You know how you buy tires from Discount tire or Tirerack that they offer some type of protection package for the tires.

For about $25 each tire they will patch the tire if you get a flat or if the tire gets a bubble they will replace it for free.

Are those things worth it? I normally get them when i buy tires for my 19s in case of potholes but didnt know if im wasting my money.

 

good question because i've always wanted to know. I buy tires from discount but never purchase the certificates. They always patched my tire for free or pro-rated it if it was unrepairable. Plus I'm poor haha

 

Ask yourself this: Of the times you purchased it, how many times have you had to use it?

IMO, I think they're a waste.

Plugging (don't think they actually patch tires anymore) a tire shouldn't cost more than $10 or so. Plus, you can easily buy a tire plug/repair kit for about $25 or less and just do it yourself. It isn't that difficult to do.

 

for $25, how long is the protection for? Is it limited to a set number of miles and a set number of years?

After having my tires (still original OEM 19") for close to 2 years and about 22k miles, I have never had to patch or repair one yet, and they are almost due to be replaced.

 

I got them on a set of tires I got from discount tire direct, or tire rack. Can't remember anymore

The plan was that they would reimburse me any repair charges, or replace the tire if needed until the tread was lower than 2/32. However what a lot of people don't realize is that this plan is pro-rated. So that if you needed a replaced tire at lets say 3/32 of tread. They are going to give you next to nothing towards a new tire. I got one free replacement tire cause I nail in the sidewall when the tire was new. Can't repair a hole in the sidewall so they replaced it.

 

I just had my tire plugged from Town Fair Tire for free, I just had to pay $4 for rebalancing. And I didn't even buy my tire from them.

 

The warranty is lifetime. Of course its not really lifetime since tires wear out.

I bought them for my moms altima, 3 years went by with the same tires and the two front tires got bubbles in the at the same time. Discount Tire replaced them with brand new ones with no questioned asked. So technically for $50 ($25 each tire) i got new tires.

As for me, I change wheels too much to benefit it. But then i think about how expensive 19inch tires are. Even if i paid $25 for each tire ($100), its still cheaper than just ONE 19inch tire. Ya know?

 

I have got them with both my last sets of tires for two different vehicles. In both cases 1 tire cost more than all four certificates or ($100). I have used one of each so far and have 3 remaining so for me they have both already paid for themselves. One set was a set of goodyear F1s and they are 250 each in 19s so it easily paid for it self and the other is a set of falken 452 in 19s and they were 150 each so it still paid for it self. So I will get them everytime from now on.

 

If the tire is not removed from the rim, inspected and PATCHED from the inside, I suggest you find someone else to repair your flats. High speed with a plugged tire scares the hell out of me!

 

I had really low profile tires when I had my CL. I woudl hit pot holes in the city all the time. Due to that, this was worth it for me. I replaced tires on 4 occasions through discount tire. But, the catch is you have to pay for the balancing/mounting and the fee again. So, the price went up but (most of the time) still cheaper then paying for a new tire outright.

 

I worked at Discount Tire this past summer for a summer job. At our Discount Tire we would do flat repairs for free, even if you did not buy tires from us. The certificates for free repalcements on tires are definitley worth it. I got a nail in my tire an since I bought the warrantee they replced my tire for free. I had 245/35-19 BF Goodrich KDW's and it would have been around $250 to replace it had I not bought the warrantee.

 

At Discount tire for a flat repair we would plug the tire then shave the plug down on the inside and then glue a patch over it.

 

The only CORRECT way to repair a tire is to patch it. This means the tire gets removed from the rim & patched from inside the tire.

Will a plug work, yes, will it fail going 85 down the HW, maybe.

I do get the road hazard warranty but I get it from my local tire shop. I get free lifetime rotation, balance, & tire protection for $25/tire($100)

I have had to use it in the past. When your tires cost $160 each I think it's good insurance.

 

I get free lifetime rotation and flat repair from the local shop I use (town faire tire). I think it was like 6.50 a tire for the additional replacement plan. If they can't fix it, they'll replace it.

I usually don't get "service plans", but for $26 total on $500 worth of tires, I figured why not...

 

I've never bought the certs at Discount, but I may the next time I buy tires. Their 'repairable tire' display is colored red in the middle of the tire tread and I had a nail that was very close to the sidewall, but they repaired it anyways. From what the manager said, he almost refused to repair it, even though it wasn't technically in the sidewall. Oh yeah, they plugged and patched the tire.

 

No, actually the safest fix is to plug the hole and then patch over the plug. That is safer then just patching the hole. Because I have seen cars come in that have just been patched and that is why the tire is leaking

 

Actually the SAFEST fix is to just replace the damn tire

 

drive a nail into your sidewall = free tire whenever you want

 

Actually, its better to have a plug and a patch than just a patch. FYI.

 

Yeah that's what I meant Just a plug is not the right way.

 

I got 3 new tires right before I graduated, and since my Dad bought them for me I didn't get the warranty for them. A month ago I needed 1 new tire (the one that wasn't new) because it had a star shaped cut in it and I didn't want it to blow when I was driving.

When I bought this one tire they gave me opportunity to buy the warranty for all 4, which I did. If I had the warranty on this tire it would have been free. Considering my 1 tire was around $150, what is another $15 to get free replacements.

 

Discount tire does not pro rate their road hazzard.

 

Someone has the right idea. Been using this method for replacing tires for years now. It's all about the sidewall BABY!

I also found out that if you take a new car to Discount tire you can buy road hazzard on the tires.

 

I have always bought the certificates (America's Tires, same as Discount Tires in other states) if I'm buying tire size 18" and up. When I had 18" wheels on my Prelude, I had to use the certificates once for 2 tires. And with the TSX, I almost got another set of tires using the certificates. One of the 19" tires was defective. It got long cracks along the sidewall. Two other 19" tires had punctures which were too close to the sidewall, so they couldn't repair them. They ended up replacing all 3 tires (at different times though) using the certificates.

 

if you live in "the hood" and have punk ass kids slashing tires it's a must. but around here. depends if you got the 100 bucks to spare.

 

There's always someone who comes up with the "patch good" "plug bad" thing. I'm convinced it's an urban myth. I've never heard or read of the failure of plugged tire (at any speed), and if you're truly concerned about a high speed failure (maybe you participate at track days), then you should just replace the tire anyway.

 

I don't know how anyone other than Tire Rack does it, but I have purchased and had to use the Road Hazard Warranty a few times. The amount of reimbursement is rated based on the time that you had the tires on the car, and of course the price of the tire.
Let's say you just bought a set of tires with the road hazard warranty, and 2 weeks later you get a bubble on two of the tires (it happened to me!). You would call up a number they have for the road hazard warranty while at an authorized tire rack (i think) repair shop. They verify the damage to the operator, then you can get the replacements. You then call up Tire Rack, order another 2 tires (You have to buy the replacement tires before they reimburse you), add the road hazard onto those two tires (you have to buy the road hazard for each tire you are replacing).
Once they send you the replacement tires, you have to fax/mail over a copy of the receipts for the tires that were replaced along with a claim #, and your credit card gets reimbursed for the cost of the tires (minus the added charge to add the road hazard to both tires- so lets say tires are 200 each plus 10 to each tire for road hazard, that would be a total of 420 plus tax, and you would get 400 back from them). I'm 99% sure about that process, I haven't made a claim in a while, so I'm a little fuzzy about all the details/order of the process.
A pisser was the last tire I replaced, from my '05 Scion xB, about 2 years into having the tires, I was only reimbursed about $25 for each tire that I had to replace. The tires cost about $90 brand new. Hope this helps...


On another note, I recently changed the tires on my VW GTI. I swapped out the summer tires for a set of All Seasons. While doing so, I had the new tires inflated with Nitrogen. I went to my friend to do this, so he didn't charge me. He has a program through the company that he buys it from, a customer would pay for the inflation and program (not much, I think $40), and it would offer roadside assistance and a road hazard warranty, seemingly similar to the Tire rack one, but the reimbursement doesn't depreciate like the tire rack one does, but then again they max out the reimbursement to $150. It does only cover for 1 year though...Check it out:

http://www.nitrofill.com/autoclub.aspx

Welcome to
the NitroFill™ Auto Club

NitroFill™ is dedicated to your safety and peace-of-mind. Your NitroFill™ purchase entitles you to a FREE one year membership in the NitroFill™ Auto Club. When on the road you are covered and protected by an organization that cares. Our customer service representatives respond quickly to provide you the best service and protection available anywhere.

Benefits:
24 Hour Emergency Towing Service:
Your vehicle may be towed to the destination of your choice.

Tire Repair and Replacement:
We will cover the costs of repairing or replacing your NitroFill™ filled tires should you experience a flat tire or tire failure due to a road hazard.*

24 Hour Emergency Road Service:
You are covered for emergency road service throughout the U.S. and Canada.

24 Hour Emergency Delivery:
A service truck will deliver emergency supplies of gasoline, water, oil or other necessary supplies. You only pay for the cost of the supplies.

24 Hour Emergency Battery Service
You are covered to boost batteries and perform minor adjustments to alternators, starters, etc. while on the road.

More Benefits:
Lost Key or Lockout Service:
If your keys are lost, broken or you are accidentally locked out of your vehicle, you will be covered.*

Travel Benefits:
Members receive unbeatable travel pricing on hotels, airfare and rental cars.

Theft and Hit & Run Protections:
A $500 reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of anyone responsible for hit & run damages or stealing your vehicle.

Trip Routing Service:
We will, at no charge, produce full color, wire bound trip routings for members' road trips including turn by turn directions, enhanced mapping for metropolitan areas, points of interest and fun games.

Trip Interruption Coverage:
You are entitled to up to $300 in reimbursements for meals, lodging and transportation charges when you are involved in a collision away from home.

* Complete details are provided upon customer registration as benefits may vary.

I have the rest of the info in a printout I put in my car that lists the registration info and complete details of the service.

 

We sell a Tire Insurance at the dealership I work at for about 700 bucks or so I believe. Its well worth it for certain cars, especially those with runflats. The policy we sell is different though since its not pro rated or anything. As long as the tire is above spec you get a free replacement (as many as you need over the life of the policy)

 

Oh, I forgot to mention, I did get the wheel and tire warranty from the dealer that I got my car from too. I figured I'd need it, riding on 18's and 40 series rubber that my car came with. I bought it for what it cost them, FAR less than the $700 you're mentioning...

 

If you only plug a tire you never inspect the inside of the tire for damage.

 

I've bought them for the last 3 or 4 sets of tires I've owned from America's Tire Co.

I know I've made use of them in the last 2 sets, don't remember further back than that.

Within 1 month on my current set of tires, I had a huge shard of metal in one tire, they replaced it, on my last set I had a bolt in one of them within 2 months of having the tires put on and they replaced the tire.

Here in so cal, with as much debree as we have on our roads, I opt for them since I've had so many issues with tires.

If I lived in another area, I probably wouldn't get them.

 

I think we need to move to where the best roads are: Alaska

Ed