Freestar Sidewall Giant Bubble - Warranty?

[wdk450]

Gang:
On my trip North up the Pacific Coast, I had a motorcyclist come up next to me at a light saying something was wrong with my right rear tire. I pulled over and went out to inspect it, and found the biggest bubble on a sidewall I have ever seen. This was over a foot long about 4 inches wide and about 4 inches high.
I got over into a supermarket parking lot in remote, Raymond, Washington, and called Good Sam service. While waiting for the service truck, after about 15 minutes just sitting there, the bubble exploded. The tire didn't lose all it's air, though. I got the spare on, proceeded to Les Schwab in Aberdeen, Wa. about 35 miles on a spare I could only inflate to about 90 psi with quarters into the Shell station's air service machine (The service guy came in a pickup, and didn't have an air compressor).
$300 even for a new tire from Les Schwab.

Here are pictures of when I first found the bubble roadside, and in the parking lot after it popped:

 

[JohnDar]

Ouch, Bill. My Freestars are dated 5207 on a 2009 built in Feb. 2008. What is the date of your's? I have a 5 year road hazard/defect coverage on mine, which started Oct. 2008. Haven't had anything like that on mine, but I don't tow much. Next year, I plan on changing to GY614's.

 

[slmayor]

Bill, check the date on your tires and give them a call. Mine had a bubble last year and were still in warranty through last August. I believe our rig is older than yours? We had a March 2007 manufacture date, I think my tires were mid to late 07. You will need to keep the defective tire.

 

[WilmanJim]

I have some weather checking on my Freestars dated 4208 on our Bighorn purchased July 2009 and called and was told sorry, 2 year warranty. Keeping a close eye on them as we have a little over 25,000 miles on them.

Jm

 

[Ray LeTourneau]

Bill, Even though you may not have any warranty remaining, thank God for friendly bikers. That "pop" in the parking lot would have caused a lot more damage if you were running along at 65. Time for some new skins?

 

[wdk450]

Bill, check the date on your tires and give them a call. Mine had a bubble last year and were still in warranty through last August. I believe our rig is older than yours? We had a March 2007 manufacture date, I think my tires were mid to late 07. You will need to keep the defective tire.

Ray, Deb and john:
I went out to the other tire on that side, and took some pictures, as I couldn't figure out what the date code was. I thought Heartland's tire supplier's contact data was on the portal page, but I don't see it there. Does somebody have the number?
That other tire seems to have some cuts in the sidewall rubber starting, too. Is this the first indication of possible failure???
Les Schwab tire took the old tire. Do I HAVE to have it for a warranty claim???

Here are pictures of the numbers on the tire, and the cuts.

 

[GOTTOYS]

If that's all the better those tires are I wouldn't worry about a warranty..that would mean you would just end up with another of the same brand. Why not just move on to some quality tires and be done with it?...Don

 

[JohnDar]

Bill, it looks like the date code is 0107, which would be January of 2007, making your tires about 4 1/2 years old. Getting near the end of the reliable lifespan, I think, especially if you have a lot of miles on them.

 

[slmayor]

Bill,
you do need to have the old tire if they can determine you have any warranty. We had one run the tread off and left it at the tire shop and brought home the other 3. (2 for use on our utility trailers and the bubble tire). After they were dismounted, we couldn't ever find the bubble again on the tire, so never sent them in. It would have been pro-rated at any rate, so probably would have been $50-60. We wound up with Marathons because it was the only thing we could find in Hood River, and GoodYear will warranty anywhere. We have about 8000 on them so far and they are still looking good.

 

[wdk450]

Gang:
What the Les Schwab store had on hand are labelled "Geostar". Is that the same company as the old ones (Freestar)? They pitched me on 4 new tires, but I wasn't ready to spend $1200.00 right now.
I went out to the truck this evening to get something and guess what??? The left front truck tire was flat. Back to Les Schwab in Port Angeles tomorrow on my way to Port Townsend.

I will have them closely inspect the trailer tires while I am there.

I gotta watch out for Vampires and Werewolves tonight (in Forks, Wa.)

 

[jnbhobe]

If you are going to spend $1200 on tires get the Goodyear G-614's.

 

[mjatwalker]

Bill, The supplier is Tredit Tire & Wheel Inc there # is 866 443-9907