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I am very impressed with Toyota. They do stand behind their product. This van has 44,180 miles on it and was beyond the warrantee on the rims.
I'd bet any other car manufacturer wouldn't do that.
My dealer is still trying to locate a wheel refinisher that provides a long-term warranty on the refinishing work.
I know she's just the customer service rep, but I was very frustrated. I remained nice, but let her know I was very dissatisfied with Toyota. We have been loyal Toyota customers since the mid 80's, but if they don't resolve this issue, this will be the absolute last Toyota I buy. I told her that, and also that with the economy the way it is now and for the next few years, I didn't think that's the way they wanted their loyal customers to feel.
However, I will not give up this easily and they have not heard the last of me! I will keep you posted. Thanks for letting me vent!
Conventional tires make this minivan ride so much smoother and quieter. The only thing I worry about is trade-in value when I get a new car and I don't have a spare or a place for it. Perhaps a donut in the back storage well?
Run flat tires should only be used on Corvettes and airplanes, IMO.
Seriously considering Michelin Hydroedge and buying a couple of cans of tire-fix and a small tire compressor in case I get a flat.
My wife drives the Sienna. Don't want her stuck somewhere with a flat. Other than the tire issue the Sienna has been wonderful.
Thanks for any feedback.
Tony
Rear alignment was noted at 34K to be out of spec so Toyo replaced rear axle at no charge.
I have been treated fine by Toyo and tire performance has been good.
We are looking for a quiet and smooth ride mainly, but still want a good handling tire.
Thanks, just wanted some feedback with owners of Sienna's with these tires.
I am in the market for a mini-van and have come across some threads and have been finding problems with run-flat tires.
Can someone please share some knowledge and experiences with run-flats? pros/cons
When I price a similar config on Honda Odessey it is >5k in price.
Any help would be great.
They often do not last very long and they're expensive to replace on top of that. You can mount conventional tires instead but then you still lack a spare.
Having said that, they come with AWD and it's the only AWD minivan currently offered, so just get FWD instead.
I would hate to have to replace all four run-flats if I only have problems with one of them. Makes me wonder if I bought the right vehicle. I have always considered Toyota to be the best vehicle on the market.
Toyota has the only AWD minivan on the market right now. If your requirements were AWD and minivan, then you got the right vehicle. If all you needed was 7 passenger capacity and AWD, Toyota has well reviewed SUV/crossover offerings. If all you needed was a minivan then the Sienna FWD is as good as any on the market.
It cost me towing and an extra night hotel and then had to wait for special delivery for a new tire... the old one couldn't be repaired.
It cost something like $500 and a days vacation because I did not have a spare!
Corporate Toyota would not do ANYTHING for me!
I will NOT buy Toyota again.
Kevin
I've never seen a new car warranty that covers the tires. Tires are warrantied through the tire manufacturer and even then road hazards are not covered. Most manufacturers these days have models with run flats but I would be surprised if any would cover your expenses or have any advisement that po-dunk tire shops cannot handle them- the manufacturers' position generally is that all service needs should be taken to a dealer.
A decent dealer might have told you about the limitations but when was the last time anyone found one of those?
I'm not looking for warranty coverage. Yellow Stone Service Center could not work on wheels with run-flat tires... Neither could the nearest Tire shops in Wyoming or Montana.
We were stranded! Toyota did not explain that not only will the run-flat tires only go 50-miles... but hardly any tire shops have run flat tires and the right equipment to even work on them! Just about anywhere you get a flat wont be able to replace your run-flat tire! That's a MAJOR oversight that cost my family and I a lot of time, money, and lost vacation.
Kevin
Most manufacturers these days have models with run flats but I would be surprised if any would cover your expenses or have any advisement that po-dunk tire shops cannot handle them- the manufacturers' position generally is that all service needs should be taken to a dealer.
Auto manufacturers have little of no control over what independent shops can or cannot do. They can only speak to the capability of their dealer network. I don't see any mention of going to a Toyota dealership in your post. In the Yellowstone area there are Toyota dealers in Rexberg Idaho and Bozman, MT and per the Toyota website they both have Toyota Tire Centers.
All I want is a donut tire so I don't have to worry about where I may get a blow out.
Bozeman is where they were able to ship a tire from. I suppose when you get a flat in your new Toyota you don't mind paying the towing costs?
The lamest excuse in the world is, "it's okay for me to do it because the others do it too".
I don't like how Toyota dealt with me.
I don't like my run-flat tires.
I want a donut tire.
You may be correct, other companies may be the same way... that doesn't make it right.
Kevin
We owned a 04 Sienna Limited AWD and after the runflats wore, we put on a set of regular tires and carried a spare in the back for long trips. In town we didn't because thats what we got AAA for. Now we have a FWD Sienna and it has the spare, that was one of the reason we traded the 04 in for an 07 Sienna FWD, also the gas mileage and power is better.
Well I don't think Toyota could do anything in your situation, you should have know it had run-flats and no spare, it tells you in the manual and when you buy it. Also it says it on the tires. Just my .02 cents.
If I were in your exact situation, and did not trust the run flats to get me to the dealer, I would probably have asked for the cheapest tire the shop had that would fit (used wouldn't even be out of the question) just to get me to the dealer where it could be fixed the same day. If the experience cost as much as you say, the price of the cheap tire would be worth it.
It is your choice if you won't buy from Toyota again after this, but the problem isn't with Toyota so much as your expectations being too high. If you think any other manufacturer would treat you better then you are probably going to be disappointed again. That isn't an excuse, that is a reality.
For long trips where you need to carry the spare, does it take up most of your luggage room? One of the reasons I want a minivan is for the extra room for luggage and baby gear on long trips (which we make regularly; 9+ hours each way). Our wagon can barely squeak everything in with only one kid, and we've got another on the way.
The Sienna has an incredible amount of room back there. Even with a tire in there you should be able to carry a double stroller, folding play yard, medium sized cooler, and a couple big suitcases back there easily. We have 3 under 4 years and have fit that much stuff back there with enough room left that a spare tire on the bottom wouldn't be a problem. Our Subaru Legacy station wagon couldn't carry nearly as much.
Just looking for someone who has a good recommendation for me to buy for replacement of the Run-Flats I am going to retire.
The main reason Toyota has gone with the run flats was the fact that while you can store the mini spare behind the rear most seat, you can no longer fold down that seat on the AWD model. This has not been much of an issue for me in the last year. The benefits in ride and handling have been MORE than worth it.
I just found out about this issue. So far, dealer had managed to convince me that it was my driving style that was causing the excessive wear on the inner part of the front tires.
Toyota Corp's response as to why the dealer did not offer the exchange the tires was: "The dealer must not have thought that the wear was excessive."
Yet, the dealer did not forget to get me to buy either a new set or "at the very least do a rotation" ... of which I have done 4X.
Does anyone know whether Toyota reached a lump sum agreement with Bridgestone regarding this issue. If so, Toyota Corp and its Dealer network would be financially motivated to minimize the cost. If discovered, that amounts to Fraud.
Any recourse?
I'm looking into both the Sienna, & the Odyssey; most of the Odysseys come with Michelin LX4 (decent tire, but nothing special)...Most of the Siennas come with Dunlops (POS tires IMO), but I have noticed a few with the Michelin LX4.
My OE tires typically get about 28k miles. If you have a 2004 model, and it were my van, I'd probably be on my 3rd set by now. Maybe 2nd but well worn.
If anyone has replaced them with normal tires, is there any impact on handling?
The min-spare I have is sized T155 80R 17. If I take a tape measure it is pretty much the same diameter as my 17" Yokohoma conventional tires. It is NOT meant for a 16" diameter tire. (You need to Push Harder to make your run flat fit !!)
Question: will the Pirelli's fit?
By the way, I am in the process of converting the Sienna into an analog of a Volkswagon Westfalia Camper.
Thank you.