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In January of this year I purchased a used '98 Ford Contour from a
local dealership. The purchase package included a much-touted 100-point
inspection and an assortment of various guarantees and coverages. To date,
I've had no mechanical difficulties with the vehicle.
On the way to work yesterday I found that I had a flat tire, so I put
the donut on and continued on my merry way. The only reputable company near
my workplace (ie, to which I could take my vehicle during lunch) was Sears.
Ergo, I took my car there, outlined the problem, selected the brand of tire
I wanted, and proceeded to stroll around the mall while they replaced the
flat. My intent was to purchase two new tires and rotate two of the
remaining ones from front to back. Upon my return an hour later, the techs
informed me that the tires on my car were slightly larger than the correct
size (65 vs 60), and the tires had been rubbing against the struts, causing
wear to the surface. I don't believe this to have been a factor in the one
tire going flat, however. In any case, Sears said they would not be able to
perform the rotation, and I had to purchase four new tires for a grand total
of about $445. Sears wouldn't put the wrong-sized tires back on my vehicle,
and I can understand their position; if they knowingly put the incorrect
tires on my vehicle and I subsequently suffered an accident as a result of
the tires, Sears could conceivably be held liable. It seems to me that if
the tires were indeed too large for the vehicle, then the agency that
supplied them (ie, the dealership) should compensate me for the extra two
tires I had to purchase.
When I got back to work, I contacted my dealership and informed them of my
disappointment at their choice of tires. I further questioned the alleged
100-point inspection, which I would assumed to cover such middling
automotive details as tires. The sales manager with whom I spoke was
argumentative and, frankly, a butthead, and he told me that Sears had
"snowed" me. Sears, he explained, is in the business of trying to sell
tires, so of course they'd try to sell me two extra. Ford, I pointed out to
the sales mgr, is likewise in the business of sales (and would doubtless
want to avoid compensating me), so I had no reason to take his word over
theirs. In fact, he offered to sell me two tires, and I have several
suggestions re: where he can align them.
So here's my question: if in fact the dealership put the wrong size
tires on my vehicle, and if as a result I was forced to purchase four tires
from Sears (or any agency, for that matter) is it inappropriate to request
that Ford compensate me for the cost? It seems to me (and I am fiendishly
tempted to point this out to the sales mgr) that Ford would be inclined to
present the appearance of a company greatly concerned about tire quality,
given their recent problems with the Explorer. I expect that if one of the
tires had blown as a result of the undue wear, and if I had suffered injury,
the person responsible for the undue wear might be liable if the wear could
be demonstrated as a cause of the blowout. Would I have to have suffered an
accident before the dealership could be held responsible for the wrong tires?
I know this is trivial compared to questions of whether or not I would
be entitled to screw Wal*Mart just because I figured out how to do it, but
since I have $222.50 at stake, I wanted to get other people's insight before
I discuss it with the dealership tomorrow.
Thanks!
Dave!
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Message has 8 Replies:
 | | Re: Hosed?
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| (...) Unless "checking that the automobile has the right sized tires" is one of the 100 check items, I think that you are hosed in that respect. But they did sell you a car with improper tires, which obviously are not simply interchangable (the worn (...) (22 years ago, 31-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: Hosed?
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| "Dave Schuler" <orrex@excite.com> wrote in message news:GwzCEv.KLL@lugnet.com... (...) One assumes you can find out the correct size of tyre for the vehicle? Surely in the manual? At least then you would know who was lying, Sears or the Ford (...) (22 years ago, 31-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: Hosed?
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| Dave! You are SO hosed, my hundreds of $$$ poorer clone brick friend. Did you get Sears' assertion in writing? I am not a lawyer -- but as for confronting the dealership, the only advice I can give that may help is to assert to them that you will (...) (22 years ago, 31-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: Hosed?
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| What were the exact tire sizes? A 1998 Ford Contour is listed as having either 185/70-14 or 195/65-14 tires as original equipment. A 1998 Ford Contour SE had 205/60-15 tires as original equipment. John (22 years ago, 31-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: Hosed?
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| Much depends on their 100 point inspection, guarentees, and coverage. A used car comes with any modifications the previous owner may have made, including ill-choice of tires (caveat emptor). With a dealership, they may or may not be responsible for (...) (22 years ago, 31-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: Hosed?
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| (...) The wear on the struts should be visible. If so, take pictures of the wear, find out what the *documented* OEM tire size for the vehicle is, (assuming this all supports the assertion that you were sold a car with the wrong tires) write the (...) (22 years ago, 31-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: Hosed?
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| In lugnet.off-topic.debate, the following was written by Dave! (...) Another angle from the NLS, who heard the story from me in the car and so may have missed several gory details: The folks at Sears should not have gone ahead and changed all four (...) (22 years ago, 31-May-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
| | | Re: Hosed?
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| Ever since then I've had four tires setting in my overlarge parking stall behind my apartment. There hasn't been any problem keeping them there; my landlady is cool about stuff like that as long as it's not loud or smelly, but I've lately had it in (...) (22 years ago, 23-May-03, to lugnet.off-topic.fun)
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