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As most of us 04.5-05 GLI 1.8T owners have noticed, our cars come with some really above-decent wheels and tires.... Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 is standard... One thing that I did not consider, and I'm sure many others overlooked, is that eventually we will have to replace these tires. We also hardly ever think pre-purchase that unless we are ready to accept a sometimes hefty downgrade in performance, ride, and handling, we are looking to spend a lot of money (somewhere in the area of $1000 for all 4 tires).
These tires come standard on the million or so 1.8T GLIs (extreme exageration.. but it sure feels like it, doesn't it...) and the 5000, if I recall correctly, Golf R32. After reading countless threads in the R32 forum about tire bubbles in the F1s, I was wondering how Volkswagen of America (VWoA) was dealing with the obvious defect with a product that VW has decided to put on their car standard. The answer.... nothing. There is absolutely no warranty option within the VW system to remedy this problem. This, needless to say, worried me.
I drove around a couple of months not really thinking about it until WHAM.... hit a pothole (oops). The 1/4 mile or so drive for me to look for an opportune place to pull over and inspect what I assumed was going to be a large golf-ball looking peice sticking off of the side of my tire was the second longest 1/4 mile of my life (longest was in my buddies built Civic haha).... But I got lucky, no tire damage. This event caused me to really think about what options I would have if something bad were to happen to my tires because I as a college student would be left high and dry should I have to replace a tire or two due to a tire bubble.
I decided to contact the tire shop closest to me (which I also happen to trust), Discount Tire, and asked them what I could do to not only protect myself from getting a bubble, but also to protect my wallet should something happen. He told me about somethign that I wish most people knew about (which is why I am doing this write-up)... I could buy a road-hazard warranty for my tires EVENTHOUGH they were not new and also were not purchased through the store...
The Roadhazard warranty is an all-inclusive, non-prorated, warranty for the life of the tire. In non-business talk that means that if anything happens to your tire other than regular wear and tear, they will replace it for free... even if it is your fault. Just to make sure, I asked what every logical person would ask... "What if I run over a spike strip during a high-speed chase" and the gentelman answered with a completely straight face "Eventhough your tires wouldn't be anywhere close to your biggest concern, we will change it for free". Bubbles, rips, tears... anything. The warranty cost me a total of $94 dollars to cover all 4 tires and since its purchase, has replaced two bubbles (one major and one very minor... but still replaced for free).... Total cost of warranty: $94 initial and $20x2 (to re-buy the warranty for the new tires)=$134. Cost of 2 brand new Goodyear Eagle F1s... somewhere in the area of $500.
GET THE TIRE CERTIFICATIONS basically is what I am saying. Not only is it nice to have a peice of mind, but don't you insure most other things (especially when you have previous knowledge that you will more than likely have a problem with the product in the future).
Brandon
These tires come standard on the million or so 1.8T GLIs (extreme exageration.. but it sure feels like it, doesn't it...) and the 5000, if I recall correctly, Golf R32. After reading countless threads in the R32 forum about tire bubbles in the F1s, I was wondering how Volkswagen of America (VWoA) was dealing with the obvious defect with a product that VW has decided to put on their car standard. The answer.... nothing. There is absolutely no warranty option within the VW system to remedy this problem. This, needless to say, worried me.
I drove around a couple of months not really thinking about it until WHAM.... hit a pothole (oops). The 1/4 mile or so drive for me to look for an opportune place to pull over and inspect what I assumed was going to be a large golf-ball looking peice sticking off of the side of my tire was the second longest 1/4 mile of my life (longest was in my buddies built Civic haha).... But I got lucky, no tire damage. This event caused me to really think about what options I would have if something bad were to happen to my tires because I as a college student would be left high and dry should I have to replace a tire or two due to a tire bubble.
I decided to contact the tire shop closest to me (which I also happen to trust), Discount Tire, and asked them what I could do to not only protect myself from getting a bubble, but also to protect my wallet should something happen. He told me about somethign that I wish most people knew about (which is why I am doing this write-up)... I could buy a road-hazard warranty for my tires EVENTHOUGH they were not new and also were not purchased through the store...
The Roadhazard warranty is an all-inclusive, non-prorated, warranty for the life of the tire. In non-business talk that means that if anything happens to your tire other than regular wear and tear, they will replace it for free... even if it is your fault. Just to make sure, I asked what every logical person would ask... "What if I run over a spike strip during a high-speed chase" and the gentelman answered with a completely straight face "Eventhough your tires wouldn't be anywhere close to your biggest concern, we will change it for free". Bubbles, rips, tears... anything. The warranty cost me a total of $94 dollars to cover all 4 tires and since its purchase, has replaced two bubbles (one major and one very minor... but still replaced for free).... Total cost of warranty: $94 initial and $20x2 (to re-buy the warranty for the new tires)=$134. Cost of 2 brand new Goodyear Eagle F1s... somewhere in the area of $500.
GET THE TIRE CERTIFICATIONS basically is what I am saying. Not only is it nice to have a peice of mind, but don't you insure most other things (especially when you have previous knowledge that you will more than likely have a problem with the product in the future).
Brandon
