Do you buy Road Hazard Warranty?

[SteveO]

I know a lot of us probably do, but I am in need of a new set of tires at the moment and began thinking critically about RH. I usually purchase this. I'm concluding that it's not a good opportunity cost, though. IIRC, the one time I had to use it, I had to pay a prorated amount for a new tire and I'm sure that amount averaged out to the cost of a new tire when the RH cost itself and other "out the door" fees are included.

I know Costco includes this, but they sell only Michelins for my car. And they are priced at more than I want to pay, so I'm looking at a set of Bridgestones on Tire Rack that are about $160 less "out the door"and have a higher treadwear rating.

TIA if anybody has anything to say pro or con regarding road hazard warranties.

[cbelt3]

Depends on the seller and how well they honor it. With Sears, yes, because they tend to honor it pretty well, and I've had good service from them over the last 30+ years I've been driving.

What annoys me is the tendency for tire shops to tell me "I can't fix that because it's too close to the sidewall". This didn't used to be an issue in the era of 70mph driving and big huge cars. Why is in an issue with my itteh bitteh honda and 60 mph ?

[bazookaman]

I get my tires for the Honda at Costco. But I love Michelins despite the cost. Also they frequently have them on sale. I bought them on one of those sales and got like $80 off all 4. I go in and get them rotated for free every so many miles. They also repaired a nail hole in one tire for free. And of course, there is the prorated amount for a new tire if necessary.

The Dodge OTOH, gets BFG ATs. And i get them at a local tire shop. No road hazard or anything.

[deckeda]

I don't buy insurance on products.

[vicrock]

Nope.

I just ruined a tire, and had to pay a pro-rated price based on tread depth, cost me about $50 for the replacement without RH warranty.

[Acer]

25 years of driving, no hazard warranties, and the worst road damage I've had is a couple nails...sum total of maybe $25 in patch repairs. Even if a totally blow out two tires in a Pennsylvania pothole tomorrow I'm still waaaay ahead.

[michaelb]

Costco is running a coupon for $70 off michelins (you probably know that). I never buy road hazard, and had forgotten what it was. I haven't had a flat in years or a tire repaired. Seems like a low risk. I also never buy insurance like this, since I know that the companies set the prices on these policies high enough so they make a killing: the customers always lose big time on average.

[thermarest]

I tend to buy insurance only for things I can't possibly afford to replace, like a house. I could afford to replace a tire if I need to. My cars have liability only.

[SteveO]

Then I am in good company.

Yeah, I am aware of the Mich rebate. That price I mentioned is even AR. Crazy. My Michelins wore out prematurely (yeah I rotated and aligned), and I'm gonna call Mich cs and see if they're willing to give me anything toward a new set that may make a new set less. But I may just skip it. I'd rate the Michelin Pilots as an average tire overall.

[Thrift Store Scott]

cbelt3 wrote:
What annoys me is the tendency for tire shops to tell me "I can't fix that because it's too close to the sidewall". This didn't used to be an issue in the era of 70mph driving and big huge cars. Why is in an issue with my itteh bitteh honda and 60 mph ?

Chalk that one up mainly to an overly-litigious society and a "CYA" mentality by the tire manufacturers, but the fact that newer-style, lower-profile tires (60-series or lower now versus 78- or 75-series tires back in the day) have a lot more material inside the tire near the sidewall making it difficult to get good adhesion on "iffy" patch locations does play a big part as well.