Dealer slapped my wrist today

Where was this?

Bob Wilson

 

Thinking back over the cars I've owned, I can't remember any whose tires were warranted by the auto manufacturer. Every car I can remember came with warranty information from the tire manufacturer.

 

My dealer gives free lifetime tires, battery, oil changes for free. Your post makes me wonder if they would try to s***w me on the tires.

You were kind of bold to ask them to pump your tires beyond the max on the door jamb. What else would they say but no...

 

Assuming your dealer is not a non-profit organization, what the conditions underwhich all this is free?

 

The number on the door jamb is not a max number, but it is the recommended tire pressure. The max pressure is a tire-specific number that would be found on the sidewall of the tire. For the OEM Integrities, the max tire pressure is 44psi.

 

I do the same. The dealer never gets mine right, so I do it myself.

Tom

 

I had a flat fixed at a local tire dealer recently. When I got the car back, the tires were 42 front, 40 back! I never mentioned the pressure, they just checked and matched what I had done.

 

Go back and slap the dealer!

 

I plead the 5th.

 

That service guy was kind of bold telling you what air pressure to run in your tires especially since you were not going over the max of 44psi. Next time they give you any undeserved grief you should write Toyota and give that dealer a bad grade. Toyota takes a dim view of bad dealers. (well sometimes)

 

if you can remember back a few years, there was a major problem with firestone tires. the real problem was employs that messed with the tires but the other point made was that when you deviate from manfactures recommendations you do so at your own risk!!! any dealer that doesn't follow those recommendations is in big trouble so give them a break they have no choice

 

Boy, do I seem such a newbie as that? It's unlikely a dealer will go over the car specific max on request. This is America. You are an idiot and crash, you then blame the dealer for the increased tire pressure you asked for.

Isn't that dealer so nice and friendly? So lovable. So altruistic. Gee, I feel I just have to get all my work done there. I would feel so guilty going elsewhere after they gave little ol' me a free oil change...

 

What brand of tires and quality of oil will they bestow upon you, and in exchange for what requirement on your part?.
TANSTAAFL

 

Well . . .
You do have a 2008, and you did join this month . . .

Anyway, I'll essentially restate the point: The number on the door jamb is a recommended pressure. It is neither a max, nor a min. Like Tony and Tom (and thanks to Tony, in particular), I have a portable air compressor in my car. I have checked the pressure in my tires after each of my three visits to my dealer. The numbers were different each time - once at the door jamb numbers, once below and once above.

What I'm saying is that the dealer is going to do whatever the dealer wants to do -- I'll fix it as soon as I drive away! I wouldn't be afraid to ask for whatever I want, and I wouldn't be surprised to get something less than requested, but I would be both surprised and disappointed to be told something incorrect and to be "tagged" for the request.

 

Actually you're kinda bold, or naive.. Do you think that dealer wants to assume any responsibility if that tire were to blow out, and kill him, or his wife and kids?
What the owner chooses to do is his own responsibility.

 

Well, you have to stick with the stock tires. Goodyear Integrity. As for the oil. I don't know. I doubt they have the vats labeled 'the crappiest oil for the free oil changes'. The whole point of their enterprise is to get you to do all your service at their dealership; they aren't going to make friends by bs'ing too much. They also give free carwashes for the life of the car. I got one done the other day. No strings on that one. Took 5 minutes.

In any event. I hear you all cynics. I am one, too. I was just pointing out that my dealer, not the only one in this area, offers these 'free' things. There's always a price....

 

I disagree. I believe that they do have a choice. As long a 1) Totota only lists it as a recommendation. There are other things that they are adament about. You are supposed to increase tire pressure for increased loads such as loading the car up with family and luggage for vacations, or towing a trailer, which should add about 200lbs tongue weight, if balanced properly. 2) As long as the request does not exceed the MAX PSI posted on the tire. 3) If the dealer has concerns he/she should express them as he did, log the request and comply with your request as long as it does not exceed Maximum PSI. You are or have paid for the service. Free service? There is no such thing as a free lunch. You paid or will be paying for the service. In the dealer sticker price, as pre-paid maintenence, as a sales incentive, flyer coupon to get you there, or just your bill when the service is finished. You are the customer paying for the service. You have the right to define what service you are willing to pay for.

Although it may be just as easy to check your own if you know how to do that since there are so many posts about dealers getting the tire pressure wrong anyway. I know I'll tell them what I want, like I do with my Avalon. They've been right on the last cou[le of times since they know I check it and they want my business. I also mark the tires with roman numerals I, II, III, IIII so I know if they rotated the tires correctly. I don't know if they've picked up on that one yet.

Point being, You are the customer. You are paying the bill. It's just like the 4qt oil change that needs to be 3.5 qtsso that you don't overfill the oil. Tell them what you want.