Burned Tire Buyer

[druud]

I'm replacing my Prius 05 Michelin MXV4 tires (no longer manufactured), which, after 30,000 miles, the tread was extremely worn down to 3/32. I was totally surprised and disappointed. Normal wear otherwise, no alignment issue.

I contacted Michelin Customer Support about my dissatisfaction and they suggested several sites to visit so that it could be looked at. I went to Discount Tire and was told that the Michelin dealer who sold them to me LAST YEAR, sold me OLD tires. Tires were "new" but manufactured two to three years prior to 2007. I thought I was buying 2007 tires!

Lesson learned. I'm definitely contacting the BBB!
Fortunately, Michelin Customer Support is giving me 25% credit on my original purchase price. AND I learned of a $60.00 rebate offer thanks to a Prius Chat forum contributor. I'm considering buying Michelin's Destiny this time.

[dogfriend]

I have Michelin Destiny on the rear after I had an unrepairable nail puncture with one of the original GY Integrity at 15K miles. I'm at almost 23K now, just waiting to wear out the fronts and then buy another pair of Destiny to match the rears. They seem ok, but really hard to tell anything definitive when I still have the GY on the front.

[TonyPSchaefer]

There's a thread (I think) which provides info on how to tell in which year the tires were manufactured. But I can't imagine that purchasing tires is similar to purchasing wine at your favorite Italian restaurant. I just can't picture the tech bringing your tire out to you so you can inspect it prior to attachment.

Short of inspecting each tire prior to installation, what's a shopper to do?

[Tideland Prius]

Inspect it before you leave the tyre shop?

[dogfriend]

It is actually really easy to check - the date code is 4 digits - the first 2 are the week of manufacture, the second two are the year. So 1105 is made in the 11th week (March) of 2005. We use similar codes on the electronic components we manufacture where I work except ours would be reversed 0511 (2005, 11th week).

My Integrity(s) are 4906 (Dec 2006) and the Destiny(s) are 3807 (Sept 2007).

[galaxee]

my energy mxv4+ (bought 4/2007) are 1902 and 1502. 2002!!! wtf! i have a phone call to make.

[dogfriend]

Originally Posted by galaxee

my energy mxv4+ (bought 4/2007) are 1902 and 1502. 2002!!! wtf! i have a phone call to make.

There was a news report recently that showed many shops will sell tires that are several years old as new. Unfortunately, the clock starts ticking as soon as they are manufactured because they degrade internally as a function of time and temperature.

Michelin says that tires that are 5 years old or older should be inspected every year by a tire shop and that 10 years is the absolute max tire life for their tires.

http://www.michelinman.com/media/en-...l_Bulletin.pdf

[galaxee]

well, i was going to have 2 tires replaced because their sidewalls are damaged after losing pressure on the road- faulty, recalled valve stems. i will not pay for those two tires.
but now that i know this, i'm going to replace the other 2 on our dime.

i want more than 25% back from my purchase price because my tires had five flippin' years for the rubber to deteriorate before they even went on my car. no wonder they're wearing for crap.

how ridiculous.

[dogfriend]

I would give Michelin Customer Service a call like the OP did and try to get a discount on the other two as well. And let them know which shop sold you the 5 year old tires.

[galaxee]

that's the plan for monday, since they're closed on weekends. i want part of my original purchase price back, regardless of how they're being replaced.