Your vehicle depends on tyres as one of its essential components. Your tyres enable your vehicle to travel and brake while maintaining road safety. Your tyres perform their duties during every drive, which results in their gradual deterioration. Tyres deteriorate over time and may develop damage or lose their traction abilities. Tyre brands and shops provide tyre warranties to their customers for this reason.
But what is a tyre warranty? The warranty specifies both its protected areas and its excluded zones. This explanation will simplify everything about tyre warranties to help you understand their coverage when purchasing new tyres.
What is a Tyre Warranty?
A tyre warranty functions as a company’s promise delivered through tyre shops or tyre companies. The warranty promise states that the company will either repair or replace the tyre or refund part of the purchase price if any issues occur within the specified period. Some warranties cover tyre damage. The warranty duration represents one of the covered aspects.
Different companies provide distinct warranty options for their tyres, so consumers need to know exactly which warranty they receive when purchasing new tyres.
Why Tyre Warranties Matter
Buying tyres is not cheap. A new tyre malfunction would result in additional expenses for repairs or replacement, which you want to avoid. A tyre warranty functions as financial protection against such expenses. A tyre warranty provides both economic savings and peace of mind. A company that provides strong warranties demonstrates its confidence in the durability and reliability of its tyres.
Types of Tyre Warranties
There are different kinds of tyre warranties. Not all tyres come with all types. Some warranties are free, while others may cost extra. Here are the most common types:
1. Workmanship and Materials Warranty
This warranty protects you against manufacturing defects and workmanship errors in the product. It covers factory defects and provides assistance to customers.
The company will either replace the tyre or provide you with a discount on a new purchase when weak spots, bubbles, or cracks appear during the early life of the tyre.
The warranty duration for this type extends between 4 to 6 years, starting from the purchase date or until the tyre reaches its specified wear-out threshold.
2. Tread Life Warranty (Mileage Warranty)
This warranty depends on the distance you drive your vehicle before the tyre reaches the end of its life. Tyres sometimes include guarantees that promise to last for either 50,000 or 80,000 kilometres of use.
When a tyre reaches its expiration distance before the warranty period, the company will refund part of your money or decrease the replacement tyre cost.
Regular tyre rotation and proper air pressure maintenance are necessary conditions to obtain this warranty. There is a requirement to present documentation about tyre rotation and alignment procedures.
3. Road Hazard Warranty
This warranty protects tyres from damage caused by nails, glass, sharp stones, and road potholes. Road hazards have the potential to damage brand-new tyres. A warranty against road hazards is not standard on all tyres and typically requires an additional payment from customers.
The road hazard warranty protects you from paying for replacement or repair costs when your tyre sustains damage from items found on the road.
4. Free Trial or Satisfaction Guarantee
Tyre companies provide customers with a testing period before they need to decide about the purchase. During the trial period, you can drive the tyres for between 30 and 60 days. During this time, you can exchange your tyres for different models if you find the performance or feel unsatisfactory.
The trial period serves as a useful option for testing new tyre brands before deciding which ones work best for your vehicle.
What Tyre Warranties Don’t Cover
Tyre warranties generally do not cover the following:
- Damage from improper maintenance, such as underinflation or overinflation
- Accidents or collisions
- Vandalism or theft
- Off-road use (unless specified)
- Cosmetic damage that does not affect performance
Always review the warranty details carefully to know what’s excluded.
What You Need to Do to Keep Your Warranty Valid
Just having a warranty is not enough. You need to take care of your tyres and follow some rules to keep your warranty valid. Here’s what you should do:
- Keep Your Receipt
Keep the purchase bill or receipt for new tyres because it serves as evidence for warranty claims. The receipt acts as proof of your transaction and becomes necessary for warranty claims. - Register Your Tyres
Companies request their customers to register their tyres through online platforms or paper-based forms. The registration process enables warranty tracking by the company. - Rotate Tyres Regularly
Tyre rotation involves moving tyres from one position to another, such as front to back. Regular rotation results in even tyre wear. The majority of tyre warranties state that you need to perform tyre rotation at intervals between 8,000 and 10,000 kilometres. - Maintain Correct Air Pressure
Regularly check your tyre pressure each month. Your tyres will suffer damage, and your warranty may become invalid when pressure levels are either too low or too high. - Check Your Wheel Alignment
Poor wheel alignment results in uneven tyre wear that happens rapidly. You should check your wheel alignment when your steering pulls to one side or your tyres appear uneven.
How to Make a Warranty Claim
Follow this procedure when your tyre appears faulty under warranty:
- Return to the tyre dealer from whom you purchased the tyre.
- Produce your purchase documentation along with the receipt.
- Present the issue to the tyre shop while displaying the defective product.
- The tyre shop will perform an inspection of the tyre before deciding whether warranty coverage applies.
- The warranty provider will either replace your tyre with a new one, fix it, or provide a discount.
Every tyre company operates with its own unique claim process, so check with your tyre dealer for specific instructions.
Final Thoughts
New tyre protection through warranties serves as a valuable safeguard for your purchased tyres. The warranty provides support for factory defects, premature wear, and road damage. The coverage of warranties differs from one to another, while specific conditions remain excluded from protection.
Before purchasing tyres, you should request information about the warranty from the tyre shop. The warranty details should include full coverage boundaries, along with the maintenance criteria required to uphold validity. Caring for your tyres depends on regular wheel alignment checks, periodic pressure inspections, and tyre rotation maintenance.
Understanding tyre warranties enables drivers to feel confident on the road, knowing assistance is available during potential tyre failures.