intertiaforce

These are pictures of my two front tires. Any ideas?


The rear tires look normal. They are low on tread but they don't look this. It's just the front that look this way.

Viper98912

Are those Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus tires?

And you live in a hot climate?

okbarnett

looks like a winter tire, maybe too old or got too hot

Smalone01

Lol! I knew it was a P/S AS 2 before I even opened the thread! I would contact Michelin, they are good about standing behind their products.

intertiaforce

How you people are able to identify the tire by its tread is beyond me. I looked at the tires to see what model they were, and yes they are the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus. How the HELL did you know this just by looking at the tread lol?


I live in San Diego. It's not a hot climate here. The weather here is mostly mild (springtime weather).

intertiaforce

Well, I was told it's most likely due to cracked bushings on my control arms. Both my control arm bushings are cracked.


Do you guys agree with this assessment? Do you think it's likely caused by the cracked bushings?


I bought the tires in June 2009 (6 years ago). I have put approximately 21,000 miles on them since then. I only noticed the front tread damage upon taking my car in for a service and the mechanic pointed out the cracked bushings and the front tread damage/wear.

Viper98912

Haha it's not quite because of the tire tread that I figured it out. It's also not because of your cracked bushings. It's because I had these tires in the past and had the same problem.

Michelin had a design flaw in this exact tire where the tire would start "chunking" in hot climates; I live in Georgia. The amount of heat in the road surface during the summer was too much for this tire's rubber. There is a voluntary recall on this tire; take it back to the tire shop you bought it from and they'll give you a pro-rated warranty on the life of the tire towards a new set of tires.

okbarnett

whats the date on the tire, sounds like a 08 or 09, thats a 6 - 7 year old tire, already ready to be rotted, and with any hot or alignment factors its done. I think the warrantee will be out at this point.

intertiaforce

I don't know the date of the tire. As I said, I bought them in June 2009, six years ago. As you point out, I am willing to bet that the warranty will be out at this point also. So I don't know how I am supposed to take them in under a pro rated warranty. Now if they were recalled, that may be a different story,

okbarnett

look on the side, there is a panel stamped in and it starts with DOT and some numbers, then the smooth oval panel with 3 letters and 4 numbers. the # are first 2 = week of the year, then last 2 = the year,
2511 = 25th week of 2011

intertiaforce

Well why would you need this info? I am telling you the tires were purchased in June 2009.

Viper98912

Just go talk to your local tire shop, see what they say. Might work might not work.

rune solem

Okbarnett is probably aware that a tire purchased in 2009 may well be from 2008.
When I bought my tires they were already 1 year old....

intertiaforce

What's the relevance of this though? Even if the tire was made in 2008, it was sold in 2009 as a good tire with a warranty. So who cares whether they were manufactured in 2008. The date of manufacture is irrelevant. The date of sale is more relevant. And the fact that this tire is apparently a defective design is even more relevant.


By the way, I called Discount Tire where I purchased the tires from and they denied that there was any defect in these model tires. They did not offer to do anything.

intertiaforce

The manager of my local Discount Tire just called me back after I told him about my problem. He said he contacted Michelin and they were aware of the defect in the tire manufacture, but that Michelin cannot help me because the warranty was only good for 6 years, until June 2015. Since it's July 2015, I am out of warranty and Michelin can't help me.


A whopping 1 month out of warranty and Michelin blows me off.


The thing is, I didn't discover this problem until just last week. Doesn't that help my case at all? It's not like I knew about this years ago and just acted on it now. I just discovered this a week ago.

Viper98912

Wow! That's not even 1 month off, that's 1 week off! The discount tire near me is excellent, they are always willing to help me. I suggest you go drive over there and look into buying a new set of tires. Talk to the salesman and see if he can give you anything. If not, head to your next shop. Someone will help you.

rune solem

Ok, my bad, I didn't know that it was from the purchase date, that's very logical.

But I reckon that you will inspect the tires more often from now.....

Good luck with a new set of tires.

sound 8

Take them back and ask for your money back, mind you it will take a while.
I had some Pirelli's that done the same, I had to buy new tyres and they sent
the bad tyres back, it took 5 months before I got some, not all of my money
back.
S8

sound 8

A whole month out of warranty, a whole 6 years use.. ever heard of scrooge.

S8

sound 8

Those tyres are not 6 years old, how many miles have they done.

intertiaforce

Yes they are 6 years old. I've put 21,000 miles on them.

Smalone01

You may want to call Michelin yourself. I cant imagine them not making it right.