Reight - sorry. Opinions needed. Do I have a case or not?

Two expensive tyres purchased at the same time, in May, and fitted to the rear wheels of vehicle.

I became aware, not too long afterwards, of a rumbling sound from time to time, but as the car was performing satisfactorily, I put it down to changes in road surface.

My car is serviced regularly by a very reputable dealer, who supplied the vehicle. Services are always conducted on time and anything found not to be up to standard is always replaced. In August the vehicle was put through its normal service, and my dealer reported that they had detected a “rumble” from the rear end. After thoroughly checking all possible causes, they had been unable to find any problem with the vehicle itself and it was suggested that an irregularity with one of the tyres may be a possible cause.

I returned the vehicle to my tyre supplier, who checked both rear tyres, and did indeed detect such an irregularity. The tyre was replaced and the original sent back to manufacturer for inspection.

Letter received from the manufacturer which states “Our findings are that the tyre has sustained uneven tread wear due to a mechanical irregularity within the vehicle. Since we can find no evidence of manufacturing or material faults, we regret that we are unable to grant an allowance in this instance.”

So

On the one hand – we have an experienced dealer, servicing and examining a vehicle regularly, who detects a problem, and despite examining the vehicle very closely and checking all the obvious sources, can find absolutely nothing mechanically wrong that would explain the noise.

On the other hand - we then have someone who can apparently look at a worn tyre, at a remote location, and conclude that the vehicle it came from undoubtedly has a mechanical fault that must have caused it. No other explanation appears to be necessary.

Added to that, the replacement tyre is behaving perfectly and silently, on the same vehicle that has now apparently made a miraculous recovery, after having had nothing done to it since the examination that raised the issue in the first place.

From an independent point of view, and on the balance of probability, which would you be inclined to believe?

 

If there is now no rumbling

Due to fitting a new tyre I'd say it was the tyre manufacturers trying to cover their own backs, by placing the blame elsewhere.

 

believe the dealer

but then no one will accept blame will they. did the tyre have irregular wear?

 

Any chance you can name and shame this tyre manufacturer?

 

RE: believe the dealer

According to the guy who examined the tyre it appeared to be more a case of distortion on the surface. Not all the surface that should have had contact with the road did so. A sort of "wave" effect.

 

think bridgestone

tyre court cases in the US. no tyre company will admit being at fault

 

Bent chassis maybe?

 

defo tyre

thing is, can you prove it? not without expense which is more than a new tyre would cost - the tyre manufacturers know that too

 

would have been worn tread all round the tyre bud

 

Do you mind !

Nothing about me is bent. And certainly not my chassis!

 

I don't do cars...

So it was a guess!!

Hmm...I think it was the tyre, but at the same time I cannot think of any mechanical explainations.

 

thats 3rd time ive heard of tyres causing bad noise

mi boss had it and thought it was a wheel bearing but dealer said nowt wron g with bearing. Replaced tyres when old and new tyres had no dodgy wheel bearing noise.

Mate had a wheel bearing noise but said there was no play. I said tyre. He said no way. Changed tyres. Not noise. Voila!

 

explanations

 

Indeed you are correct

chavtastic mistake.

Getting as bad as CJD these days.

 

RE: thats 3rd time ive heard of tyres causing bad noise

I had a similar case with an Escort I owned about 8 years ago.
I was a lecturer at a College in Norfolk and had a single tyre changed.
There was a strange rumbling sound which disapeared at high speed.
I got the car into the workshop to check out the rear end and found the tyre was faulty.

It was oval.

I think you have a good case. Worth taking to the small claims court. Don't let them blame the car, if changing the tyres cured the problem, then the tyres were the problem. The tyre company will just try to spin things out until you go away.

Contact the press. Auto Express I am sure would like to here your story.They take up the case of motorists with a problem. Nothing like a bit of bad publicity to get a result. You may like to inform local Trading Standards. A mate of mine works for them and they would be interested as the motor trade is their biggest problem.
Start now by naming the tyres on here.

(lol) (lol) (lol) (lol) (lol)

 

blimey - you been dredging the archives?

that 3rd is nearly 2 months old!