How to get compensated for defective tires on new Prius (all 4 have tread separation at 30k miles)?

Anyone have good info on rankings of low rolling resistance tires? I've tried searching and lots of places name names, but they don't actually seem to rank them.

 

Call Tire Rack. They are experts. They can tell you.

 

That's very true. Some time back TireRack did a test review of 4 or 5 LRR contenders, but that's a one off: it would be REALLY nice to see an objective numeric rating system. Right now there's a whole pack of "LRR" tires, but seems a lot of range in that pack, and some them little different than non LRR tires.

Tire Test Results : When Round and Black Becomes Lean and Green

 

IIRC Europe has a standardized rating system for LRR tyres.
I'm not sure though how to be sure that the tyre sold in Europe is the same tyre sold in N. America

Addendum: this
Closer Look at the EU Tyre Label | Blackcircles.com

Each grade down in fuel economy is about 1% more fuel consumption
Each grade down in wet grip is ~ 3 meters longer braking distance

 

Michelin website shows a 1 to 10 (10 being best) scale for their tires rolling resistance. For example, Energy Saver is 10, Premier is 9, Defender is 8, Pilot MXM4 is 7.

We've got Pilots, they were the OEM. Strangely they seem to roll pretty good. Maybe 'cause it's all I know?

 

I've read those too, but I don't recall how many were Prius owners and I'm not sure I believe the lower quality claims, I'd need to see some proof. I will agree that perhaps OEMs use the lowest quality model tire and in some cases with imports, that model may not be not sold in stores in the US.

Anyway, I suspect the 18,000 miles on the Goodyear tires on my '88 GP was an anomaly and I doubt they were any different than Eagle GT+4s sold in stores at the time. Our next lowest mileage with OEM tires was 46,000 on the General tires on our '99 Montana. The bottom line for me is that I accept whatever mileage I get and move on. The Goodyear experience has soured me on Goodyear. I do get confused by Tire Rack and other recommendations because IMHO they put too much emphasis on customer ratings and I think that is too often influenced by price. Since I drive mostly on freeways and in the city, not curvy roads, etc., I prefer quiet tires that get decent mpg and wear. I'm willing to trade off some mpg and wear for price, but not much.

 

I agree that OP doesn't seem to have a lot of recourse, but that's no reason to bash on him with "kids these days" and "some people want something for nothing." He was upset that he's looking at $ on what he considers a pretty new car. I hope it is the tires and that replacing them fixes the problem. The Goodyear dealer could be blowing smoke up his skirt on the tread separation.

 

That's a possibility.
I thought he said that new tires entirely fixed the problem.

 

Nope, he didn't actually say, but I got the impression that he hadn't replaced the tires yet.

 

Y'all done give him the blues about being too demanding--- he probably won't be back

 

Life isn't always going to be peaches and cream. Not everyone is going to get the answer they " want ". Nobody disrespected him. Because he didn't get the answer or responses he wanted, he ran off. That's on him not us.

 

He did come back yesterday morning to read, but didn't post anything new.

 

52,000 + 6 months reserve on factory Yokos...outstanding. Unfortunately some commutes are a little more demanding than others. Now when/if I retire someday and all I have to do is putz around town...it's more than likely I'll be changing out factories for dry rot first. What's the second thing to go again...

 

Tires also have Experation dates. 6 years from the date on the tire iirc.

 

don't fear the reaper.

Is that an absolute, or just a recommendation? i have driven well over ten years on low mileage tyres with no ill effects. i'm not duking it out on the freeway though.

 

You remember wrong.
While that is a good ballpark figure, there is no actual rule and they do not have an assigned "expiration date" like a carton of milk,

 

^ Our build date was August 2009, and the original michelin pilots are still on there, so they'll be AT LEAST 6 years old this August.

They've really led a sheltered life though. The car's garage stored, and those tires sit in a covered stack in the garage for 4-5 months every winter.

I've looked them over up close and have yet to see any fine cracks. They are starting to accumulate battle scars tho.

 

I had to replace a set of truck tires after 8 years because the weather got to them, they sat outside in the Arizona heat the last 4 of those years.

 

BTW, I think it's better that some went a little over the top with their criticism rather than paint a rosy picture of what I think is a losing battle over OEM tires that have been driven over 30,000 miles. I'd still be interested in the added information I mentioned, but I doubt I'll get it. Either way, I think it's way too late to expect the dealer, for sure, or the tire dealer to do anything more that pro-rate the tires.