Are Warranties Worth It?
Product Information | 05/19/2023
The learning of warranties is one of the most curious and cunning learnings of the law, and of great use and consequence.
When it comes to researching new tires, the minefield of tire warranties might be the least of your concerns. You just want to get new tires on your vehicle as quickly as possible so you can get back out on the road right? Don’t all tires have a basic warranty? While it’s certainly an understood assumption that most new tires will come with some kind of basic warranty, it is not guaranteed, and even if they do come with one, some are better than others. Be sure to ask about what specific type of warranty is included when purchasing your tires and keep these things in mind to get the most benefit from it:
The Pros of Getting a Warranty
Occasionally, tires may not last as long as promised by the manufacturer or retailer or may suffer damage due to issues in construction. In those cases, reputable tire companies offer warranties to reimburse or replace tires within certain time periods or below a certain number of miles driven, or under other conditions such as the amount of tread remaining on the tire. This first one seems pretty straightforward and will usually come included. But a bonus to look for above and beyond a basic materials and workmanship warranty is getting a road hazard warranty which will also cover you for accidental damage like driving over a nail and puncturing your tire. These are usually valid for a limited amount of time also (i.e. six months) so check the fine print before making your purchase. If road hazard is not included as part of the warranty, you could ask to have it added at an additional cost. Of course, if you have specific tires and purpose in mind, whether or not it comes with the right kind of warranty might not be relevant if you’re willing to fork out the same amount of cash to replace them. But if you have some flexibility when making this sort of large investment or during the unfortunate event of having to get one replaced, a quick question about tire warranties might save you money in the long run.
Be Sure to Check the Fine Print
When purchasing a new car directly from the showroom, the tires will be covered by a warranty issued by the original vehicle manufacturer, making the warranty claim process simple. Once you start dealing with replacement tires, however, you’ll most likely need to deal directly with the retail outlet you purchased the tires from. At the time of purchase, check with the salesperson to who you would submit a warranty claim to if needed (the retail outlet or the tire manufacturer directly). You also may need to ensure that the tires have been rotated every few thousand miles (check each company’s brochure for details) for the warranty claim to be valid. Any additional costs of mounting, balancing, installation charges, shipping, and any applicable sales tax are not always covered so keep that in mind when making a claim. And make sure to keep your documentation of alignment and tire rotation records, along with original purchase receipts and date of installation in case you are asked to provide them when making a claim. And be sure to check any other stipulations; if the verbiage seems confusing and the retailer can’t help you, contact the manufacturer directly.
How Do Delinte’s Warranties Stack Up?
Delinte tires have a very generous warranty compared to similarly priced tires. For instance, its D-Shield warranty plan ensures that if hazard damage occurs in the first six months from the date of purchase or the first 2/32” of tread life, (whichever comes first), Delinte will replace your tire with a comparable tire manufactured by the Sentury Tire factory, 100% free of charge. If the road hazard damage occurs in the first year from the date of purchase or from 2/32” to 4/32” tread life (whichever comes first), the Delinte Tire dealer will reimburse you for 50% of their original retail cost. The road hazard warranty does not apply to these models, however: tire series 40 and lower (i.e. 40, 35, 30, 25, and 20) and tires with a rim diameter 19” and higher. These come with a mileage warranty only.
Delinte D-SHIELD road hazard & mileage warranty tires
The Conclusion
There are enough cost-saving benefits to having a warranty that makes it worthwhile factoring in research time and verifying specific information about the warranty at the time of purchase. Just remember to read the fine print, keep all documentation on tire rotation and check who you should make the claim through (retailer or manufacturer) ahead of time so that if a warranty claim becomes necessary, the process will hopefully be more seamless.