I'm in the dealership today, getting an oil change. I have 2500 miles racked-up on the odometer.

They slap a sticker in the windshield that states next service at 7500 miles. The kid who brought the car around leans over and confides, "It says 7500, but if you go past 7000 miles before your next service, you'll be disqualified from the Tires For Life program." Then he looks around like he's afraid of being busted for telling me!

They set up this cool tire program as part of an incentive package, then after you give them your business, they get really indifferent about making sure the customer can actually take advantage of it.

I tipped the kid ten bucks as a small thanks for letting me know. I would't have gone 5000 miles between oil changes anyway, but I'm still glad he clued me in.

I changed the number on the sticker with a Sharpie to 5500, and added an asterisk as a reminder.

WTF!?

 

Tires for life program??

Sounds like you got screwed.

 

Tires for life...man wish I could have gotten that at my stealership!

Good looking out for you though with that kid. Good thing you tipped him 10 bucks maybe the next time around you'll see him again and he'll keep looking out for you

 

The kid saved me from getting screwed actually. He pointed out that if I waited until I had 7500 miles for the next oil change, I would have violated the terms of the Tires for Life agreement.

The deal is that with a new purchase, you get a new set of tires every 25,000 miles up to 4 sets- 100,000 miles total. The catch is that you have to follow the service schedule to the letter, and get at least 25,000 miles on each set of tires...hard to do with this car and these tires, to say the least.

I change my oil much more frequently than recommended anyway, but it was nice that the kid mentioned it. He was looking out for his customers.

 

I'm sure your neighborhood dealer can hook you up- all you have to do is come in for their maintenance schedule on their terms, and their pricing: mandatory $60 tire rotations (every 5000 miles), $50 conventional oil changes every 3K, trans fluid flushes, "inspections" every other oil change. So after you've donated $1500 into their get-rich fund after 2 1/2 years, they'll reward you by giving you a $400 set of General or Federal all-season "performance" tires.

There are no free lunches, except for certain scammers in the world; unfortunately many dealerships belong to that category.

 

ask them what tires you get.. then make them follow the service manual... no add ons..

that is the challenge.. dont go for it..

beers

 

25,000 miles on a set of Bridgestone potenzas??

PLEEZZZZZZZ. I have a bit over 16K and am shopping for new rubber.
Mighta been 4 Autocross events and a full day driving school.
I don't care Just buy new tires and be happy.
Azenis or MX or KOOKS.

 

I've got the Dunlops and had the same thought.

I'm thinking of pulling the Dunlops off while they still have a lot of life left in them and putting on new tires. Then just before I hit 25K, I'll put the Dunlops back on and go get my new set from the dealer. Repeat as needed.

The biggest problem I'll have is that I rack up miles so slowly on my 8 that deterioration from ozone exposure and weathering will kill the tires long before I reach any mileage limits.

 

def. a scam. they won't be losing any money on the deal, that's for dam sure.

not sure how much better the dunlops wear, but there's no way anyone is getting 25k out of the poortenzas. mine need replacing now - with 24k on the odo. sounds good, no? too bad I had wintersport m3s on for 5 months.

 

In 5 months I've put 2600 miles on mine. That's it!

 

1.5 years now. Everywhere I go I have a kickass time getting there! lol.


I figure I put about 8500-10k on the M3s, which leaves somewhere between 14-16k on the potenzas. Legally they're borderline right now. I figure trying for 25k would result in sparks flying upon cornering (if they didn't all blow out b4 then).


Does the dealership having any time frame worked into that program? Somehow I bet they'll try to weasel out of that program if you take 4-5 years to need the new set.

 

I've got 36000 km and the Potenza's are still going. I believe they will last till the end of summer.

EDIT: I forgot that probably 35-45% of the miles are on winter tires. I was thinking "wow I must really baby this car compared to these guys"!

 

Wouldn't 4 new sets bring you to 125,000 miles?

 

yes, but that 4th set would need to be put on the car @ 100k, then *might* (never!) last until 125k.

 

Do your own oil changes. The money you'd save outweighs their tire scam.
Around here they charge close to $50.

 

As long as you follow the maintenance schedule you qualify, but that's my personal caveat. Tires are usually degraded past safe limits due to environmental exposure before 4 to 5 years, even with low mileage. They'll be cracked and worthless long before the tread is gone.

It's all new territory to me so I honestly can't say for sure how I expect this "deal" to conclude; it's not a sure thing by any means.