HARBOR FREIGHT TIRE WARRANTY

[bobhenry]

CUT AND DRIED 30 DAYS !!

I thought all DOT tire manafactures had to provide warranty for manufacture defects. After 1100 miles my Duro 4.80x12 tire when crazy. Internal ply seperation makes it look like a letter "s" . Harbor freight said 30 days that's it. So I went looking . Duro has a 12 month or 15% tread wear full replacement warranty. So if HF tells you to FO just look to the tire manafacture. Since I purchased the trailer 4/3/07 and filed my claim on 4/10/08 watch them try and slime out because its been 53 weeks instead of 52. Of course it went crazy 1/16/08 heading home from our shivaree campout but will they listen ? We'll see !!!

[eamarquardt]

Most of the stuff they sell is junk, IMHO. They do make things that see occasional use affordable (shrinkers, stretchers, die grinders, big cresent wrenches, power tools, etc.). If I am going to rely on something for reliable service, I'd think twice about using anything from Harbor Freight. Do a "potential problem analysis" and imagine what a "failure" might entail and act accordingly.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Gus

[bobhenry]

Most of the stuff they sell is junk, IMHO. They do make things that see occasional use affordable (shrinkers, stretchers, die grinders, big cresent wrenches, power tools, etc.). If I am going to rely on something for reliable service, I'd think twice about using anything from Harbor Freight. Do a "potential problem analysis" and imagine what a "failure" might entail and act accordingly.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Gus

The only problem , Gus , is they don't make the tires ,
Duro Tire and wheel in Covington Ga. does. I e-mailed
a warranty claim and got an automated reply that they
have recieved my e-mail but nothing else so far.

[eamarquardt]

I thought I put in my message congratulations for thinking outside the box and contacting the tire company direct. This note must have been a "fig newton" of my imagination.

So......Good Job. Hold mfgrs accountable for defective products.

Cheers,

Gus

[bobhenry]

I thought I put in my message congratulations for thinking outside the box and contacting the tire company direct. This note must have been a "fig newton" of my imagination.

So......Good Job. Hold mfgrs accountable for defective products.

Cheers,

Gus

E-Mail from Duro tire late friday.

Underinflated tires are not covered ! Those little 4.80x12 tires are to be inflated to 60 pounds. Would have been nice information to know. They ask right on the claim form tire pressure at time of defect I put 28-32 which I feel was accurate. I never dreamed the thing should be so highly pressured. So those of you who chose to underinflate for a softer ride beware!

[eamarquardt]

Was there a note on the side of the tire listing the correct inflation pressure? If not you might still have a case with them. If there wasn't I'd really push back hard on the mfgr. I've pushed hard on Sony (they're now going to pick up our 5K TV set, take it to a shop, and see if they can find out why it occasionally whistles like a teapot). CIGNA ins. co. agreed to sort out my claims off line and call me back which they did and rather than requiring me to spend another hour on the phone line to get another wrong answer (for the fifth time or so). We cleaned up the mess in 3 minutes flat. I'm still battling AT&T as they think they can hold me prisoner (because I get less than $700 a month for long term disability) they require their permission for me to travel beyond 60 miles from home or spend the night away from home. Of course they take three weeks to respond to even the simplest request (just like ones they've approved in the past). In retalitation for my requests (they bully everyone else on disability into submission, this won't work with me, ha) they have scheduled me for not one but two addtional "Independent Medical Exams" with their "hired guns". The last experience was a disaster. The doctor got everything I told him wrong, twisted what I said, and when that didn't allow him to reach the conclusion he wanted, fabricated statements (there is no hearing loss according to him, but as a result of "brain surgery" if I hold a phone to my left ear, it's a very one sided conversation, ha). And my congressman's aid is now getting off her posterior to see about what changes we can make to the law to prevent the abuses of AT&T and close some of the loop holes in the law.

Don't give up yet.

Cheers,

Gus

[bobhenry]

If you put on your bifocals and get a magnifying glass it's on the side wall. "Max 60 psi cold." Firestone wanted $44.00+ and Good old Harbor freight was $14.44 but a 65 mile trip to their closest retail store. So I guess I'll go shopping today I have seen them at Wally world and Rural King. So If they are somewhat close to 25-30 bucks I guess I'll grab one.

I love tilting at windmills just like you Gus I just got thru using 2 days off to fight with the seatbelt law. I figure the judges time the court time the procecuters time the court secretarys time and the police officers time only cost the state $300.00 to $ 500.00. Yeah I lost and sent in my $25.00 in but I did it grinning because they spent a lot more to get it. If every one would demand a day in court for seatbelt violations they would give up writting tickets for them because they are loosing money. I still belive it should be a freedom of choice. My Choice.

In short give 'em hell Gus. If all the sheep lay down we will be food for the wolves.

[eamarquardt]

We are certainly on the same frequency! In my household we refer to my "crusades" as "chasing and slaying windmills", Don Quixote style. A friend (a retired Marine Brig. Gen.-we were in the same platoon together as lieutenants) made the same comment about most people being sheep. Upon learning of AT&T's travel restrictions, I would have been content to ignore them but they intimidated a friend of mine (recovering from a stroke) not to accompany his family to two family gatherings. Their behavior towards people that are seriously ill is shameful. I will fight every legal way I can to get their behavior changed.

Here is what I told them re the two medical exams:

1.I have the right to have a doctor of my choosing present at the exams.
2.I have the right to have an attorney of my choosing present at the exams.
3.I intend to ask the doctors what post doctorate training the doctors have in the diagnosis and treat of neuralgias of the cranial nerves and/or chronic pain.
4.I intend to ask the doctors what percentages of their practices are devoted to providing patient care in general and specifically treating my type of disease versus providing independent medical exams.
5.I intend to record the exams using audio and/video equipment and will require a 120 volt electrical outlet for my use.
6.I am entitled to and am requesting a complete copy of the IME’s report be sent to me when it is completed and forwarded to Sedgwick CMS.
7.I am entitled to mileage reimbursement, how and when can I expect to be reimbursed for my travel expenses to travel to these exams.

They choked at my "rights". I don't think they like me very much. I have told them "your are messing with the wrong Marine" (Jack Nicholson in a "Few Good Men"), ha.

I'd still put pressure on the mfgr to stand behind their tires as the instructions are not clear. All they can say is no. Or have someone else file a claim and indicate the tire pressure was correct (to the best of their knowledge).

Cheers,

Gus

[Nitetimes]

If you put on your bifocals and get a magnifying glass it's on the side wall. "Max 60 psi cold."

I think you've got your ammo right there... does it state a minimum tire pressure??? Max 60 psi cold would translate to no more than 60 psi when the tire is cold, if there is no minimum stated I would say it's their bad.

[brian_bp]

I understand the seat belt crusade (even though I personally don't agree), but the tire thing seems to be another matter entirely. A misused product simply isn't the manufacturer's problem.

I suspect that the tire manufacturer's instructions are clear. In addition to the maximum tire pressure note, tires normally list their capacity with the pressure explicitly shown... something like "780 lb at 60 psi"; I don't know about the Duro products. Having said that, Duro (or Hwa Fong Rubber Ind. Co.) has the least consumer information on their website and in their catalog of any tire company I've ever seen - these guys are definitely down in the dregs of the cheap end of the market. They do provide their warrantyon the site, complete with claim form.

Was this a Duro HF-232? The only inflation information on the general web page is a 60 psi inflation pressure (or 90 psi for the "6 ply rating" version in the same size). The capacity rating and pressures for the load range B ("4-ply") and C ("6-ply") 4.80-12 tires are consistent with other companies, such as Carlisle. Was there some reason to choose a much lower inflation pressure, such as some misinformation from Duro or Harbor Freight?

[brian_bp]

If you put on your bifocals and get a magnifying glass it's on the side wall. "Max 60 psi cold."

I think you've got your ammo right there... does it state a minimum tire pressure??? Max 60 psi cold would translate to no more than 60 psi when the tire is cold, if there is no minimum stated I would say it's their bad.

Okay, so if the tire says nothing about pressure except the maximum, and I put in on my trailer and run it at zero pressure, should I be able to blame the tire manufacturer when it disintegrates? Doesn't the user of a product have some responsibility to learn how to use it properly? Does every bit of the information needed to operate a product need to be carved into the side of it?

[brian_bp]

If you put on your bifocals and get a magnifying glass it's on the side wall. "Max 60 psi cold."

I agree that the "fine print" on tires can be really hard to read... the fact that it's only raised black rubber on black rubber doesn't help.

I sometimes actually take my glasses off and get my face really close to the sidewall to read tires; I'm sure I look ridiculous, but I can get the information. Even the most fundamental information - such as the size - can be hard to read.

With my (relatively recent) bifocals if find that it can be especially bad, because I am bending down to see the tire, and can't tilt my head back enough to see the tire through the bottom of the lenses, which is the near-distance part.

[brian_bp]

...So those of you who chose to underinflate for a softer ride beware!

I think a reasonable starting point, if you don't find the specific tire size and type in a load/inflation table (such as the one for trailers and RVs from Goodyear's RV area), is to assume that pressure and capacity are proportional. For instance, if a tire is rated for 800 lb at 60 psi, and each tire only needs to carry comfortably less than 600 lb (3/4 of 800 lb), then it should need roughly 3/4 of 60 psi, which is 45 psi.

Techie note: Since the actual relationship is approximately linear over the operating range, but with a significant offset, this approach tends to be increasingly conservative at lower pressures.

The most thorough load/inflation information I've run across is from Toyo; I don't suggest this for people not interested in tires, and it does not specifically address trailer tires.

[Kevin A]

If you put on your bifocals and get a magnifying glass it's on the side wall. "Max 60 psi cold."

I agree that the "fine print" on tires can be really hard to read... the fact that it's only raised black rubber on black rubber doesn't help.

I sometimes actually take my glasses off and get my face really close to the sidewall to read tires; I'm sure I look ridiculous, but I can get the information. Even the most fundamental information - such as the size - can be hard to read.

With my (relatively recent) bifocals if find that it can be especially bad, because I am bending down to see the tire, and can't tilt my head back enough to see the tire through the bottom of the lenses, which is the near-distance part.

Have you considered putting the glasses on upside down to check the tires?

[bobhenry]

Okay, so if the tire says nothing about pressure except the maximum, and I put in on my trailer and run it at zero pressure, should I be able to blame the tire manufacturer when it disintegrates? Doesn't the user of a product have some responsibility to learn how to use it properly? Does every bit of the information needed to operate a product need to be carved into the side of it?

I agree and I accept the responsibility for ruining the tire because I was an idiot. I took it out of the box inflated and chose to run it inadvertently underinflated. Side wall flex will ruin a tire very quickly. ( See how far you can drive your car on a flat before it desintegrates). I just had a senior moment I guess. 60 psi was no where near in my mind 35 psi maybe but not 60 psi. Yes I should have read the fine print and yes I am responsible. Until I heard back from them and was made aware of my mistake I was content to believe it was simply a ply seperation a not all to uncommon tire construction problem. So read the fine print and inflate to the max for best MPG. If there others with similar tires don't guess like some of us dumb A**es read the sidewalls.