Are Tire Warranties Important for Everyone?

In the mean time know this, that the learning of warranties is one of the most curious and cunning learnings of the law, and of great use and consequence.

- Sir Edward Coke

Why Are Tire Warranties Important for Everyone?

When researching new tires, most vehicle owners look closely at quality, construction, and features. Most consumers understand that their tire purchases have some sort of warranty, but all too often they forget to read the fine print. Tire warranties can vary in quality, in requirements, and even in how much coverage they offer. It’s important to keep these factors in mind when researching your new tire purchase, and understanding the details of tire warranties:

How to Make Your Tire Warranty Work for You

In the case of damage caused by poor construction or a tire that doesn’t last as long as promised, a reputable tire company will offer a warranty that will reimburse or replace a damaged or prematurely worn tire within a certain time frame after purchase, within a certain number of miles driven, or using other factors, such as the amount of tread remaining on the tire. Most tire companies offer this included in the tire purchase. However, this type of warranty won’t cover accidental damage to your tire, such as a nail puncture that occurs during daily driving. For coverage for damages beyond the bare minimum, you’ll need to look for Road Hazard Insurance. This type of insurance is usually valid within a specific time frame (i.e. six months), so be sure to check this information before your tire purchase. If Road Hazard insurance is not automatically included, sometimes you can ask that it be added on at the time of purchase, but it may cost extra.

For specific types of tires and uses, a warranty may still not be relevant if you are willing to pay for a tire replacement each time it gets damaged or wears out. However, if you want to protect your purchase and ensure your tire lasts as long as it should, taking a little time now to check tire warranties and terms could save you a lot of time and money later on.

Master the Fine Print

When you buy a new car, the tires that come with it are covered by the car manufacturer, so if anything is wrong, you’ll know exactly who to contact. After a while, though, when you need to replace those tires, the warranty will likely need to be processed through the retail tire store where you purchased it. When you buy your tire, remember to ask the salesperson about the warranty details, such as where to submit your warranty claim, and other terms such as regular tire rotation and maintenance. Many manufacturers require that you keep records of maintenance, otherwise the warranty could be invalid, so ask a salesperson, and check company brochures for this information. Some additional costs may not be covered, so also look into warranty coverage for services like mounting, balancing, shipping, installation, and taxes. Be sure to keep records of tire rotation and alignment, your original receipt, and the date of installation, as you may need these to process a claim. If any of the terms or conditions seem unclear, contact the manufacturer directly to get clarification.

How do Groundspeed’s Tire Warranties Measure Up?

Groundspeed tires include a competitive Limited Mileage Warranty of 40K to 50K, depending on the tire, for the majority of their tire models. This protects your tire if it reaches the end of its usable tread life (2/32”) before the stated mileage warranty. If this happens, the original purchaser will be issued a comparable tire manufactured by the Sentury Tire factory, with credit issued based on the percentage of remaining usable tread depth. The limited mileage warranty does not apply to the Voyager MT tire model. To claim this warranty, tires must be rotated every 3-4,000 miles (keep your rotation records in case of a claim).

Groundspeed also offers Road Hazard Insurance for no extra cost for all but one of their tire models. This is offered for non-repairable tread damage within the first six months from date of purchase, or the first 2/32” of tread life, whichever comes first. If road hazard damage occurs within the first year, or between 2/32” and 4/32” of tread wear, Groundspeed tires will reimburse the consumer 50% of the original retail cost.

Select tires are warranted against defects in materials and workmanship and will be replaced free of charge within the first 2/32” wear of original tread life, or within six months from purchase, whichever is first. After that first six months or 2/32” wear has passed, if the tire is still within 60 months from the manufacturing date, Sentury tire will give credit, determined by the percentage of the original tread depth left on the tire. Additional costs, such as mounting, balancing, installation, shipping, and sales or use taxes are not covered.

Exclusions and Terms apply, so make sure you check the conditions in the GroundSpeed Warranty pamphlet.

All things considered, are tire warranties worth it?

When you factor in money, time and frustration of replacing an unexpectedly damaged or worn out tire, it is worth taking a few minutes to research warranties before your tire purchases. This way you can be proactive, and be sure to do proper maintenance and keep relevant records to make sure your warranty effectively protects your tires, your time, and your money.

Important Links

https://groundspeedtires.com/warranty
https://groundspeedtires.com/tires-101
https://register.cimstireregistration.com/?id=sentaida
https://groundspeedtires.com/news