[Nikhilb2008]

Originally Posted by lamborghini

True - i've barely driven 400-500kms on these new tyres and not had a chance to really push these tyres. Will keep this thread posted.

Reason for the downsize was not only the higher sidewall, but also the lack of available options in 225/50R16, which would be a big problem should another such puncture happen.

That makes a lot of sense.... I agree with your choice, just not with the reason

[ghodlur]

I recently changed the tyres on my Punto from OEM Apollo Acceleres to Michelin P3ST. The details are here:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/tyre-a...ml#post4119408

My query is regarding the warranty registration. The dealer registered for the warranty on my behalf but did not use any serial nos for the tyres instead used the quantity. I got an SMS from Michelin regarding the digital warranty with a number, however I am unable to see this registration on Michelin website. Anyone done this before?

[Nikhilb2008]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

I recently changed the tyres on my Punto from OEM Apollo Acceleres to Michelin P3ST. The details are here:

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/tyre-a...ml#post4119408

My query is regarding the warranty registration. The dealer registered for the warranty on my behalf but did not use any serial nos for the tyres instead used the quantity. I got an SMS from Michelin regarding the digital warranty with a number, however I am unable to see this registration on Michelin website. Anyone done this before?

Doesnt matter. As long as you are the owner of 4 tyres of a particular size and the same size and model and quantity has been registered, it's good enough.

Basically, Michelin forces it's dealers to register warranty for all tyres sold.

[wolf_lone]

Has anybody bought tyres from online platforms like AMAZON, Flipkart, Paytm or Snapdeal ? How to claim warranty & who will install the tyres ??

[Nikhilb2008]

You need to go to a tyre store near your house and get them installed. Unless you just happen to have the tyre changer and wheel balancer at your house! :

[SmartCat]

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008

You need to go to a tyre store near your house and get them installed. Unless you just happen to have the tyre changer and wheel balancer at your house!

What do tyre shops feel about this -> getting tyres online but asking them to install it? Do they feel lots of love or deep hatred for customers who do that?

[wolf_lone]

Originally Posted by smartcat

What do tyre shops feel about this -> getting tyres online but asking them to install it? Do they feel lots of love or deep hatred for customers who do that?

Thanks for a relevant reply...

Also what about warranty. There is DOT code on each tyre which tells week & year of manufacture but is bill necessary for claiming warranty. Most companies only entertain manufacturing defects & nothing more so is it worthwhile to look for warranty ?? Balancing is any way charged & so is alignment in some places.

What are the "Tyre changing charges" normally since on buying locally that is not charged.

[Nikhilb2008]

Originally Posted by smartcat

What do tyre shops feel about this -> getting tyres online but asking them to install it? Do they feel lots of love or deep hatred for customers who do that?

Depends. Many of them have deep hatred for the customers. Some of them decide to turn the customers away. Most of them (irrespective of their hatred or not) will charge the customers a fitment fee for fitting the tyres.

Some customers bargain on this point too (especially Punjab, Delhi, rural areas) and this aggravates the tyre shop owner.

To understand the perspective of a tyre shop owner, his parking space is being utilised for about 30-45 minutes and his revenue is peanuts (maybe 100/- per wheel for fitment, and Wheel Alignment and Wheel Balancing: A total of maybe 1000 rupees).

So, there is a lot of anger towards online tyre sales. However, some of the smarter ones know that this wont last. Today, the appeal of buying tyre is the price. PayTM, SnapDeal, etc are burning cash and giving huge discounts and cashbacks. This will run out eventually. That's when the benefit of buying online will reduce.

Thankfully for the tyre industry (yay!), a tyre is not a product that can be installed and used at home.... You need a specialist for that.

Originally Posted by wolf_lone

Thanks for a relevant reply...

Also what about warranty. There is DOT code on each tyre which tells week & year of manufacture but is bill necessary for claiming warranty. Most companies only entertain manufacturing defects & nothing more so is it worthwhile to look for warranty ?? Balancing is any way charged & so is alignment in some places.

What are the "Tyre changing charges" normally since on buying locally that is not charged.

Tyre changing cahrges could vary from 50 rupees to 200 rupees or even more based on the city, dealer, tyre size, etc....

Most tyres that are damaged are not defective. The tyre companies have to keep their dealers happy. So, they will sometimes replace a tyre which is damaged (due to an external impact) just to keep the dealer happy.

With online sales, this motivation to replace the tyre isnt there. So, chances are you wont be able to get it replaced easily (assuming that the company would have given a replacement anyway. Typically 95% of tyre claims are rejected by the companies).

Also, you need to go somewhere to submit your tyre for a claim. As of now, your only option is another tyre dealer. And the dealer is well within his rights to not accept the tyre. Accepting a tyre, submitting to the tyre company, then coordinating, communicating with the customer is all an added cost and why would a dealer do it if he hasnt earned any money from it to begin with?

The solution is for tyre companies to open independent service centres where you can go and submit your damaged tyres. MRF has done this in Bangalore. In the future, more may open up....

[fangface]

(Cross posting my query here because of no activity on the S-Cross tyre thread)

I checked with Tyre Empire in Bangalore today for a change of stock JK tyres in 205/60 R16 and was suggested Pirelli Cinturato (P4?) and then the Michelin P3ST.

As far as exchange of the new tyre, i was offered something like 2.5k for the JK which seemed a little on the lower side.

Also, apparently the prices of the Michelins have gone up since Feb 17 and are around 8.2k a tyre now?

Does anyone have any thoughts on this pricing and which would be a good one to go for here.

[Nikhilb2008]

1. Value for old tyres is always low. If someone gives you a very high value, they are probably planning to polish it and palm it off to some unsuspecting poor soul as a "brand new tyre"

2. Prices have gone up and rumours abound of further price increases.

3. I would go for a Michelin over a Pirelli any day! But there's no particular reason for me to say that. Just that I feel it's better.

[fangface]

Originally Posted by Nikhilb2008

1. Value for old tyres is always low. If someone gives you a very high value, they are probably planning to polish it and palm it off to some unsuspecting poor soul as a "brand new tyre"

2. Prices have gone up and rumours abound of further price increases.

3. I would go for a Michelin over a Pirelli any day! But there's no particular reason for me to say that. Just that I feel it's better.

Thank you!

I was planning an immediate change of the stock tyres as soon as i get my vehicle so was expecting the resale/exchange value to be higher

[newway]

One of my Primacy 3ST's has developed a bulge on the side wall. The tyre is only 1.5 years old with 20K reading. Took it to the nearby Michelin dealer-SLNP Pit stop in Yelahanka to get it inspected. The first impressions were quite negative. They asked me to reach out to the dealer ( Tire empire) I bought the tire from , but I explained that they are on the other end of the city. After some convincing they agreed to remove the tire and inspect. I was told that there will be a cut inside and that could be the reason for bulge but luckily there was no cuts /visible damages inside the wall. It took 15 mins for them to enter the details and upload photos to the Michelin site. Got a message from Michelin stating my complaint is registered. Hopefully it will get resolved soon.

[sunilsoft]

Originally Posted by newway

One of my Primacy 3ST's has developed a bulge on the side wall. Got a message from Michelin stating my complaint is registered. Hopefully it will get resolved soon.

I have experienced the same on my Polo losing two tyres to the bulge. Michelin doesn't give warranty for external impact. They refused saying this was not due to manufacturing defect.

IMO Primacy 3ST is good for city driving or on the roads which are good. Primacy 3ST's have a delicate side wall.

If you take these to rough roads with lot of potholes you might end up with a bulge on the tyre.

Hope Michelin approves your claim.

[vaskarnag]

Originally Posted by vaskarnag

My last car was the SX4, with Potenza GIIIs (they felt the best, especially on wet roads and heavy rains). I have experiences of using Pirellis, Bridgestone RE88 in my earlier cars. The stopping was very accurate at any speed...

With the Eagle NCT 5, on my new Jetta, the stopping used accurate below 80 kmph, however above that, there was a considerable nervousness in the car stopping, every time I crossed the speed and then sudden braking, could feel the ABS kicking in, however it seemed the car glided through, and felt out of control.... that is very strange..I in fact had to stand on the brakes to make it work.. Though never did the car lose the straight line. I checked with the Volkswagen folks... they went for drives with me, checked and said this is normal.

I normally drive very lazy in the city, however I push hard on the highway...

Anyways i had thought of changing the good years, and went thus for the michellin; the issue seems to be non existent now.. and the braking is far far better (not experienced much wet roads as yet)

Just to add my experience further on this..

I had to replace all the 4 Michelin Primacy 3ST within 10K km. That was because of the bad roads around whitefile those days and almost all the tyres had metal pieces embedded, and two of them had deep gashes on the side walls (just waiting to burst I guess.). I had no other complaints and it was sad to let go of tyres of this price before 10 K km..

I changed over to Pirelli P7 and they have lasted me for over 30K km over a period of 2 years. They provide similar noise levels, similar grip, braking.. and side walls though I was told was soft, have not given away.. The tyres today seems will last for around 10 K km more, however I do feel a slight loss in grip on sudden braking at high speeds, though the tread is till there..

It will be time for a change and again need to decide between, Michellin (the roads are better now), Pirelli and continental MC5..Michellin is now around 9K per tyre for 205/50/R16.

[R2D2]

Originally Posted by newway

One of my Primacy 3ST's has developed a bulge on the side wall. The tyre is only 1.5 years old with 20K reading. Took it to the nearby Michelin dealer-SLNP Pit stop in Yelahanka to get it inspected. The first impressions were quite negative. They asked me to reach out to the dealer ( Tire empire) I bought the tire from , but I explained that they are on the other end of the city. After some convincing they agreed to remove the tire and inspect. I was told that there will be a cut inside and that could be the reason for bulge but luckily there was no cuts /visible damages inside the wall. It took 15 mins for them to enter the details and upload photos to the Michelin site. Got a message from Michelin stating my complaint is registered. Hopefully it will get resolved soon.

Given Michelin's track records of sidewall damage claims there's only a very slim chance your warranty claim will be approved. And frankly this kind of damage has no relation to how old the tyre is or the mileage.

My P3STs (had Primacy LCs before that) are nearly 4 years old I have used my car on rough roads. But I avoid pits and potholes as far as possible & take care to maintain the correct tyre pressure.

Also be careful when parking your car, take care not to graze the sidewall against the footpath OR to attempt to drive onto it. These are sure shot ways of damaging your tyres.