I'm really tired of seeing BMW's Tire Pressure Warning System in action. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the advance notice regarding a slowing dying tire, but I'd prefer tires that simply didn't get punctures (or at least not when I'm driving on them).
I saw a similar screen in our Long-Term 2009 BMW 750i less than a month ago, so forgive me if I feel I've reached my Tire Pressure Warning screen quota.
In this case the screen popped up when I first started our BMW M3 last week. I hopped back out, grabbed my tire pressure gauge and confirmed it was at 21 psi. Hmm, that's odd. A few blasts with a tire pump had it back up to the prescribed 33 psi, with no visual or audible signs of a leak.
The next morning I got in, started the car and got the warning screen again. This time I simply drove it the local Discount Tire store (after confirming it still had 23 psi) and told them my right front tire had a leak. After about a 20-minute wait they hoisted the M3, pulled the wheel and confirmed a small screw had punctured the wheel right in the center (between two tread blocks).
Another 30 minutes and the car was ready to go. Total cost: $0. Discount Tire does not charge for basic, simple tire repairs. This is probably the fifth car I've taken to them over the past seven years, and I'm actually starting to feel guilty about taking advantage of their generous policy. And no, they don't know I work for Edmunds or that I was going to cover this incident on a Web site.
But to help curb my guilt I will offer a genuine endorsement for those who don't already know about Discount Tire's repair policy: It's a great deal if (actually, make that when) you get a small tire puncture and subsequent air leak from road debris.
Karl Brauer, Edmunds.com Editor in Chief at 12,380 miles
mptlptr says:
07:28 AM, 11/30/09
Do they do it the right way (plug + patch) or just a quickie plug?
bodyblue says:
07:28 AM, 11/30/09
Discount/Americas tires are the best tire store I have ever dealt with. After a ton of research I got 4 new tires from them last month. I will never, ever buy tires anywhere else again. I just cant say enough about them.
benson2175 says:
09:52 AM, 11/30/09
I bought a set of tires there, it was inexpensive, two months later I tore a hole in the side wall, I went back to buy a new tire and they gave it to me for free. Some kind of Warranty I didn't even know about. Discount Tire is pretty awesome.
firewired says:
10:49 AM, 11/30/09
You can even warranty your original tires that come on the car at Discount Tire. For the last few cars I have gotten (2010 E90 M3 included) an early stop is to go to Discount Tire and buy their warranty for about $30 a tire which includes road hazard and balancing. unfortunately my car came with Continental rather than the Michelin PS2s I was hoping. Discount tire guy said in the even of a failure I can get the Michelins by paying the difference.
huyracing says:
11:58 AM, 11/30/09
they are great to deal with, granted the location has competent workers... i've had to get far too many tires & wheels rebalanced. its free, but its still a waste of time.
the nice thing is they pro-rate tires you buy from them... i had just purchased some tires and caught a nail in the sidewall and they gave me a new tire for free. (without the extra warranty you have to purchase)
actualsize says:
12:01 PM, 11/30/09
Yet another example of how TPMS prevented a roadside tire change (and maybe even a blowout) in our own long-term fleet. We must be up to something like 12 examples of this now, maybe more.
It may suck to have a low tire and have to take it in, but changing a flat on the side of a freeway is even worse. And for my money, a TPMS system that can actively detect flats before they get serious is preferable to nasty run-flat tires.
The irony is that TPMS was developed to support run-flats, but in fact these systems make this type of tire far less necessary or compelling. This M3 is a great example, as it is one of the few modern BMWs that does not come with run-flat tires.
OK, there are blowouts, and some come from a large tear caused by hitting a large hunk of debris. But most are caused by under-inflated tires that overheat and break down after being driven-on for miles and miles due to an unnoticed slow leak or pure driver inattention to tire pressures--the very scenario that modern TPMS systems can prevent.
bodyblue says:
12:06 PM, 11/30/09
Hey Dan, if you had a blowout in your LT Ford Edge where would you take it?
petrolhead85 says:
12:21 PM, 11/30/09
Good to know about their repair policy. It's nice to read about good customer service for a change.
On another note, what is it with ze Germans and their exclaimation mark fetish? Honestly, it isn't necessary for EVERY message to be shouted at the driver.
actualsize says:
07:34 AM, 12/ 1/09
@bodyblue: That question sounds like the set-up for a joke. What are you getting at? To a tire store that carried the OE tire brand for a new tire?
bodyblue says:
08:59 AM, 12/ 1/09
Dan,
What I am getting at is that no one will tell us what has happened to the Ford Edge LT car. Many of us have asked on here and have been ignored. Why all the secrecy? Even E mails to your site have gone un-answered.
bodyblue says:
02:04 PM, 12/ 1/09
See? I knew if I answered Dan he would ignore the question. The Edge must be in CIA custody or something. It is not courteous to ignore so simple of a question.
braco says:
11:49 AM, 12/ 3/09
I agree with everyone here, America's Tire stores here in SF bay are are great. I've been to a couple and every time customer services, prices, etc. have been excellent.