Everything About Tire Warranties

Tires are obviously a critical component in your vehicle’s health, but they represent a piece of equipment that isn’t typically covered by vehicle warranties. That’s a shame because your tires are constantly confronted with hazards for which you can’r plan or take evasive action. An errant nail, sharp shard of glass, or an unfortunate close encounter with a concrete curb could leave you stranded and with a hefty tire replacement cost on your hands. Therefore, many savvy vehicle owners opt to buy tire warranties to extend warranty coverage to their tires and wheels. 

What exactly is a tire and wheel warranty?

Wheel and tire warranties fill the coverage gap found in most vehicle warranties. Warranties can help defray the steep cost of tire replacement or pay for the replacement of tires and wheels fully. Though tire warranties will cover typically tire issues like flats, punctures, and encounters with road debris, there are many qualifications that govern whether your tires are covered by the terms of your warranty. Read on to learn more about tire warranties and what you should know when purchasing one.

Types of Warranties

While most new tires come with some type of warranty from the manufacturer, there are also extended tire warranties that can be purchased by consumers to provide additional coverage above and beyond those factory terms. For example, many major tire manufacturers offer periodic warranties against defects in materials or craftsmanship, and those warranties usually extend in full until the tire has worn through more than a 16th of an inch of tread. Beyond that amount of wear, there are usually still warranties provided, but they are prorated, meaning that the manufacturer won’t replace the tire but provide a prorated amount of reimbursement towards the purchase of a new tire. Manufacturers also offer tread life warranties that guarantee the tire will fulfill the tread life statements under which the tires were sold. For example, the warranty may guarantee the tire for 5 years or 50,000 miles. Tire and wheel warranties offered by third-parties cover things like road hazards that happen unexpectedly and can lead to costly replacement expenditures. 

What’s Covered Under Tire Warranties?

Typically, tire and wheel warranties cover damage to tires caused by road hazards. Those unexpected issues can come out of nowhere and leave you stranded, not to mention they also result in surprise vehicle maintenance repair bills that you may not be prepared to pay. Tire warranties cover damage caused to tires and wheels by issues such as nails, punctures, flats, potholes and cracked rims caused by roadway debris.

What’s Excluded from Tire Warranties?

Most tire warranties have a few key exclusions when it comes to tire and wheel damage. For example, wheels that are aftermarket and tires with less than 3/32 of an inch tread depth. Tires that have rot or do not have adequate tread or that have steel belts showing in any manner must be replaced at the owner’s expense. Also, the warranty will not cover damage caused by a lack of maintenance, such as failure to keep the tires at the proper air pressure or to rotate the tires regularly.

If you spend a lot of time on the road, a tire and wheel warranty represents an excellent investment in your car that will save you money when you experience problems. To learn more about what you need to know about tire and wheel warranties, contact Wheel and Tire Care at (347) 308-6161.