Is Tire Warranty Worth It?

Picture this: you’re on your way to see your favorite band in concert or visit your grandparents out of town. As you settle into your drive and start rocking out to your favorite song, you get a flat tire.

Pulled over on the side of the road, your hopes for getting a picture with the band or enjoying Grandma’s famous cookies are slowly fading, as you begin to calculate the cost of a new tire. At this moment you may start to wonder: Is tire warranty worth it?

While in every state you have to have some type of auto insurance coverage in case you or someone else causes an accident, tire warranty is not a requirement. However, this doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea to have it.

Similar to insurance, tire warranties come in a few different shapes and sizes and cover various things depending on which one you choose. Understanding your options, and the stipulations that come along with them will help you decide if it’s time to find discount tire warranty options and ensure you’re covered before your next big road trip. 

Tread-life Warranty 

Even though it would be great if you could buy one set of tires that would last you a lifetime, tires are not meant to roll forever. In fact, all tires have a tread-life, or a specific amount of miles or years they can travel before there is just 2/32nds of an inch of tread left, indicating the tire needs to be replaced.

Tread-life tire warranties are beneficial when the tread on your tires has worn out faster than it should, even though you weren’t doing anything crazy like racing your friends on backroads. However, not all types of tires are covered under a tread-life warranty. And unless you’ve worn down your tires to that 2/32nds of an inch marker, your warranty claim won’t be considered. 

Road Hazard Warranty 

Remember that flat tire we were imagining just a little bit ago? Well in a situation like that, a road hazard warranty would be most beneficial. When you’re driving normally down the road and your tire fails, due to a puncture causing a flat tire or some other type of road damage, having a oad hazard warranty can come in handy. 

Especially if you consistently drive on roads that have large potholes or a lot of debris like nails or other sharp objects, it may be a good idea to have your tires covered by this type of warranty.

However, if you don’t find yourself stranded on the side of the road due to a flat tire that often, it may cost you more for the policy than for the repair if you were to pay it on your own. Taking a look at your common driving conditions may help you decide if this type of warranty would be beneficial to you. 

Workmanship Warranty 

Workmanship tire warranties are the tire manufacturers’ way of giving you their word that they sold you a good product and will take responsibility if it fails due to manufacturing or material issues. If you trust the company, a workmanship warranty might not be necessary. But if this is your first time purchasing tires from a specific manufacturer and you’re unsure of their quality, consider this warranty option. 

Special Warranty 

These types of manufacturer tire warranties often look like a 30-day trial period where you get to decide if you like the tires you chose. If you do, happy driving! If you don’t, you have the option to return the tires and purchase different ones.

While it’s always a good idea to read the fine print and make sure there aren’t any hidden agendas or costly surprises, these types of warranties are in place to help you pick the best tires for you. 

A Note on Tire Care

Regardless of which tire warranty option you think sounds best, the biggest factor to consider when deciding whether or not to purchase tire warranty is your commitment to caring for your tires. While putting gas in your car, getting an oil change, or driving through a car wash may already come as second nature to a car owner, tire maintenance also needs to become a habit. 

For one, taking care of your tires will make it less likely that they’ll become damaged if you don’t have a warranty. For two, if you don’t take care of your tires with a tire warranty, there is a chance it can become void. In order to receive some type of credit for damaged tires, you have to prove you did everything on your end to keep your tires in tip-top shape and that the damage occurred regardless. 

Good tire maintenance includes keeping your tires properly inflated, having your tires rotated and aligned at the recommended mileage, and abstaining from any reckless driving that could make the wear on your tires uneven or more substantial. It’s a good idea to inspect your tires often and keep all your records and receipts that prove you made tire maintenance a priority. 

Having a discount tire warranty can end up saving you money — that flat tire on your way out of town could be fixed for free with a road hazard warranty — but only if you take the time to care for your tires and document it when you do. And while tire warranty is optional, remember it’s essential you have an auto insurance policy to cover you if you need it.