Walmart Automotive, sold me four new tires for my minivan for $300, with road hazard warranty. Within 6 months, all four tires went bad, unrepairable, after only 2,000 miles. They charged me the road hazard warrantee fee AGAIN after the first two tires went bad. They said the warrantee changed. Tires 3 & 4 went bad, they charged me $70-plus for tread loss after only 2,000 miles Alamogordo New Mexico

The Walmart Automotive associate recommended a set of tires which he said would be as good as more expensive ones because "the sun here will rot them anyway." It cost me $300 for the four new tires, with road hazard warranty. I'd bought Walmart tires many times in past years and never had excessive problems, as the road hazard warranty was honored.

In just three months, two of the four new tires had gone bad. They said punctures by thorns in the sidewalls made them unrepairable. They said their road hazard warranty had changed, and now I had to pay the warranty fee AGAIN. They claimed I had a "hazardous environment," although I've never had excessive trouble before, living in the exact same spot.

Within three more months (total of six months since I bought these four tires), I came out to my van after work to find the other two tires completely flat. Again, they said thorn punctures in the sidewalls made them unrepairable. Even worse, they said there was tread loss, and charged me about $70 to replace them, even though there was only 2,000 miles on them!

They also claimed that their road hazard warranty now covers nails and potholes, but NOT thorns. They tried to tell me that whether I drive up and down hills a lot could cause the tread loss, whether I drive on gravel roads. In fact, I only drive this van to and from work and around town locally, as it has mechanical and computer problems which have been so far unidentifiable and make the vehicle unfit for out-of-town driving.

I've lived on the same lot for several years and never had so much trouble with new tires. These tires are JUNK!

I tried several times to talk to the store manager, but he was never available. An assistant manager finally agreed to refund my money for the last two tires, but she said they would NOT warrantee them at all this time.

Last night, the 5th new tire (replacement) went flat. What would you want to bet that it's unrepairable again. And now there's no warranty. I cannot afford all the expense these new tires have cost me nor all the inconvenience and hassle from them ALL going bad. It's been $300 out the window, and I still need new tires.

These Walmart tires are worse than worthless, as they have cost me so much lost time and aggravation. Their warrantee is apparently worthless also. No way do I want anything to do with Walmart tires again, but I am stuck with these rotten tires. I don't know what kind of satisfaction I SHOULD get on this situation; but so far, I haven't gotten ANY AT ALL.

Since when should it cost $300 for four new tires on a minivan only to have all four of them go bad within 6 months with only 2,000 miles? And now, the 5th new tire has gone bad, too. I fully expect that none of these replacement tires will ever last more than six months.

I guess I'll call 1-800-WALMART, and if I can't get any agreeable settlement, tell them I'll contact Consumer Affairs. No one I've talked to thinks that this is a reasonable situation. They think I'm being taken advantage of because I'm a woman.

Sorry to say that I think a lot of Walmart's other products have declined in quality as well. Now I have to be VERY careful about what I buy from them, the quality has deteriorated so much on many items. Yet at least most of the other things can usually be returned. My heavy investment in tires has put me in a severe predicament.

Carol
Alamogordo, New Mexico
U.S.A.