What Product Warranties Can You Expect When You Buy Tyres?

It is always worth checking what product warranties are included when you buy a set of tyres as these can vary substantially between tyre brands and tyre dealers. Reputable tyre manufacturers and dealers though will offer a warranty protecting consumers against manufacturing defects. This, however, will not usually cover the driver against accidental damage caused by kerbing, punctures, misalignment etc.

Typically, if you return a tyre to the depot you bought it from, the procedure you will have to undergo is likely to be something like this:

• Firstly the damaged/suspect tyre will usually be checked by the dealer for any obvious faults or signs of damage. If the damage is clearly caused by normal road use, the tyre will be returned to the customer
• If it is not clear why the tyre has failed, then warranty paperwork will be completed, and the tyre will be sent back to the manufacturer for their adjudication. This process can take several weeks and is highly inconvenient for customers who have genuinely suffered from a tyre manufacturing defect. However, it is the only way the manufacturers can protect themselves against unscrupulous customers making frivolous claims (see legal point at the bottom of this page).
• At this point if a new tyre is required then the customer will be asked to purchase it. If the manufacturer does find any manufacturing faults they tend to offer a credit based on the remaining tread left on the tyre and is paid back through the tyre retailer.
• If no manufacturing faults are found (i.e it was not faulty goods) no credit is issued and the tyre can be returned if necessary should the consumer wish the tyre to undergo further tests. The manufacturer will write to both the retailer and customer with their findings.

Although not in widespread use some tyre manufacturers and some dealers do offer warranties covering accidental damage caused in the course of normal driving and it is worth looking out for dealers offering these benefits.

Worth noting is the fact that questions were recently raised within the tyre industry as to whether tyre manufacturers were compliant with the Consumer Protection Act in requiring the consumer to pay for a replacement tyre in the case of a tyre being returned to the manufacturer for examination. The advice given by lawyers to the tyre industry was that - yes, this was compliant with the legislation, providing

- the examination process is not unreasonably lengthy
- the consumer is adequately compensated where appropriate
- the consumer is informed of the process he is engaing in by sending the tyre for examination.