"Fix-a-flat" voids tire warranties & then Costco won't repair it either...???

[chudman]

EDIT:  I have "split" this topic off from the thread...

2004 Sienna, first year model experience?
http://siennachat.com/forum/index.php/topic,942.0/

BY:  topspy/Mod-Squad

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We have 89K miles on it.  Hated the Run flat tires so bad.  They only last 20K? and expensive.  We also put on regular tires (from Costco).  I have a full size spare in the garage.  We don't carry it becuase we need the space in the rear.  However, we do carry a air pump, fix-a-tire and a jack just in case.  Hope I will never have to use it though

Be careful.  Use of fix-a-tire or any other liqued tire sealant will void your Costco warranty.  

[topspy]

WHAT??!!  That's ridiculous.  Although the stuff is messy (and really old formulas were flammable, and some formulas will damage new in-wheel TPMS sensors), why would it void a tire warranty??  Of course, I will have to ask my local Costco about it (AND OTHER TIRE STORES TOO) the next chance I get.  So.......if you get a flat and you don't know how to change a tire, it's too dangerous or messy or otherwise inconvenient to change a tire, or you don't have a spare tire or it is also damaged, then you are SOL if you bought tires from Costco??!!  (NOTE:  I wanna SWEAR SO BAD with some choice and vulgar expletives right here.  LOL).

Heh.....next they will say your warranty is void if you don't use THEIR nitrogen (ONLY) too.  Sheeeesh......J/K!!!  

YMMV.
Good Luck!!  

[chudman]

Emotions aside, I checked with my local Costco tire shop manager.   He said some tire manufacturers will void their warranties if fix-a-flat products are used.  He said Michelin, Goodrich, and Firestone were ones he knew of, and that Costco's position was to follow the manufacturer's warranties on damaged or worn tires.

He also said Costco will not repair any tires where fix-a-flat was used.

I've had AAA's 100 mile towing package policy for 15 years so am not worried about the lack of a spare on local driving.  On trips I throw a full size spare behind the third seat. 

[topspy]

Not that I know "everything" (which I don't.....and [brian_bp] and many others here school me just about everyday...heh, heh   )....but this is the first time I've heard about the fix-a-flat stuff voiding a tire manufacturer's warranty.....AND Costco refusing to repair a tire if the temporary repair "goop" has been used to get the vehicle and its occupants to a "safer" location.

If that's true, I for one will probably NOT be doing my tire shopping business with Costco again in the future.  Actually, I have always price compared them, but I actually haven't bought any there for probably close to 10+ years covering 4 different vehicles during that time for various reasons of availability, convenience/location, other automotive services, payment choices, and sometimes price-competitiveness.

That really is a "dumb-move" IMHO.  So.....now if I had bought my tires from Coscto and want/need to use their Tire Center and I get a flat, I MUST either have a workable spare, or get a tow truck to come haul my car over to Costco instead of simply using the goop and DRIVING over.  IDIOTS.

I remember   (literally rolling my eyes) when I learned they refuse to install car batteries.  For me that wasn't such a big a deal, but for many elderly or male/female customers that are not DIY-friendly it would be tremendously helpful to provide that service.  And I've seen the look of bewilderment when such customers discover the idiotic policy too.  It's not "rocket science or brain surgery", but it can get a bit dirty and a wee bit dangerous for novices.  And the batteries are HEAVY.  Their competitor, Sam's Club even advertises they will do it.

I can sort of understand tire manufacturers refusing to honor warranties for anything that THEY don't do or provide (which is also ridiculous, but there you have it) or "approve" via an authorized "agent".  But for a tire shop to refuse to repair a tire that has some slime in it that is an "acceptable" temporary repair and safety solution for a customer??  WTH??!!

I've always thought highly of Costco and have been a loyal and appreciative customer since the ORIGINAL Price Club (which was the warehouse clubstore industry creator/innovator that got swallowed-up by competitor Costco) down in San Diego (and I even had memberships at both), but this one makes me want to write a letter to CEO Jim Sinegal (who was a former associate of the Price Club Founder, Sol Price).

Of course, back in the "old days" before the "goop", and when you'd probably throw the bad tire into the back of your neighbor's car and drive down to the neighborhood gas station/tire shop where you knew the owner by name, Costco's NON-repair policy would have been fine and acceptable, but in this day....WTH??!!

Looks like I'll be making my own inquiries too at Costco and various tire manufacturers and other tire shops when I get a chance....  

Thanks for the "heads-up".    

YMMV.
Good Luck!!  

[komondor]

To me don't blame Costco for the tire MFG, they turn the tires into Goodyear, Firestone etc to get their money.  If the mfg says they won't cover warranty they have little choice much the same as a car dealer except a dealer is dealing with larger $$ item so they do have some leeway.

Goodyear's web site is pretty clear

Goodyear does not warrant or give credit in any adjustment
transaction for any kind of material added to a tire (e.g., tire fillers,
sealants, balancing substances) after the tire leaves a factory
producing Goodyear tires, nor will it adjust any tire that has failed
as a result of adding such material.


don't shoot the messenger

[chudman]

Taken from the respective warranty brochures:

Michelin's Warranty:

WHAT IS NOT COVERED
Tires which become unserviceable due to:

- The addition of liquid, solid or gaseous materials other than air, nitrogen or carbon dioxide (for example, waterbase sealers or balancing substances);

B.F.Goodrich's Warranty:

WHAT IS NOT COVERED
Tires which become unserviceable due to:

- The addition of liquid, solid or gaseous materials other than air, nitrogen or carbon dioxide (for example, waterbase sealers or balancing substances);

Firestone/Bridgestone's Warranty:

The limited warranty does not cover the following:

5. Tires with sealant, balance, or other filler material that was not orignally applied or inserted by the tire manufacturer;

Good or bad policy aside, we have to live with it to follow the warranty requirements.   

[topspy]

My point was that I can sort of understand a TIRE MANUFACTURER being unwilling to continue warranty coverage on a tire that has had the "goop" applied to it.

My trouble is with Costco flat (pun intended) refusing to even fix a tire for a customer that has the "goop" in it.

My understanding/interpretation of the way the disclaimers are written and from what I've had explained to me is that a tire manufacturer will honor a warranty if the tire has not been "modified" in any way......patches, sealants, shaving, whatever.  It is for factory defects and treadwear guarantees.  They generally do not cover ANY damage.  I think this is "reasonable".

"Road Hazard" warranties often sold along with tires by the tire shops/retailers cover the costs/services to remedy accidental damage....such as a puncture/flat.

If I had to choose between having the "road hazard" warranty honored, **OR** getting to a "safer" place by using the "goop", I would choose the "goop".  But that's just me....

I've had lots of tires repaired over almost 30 years of driving and probably approaching maybe 750K miles on the roads total thus far.  I think I have had maybe a handful of occasions where I did employ the "goop" to get me "home" or to a tire shop.  A few of those instances elicited the roll-eyes/~sigh~ from the tire shop employees because of the messy stuff, but I've never had a tire "refused" to be repaired or a tire/road hazard warranty refused to be honored because of it.....yet.  I do not remember ever attempting a repair or warranty claim at a Costco yet.  YMMV.

Again....THANK YOU for bringing this to my (and other unaware consumers') attention.  

YMMV.
Good Luck!!  

[chudman]

My trouble is with Costco flat (pun intended) refusing to even fix a tire for a customer that has the "goop" in it.

I'd be interested to know if this repair policy is Costco nationwide (as I was lead to believe by my local Costco tire shop manager) or just a policy in my local outlet.

Has anyone on the forum checked with other Costco locations?

[robo5]

I have seen this stuff (goop) a couple of years ago inside a tire. It was a total mess and it was plastered inside. It took a lot of grinding (for lack of better terms) to gain access to the hole or puncture. Now this was just one spot, the rest of of the inside of the tire had this "goop" also. It was a total pain to balance. Maybe the newer stuff is better but from what I saw this tire should have been discarded.
The time spent on this tire to repair it was crazy and was not done right. I see both sides of the coin. I also see somebody using this stuff on a small leak than hitting up Cosco for the repair at no charge. I understand the safety feature as getting your vehicle up and running again to get to a safe spot but this is a bandaid fix.

Not saying it is right or wrong... I am just saying

[grandmama]

too bad Costco will not take care of the problem (but I can undrstand it's not their call)

However, I will still use a fix a tire in case of emergency.  Here is the reason:

Unless my tire is brand new, even with "warranty" from Costco, the best they can do is to fix it.  If not, exchange a new tire.
On the other hand, if the tire is not new, I don't think Costco or other tire store will exchange my tire for free.  My guess is I have to pay the different compare to how much life is left on the tire.

I rather pay for a new tire ($150?) then having my wife and kids waiting on the freeway.  Safety is the most important thing to me. 

[topspy]

I talked to an employee at my local Costco Tire Center today.

He says the reason they REFUSE to repair a tire that has had the "fix-a-flat" stuff in it is because of the potential for the "goop" to continue seeping into the rubber on the inside of the tire even after they have cleaned it out and after grinding the residue away from the area where a patch might be applied.  He says because the "goop" seeps into and out of the rubber, it may cause the gradual failure of a patch due to lack of adhesion in that spot.

IOW, you are SOL if you buy a tire from Costco.  You are back to doing things the old-fashioned way from 10-20+ years ago (ie, arrange to bring in the "flat" tire somehow "UNREPAIRED/UNTOUCHED" so they can fix it), or pay them $$$$$ to have a NEW tire installed to replace the perfectly good one that has "goop" in it.

I will have to check some other tire shops when I get a chance to see what they say.
Please also share any feedback any of you get for the benefit of all of our members.

 
YMMV.
Good Luck!! 

[topspy]

I talked to an employee at a local Sam's Club Tire Center a few days ago.

He said that his particular store does NOT have any policy that directs them to refuse repairing a tire that has had "fix-a-flat" used in it as a temporary repair.  They don't like the stuff because it is "messy", but they will honor and perform a repair/road hazard agreement purchased from them and won't specifically exclude a tire for simply having had the "goop" applied, all other factors considered.

He also did remind me that the "goop" might result in damage to IN-WHEEL TPMS sensors.

So........apparently this may not be a "directive" from TIRE MANUFACTURERS, but a policy enacted by Costco only (thus far, AFAIK).  Sam's carries many of the same tires as Costco does and often features the Michelin brand (among others), just as Costco does.  I would not be surprised if they actually have the same tire distributors/suppliers/vendors.

I will continue my unscientific and locally limited survey of various tire centers in my area regarding their policies concerning the "goop" and tire repairs as I have the opportunity to do so.  YOU SHOULD DO THE SAME IN YOUR OWN AREA AND VERIFY FOR YOUR OWN KNOWLEDGE AND BENEFIT.

Such policies might change or be revised over time and may vary according to individual store management.

Please inquire with your local tire centers as you have the time and opportunity and share your findings for the collective benefit of all of our members.

YMMV.
Good Luck!!