Two things I will never understand in life...

[Sigarms]

Tire warranties and credit scores.

Tires - Seems like they can go at any time and no matter what the written warranty, there is a cop out in fine print. You think the more you pay, the better they (tires) would be, but I've found first hand that is not the case.

Credit scores - Mine dropped by 2 points, but still on the very high side IMO, and I don't have a clue how I got that high to begin with, nor do I know why I dropped a couple of points as I really haven't changed anything.

 

[oosik]

RE: your credit scores. My score is exceptionally high. Like you - I wonder why. One of the credit score monitoring web sites told be if I only had additional credit cards and more than my one credit account - my score would be higher.

I've alway paid cash for everything except day-to-day stuff. Even the house we built here in '82 was paid in cash. The Taco Wagon - cash. My tractor - cash.......etc, etc.

This credit score web site know EXACTLY what my spending habits are. Why would they think I need more than one credit card or need to put something on a payment plan.

I guess some folks would buy into this just to get their credit score a little higher.

RE: Tires. I've always purchased one brand of tire - TOYO - and have had very good performance with this brand. There is a dealership that serves the western USA - Les Schwab. Outstanding. And they sell TOYO tires.

 

[Sigarms]

RE: Tires. I've always purchased one brand of tire - TOYO - and have had very good performance with this brand. There is a dealership that serves the western USA - Les Schwab. Outstanding. And they sell TOYO tires.

I've used TOYO's as well. China made. No regrets, but it's now bugging me that they are Chinese made and not Japanese made.

My dad has had 3 different cars over the last 15 years, same make and model. He wanted Michelin tires because that's what he always had on the new car, and that's what HE likes. Thing is, brand new car bought in 2018 had new tires. These tires supposed to have 55k mileage warranty on them. I'm looking for tires for my father as his are worn out, call discount tire, and they inform me that tires that come new with a vehicle are different than when you need to buy them. They tell me it's a softer rubber on new tires so they wear out more quickly. Total BS I know. But, my father only had 34k on the tires with a 55k warranty and because it was bought from the dealer, out of luck because it was a new car when bought with the "ne tires".

Point being, discount tire didn't want to deal with the headache. Never will go there again,

That said, bought new tires for my dad at a local mechanic, and I will be a PITA to follow through with the warranty now as far as what is required per the manufacturer.

 

[scaredychicken]

I think the credit score drops slightly if your credit usage slows down ... like it Times-Out or something

 

[beowulf]

Maybe intentionally, it is sort of impossible to figure out credit scoring completely. Our scores bounce around the 820-830 range. When I pull my annual credit reports it states that the score was negatively affected by 1) I did not have or was not using 'installment credit' - so I guess if I borrowed more and owed more my score would improve? and 2) the ratio of credit available to credit used had a negative effect - this despite the fact that we have very high limits on several cards and only use one card and the credit used is just a fraction of what is available to us - and that is paid off in full monthly. So, I suppose someone has figured this all out logically - but it makes no sense to me.

 

[rjpotts]

You can add "roof shingles" to the "tires" warranty scam. My experience with shingle warranty is they blame the installer. When given the evidence of premature failure they simply say the shingle was manufactured to their specification therefore it must have been improperly installed (Certainteed in my experience).

 

[MoKelly]

On tires - Maybe the dealer is more important than the tire brand.

My dealer gives free tire fix or replace if you have a flat. They have fixed my tires (bought in 2018) 3 times. All tread leaks due to nails or screws.

Maybe they’d be more strict if the actual tire had to be replaced. But for flats, they are very good.

MoKelly

 

[Oaktree]

Tire warranties and credit scores.

Tires - Seems like they can go at any time and no matter what the written warranty, there is a cop out in fine print. You think the more you pay, the better they (tires) would be, but I've found first hand that is not the case.

Credit scores - Mine dropped by 2 points, but still on the very high side IMO, and I don't have a clue how I got that high to begin with, nor do I know why I dropped a couple of points as I really haven't changed anything.

I don't get credit scores either. Mine varies by 10 points or more from one month to the next (going by what's printed on my Discover statement). Always in the 800s. Funny thing though...when we bought my wife's (3 year old used) car a few years ago the credit agency (which I'd never heard of) the dealer used showed me as being around 600!! He was vague as to why, but mumbled something about having no history of a vehicle loan (probably true...only other vehicle I bought on credit was in 1971). Apparently there are different credit scores for different types of loans. If it were me, I would have walked out of that dealership right then, but the wife had her mind made up she wanted that car so we went ahead.

I've never paid much attention to tire warranties...I figure they're pro-rated so even if you only get 60% of the rated life the best you might get is a couple dollars off a replacement.

 

[BravoXray]

Yeah, there is some convoluted, super secret algorithm they use to calculate credit scores. I couldn't give a rat's furry behind what it is, as I only have a couple of CCs and pay cash for most things, and everything I have is paid for. At 71, I don't anticipate any large purchases that I can pay cash for.

 

[CalG]

Tire warranties are just statistics, like actuarial tables. The "company" is playing the odds. Don't worry, they still profit on every sale!

Credit scores are more baffling than women.

Example

I recently purchased a new vehicle. I hadn't bought new in over 35 years. But I thought it was time for a treat.

Made a decision and the salesman wanted to work out the financing. I said I would ONLY finance where I bank. I like to be able to talk to people face to face.

Fine, they made the call and my bank turned the financing down. The salesman offered alternate financing. I said , "no, I'll pay cash". Cash from an account at the same bank that wouldn't do the financing.

I can't figure that at all....

They don't get to play with my money. I get the enjoyment of what my money bought. That I understand

 

[Cougsfan]

A college economics professor that I had told us in his class that the only thing that you should ever borrow money to buy are things that appreciate, or things that help make you money. But it is much wiser yet if you don't even borrow for those kind of things. For everything else (cars, motorcycles, vacations, etc.) if you can't afford to pay cash, you can't afford it. I followed his advice and have never ever worried about my credit score.
I do have two credit cards. I got the second one after I was on a trip while some unauthorized person tried using my credit card number online. The card company rightfully put a hold on my card. The only problem was I had no cash and I couldn't buy gas to continue home! So now I have 2 separate cards. The firm rule is that we pay of the balance every month.

 

[jaxs]

Discount tire has always made good on tire warranties. Last one was last November when a tire seperated at 70mph on IH20. I got a good grip on the wheel and manuvered into right lane and took next exit. By the time I found a place to park the tire was flat run and in shreds. Got the pee-wee spare on and limped to the first place that sold tires and boufgt a new one. Took what was left of tire to discount a week later and told manager what happened. He gave me 100% of purchase price in cash. Not only will Discount Tire repair flats on tires they sold,they will fix flats,rotate and check air on any tire free. What more could you expect and who does it? In Sig's case that was the car mfgr's fault for not using same tires sold by tire dealers. You can't get warranty on shocks or anything else that come's from the factory on cars.

 

[Sigarms]

I've never paid much attention to tire warranties...I figure they're pro-rated so even if you only get 60% of the rated life the best you might get is a couple dollars off a replacement.

I just read how great these Michelin tires were, and how they have a 55,000 mile warranty (for the kind of money they cost, you should get 50k out of them). They were the exact same tire on the car when it was bougt new off the showroom, and they were worn out only after 34,000 miles, and they were not ridden hard.

Just found it sad that discount tire came up with the excuse that they use a different rubber in new vehicles so they wear out quicker, thus they couldn't warranty them. Seriously, Michelin has the same exact same model of tire with two seperate types of rubber, one for new cars and the ones they sell? Could of respected them more if they would of told me I had to go to the dealership where the car was bought new (my fathers car). long time ago, use to put 40k a year on my personal vehicle for work. Went to discount tire back then because they push all these great warranties they push as a company. For whatever reason, seems like whenever I needed a new tire prematurely IMO, they always had a excuse as to why it couldn't be warrantied. Been just as happy as having my local mechanic in town getting me tires now.

 

[mikester]

Now explain OEM asphalt shingle warranties and how to collect on those. The installers keep going out of business every 2-3 years and reopening under a new name so I'm not talking about their tail light warranties.

 

[Sigarms]

In Sig's case that was the car mfgr's fault for not using same tires sold by tire dealers. You can't get warranty on shocks or anything else that come's from the factory on cars.

It was the EXACT same model / series. Out of curiousity, I tooks pics. EXACT same time.

Michelin 235/40R19, Primacy MXM4 series.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Primacy+MXm4&partnum=34VR9MXM4PXL

I never had a tire blowout within the warranty, but if I did, I darn well be better getting all my money back as well on that tire.

Perhaps it's the local region with discount tire with their views on taking care of the customer, but I use to take my 4 vehicles up there (longer drive than my local mechanic), but it always seemed they had some excuse as to why the tire was out of warranty (sorry, $20 off one tire doesn't really do it for me).

As far as the "service" discount tire offers, my local mechanic does the same thing including free rotations. I just personally found it easier for my local mechanic to do it since the car would generally be in his shop for something else and easier than making a drive into "the big town" just for tires.

Mechanic also laughed at the tire warranties and said it was just a way for their customer base to keep buying their brand of tire and when it gets pro rated for the wear and tear, money back is hardly nothing. I'm not that much of a prick where if a tire has a 55k mile warranty if I get 45k out it, I'm going to be upset if I get $20 off, but only 34k on those tires not being road hard is laughable IMO. That said, dads car, and forwhatever reason, the same guy who reuses his teabags wanted those Michelins, so that's what he got.

Just a learning experience on my end because I'd never spend that kind of money on tires.

 

[Sigarms]

On tires - Maybe the dealer is more important than the tire brand.

My dealer gives free tire fix or replace if you have a flat. They have fixed my tires (bought in 2018) 3 times. All tread leaks due to nails or screws.

Maybe they’d be more strict if the actual tire had to be replaced. But for flats, they are very good.

MoKelly

My experience has been no different than yours at this point.

 

[Hay Dude]

Tire warranties are just statistics, like actuarial tables. The "company" is playing the odds. Don't worry, they still profit on every sale!

Credit scores are more baffling than women.

Example

I recently purchased a new vehicle. I hadn't bought new in over 35 years. But I thought it was time for a treat.

Made a decision and the salesman wanted to work out the financing. I said I would ONLY finance where I bank. I like to be able to talk to people face to face.

Fine, they made the call and my bank turned the financing down. The salesman offered alternate financing. I said , "no, I'll pay cash". Cash from an account at the same bank that wouldn't do the financing.

I can't figure that at all....

They don't get to play with my money. I get the enjoyment of what my money bought. That I understand

I donnnnnnnt know about THAT

 

[Hay Dude]

Warranties only seem to be useful if a NEW product takes a dump. Once the product gets older, it becomes nearly impossible to get help.

 

[Bigkrank]

Now explain OEM asphalt shingle warranties and how to collect on those. The installers keep going out of business every 2-3 years and reopening under a new name so I'm not talking about their tail light warranties.

I had to send Owens-Corning a shingle sample removed exactly per their instructions packaged a certain way. They replaced my 5 year old roof including underlayment and labor at no cost. 47 square.

I had 6 bad shingles on one spot on my garage. Obviously from a defective bundle, rest of roof was perfect. Asked for $75 for replacing them and they said no. Got pissed and went thru their warranty procedure and got a whole new roof. All because $75 was too much for them to shell out, stupid.