail-free. In this case, the car shouldn't have passed the check and therefore the warranty shouldn't have been issued - but this is their fault and not yours, which is why they have rectified the situation for free.
The position with claims is different. If, having taken out the warranty, you change the tyres and then suffer an engine failure then clearly that isn't grounds for refusing the claim. If however you change the tyres and say suffer suspension damage because the tyrewall stiffness is different to spec (I'm making this up
) then that might be a reason for them to kick up a fuss.I think most warranties have a clause saying "you must use OEM parts"; I suppose the tyres come under that. However, as above there's no way they could refuse to pay out for something like an engine failure on the basis that you had the wrong tyres fitted. They might refuse to pay out for a suspension failure though.
Porsche are a b*gger for this. I have the extended warranty on my Cayman and have two sets of wheels for it to get round the problem. One set of wheels has N-rated winter tyres and the other set of original wheels has the tyres I actually want on the car. Should it need a warranty claim I can just fit the winters. If I were to go for the best N-rated tyres available for my Cayman R I would be on Michelin Pilot Sport 2. Not a bad tyre in fairness, but nowhere near the grip and feel of the Pilot Super Sports I have no it (and I believe Pilot Sport 4S are even better, I just couldn't get them when I had mine fitted annoyingly).
But as extended warranties are insurance products they can stipulate what they like.
But as extended warranties are insurance products they can stipulate what they like.
My BMW went into the main BMW service garage earlier this week for some recall work to be carried out. My car is coming up to eight years old with no warranty attached to it. I had four new Avon tyres fitted a number of months ago and I’m pleased with thier performance
As always the main BMW garage carry out a health on the car and they noted that the tyres are not listed!! Whatever. So presume if my car was under warranty because my tyres are ‘not listed’ that invalidates the warranty. What’s next insurance companies playing the same tricks?
As always the main BMW garage carry out a health on the car and they noted that the tyres are not listed!! Whatever. So presume if my car was under warranty because my tyres are ‘not listed’ that invalidates the warranty. What’s next insurance companies playing the same tricks?
How could tyres affect warranty?
Let's say your water pump breaks on a low mileage car with full service history and a valid warranty, how could they argue that you using a non approved brand of tyre contributed to the water pump failing prematurely?
I'm so happy to be out of that game. Buy a decent car that's already depreciated and take responsibility for it's running yourself.
It's the best way unless your buying new cars.
Let's say your water pump breaks on a low mileage car with full service history and a valid warranty, how could they argue that you using a non approved brand of tyre contributed to the water pump failing prematurely?
I'm so happy to be out of that game. Buy a decent car that's already depreciated and take responsibility for it's running yourself.
It's the best way unless your buying new cars.
crankedup said:
My BMW went into the main BMW service garage earlier this week for some recall work to be carried out. My car is coming up to eight years old with no warranty attached to it. I had four new Avon tyres fitted a number of months ago and I’m pleased with thier performance
As always the main BMW garage carry out a health on the car and they noted that the tyres are not listed!! Whatever. So presume if my car was under warranty because my tyres are ‘not listed’ that invalidates the warranty. What’s next insurance companies playing the same tricks?
They never mentioned the Goodyear Eagle Asy3s when my 9 year old 3 series went in for warranty work. Don't think they even did a 'health check'As always the main BMW garage carry out a health on the car and they noted that the tyres are not listed!! Whatever. So presume if my car was under warranty because my tyres are ‘not listed’ that invalidates the warranty. What’s next insurance companies playing the same tricks?
Bennyjames28 said:
I'm so happy to be out of that game. Buy a decent car that's already depreciated and take responsibility for it's running yourself.
It's the best way unless your buying new cars.
^^ this, who can be arsed with all that! Just all jobsworth's wriggling out of everything - rather run my car how ever I want to run it.It's the best way unless your buying new cars.
jamei303 said:
Surely the tyres just to have confirm to the specification in the manual, and this would typically include size and ratings but not brand or model.
Yes but a number of manufacturers - BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche, to name a few - have specific requirements that they make to the tyre companies. To show that they are in compliance, these specialised tyres have markings on them (N for Porsche, a star for BMW, I forget what Mercedes use). Any tyre thus marked is considered to be approved.It gets worse as you go up the value chain; I understand that Bugatti are very, very fussy indeed about what tyres they will let you put on your Veyron.
deckster said:
Yes but a number of manufacturers - BMW, Mercedes, and Porsche, to name a few - have specific requirements that they make to the tyre companies. To show that they are in compliance, these specialised tyres have markings on them (N for Porsche, a star for BMW, I forget what Mercedes use). Any tyre thus marked is considered to be approved.
It gets worse as you go up the value chain; I understand that Bugatti are very, very fussy indeed about what tyres they will let you put on your Veyron.
To be fair I can't imagine any Bugatti driver wanting to put on a set of Ting Tong budgets because they're short of a few quid. Even so, £20k a set???It gets worse as you go up the value chain; I understand that Bugatti are very, very fussy indeed about what tyres they will let you put on your Veyron.
IanCress said:
crankedup said:
As always the main BMW garage carry out a health on the car and they noted that the tyres are not listed!!
Do customers get presented with a list of approved tyres when they take out a warranty?Seems odd though that BMW should note such a thing on the ‘health check’ paperwork, whilst allowing me to drive around in a car that had an inherent fault in the electrical wiring for two years after they were aware of the fault. Oh well, all fixed now and I must say I am i’mpressed
with the health check work which is FOC
Manufacturer warranty is not the same thing as an extended warranty.
The extended warranty is a contract you choose to sign up to. If it says you have to wear trousers at all times when driving the car, then that's what you have to do. If you choose not to do that they are well within their rights to disclaim liability, even if it seems absurd.
The manufacturer warranty is a different beast entirely. Manufacturers can't, for example, demand that you get servicing etc done by them (block exemption rules) to maintain it.
Obviously the OP is talking about Porsche. I had some experience with that myself trying to put Michelin Pilot Super Sports - which weren't N-rated - on my Cayman S. My local dealer said it "should be ok" but wouldn't guarantee that I wouldn't invalidated my extended warranty. Spoke to Porsche and they said "no N-rate, no sucky sucky" or words to that effect. Porsche also don't allow modifications either on the extended warranty.
Bottom line - if you choose to take out an extended warranty, you get given a contract and you abide by it. If you don't, then chances are your policy will be invalidated when it comes to claiming. It was your choice to agree to it, and your choice to break it.
The extended warranty is a contract you choose to sign up to. If it says you have to wear trousers at all times when driving the car, then that's what you have to do. If you choose not to do that they are well within their rights to disclaim liability, even if it seems absurd.
The manufacturer warranty is a different beast entirely. Manufacturers can't, for example, demand that you get servicing etc done by them (block exemption rules) to maintain it.
Obviously the OP is talking about Porsche. I had some experience with that myself trying to put Michelin Pilot Super Sports - which weren't N-rated - on my Cayman S. My local dealer said it "should be ok" but wouldn't guarantee that I wouldn't invalidated my extended warranty. Spoke to Porsche and they said "no N-rate, no sucky sucky" or words to that effect. Porsche also don't allow modifications either on the extended warranty.
Bottom line - if you choose to take out an extended warranty, you get given a contract and you abide by it. If you don't, then chances are your policy will be invalidated when it comes to claiming. It was your choice to agree to it, and your choice to break it.
As others have said this is something Porsche do - very timely as today I paid for my new two year extended warranty. They do insist on all tyres being Porsche approved and of the same N rating. However, when comparing the overall costs of the warranty with other marques, what first seems expensive is probably comparable to others.
The customer can always chose to shop around with the warranty, or not have a warranty at all... but it is surprising it passed the initial inspection and sounds like they have put them right free of charge so all is good in the end.
With regards to actually buying the Porsche approved tyres - it is pretty straight forward. Buy from Black Circles and you can clearly see which are manufacturer approved with the N ratings.
I also remember the garage explaining to me when picking up the car that to keep the warranty all items on the car had to be standard, i.e., no modification whatsoever. For even more garbage on this just google the number of topics on Zunsport grilles, clearly an item that helps the car avoid damage to the front coolers but Porsche seem to be 50/50 on whether to pass cars with this protection in place.
The customer can always chose to shop around with the warranty, or not have a warranty at all... but it is surprising it passed the initial inspection and sounds like they have put them right free of charge so all is good in the end.
With regards to actually buying the Porsche approved tyres - it is pretty straight forward. Buy from Black Circles and you can clearly see which are manufacturer approved with the N ratings.
I also remember the garage explaining to me when picking up the car that to keep the warranty all items on the car had to be standard, i.e., no modification whatsoever. For even more garbage on this just google the number of topics on Zunsport grilles, clearly an item that helps the car avoid damage to the front coolers but Porsche seem to be 50/50 on whether to pass cars with this protection in place.
Edited by Dannythemusicman on Thursday 18th October 18:08
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