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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Does this look normal? (tire content)

Sept. 26, 2010 12:06 a.m. Derick Freese HalfDork

Ok, so last night, I finally got around to patching a slow leak in one of the tires on our Saturn. There was another really slow leak in another tires, so I figured I'd do both. This escalated to me deciding to do a rotation, as I've badly neglected it for a while. I noticed the passenger front tire looked odd when I pulled it off. I inspected it, and it seems to be separating.

Please excuse the crappy pictures, they were taken at 12:45 at night with a camera I'm not familiar with.

Anyway, I know this isn't normal. This damage does not continue around the entire circumference of the whole tire, but does appear to affect about 50% of the tread.

Does this look like outright damage, or does this look like a tire defect?

I checked the Driver's side front tire, and it also has similar damage.

I plan on calling Saturn on Monday and seeing if they can goodwill a set of tires from a different brand or meet me half way on a set that I purchase at another retailer. I can't say I've ever seen that sort of damage on a 29,000 mile tire.

EDIT To the powers that be, the title should read "Does this look normal" instead of it referring to some guy I don't even know.
Sept. 26, 2010 12:22 a.m. paul Reader

Looks like a poor attempt at a re-tread...
Sept. 26, 2010 12:23 a.m. SkinnyG Reader

Derick Freese wrote: *EDIT* To the powers that be, the title should read "Does this look normal" instead of it referring to some guy I don't even know.

Oh CRAP! And I was SO ready for a witty reply.
Sept. 26, 2010 12:31 a.m. Derick Freese HalfDork

I should have made them install fresh tires. The car existed on those tires (and less than 20 total miles) for about 18 months. The build date wasn't much before the build date of the car (like 4707, car was built in January 2008), but as we all know, sitting can kill tires. I'm really hoping they'll work with us. We just can't afford $500 on a set of tires right now.
Sept. 26, 2010 6:38 a.m. ansonivan HalfDork

The tire is coming apart, looks like it's also out of tread.

To add more, no it's not normal but at that point in a tire's life it's not unusual.

Also, this is Norman:
Sept. 26, 2010 8:11 a.m. 914Driver SuperDork

No, this is Norm.
Sept. 26, 2010 10:09 a.m. Datsun1500 Dork
Sept. 26, 2010 10:14 a.m. alex Dork

This looks Norman (Mailer):
Sept. 26, 2010 10:27 a.m. Wally SuperDork
Sept. 26, 2010 10:36 a.m. iceracer Dork

The tire look to be at the end of their life anyway. Don't expect any help from Saturn. Does it even exist anymore. You would get better response from the tire manufacturer.
There are used tire places.
Sept. 26, 2010 11:28 a.m. Datsun1500 Dork

Tires are warrantied through the tire manufacturer, not the car company. Saturn will be no help. Once the manufacturer sees that they have not been rotated regularly, per your post, they will say it's your problem.
Sept. 26, 2010 11:47 a.m. EvanB Dork

Saturn still does exist, for another month at least. But they still won't be any help.
Sept. 27, 2010 12:02 a.m. Derick Freese HalfDork

GM still honors the warranty. According to the warranty book that came with the car, the tires have a 25,000 mile warranty through GM, not Hankook.

The tires still have quite a bit of tread left. They're not worn down to the wear bars. The blurry picture makes the tread depth look worse than it actually is.

Anyway, we had a car break in over the weekend, and compounding that issue with the tires, my wife wants to replace the car. It's starting to develop German car quirks which come with higher-than-BMW parts costs. We're looking to dump it off for something more common. The wife recommended a Speed3. We're going to check one out tomorrow.
Sept. 27, 2010 7:34 a.m. Datsun1500 Dork

You can't afford $500 on tires according to your second post, but you can afford another car? How does that work?

Are you seriously going to get rid of a car with 29,000 miles because it needs some repair? Also you mention the car was built in 2008, shouldn't it have the 3 year 36K mile warranty to take care of any quirks for now?
Sept. 27, 2010 7:48 a.m. dorri732 New Reader

I'd love to get 29,000 miles out of a set of tires.
Sept. 27, 2010 7:52 a.m. pinchvalve SuperDork

This looks Norman:
Sept. 27, 2010 7:53 a.m. Derick Freese HalfDork

The quirks aren't really repeatable and the dealership has been unable to replicate any of the issues. Over in the Astra boards, it seems like these cars are starting to fall apart beyond about 50,000 miles.

In case you haven't financed a car, when you trade in, you can often walk out with a new car with nothing out of pocket.

For a new car, the Astra just doesn't have a very good electrical system. I've had it unlock itself a few times, which is a possible reason the break-in over the weekend was easily possible. I've had it shut down the turn signal and brake light circuits for seemingly no reason. The transmission is already getting harder to shift.

And sometimes, when SWMBO speaks, you have to listen, especially when she's the one that makes the real money in the house.
Sept. 27, 2010 9:59 a.m. Datsun1500 Dork

I would say the biggest issue you will run into is the resale value of the Saturn. There are dealers here that will not take them in trade because the banks they use (when trying to resell it) will not finance Saturns or Pontiacs anymore because they no longer exist. It's a strange policy, but it could cause you to be buried in that car. Good luck.

I have financed cars before and know how it works...
Sept. 27, 2010 11:07 a.m. Derick Freese HalfDork

If that's the case, then I'm going to be looking at Lemon Law litigation and seeing if I'm still within the time frame. The brakes will occasionally make a noise. In the state of FL, that's enough grounds to initiate the Lemon Law proceedings.

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