Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2003 23:45:33 GMT From: milt brewster <milt73nopsamc.net> Subject: Re: Saab Tire Complaint: Important
In article <MPG.19c7f3cc272dac17989a82nopsam.cis.dfn.de>, carl.robsonnopsamcing-czechs.com says... > In article <3F5CD576.89FF7C73nopsamfitter.com>, johsnopsamfitter.com > spouted forth into alt.autos.saab... > > > > So how fast did the tires loose pressure? If the 2 psi were lost in less > > than one or two weeks, then you have a slow puncture. The fact that you > > have had two blowouts could be because you drive in the same area. In > > particular if you drive in areas where building or engineering work is > > going on, then it is easy to pick up small metal objects in your tires. > > This has happened to me in the past. This is a good general comment. In both cases, I was driving on new, well-maintained freeways going less than 65 MPH and had not hit anything on the road. I was on two different freeways. The blowouts were not at the same position -- it was the Left front; and the right rear tires that blew. In both cases, I had recently checked the tires and found them inflated and in good shape. While it is always possible to have "bad luck" with metal objects and the like; the fact is that I don't get blowouts on other cars I drive in the same way and on the same roads, and over many years. > Or a bad rim seal, usually caused by corrosion on the rim, or by some > other contamination at the sealent. This is hard for an average driver to check. I have no idea what to look for. Since the car has been serviced since I bought it, I assume that it was likely checked during the servicing. > > I wonder if the rim had been properly machined when made, or before the > first replacment tyre was fitted, or whether a faulty valve had been > fitted (didn you get a replacement valve when the first blowout was > fixed). Again, possible; but how does an average driver check something like this? What do you look for? How many new car owners really want to dismount the tires on their car to inspect the rims on a new, unfamiliar car? > > Where the balance weights fitted to the tyre stickon or wire clipons? > All of this could actually have an impact into what caused the > defaltion. > > I make a practice of checking the pressure of older tyres weekly, and > brand new tyres monthly (after first initial week or two when I check > them weekly to make sure I'm not getting a leak). This is what I used to do. Now I check the car every time I get into it. > I know this isn't your probs J, just posting some thoughts on it. > > I see that reading what the problem turned out to be, it is a serious > safety issue, whether it is the blowouts, the minimal deflation needed, > or even the fairly rapid pressure leak. But Milt, it isn't necessarily a > cut and dried Saab fault, or Michelin Fault. > > It may be a 3rd party fitter fault. It may be a Saab fault that couldn't > be picked up at the factory, because the tyre held air while it was > waiting to be shipped/delivered and was within pressure tolerance. It > may be that it was the above, the fitted that replaced the first blow > out didn't spot it properly either. > > Many things should be checked and discounted before shouting "Saab are > Criminal". but I agree, like any manufacturer, mistakes can happen. > Thanks. I pretty much agree with everything you've said here, including your comments supporting Saab and Michelin. My earlier comments assume that I have the right to bring this up as a safety problem, as defined in the US, and that Saab could have consciously made an OEM tire choice knowing tires would fail in some low percentage of cases, the way Ford did. This is simply not an unreasonable possibility to bring up -- but I agree with you, that it isn't necessarily true. I don't mind considering myself as a cause (and I have), but I believe that I have in fact taken good care of the car, and have not encountered road conditions that would have caused these tire failures. This car gets light use. Whatever the cause; it is NOT OK to have multiple tire blowouts during normal use and care, for a new car. I am seeing two general arguments in responses to me: *) I am the only one who has ever experienced a blowout in a new Saab, so it must just be "bad luck" on my part. *) Everybody gets lots of blowouts all the time, so I am a bad sport to complain about it. I don't have much respect for either arguement. Regardless; in both cases, my experience remains a serious safety issue that involves Saab and Michelin, as well as my own driving habits and road conditions. At the very least, Saab should upgrade their OEM tire quality to something that withstands normal use much better than these Michelins have for me. mb
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
