For those of you who don’t know, I changed the tyres of my Mitsubishi Cedia about 9,500 kms back (in February 2010) to Yokohama S-Drives 205/55/R15. Here is the link for that
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/1720206-post45.html
Although the overall grip and braking improved compared to the stock Bridgestones, since last 2k kms, I started to get a lot of humming noise inside the car. I went to Asian Motors about 1.5k kms back to get the car checked as I thought one of the car’s wheel bearing may have gone kaput. After inspection I was told that all the wheel bearings were fine and it was the increased tyre noise that is being filtered inside the car. They also checked the complete suspension and reported no problem.
Since, I go along well with the guys at Asian Motors, they fitted my car with a test drive cedia’s stock tyres to confirm that it is the tyre noise being filtered inside my car. I went in for a test drive and there was minimal tyre noise (the noise which is very usual with the stock Bridgestones). The tyre noise of my Yokohama’s would be atleast 10 times more than the Bridgestones. It was such that in the first instance I could actually hear no noise with the Bridgestones. The Yokohamas on the other hand, irritate me to the extent that I always have to listen to music at high volumes to avoid the humming noise.
Furthermore, the trouble was not over yet, while fitting back the Yokohamas on my cedia, the mechanic reported a bump on the side wall of the left front tyre. We inspected the tyre but couldn’t see any mark on it having hit a road bump.
I went to tyre shop where I got the tyres fitted and even the shopkeeper couldn’t see any mark or a hit on the tyre apart from the bump. Therefore, he asked me to leave the tyre for it to be sent to the company for replacement. I was told that people at Yokohama take time and I shall get a new tyre if approved in about a week. I went back after about 8 days and was told that the company has found the tyre to be pinched and may not replace it. But the shopkeeper still asked for 2 more days time and said that he may be able to get it replaced under good will.
Today, I again went to the shop and was told that my claim has been rejected and I will get the report in another couple of days and for now I can take my tyre back. I asked for the phone number of the inspector and was very kindly handed over the same by the shopkeeper.
I called up Mr. Kulwinder (the inspector) at Yokohama regarding the tyre and was told that the tyre may have hit a bump and it is not a manufacturing fault. Although, I do know that most tyre companies do have such policies but I don’t remember to have landed at any bump at speed that can damage the tyre. Also, I argued that I was not given any disclaimer along with the tyres stating that the tyres only need to be driven on good roads. To this Mr. Kulwinder replied that these tyres are perfectly fine for Indian roads and it’s the driving style that affects the tyres and I may have hit a bump at speed and that caused the tyre to go Kaput. Thereafter when I reported of increased tyre noise since last 2 k kms, he replied that the bigger the tyres the more noise it will make (I thought, it’s the tyre compound that is responsible for the noise. I may be wrong).
Since, I work for an automotive research company, I told Mr Kulwinder that I shall take the matter higher up and I will also log a complaint in the consumer forum, he rudely replied that why am I telling all this to him, I may do whatever I want.
I changed four of my cedia’s tyres at 43k kms, all of which still had life of another 4-5 k kms. On the Bridgestones, I went to Amritsar, Dharamshala, Shimla, Jaipur and Agra, but never had any issues with the tyre.
I have driven the Yokohamas about 9.5k kms and more than a third of the thread has already gone off. I don’t think that they may last good for anything over another 15k kms. I have only been to karnal twice on the Yokohamas and the road atleast till Panipat it damn too good, so there is no chance of tyre going kaput on that road.
I feel cheated by Yokohama to provide me with tyres not suited for Indian road. Although, I do care about Rs. 5k I spent for each tyre, the more important concern is what if the tyre would have blasted at speed. No one including Yokohama would have taken responsibility for the same.
I would therefore advise Yokohama to either stand up to the warranty they provide on their products or shut their damn operations in India. If their tyres are meant to be driven only on good roads, a disclaimer stating the same should be put on the tyres. Lastly, please employ people who can at least listen to the customer grievances and reply politely. I was never rude with Mr. Kulwinder but the way he told me off was very disrespectful.
Thanks for reading.