[moocat]

Today as I was washing my car I noticed a bubble on the sidewall of the driver's side front tire. Needless to say I was not a happy camper.

I took the car to the dealer and they had their head mechanic and service manager take a look at it. As far as I know I did not hit a pot hole, curb or anything else. They also said that if I had hit something there would probably be some damage to the rims and the tire, of which there was none.

They told me to go down the street to one of those large tire stores to have them look at it. The tire people gave me the run around. They told me that I would have to pay for the new one and fight it out with Pirelli to try and get a reimbursement. They insisted I must have hit somethi ng even though there was no indication.

So I went back to the dealer.The car has only 1350 miles on it and needless to say that I was not a happy camper. I told them I wanted them to replace the tire and that I shouldn't have to pay for it being that the car is only 5 weeks old.

They replaced the tire and told me they would try to get reimbursement from Pirelli, but if they were not successful that they would charge me what their cost for the tire was.

I got the tire replaced but walked away from there pretty disgusted. Seem like these tire have been a bit of a problem and I can't believe that Volvo would continue to use these tires if people are having problems like this. It seems that I shouldn't have to put up this kind of money so shortly after buying a new vehicle.

It seems I've read here or one of the other forums that others have had similar problems. Has anyone had any success in getting reimbursed for the tire being a defect?

 

[GrecianVolvo]

quote:

Originally posted by moocat:
They also said that if I had hit something there would probably be some damage to the rims and the tire, of which there was none.

That's absolute nonsense. That can happen but it is not a necessary byproduct of you impacting something which in turn caused the bubble. A bubble on the sidewall occurs because strands or even steel fbers that line the sidewall and reinforce it in order for the compressed air not to get out, fail. The failure can be caused by an impact either direct or indirect. You do not have to "feel" that you hit something, per se. You can just go over a bump or fall into small pothole in a certain way. Like an accident, no impact on a wheel is ever the same.

I am very sorry for your mishap but you definitely hit something. It is not necessary the tire's fault (nor is it directly your fault). Don't forget that these tires have an aspect ratio of only 45. That is a pretty low profile...such profile (anything less than 55) requires caution. A lot of us do not think about this, we think that it requires a lot of impact in order for such tire to fail. At least, be happy that for a 17" tre it is not outragiously expensive.

My wife and I have logged more than 18,000 miles on our car (we have the same tires as you) adn have never had a problem. And she drives in some pretty nasty roads. But I have cautioned her to the point where I have really scared her when it comes to her driving in pothole-riddled roads, such as Rt.30, right where Phil works.

Before the previous Volvo we had (a '98 V70R) she was driving an Eagle Talon (205/55-16 tires) and a Ford Probe GT (225/50-16 tires). As you see, both of those cars had "higher" profile tires. She had bent at least one rim in the Talon and one in the Probe. Never blew a tire in the Talon (Yokohamas) but blew two tires in the Probe (Pirellis and BFGoodrich)...so it depends...

Yannis

 

[moocat]

The dealer said the cost of the tire is approx $240.00. I don't exactly consider this inexpensive.

I've been very cautious with the car and do take care to be observant of any rough road. The winter has been mild here so we really have few potholes to speak of. I know that I have not hit any significant holes or bumps, so in my opinion if the tire is this sensitive and fails so easily, they shouldn't be used.

At least, be happy that for a 17" tre it is not outragiously expensive.

 

[GrecianVolvo]

quote:

Originally posted by moocat:
The dealer said the cost of the tire is approx $240.00. I don't exactly consider this inexpensive.

I would agree. I have never heard of a P6 costing this much. Shop around...or I guess it is too late, you already have it on, right?

Yannis

 

[moocat]

Yep. Tire was replaced today. I do intend on pursuing this with Pirelli if the dealer doesn't have any luck.

Any suggestions on alternative tires that provide good all-weather handling as well as a good solid ride, just in case these continue to be a problem?

Thanks in input....

...dl...

quote:

Originally posted by GrecianVolvo:
I would agree. I have never heard of a P6 costing this much. Shop around...or I guess it is too late, you already have it on, right?

Yannis

 

[ijahman]

Hey good luck on getting somewhere with Pirelli. I have been a long time customer, my Jetta has a set of P-Zero's that I am ver happy with. While living in Puerto Rico I purchased a S60 T5 with the p6 and 1300 miles later a bubble developed, replace the tire 290.00, mad but not shaken, 3300, $158 got smart (www.tirerack.com) another P6 went, at 6600 miles another p6 went , And then i bought a Set of Toyo FRZ and called it day. It was the best thing i could have done. It transformed the ride like it was a new car. I think the P6 is a piece of garbage, their must be a reason why they are not sold on the T5 in europe. You can try to fight it with Pirelli, I tried but they wanted me to send the tires to them for testing and told me it would take 3 to 4weeks for a reply. And I only got this offer after atleast 15 calls, dozens of email to their office in Connecticut. I guess im just goig to drive around on the spare in a car with 4000 miles on because you brought a defective tire to the market. This P6 thing has made me a very un happy customer with them, I have since switch my P-zero off my Jetta for a set of Nitto NT 555R which I feel is the best deal for any size tire. Pirelli will never get another dime of my money. Over my life I have bought atleast 10 sets of tire, from the 700z to P-Zero and that is how Pirelli treats its customers. I have been converted to Toyo/Nitto. So check out their prices and make a decision, if it happens again I would replace all four with another brand. I can olny share my experience, and for all the people that would say you were driving to hard or I hit a pot hole, Im sorry I was living in Puerto Rico(no snow, salt) very smooth roads. So it had nothing to do with that. The tire is a pice of garbage.

quote:

Originally posted by moocat:
Yep. Tire was replaced today. I do intend on pursuing this with Pirelli if the dealer doesn't have any luck.

Any suggestions on alternative tires that provide good all-weather handling as well as a good solid ride, just in case these continue to be a problem?

Thanks in input....

...dl...

 

[moocat]

ijahman

thanks for the info. I probably go with replacing all four tires if I have another incident. Can't see nickle and diming myself to death if Pirelli is ignoring the issue and don't feel like wasting my time fighting with them.

So you say you like the Toyo FRZ? How's the rating for snow/rain type of weather? Approximate cost?

Again...thanks for the info

...dl...

 

[GrecianVolvo]

quote:

Originally posted by moocat:
ijahman

thanks for the info. I probably go with replacing all four tires if I have another incident. Can't see nickle and diming myself to death if Pirelli is ignoring the issue and don't feel like wasting my time fighting with them.

So you say you like the Toyo FRZ? How's the rating for snow/rain type of weather? Approximate cost?

Again...thanks for the info

...dl...

Check the Yokohama AVS ULtra dB...Z-rated tire, all season, very quiet and great traction.

Yannis

 

[ijahman]

They where far better in the rain than the P6, I never drove them in the snow so I couldnt tell you. I paid around 140-50 a tire

quote:

Originally posted by moocat:
ijahman

thanks for the info. I probably go with replacing all four tires if I have another incident. Can't see nickle and diming myself to death if Pirelli is ignoring the issue and don't feel like wasting my time fighting with them.

So you say you like the Toyo FRZ? How's the rating for snow/rain type of weather? Approximate cost?

Again...thanks for the info

...dl...

 

[nyerinmontreal]

quote:

Originally posted by GrecianVolvo:

Check the Yokohama AVS ULtra dB...Z-rated tire, all season, very quiet and great traction.

Yannis

Yannis:

Does this mean you got them?

Mike

 

[GrecianVolvo]

quote:

Originally posted by nyerinmontreal:
Yannis:

Does this mean you got them?

Mike

Mike,

no, I have not. I wantd to e-mail you on Saturday but it got pretty busy, at work, and today I am at home. I have not bought the Yokies but I think I am going to...The wholesaler told me that I can get 4 AVS Ultra dBs, 235/45-17 Z-rated (and all season) at $115 a tire...And delivered to where I work. I am still looking at Toyos, the guy is checking the prices on those also.

Is your car in, yet?

Yannis

 

[nyerinmontreal]

quote:

Originally posted by GrecianVolvo:

Mike,

no, I have not. I wantd to e-mail you on Saturday but it got pretty busy, at work, and today I am at home. I have not bought the Yokies but I think I am going to...The wholesaler told me that I can get 4 AVS Ultra dBs, 235/45-17 Z-rated (and all season) at $115 a tire...And delivered to where I work. I am still looking at Toyos, the guy is checking the prices on those also.

Is your car in, yet?

Yannis

The dealer is picking it up tomorrow, so they say, and I should have it Thursday evening (although I may try to push for it sooner).

Anticipation is killing me at this point....

 

[GrecianVolvo]

quote:

Originally posted by nyerinmontreal:
The dealer is picking it up tomorrow, so they say, and I should have it Thursday evening (although I may try to push for it sooner).

Anticipation is killing me at this point....

Well, at this time they are probably "on the ball"

Some of my cars (sold) at the port have been released to the transport company. I expect them tomorrow or Wednesday.

Yannis

 

[hamah]

well I certainly do agree with a few comments made here...Toyo is an excellent tire (although I'm only familiar with the Proxes). Very quite, smooth and great grip. If you think $240 a tire is bad try $890 which is what 18X255/35's were for my MB CLK! This is why I went Toyo and which is why when my T5 goes through my P6's I'll do it again!

 

[moocat]

The money isn't the issue so much as there is only 1300 miles on the tire and that tires are failing at a frequent rate from what I've read here and on other forums.

quote:

Originally posted by hamah:
well I certainly do agree with a few comments made here...Toyo is an excellent tire (although I'm only familiar with the Proxes). Very quite, smooth and great grip. If you think $240 a tire is bad try $890 which is what 18X255/35's were for my MB CLK! This is why I went Toyo and which is why when my T5 goes through my P6's I'll do it again!

 

[rmi63]

I had the same thing happen to my p6 a couple of months ago. I had less than 5000 miles on the tire but I did hit a pothole. I replace the tire with the same one at a local tire chain and did get the tire protection. They let me get it for all four tires so if the same thing happens again, they will replace it free. I believe the price of the tire was the same as tire warehouse and 20.00 per tire for the tire protection.