Question about tire warranty offered...

[Allen]

I just bought a 2005 4 Runner 2 wheel drive Limited with the V6 engine.
Looking through the warranty info enclosed in the manual about service, it
mentions tire rotation every 5000 miles along with oil change. *If* this was
done, there is an insert about 100,000 mile tire guarantee, *if* the
requirements are met. In reading, I see that *if* a new tire is required
(3/32nd) tread left (whatever that really means), the purchase is based on
the full retail price of the tire according to Toyota.

I called my tire dealer and he gave me a price on the same tire that comes
on my car for about $112 installed with free lifetime balance and rotation
and road hazard guarantee (265/65/17-Bridgestone). I would be willing to bet
that Toyota has the tire retail *much* higher...I plan to call. Toyota wants
$17 plus tax for the rotation, and 'maybe' a balance (who knows how much
they charge for that) all to stay within the warranty. This means you would
spend more than $180 in 50,000 miles on rotations alone. Sounds like another
dealer 'trap' to me...what say you??

Thanks for replies,

...Allen

[ShawnM]

Well..I dont know much about tire warrantys but it is true that the more you rotate them the longer theyll last. Its kind of like an oil change, never hurts to do it more often as opposed to not enough. Most manufacturers now say to rotate the tires about every other oil change. Keep in mind you dont have to have oil changes, tire rotations, and other maintanence done at the dealer to meet their warranty requirements. You just need to hang on to the reciepts to show them that the work has been done elsewhere.

[Allen]

Thanks for the reply, but the way this warranty is worded, it sounds like a *must* be done at your dealer service dept., but I could be wrong. Was hoping maybe someone that has been offered the same tire warranty would respond.

My point being, is there is no way the tires are going to last 100,000 miles. I've been driving too long and on the best of tires and no way I've gotten more than about 45 to 50 thousand miles, no matter about the rotations. If the local dealer charges full retail for the tire I would bet it is more than 2 times or more what I can buy one for from other sources. If this is so, and I can rotate the tires for $8 at Walmart when my dealer wants $18+ and may require a balance to 'uphold' the warranty, it seem like a way to get me to spend at least $180 and more for service from my dealer that would cost $80 at Walmart, and then probably want to charge me a pro-rated warranty for a tire that would cost me at least twice as much as I could buy one for elsewhere.

I'm just trying to so call 'put the pencil' to this warranty and see if it's not a dealer 'come on' to get me in to the service dept. I know with my Avalon, my dealer would always try and get me to have a radiator flush, or some nonsense for an outlandish price when it was not even needed, if I came for an oil change.

Please post if you have been offered this warranty or have input for me.

Thanks again,

Allen