Did you know there are actually a handful of different tyre warranties offered by manufacturers and tyre stores? The one you may be familiar with already is the tread-life warranty, but there are few others as well. Let’s take a brief look at each type before we see how you can ensure that your warranty isn’t voided so you can save money on new tyres or a tire repair if needed.
warranty, steer clear. Determined by the manufacturer, this is the reasonable number of kilometers the tyre can be expected to last under normal driving conditions.Major manufacturers typically offer tread-life warranties between 70,000 and 100,000 kilometers. They may also have a time limit in place–for example, 80,000 kilometers or 6 years, whichever comes first. If the tread wears down past 1.6 mm before the tyre reaches these limits, you may be able to get some money back.If your tread wears out (past 1.6 mm) before you reach your warranty limit, you will have to prove that your have had your tyres rotated and car balanced routinely, typically every 5,000 to 8,000 km. If you can’t prove it, the warranty will be void and you won’t get the prorated cash amount of the tyre or tyres back. So make sure to rotate them and can show that you’ve rotated them.
Having tyres that are consistently under-inflated or over-inflated can void your warranty as well. If this has occurred often, it can typically be observed by looking at the tyre. Make sure to check your tyre pressure routinely and that you have the correct amount of pressure in there as specified by the manufacturer.
A uniformity issue that isn’t reported within the first millimeter of tread wear will typically void your uniformity warranty. This can be a big cost if it’s determined that you need new tyres in this case.
Since warranties are covered only if the tyres are used in normal driving conditions, doing a lot of off-roading or racing can also void it. If your tyres are designed for off-roading, the manufacturer may give you some leeway, but excessive racing is not considered normal wear.
Unfortunately, if someone has a vendetta against you and slashes your tyres, the manufacturer won’t pay for replacements; however, your car insurance may cover it. Also, make sure not to use snow chains, as this will void most warranties.
