Date: Sat, 13 Sep 2003 05:52:29 GMT From: milt brewster <milt73nopsamc.net> Subject: Re: Saab Complaint
In article <7bbvlvse9bijvlqna8vud5vbpn1q613s1fnopsamcom>, madynnopsametcom.com says... > On Wed, 10 Sep 2003 20:30:06 GMT, milt brewster <milt73nopsamc.net> > wrote: > > <snip> > > > >The fact remains that Saab equipped my new car with tires that > >have failed, catastrophically, twice in five thousand miles, with > >much better than "normal" care, and under good road conditions. > > I happened to mention this information to the local Saab technician, > who came up with the following information. > > 1) Blowouts do happen. One frequent cause is that people with low > profile tires do not properly inflate them. This causes sidewall > bulge and excess wear on the rim, which leads to blowouts. Absolutely true. The problem he sidestepped, is that the tires that Saab provides as OEM equipment are designed so they will lose pressure in normal use a LOT faster than they should. While we could toss around how 'negligent' I am (and others here in this thread have), the real issue here is whether I should be able to drive my car more than one hour at 65 MPH and NOT have to stop at a garage to inflate my four tires. I maintain that I should. Your guys should also affirm that under normal conditions, a slow leak on Saab Michelins will turn into a blowout in a matter of just a few seconds. I maintain that this is inherently unsafe behavior and that Saab had a responsibility to design their car and provide tires that do NOT behave this way. Finally; while blowouts "happen," other cars simply don't do what my Saab did. For example, I would be amazed if late model Honda or Toyota cars using substantially the same equipment behaved in this way. > > 2) The contract is between you and the tire company. Saab is under no > absolute obligation to mess with the contract you have with the tire > company. Your first line of opportunity is to talk to Michelin, > that's who the guarantee is with. As to whether Michelins are somehow > defective, any tire in the situation in #1 above will fail. > > 3) Based on what the technician said, I do not recommend that you use > Pirellis. They seem to have significant sidewall bubbles.... > > Please note that point #3 is only anecdotal, and I have no particular > kind of documentation to support it. While the NTHA and other sources do provide some data on problems like this; their data is late and faulty as well. They are not really an "authority," they are just a good information source. In the end, we buyers have to base our decisions on anecdotal comparasons of experience like this, and take the Manufacturer's word for it (their Warrantee), that they have designed and built a product that is safe to operate under normal conditions and will make good on any product failure we experience under those condiditions. Saab didn't live up to their Warrantee. > > <snip> > > > >> Tires were very important to me before I bought them. That's why I bought good > >> tires with the heat rating, speed rating and tread pattern I needed. > > > >and why I fully expect an auto manufacturer like Saab to equip > >their new cars with tires suitable for the uses to which their > >owners will put their new cars. > > if you mean "ordinary use"..... yes, however, if you mean "any use", > that's not workable. "Ordinary use" is a precise term that the US Auto industry has to define and support under the product Warrantees it extends to owners. It means substantially what you think it means and doesn't mean what you suggest it should not mean. > > Harvey You know what, Harvey? This is exactly what several other people have told me now, and it is useful to me even though I don't find it to be entirely good news for me. While my tire contract is indeed between me and the tire company; it does involve the Manufacturer if the tires came with the car as original equipment. This really is a Legal issue; not a mechanical issue. Still, your guy was right: I have to start with the Michelin folks. ... but I get to note that the Saab folks were less than no help at all, when they should have been. **** I put two dunlop sports on the Saab because that was all I could find that fit, after phoning around a dozen tire dealers. These dunlops have what looks like stronger sidewalls to me, and they run significantly cooler than the Michelins do. I am continuing to look for a better tire choice for this car. mb
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