Z06Vette.com - Corvette Z06 Forum - Tire has nail, (only 1900 miles!!!), not a happy camper!!

ZPO · 09-01-2008, 08:24 PM

Well with just over 1900 miles on my 08 Z I pick up a nail near the tread's center. I'm assuming this is an OK plug situation based on my limited searches here. The warranty manual says the tires are covered 3 years/ 36,000. So do I need to go to the Chevy dealer who is much further away or will a Goodyear dealer be better since only selective ones are "runflat" certified?
I also noticed the tire, (right rear), looks to be rounded off a little more on the inside edge so it looks like I definitely need some alignment adjustments. I already have pulled the tire off and probably will go to the nearest Goodyear runflat certified center for puncture repair and will get an opinion from them on the wear issue unless someone tells me otherwise.
Any input is appreciated, thanks in advance. Bill

seamus2154 · 09-01-2008, 09:30 PM

No plugs. It will be fixed / patched from the inside if done right. Make sure ,did you ever see a car on the dyno and watch that tire expand at .

allanlaw · 09-02-2008, 12:12 AM

A nail is not a warranty claim, it's a "road hazard"claim that is covered for a very short period - only the first 2/32nds of tread wear. If you are within that window, the tire will be repaired for free at Goodyear.

**dsinned** · 09-02-2008, 12:34 AM

Look on the bright side. You're lucky the nail wasn't closer to the side wall or they would tell you to chuck the tire and buy a new one.

ZPO · 09-02-2008, 06:06 AM

Thanks for the info guys, then a patch will be the fix. Based on your info I should be able to get the repair under the road hazard clause. I'll report back my results. Thanks again.

ZPO · 09-02-2008, 05:24 PM

I headed down to the Goodyear dealer and had the tire patched. It was free as allanlaw indicated because there was less than the 2/32ths wear.
However here's the bad part. The manager comes back to the showroom and says, "I want to show you something". Sure, and off I go to where the wheel and tire are on the balancer. They spin the tire up to speed and the rim is out of round on the backside edge.

The outside face, which you see, is running true but the back wheel edge is not concentric, maybe an 1/8 inch or so out of round. He asks if I had any vibrations, which I indicated none - it seems the be very smooth at speed.
I asked if their machine or the operator could have caused this which they immediately said no way. I talked with both the manager and tire tech guy about the situation and ended up taking there position at face value.
I called my dealer and related the experience to the service manager who wants me to bring it in and let them look at it. He accessed the computer and indicated my Z was acquired from another dealer. That being said, he gave me a bit of hope, so I guess I will find out my fate tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm trying to remain calm.

seamus2154 · 09-02-2008, 05:58 PM

It;s always something and it's never anybody's fault!!!! Shit just happens!!! yeah, right!

dizzy99 · 09-02-2008, 06:31 PM

The best way to do the repair is with a plug patch. You have to unseat the tire from the rim, then it's installed like a patch but has portion in the center that's like a plug (with a wire attached). With that type of patch you keep the speed rating of the tire.

ZPO · 09-03-2008, 10:42 AM

Good news update:

Dealer ordered a new rear wheel as a warranty claim. Boy, now I'm a happy camper again. Wheel should be here in about 3-5 days. I'll have to go back up there which is nearly 80 miles round trip but it will sure be worth it since they anted up.
I had my doubts, but John Megel Chevrolet in Dawsonville, Georgia, treated me well on both my purchase and on this claim with the car now having just over 1900 miles.

PS - They still have a 2008 Z06, Black with Red Interior Accents, 2LZ, Nav, Chrome with a sale sticker on it for over $10k off MSRP. I wonder how much lower they would go to move it.

**dsinned** · 09-03-2008, 05:22 PM

Last year I discovered a nail in my tire on a newly purchased vehicle (not a Corvette) from a Chevy dealer, at less than a 1000 miles, and even with the nail, I don't think it leaked any air. So, at first I did not notice it, but eventually I spotted the nail head sticking out of the thread. I returned the vehicle to the same selling dealer and inquired about getting a new tire under warranty.

The Service Dept pointed me to the nearest Goodyear dealer and told me I was basically on my own. They said the ONLY way they would pick up the tab was "if" I could prove the nail punctured the tire while the vehicle was in their inventory.

I had the tire "repaired" (for what amounted to a very small fee), but the patch installed on the inside of the tire did not completely seal and developed a very slow leak, which of course, once again I did not notice until several days later. At this point I had no recourse with Chevrolet or the tire dealer, in getting a new replacement tire unless I purchased one outright (~$400). I decided nuts to that since the original tire was still practically brand new, leaking only about one PSI per couple of days, and so I have been living with a slow leaker ever since.

Lucky thing that particular vehicle, a 2007 Trailblazer SS, also has the same LTPMS as late model Corvettes. It's my daily driver, so I just can keep an eye on the "defective" tire and top it off with more air pressure as needed.

Morale of the story . . . I'm sure glad these cars have the LTPMS because there are a lot of unhappy camper tire stories to go around. Secondarily, one of the drawbacks of owning a really nice C6 like a Z06, is that everybody you come in contact with for automotive services, naturally assumes you can afford to throw your money away.

ZPO · 09-03-2008, 05:26 PM

dsinned - Check one of my earlier posts, (number 6). I got the tire patched but the Goodyear Service center discovered my rear wheel was warped.
So now a new wheel is on the way and will be covered by the warranty. I'm happy now!!

**dsinned** · 09-03-2008, 05:40 PM

Got it. My bad. I should of read ALL of the intervening posts, and so I edited what I just posted.

allanlaw · 09-03-2008, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZPO

He asks if I had any vibrations, which I indicated none - it seems the be very smooth at speed. I asked if their machine or the operator could have caused this which they immediately said no way.

I would believe them on this - an out of round condition like that is usually caused by hitting a bump, curb or some such thing on the road. It doesn't take much (you might not have felt it, or it could have happened before you got the car), but more than what could have happened on their machines.

ZPO · 09-03-2008, 07:50 PM

Thanks for the input guys. I can't ever remember hitting anything more than a mild bump in the road so the warp was probably there all along. It didn't feel any different after the tire was patched so I tend to believe the Goodyear Service wasn't at fault. There were no impact marks on either the inside or outside edges. That's the only reason they elected to warranty the wheel.
These wide wheels appear fairly thin when viewed from the back side. Considering the thick runflat sidewall I would suppose that the right impact could affect the concentricity due to the tremendous offset.

hugoagogo · 09-05-2008, 03:24 PM

I love John Megel Chevy Too. They set me up in 2003. Maybe I should go back and pay them a visit.