**generally speaking, "tire warranties" are with the manufacturer of the TIRE, not with the vehicle or the dealer.

you would have to contact a tire dealer that handles that BRAND of tire and have it inspected, should you have an issue with the tires.





**This is simply my opinion based on my past 25+ years of dealership experience with 'other' makes, such as Honda, Toyota, GM and Chrysler and is NOT necessarily that of Smart, PAG or Daimler. Thank you.**

 

I got a little brochure from the dealer; brochure was from Continental tire and it has the warranty in it. I'd ask my salesman about it.

JED

 

The tire warranty is different than the tire and wheel protection plan that dealers are offering.

Basically, they are covering the cost of wheel and tire replacement for like 5 years, and I want to say towing as a result of a flat as well.

 

I think its the tire and wheel plan I meant. Somewhere I read that only the Smart dealers have the tire and wheel and that it comes as a unit, so it was supposed to be way expensive to fix a flat.

Is this urban legend? Do flat tires just need plugging or patching by any tire place? Is there something about the Smart tire situation that would make me want to but the tire and wheel protection plan, and if so, how do I get it?

I was looking at extended warranties from WarrantyDirect.com (recomended by this forum) and wondered if their "Secure plan" included an equivilant of the tire and wheel plan...or do I need both?

 

I believe the tires are a bit hard to come by, but they are by no means a dealer only item. They are also not a unit with the wheel.

If you have to use the tire sealant kit that comes with the car, it will get you where you need to go, but the tire is done for. Patching or plugging is an option, but only if you don't use the goop that comes with the car.

I think that I overheard that the plan can only be bought at the time of purchase when I was at my dealer last.

I look at it this way (knocking on wood). I've got close to 300K in driving under my belt in the past 10 years, not counting the 237K I racked up as a bus driver in college. In that time, I have never had a flat... I've had a few screws in my tires, but never a flat. For the cost of this plan, I can replace 2 tires. By the time I have to do that, they will all be worn out and need replacing.

Same thing goes with wheels... it's not like these are 12" Geo Metro wheels. Destroying one would suck, but it's a 15" wheel with plenty of padding... I doubt I would kill one in 5 years of driving, I dunno about you.

If you can't tell, I am not going to be buying this. I'm still on the fence about extending the warranty for another year though.

 

Tire contracts.

The Tire/service Warranty offered by the dealers in nothing more than a third party service contract. They will send a flatbed truck out to pick up your car and haul it back to the dealer. Pot hole hits, and curb hits are not covered in most of these contracts. Read the fine print.

Expect a 1-2 hour wait for the truck plus the wait at the dealer. Our local dealer just got tires, but still no wheels. Many of us carry a spare tire behind the seat.

Go to the Tire and Wheel Forum on this list for more information and pix.
http://i32.tinypic.com/izsuuq.jpg

A2Jack.

 

Many of us carry a spare tire behind the seat.
A2Jack.

Hi Jack. Does the spare behind the seat limit it's travel rearward or is it narrow enough to fit in the minimum space between the back of the seat and the engine compartment? I'm 6'2 and need to have the seat all the way back to be comfortable, and wouldn't want to loose any space, but I LOVE the idea of the spare tire...

Thanks for your help!

 

You ask tire and then talk about insurance...In my view insurance is for things you can't afford to replace on a catastrophic loss. For anything else it becomes more like the lottery some people win others pay the way. The house or the insurance company always win or they go out of business you lose 99 % of the time. Life has risks, enjoy life.
karl

 

BRAVO, Karl, BRAVO!!!

 

Yeah, just get a tire at the Tire rack ($77 each plus reasonable shipping fee) and find a wheel and there you go....Why do people even consider all these different insurance for this and that....just do it and take the chance. karl is right. Sometimes you win...sometimes you lose....that's life.

 

......Why do people even consider all these different insurance for this and that......

Those plans are a high-profit item for the dealer.

 

Mini spare

Why not a mini spare (space saver). And, what about a jack? Where does that fit?

 

Why not a mini spare (space saver). And, what about a jack? Where does that fit?

smart provides a can of tire sealant and an electric air pump, both located in a compartment under the passenger's feet.

Your spare can be located in your garage at home.

Not a lot of room in the back of the smart for a tire, mini or regular.

The car comes with two different size tires for the front and rear.

 

a2jack; Where did you pick up your spare tire bag? It looks like a great way to keep the tire from messing up the interior.

 

I'll try a link here. http://www.njbaglady.com/

Cruise. Yes and only $36 for a custom cover with " Smartie" sown in. It came from the "Bag Lady".

 

Question: If you have road service on your vehicle insurance, why who anyone want to take out extra road service through the dealer ? If you break down you can be towed by your vehicle road service to your home and make repairs as needed. How many times has anyone ever broken an alloy wheel?Tires can be replaced for a small amount of cost. I would never buy the dealer wheel insurance policy. If you have an accident and a wheel gets damaged i would think your car insurance would cover that expense (less your deductible).

 

Jim - In the "for what it's worth category," when I questioned my saleman about the warranty, he noted that the roadside service included in the 2-year warranty was fairly limited in its use, and many road repair calls would result in owners incurring additional fees such as mileage. He HIGHLY recommended sticking with AAA or other roadside service coverage for your Smart, if you have it. I'm going to go with the roadside service package offered by my extended warranty. And, I'm not taking any additional warranties through the dealership.

 

Jim - In the "for what it's worth category," when I questioned my saleman about the warranty, he noted that the roadside service included in the 2-year warranty was fairly limited in its use, and many road repair calls would result in owners incurring additional fees such as mileage. .

Hmm, other roadside assistance that came with cars we've had was comprehensive, I'm gonna have to read these limitations/exclusions that makes this one sound so poor and 'limited in its use'..

 

Standard AAA only covers about 3 miles of towing. We had trouble once 110 miles from a dealer (not an issue a local shop could address), and the AAA wanted $4/mile after the first 3. Used the Garmin GPS to find another tow service (it lists them, including address and phone) that only charged $2/mile.

Just something to keep in mind...

 

AAA is the way to fly!!! I've been a member for 20+ years (Plus package, 200 mile tow, etc., not that much more) and over the years it has paid for itself over and over (helped the better half with gas, tire change, lock out and towed me a couple of times !

 

I have road service with Allstate Insurance and I can be towed 200 miles and it doesn't even have to be my vehicle.

 

• The smart-branded tire and wheel contract specifically states that they only pay $100 towards tow-truck service/emergency service.

So if you get a flat 100 miles from a dealer, and they flat-bed you back to the dealer, they will pay for getting the tire fixed and/or a new tire, but you may have to pay a significant amount of $$$ for tow-truck.

It also states that they will not pay for repair work performed at a service station, garage, or repair shop.​

• The smart original warranty does not cover any towing/flat bed due to tire flats or failures —or so the dealer told me. I have not read the terms.

• The smart-branded extended warranty contract does provide for emergency roadside assistance including flat tire assistance but towing is not covered for tire flats or failures.

They only pay $100 for emergency roadside assistance.​

 

Banged the right rear on a curb, bent the rim just enough. Goop didn't work to fix it.
Had it flat bedded in to Dealer. Tire, Rim, New goop and goop hose, plus tax.... $669.00 I think I remember.

While there, I inquired about the tire and Rim Insurance that Had been offered and refused over a year ago. Bought it!.... I think it was $365 or so. Thinking it would never happen again, but what the H*LL.

6, thats SIX days later, WHAM, it happened again same tire 2 blocks from the first. Everything was covered, so it paid off for me.

Hopefully I'll never need it again.

ALSO.... Remember... Play dumb
Gosh! I don't know what I hit! SOMETHING in the Road.
Play dumb, cause curbs, sometime potholes... all sorts of things Are Not Covered.

 

Aas I recall, one of the members in here had an issue passing through Chicago and hitting a pothole with their Brabus on the way to The Wisconsin Dells rally last summer. They had major hassles getting 2 tires and rims. I heard they were brought out from Detroit in a pickup to get them on their way.

The low profile tires can play havoc with road debris and potholes so a warranty or road hazard is not a bad idea.