Primacy MXV4 195/60R15 88V - Tire Rack Flubs One

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This is similar to the experience I've had with the Michelin Defender tires I purchased from TR. I mentioned in an older post that I had an ongoing problem with a vibration at 60+ mph on the Villager. Over the time I had the tires put on I've had the tires road-forced 2 times (one tire was 36 lbs...the others were in the teens...TR sent a new tire to replace the bad one as it was within the 30 day replacement). The vibration was not solved by replacing the tire. I replaced a front lower ball joint which had a hint of play in it...everything else in the front suspension is tight as confirmed by 3 different shops.

I also replaced the struts, mounts and shocks and had an alignment done which greatly improved the ride and handling but did nothing to quell the vibration. The shop that replaced the ball joint (I've used them before...competent techs that I trust) checked the balance on all the tires (for at least the 10th time) and said the rear tires bounced on the balancer although they were balanced they were badly out of round and would need to be replaced. A call to TR and their call to Michelin resulted in 2 replacements being shipped which I brought to the same shop to install. Lo and behold, these were "bouncing like basketballs" on the balancer according to the tech (mind you we've now replaced 3 of the 4 original tires). The shop balanced them out the best they could and installed them on the van. The vibration was actually better than before (tech test drove and agreed)...but still there.

I called TR AGAIN and reported what the shop was telling me (they documented their observations regarding the "hopping" on the balancer of the new tires) and they said they'd speak to Michelin. I received a call back the next day and Michelin said they'd arrange to pick up the tires and credit me for the FULL purchase price if I wanted to install different tires.

I'm now waiting for a new set of Bridgestones to arrive for installation on the van at which point I'll arrange to ship the Defenders back to TR for credit. I've never owned Michelin tires before and find it hard to believe that I've had so many problems with these. The tires are nice in most respects...quiet and smooth as you'd expect but I have no clue as to why I've received so many out-of-round tires. I do have to say that I have NO complaints regarding the service I received from TR and Michelin...they've gone out of their way to satisfy me (not including my out-of-pocket expenses for the multiple balancings)and I'm hoping different tires solve the problem once and for all. I've also NEVER had an out-of-round issue with new tires before and I've owned just about every brand out there. Is it possible that Michelin has some quality or design issues going on?
 
Originally Posted By: oilmaven
Is it possible that Michelin has some quality or design issues going on?


As CapriRacer mentioned in a different thread, it could be that the tires are being stored or shipped in a way that produces this behavior. It's highly improbable that you'd get a series of badly out-of-round tires from any tire company, whether it's Michelin or Primewell.

But it happens. I've myself had a bad tire from Michelin before; it was one tire and my local Sears store replaced it on the spot. This is one reason I prefer dealing with a local retailer; the variable of "the mail" is removed and you're talking with the person who is actually installing the tires. But it sounds like, in both cases, Tire Rack and Michelin both had their customer service ducks in a row and took care of the customer.

I'm sure you'll have better luck with the Bridgestones; you have to. I do think that's what you're dealing with here: luck (and bad luck at that).
 
Originally Posted By: CapriRacer
There are always a few tires on the outer reaches of the population.

In this case, this sounds like something happened AFTER the tires left the factory.


Who knows? But the facts are that it would be very unusual to get that many defectives from ANY mfgr. It just shouldn't happen.

We buy a dozen or so a year and I can only remember one defective tire in the last few years!
 
Originally Posted By: Hokiefyd
...Tire Rack and Michelin both had their customer service ducks in a row and took care of the customer....


Michelin yes, Tire Rack not so much. As I stated I should not have even had to call Michelin. Nobody that I talked to agreed on just what "bad" road force was, but the rep at TR was the only one that thought 26 was going to be OK. In the end it cost them whatever the difference between standard ground and next day cost on one tire (not much I am guessing considering how much they ship). I'll buy from TR again, but I will not deal with Lainey and the whole thing has tarnished their luster with me. They still have not apologized for my inconvenience or explained how they incorrectly completed the tire registration card.

As for the tires, we will never know why the road force was so high on these 3. I tend to think whatever happened happened prior to TR shipping them to me because TR bands tires in bundles of 2, so if UPS did something one would think it would have been 2 or 4 not 3.

Since another poster has apparently gotten 3 "bad" Michelin's from TR that could be an indication of something going on there BUT I am guessing oilmaven's tires did not come out of the GA warehouse like mine, so perhaps that points to something prior to TR.

I wonder if oilmaven's Defenders were manufactured in Ardmore? They are probably at least a year fresher though since they are a new entry.
 
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Well, within the last week and after having to e-mail to ask about it I finally got the credit for mounting the 3 new tires that was promised.

In other news it picked up a nail through the sidewall of the 0511 tire
mad.gif
so I get to try another one (got a pair so I can do a full size spare) hope they work out without this rigmarole again!
 
In the careful what you wish for column.

The 0511 tire took a nail, I knew it wasn't repairable because of the location.

So I ordered two more and got two more 0611 tires. So I got my wish for 4 matching DOT code tires on the car and a bonus for the spare. The two new ones measured 16 and 10 lb. road force and took very little weight to balance.
 
So within the last few days I got a Survey from Tire Rack.

I sent the survey back and outlined the experience briefly stating that I was not happy with Lainey and provided a link to this thread if they were interested in the whole story.

Today I received a fairly lengthy e-mail from a manager apologizing for my experience. It is fairly obvious from the content that the manager read this thread in its entirety.

The manager stated that the CS rep should have called Michelin when I advised of my typo, that they would provide coaching to that effect, and that they would be more diligent in completing the registration forms.

They also promised to send me an additional gift card for my frustration.

So with this acknowledgement and apology I'm pleased to report that I consider the situation resolved and recovered.
 
Originally Posted By: pbm
Of course my tires are always 'All Season' or snow tires in the OE size so there's not much to go wrong....


had a local shop put some directional tires on my GT when I had it, the old guy messed up and was like "oh [censored]. I put them on backwards"

it was hilarious. nice guy, my dad's mechanic, grandpa's mechanic... he just flipped them and did his job lol.
 
I just got my tire installed at Costco today 205/65/15 Michelin primacy mxv4. date code is 3012 on all 4 tires. Made in Romainia. so tires were made on 30th week of 2012. fresh. paid $524 everything.
 
Wow. This thread reminds me there still is such thing as customer service.

In every industry there are bad items that end up out on the market. A tires road force isn't known until mounted. Many factors can play a role in it as well. If its a manufacturing issue with a bad batch, they will figure that out quickly and recall them if severe enough.

This is somewhat an example of why a GOOD local tire shop is handy. When I worked at a B/Fstone dealer, any tire that had excessive force was marked, set aside and we ran out to the warehouse and got a new one, the customer never new because they tire never made it on the car and we had an abundant supply of most tires in the warehouse. However it can be tough to find a good local tire shop that knows what their doing or cares. In that case Tire Rack seems to do well with people. I was frusterated with their "landline" verification system when they called due to a typo with my address on their end. I always spell my addresses towns and names using some version of a phonetic alphabet and they managed to mess it up a 2nd time. Frusterated by that and the need to wait until I could find a landline for them to call and confirm my identity I politely informed them of it. The tires showed up the next morning next day air. I never requested it or paid for it, but they must have done it out of courtesy as the shipment was delayed due to the typo.


As for Michelin, their customer service ducks always seem to be in order. We have a fleet account through them and every time I call with a question a real person speaking clear english answers immediatley after going through only one automated menu. They stay on the phone with you until you resolve whatever issue you have and rarely need to "check with someone else". I remember having one of them sit on the phone with me for 45 minutes walking me through setting up the entire account. Most places tell you to go fill all of this out and it should work, they wait on the line to make sure everything works well. Just gives you the extra feeling that you do matter. Good to hear their service extends to all customers as well. I will say that things are a little disorganized with the way fleet accounts go about getting tires at times, but a lot of that is mostly due to people at the dealers not having a clear understanding of how the system works. Nevertheless, good people and have had nothing but good luck with their products.

I like how they offered the one poster a refund for a different brand. After two bad sets they must have figured that even if it was very bad luck, most customers would be ready to go elseware. Seems to be true, 3 times may be a charm but most don't want to try the 3rd time.

On the topic of B/Fstone, always had very good luck with their warranties as well, especially ag tires.
 
I recently had the opportunity to speak with someone who works at the Michelin plant in Ardmore. He said he makes "treads"...

He also said that that plant is one of the few in the US that starts with raw materials and makes all of the components used in their tires. They blend the rubber, make the belts from nylon/steel and put it all together...

I thought it was interesting...
 
Originally Posted By: DuckRyder
I recently had the opportunity to speak with someone who works at the Michelin plant in Ardmore. He said he makes "treads"...

He also said that that plant is one of the few in the US that starts with raw materials and makes all of the components used in their tires. They blend the rubber, make the belts from nylon/steel and put it all together...

I thought it was interesting...


I find it interesting, too, as virtually EVERY tire plant I have been in does this.

Makes you wonder where this guy got his information, doesn't it?
 
Originally Posted By: George Bynum
Much of the rubber for the South Carolina plants comes from their facility in Sandy Springs. Until your comment Capri, I'd assumed all.


I wonder if this is something peculiar to Michelin.

Note: Michelin is reported to be very secretive. When people from the outside come to visit, they will only show them what they came to see and nothing more. I've worked with people who used to work at Michelin and even they didn't see the entire process.
 
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Originally Posted By: edwardh1
costco has mich tires made in either Romania or Hungary,I can not remember which- did mich just start those plants?


Both of these are acquisitions and not new plants - and they purchased the plants over 10 years ago.
 
Originally Posted By: CapriRacer
Originally Posted By: George Bynum
Much of the rubber for the South Carolina plants comes from their facility in Sandy Springs. Until your comment Capri, I'd assumed all.


I wonder if this is something peculiar to Michelin.

Note: Michelin is reported to be very secretive. When people from the outside come to visit, they will only show them what they came to see and nothing more. I've worked with people who used to work at Michelin and even they didn't see the entire process.


I've done support work at multiple Michelin plants and confirm their secrecy. I only see the specific equipment on which I am there to help. I'm only told and allowed access to details which are appropriate to what I am doing. I'd probably be killed if I talked about even that in ANY detail. But I've friends who work and worked at Sandy Springs, and who talk freely about supplying rubber to many plants. They never kept THAT confidential. What compounds, how much, how they were made etc ... NEVER.
 
UPDATE:

Tires rotated (no balance) over the weekend at ~9500 miles. No vibration still look new. (I'll try to dig up a depth gauge and actually measure in the next few days.)
 
I dont think mail order is the way to get tires. You are not buying a tire you are buying a finished balanced product and with two players the finger pointing can start - your tires are bad, no you balanced it wrong and on and on.
buy from one place (I an not in the tire business)
 
So I did some maintenance today and thought I would update.

36,408 miles and the lowest reading is 7/32 (most are 8) fairly even wear though the 7/32 reading came from an inside edge.

They have maintained balance and still ride very good with no vibrations.
 
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