QuestionHi. We bought Goodyear Viva 2 tires for our 2005 Kia Sedona minivan at Walmart about 18 months ago. They have a 60k mile warranty and we have driven 20,000 miles.
The front two tires are severely worn on the inner portion of the tire. Metal is showing on one tire. We did have an alignment down 6 months ago.
We went to Walmart and they initially refused to handled the warranty, saying we would have to deal with Goodyear directly. We called Goodyear and they told us Walmart would have to handle. We went back and forth arguing a couple times and Walmart finally said they would handle the warranty claim, but that they would not cover anything because the cause was a mechanical problme with the van. But they could not say specifically what the mechanical problem is. He said maybe bad ball joints or alignment or balance. He does not know but he won't cover it.
Is this reasonable? Seems to me that even if the van is out of alignment the tires should last more than 1/3 of the warranty....
I did a Google search and found a lot of complaints about the Goodyear Viva 2.
Thanks for your help!
AnswerOk, this is why we do NOT ever buy tires from Wal-Mart or even Sams club.
Also this is another reason why not do buy Goodyear tires.
I recommend Michelin, uniroyal or BFGoodrich.
Ok to the question.
From what you are telling me, and keep in mind this is hard to say without seeing the tire and van, that it sounds like a alignment or balance issue. More so an alignment issue.
You said you had the alignment done on the van 6 months ago. And that the tires are 18 moths. So what about the first 12 months? The alignment problem could have came from that.
And here is something else to think about.
If it is the alignment from the first 12 months, then why did the shop that did the alignment not tell you the tires where bad? That would have knocked out any alignment that was done.
Basic, it is hard to say for sure, but sounds like a alignment issue or possible balance.
Did you have the tire rotation done? Every 6000? That would have been at least 3 rotations.
If you did, did you have the balance and PSI checked each time? Did you check your PSI ( air in the tires ) every month?
All that could cause problems also. So take all that and the above, and you see why it is hard to say at times what is the problem.
However, any good and train tire person should or should I say, better know after seeing the tire, car and the history, ( asking you the above questions and/or checking paperwork for rotations ) should and better know the reason for the problem.
The bad part is that Wal-Mart and Sams club do not train there tire people right. There training is on of the biggest jokes in the tire market. ( or at least was ).
I do have to say one thing here. Those tires with the metal showing are ready to blow out on you and more then likely are losing air. They are unsafe and need replace ASAP.
Ok back to what I was saying.
Any store that sells tires, MUST handle the warranty part also. So yes, Wal-Mart has to handle the claim.
Now since they are refusing the claim, you need to call Goodyear and complain to them that the tires will not get replace.
They may just give you a customer satisfaction refund. I would have.
You need to go visit a Goodyear store and see if they can help you or at least get there option on what cause it and if a warranty can be filed. They may file it for you.
Hope this helps,
John
