Yokohama

We received this from Yokohama:

As the supervisor of a the Yokohama Tire Consumer Affairs Department, I came across your website while doing research. It is terribly disappointing that consumeraffairs.com does not research the claims by customers before posting the information to the website. Your motto is "Knowledge is power!" but knowledge of incorrect information is misinforming your readers and in turn makes your website look bad. Perhaps you should consider researching the claims posted by consumers so that you can CORRECTLY inform your readers.

Nathan Ortega

It's very disappointing to find a company so disconneced from its consumers that it thinks they shouldn't be able to post comments in a public forum without someone else's approval. Mr. Ortega does his company a great disservice.

Andrew of Elma, NY February 5, 2010

I had purchased Yokohama tires from the Monroe Tire Center in East Aurora, NY. The store located at Quaker Road, East Aurora, NY, 716-655-3370. This was a set of four tires brand new rated for 60,000 miles purchased on February 27, 2009. The mileage on the car was 54,574 miles on a 2004 Honda Civic. The tires were purchased new just before a trip down to Florida.

Two of the tires were completely bald as of September 4, 2009. The mileage on the car was 65,715. This means I only have 11,141 miles out of these tires. We then went to a different Monroe tire center in Derby, NY. The garage said the car was driven hard to wear out the tires that fast. I told the manager that this car is babied. I being a mechanic myself rotated the tires twice before the new replacement tires. Other than the trip to Florida I do not drive it hard as it is a four cylinder and want it to last. Had the tires pro-rated by the manager which cost me an additional 91.22 to have them replaced on September 4, 2009. All four tires are completely bald now and need to be replaced.

The Honda's current mileage is 70,543. This means on the two new tires that I purchased. They only have 4,828 miles on them. The tires are crap and I would not recommend a Yokahama tire to anyone. I have seen the other reports listed on your site with similar situations and findings. I will be purchasing 4 new tires but not from Monroe Muffler & Tire. They definitely will not be Yokahama tires. Just adding my name to the rest of the unhappy consumers.

Randy of fresno, CA February 4, 2010

ns of transportation. I've checked into attorneys with print outs' of the past recall of yokohama tires, air bag failure. It's sad and unfortunate that there has to be a death for an attorney or the remaining parties involed to put forth efort to look into the matter. After the adjusters make the report on the findings being totaled , or repairable, rental car is returned and me and my family is left without transportation. Know its cold outside when you are on time too every payment required, then when situations arise the same ones knocking two days early, surprisingly (not really) are no where to be found. Through faith and strong family ties me and my family shall make it through the storm. Regardless of the fact no one wants to take responsibility. I too shall keep applying for help in being compensated for my families pain, the result of yokohama tires.

Dora of McMinnville, TN December 12, 2009

At the recommendation of Jason (tire sales rep) at Jubitz truck stop in Portland OR, I purchased steer tires for my over the road expedite truck (a Freightliner FL70. The tires were Y023. At 40,000 miles we discovered a broken cord in the sidewall of the tire. I called Jubitz and was given the number for Yokohama.

I called Yokohama and was eventually sent to Yokohama's Louisville, KY site. I was told to ask for Chris M. and have him inspect the tire. I did so. I was informed that the tire was OK that I had "hit a pothole" or a "curb" amd they would do nothing about the tire. Mr. M. cut a hole in my tire to check the cord. I believe he did it so the tire could never be used anywhere else. Mr. M. is supposedly the Yokohama company expert on defective tires. I am told that all suspect tires are send to him in Louisville.

No wonder no one gets any satisfaction from Yokohama. Look at all the money he saves them. I spend at 1000 to find a new tire, phone calls and fuel in pursuit of a simple tire replacement (with the tire still supposedly under warranty)It took me 10 states and hundreds of phone calls to find a replacement (same tire to match the other one).

I know for a fact these are defective tires. The other tire purchased at the same time as the original defective one now has a strange wear pattern which Jubitz says is due to over-inflation or mechanical problems. No such thing to that either. I will never buy another Yokohama product and fully intend to pursue this matter as long as I can.

I not only risk my own life everyday out on the road, I also risk harming someone else. I hope to soon replace both these tires and send them to the DOT for inspection. I hope there is a recall. The same tire was recalled in 2005.

The economic consequence of this situation is that the tires cost more than 300 each. I have already replaced one and will have to replace the other. The tires should last thousands of miles and certainly more than 4 months on a commercial vehicle. My last set of tires lasted 250,000 miles. These lasted 40,000.

Rick of Ogden, UT October 24, 2009

I purchased Yokohama AVID TRZ tires based on a Consumer Report issue that claimed the tires were a good purchase if you wanted long tread life. The tires are supposed to have an 80,000 mile warrantee and lasted about 35,000 miles with very mild driving on a Toyota Camry. The Big O tire store in Ogden stated that’s all you really get from the tires and the store, not the manufacturer deals with any warrantee issues. This is less than half of what is promised, even with all recommended rotations, etc. done at Big O.

I'm wondering now about the validity of the Consumer Report tests and the honesty in general of the tire store. I'm thinking a little internet research is probably more cost effective. Buy tires online, have the barely trained shop monkeys put them on, and hope for the best because there really is no recourse for a bad product.

Janice of Atlanta, GA October 2, 2009

I currently own a 2001 Chev. Monte Carlo and purchased 4 Yoko's for it around November 2007. My brother is a true Yoko fan and has them on all 3 of his vehicles. I live in Atlanta and drive roughly 60 miles each day for work and take road trips (400 miles)home as often as time permits. I haven't had any major problems with my tires except for the fact that in the rain they felt like slicks from day one. I've rotated and balanced them like clockwork and to this day the rubber looks pretty good. I am beginning to feel a fish like movement during evening traffic...lol (signs I have gotten my money's worth) but at this point if I am able to find another tire that is geared more for wet handling I will surely purchase another Yoko product. If not, I will have to choose Bridgestone.

ROGER of NORTH SMITHFIELD, RI July 6, 2009

I purchased a new set of Yokohama tires in November of 2008. As fo July 2009 I am replacing 2 of the 4 due to bulging of the sidewalls. It seems to me that this is a more than common problem with Yokohama tires after reading all the reviews. I brought the car back to the tire dealership and was told that since I had not purchased a road hazard warranty there was nothing they could do.

Eric of Pittsburgh, PA June 10, 2009

Purchased full set of Yokohama AS430 tires from National Tire and Battery for a 2000 Nissan Maxima SE. One year later, sidewall bulge develops. As I had not purchased a roadhazard plan, I had to pay another ~150 for a new tire + installation. Two years since initial purchase, a second tire develops a sidewall bulge. NTB insists that it was the result of an impact as does Yokohama. While that may be the case, I've never had this happen with any other brand of tire.

I've not abused the car, nor the tires. If these tires cannot withstand the duress of normal driving (that is, hitting potholes or other common road disturbances), it would seem that they are a poorly constructed tire. Having been told that both of these sidewall bulges are my fault by both NTB and Yokohama, I shall not be purchasing any tires from either outfit. Poor customer service in light of what is an expensive and extremely fragile tire. Hopefully others will see these warnings as opposed to the majority of us who come here AFTER the fact. If you are one of those, please don't buy Yokohama tires--that is not unless you purchase a roadhazard guarantee.

Hal of Katy, TX June 5, 2009

Tires: Yokohama S-DRIVE These tires are "supposed" to replace the AVS ES100 (which was an excellent tire). This was a high performance tire that I have been driving on a BMW M3 since 2003. I still have a set on the front of my car. The rear tires (AVS ES100) were replaced with the S-DRIVE in January 2009. At 2000 miles the tires were completely worn out. I took the car back to the store where purchased. The "manager" (turned out he wasn't) accused me of driving the car "hard". We called Yokohama and the "customer service" representative said the tires would be replaced as their tires were good for a lot more than 2000 miles. She told us to take it to the Discount Tire of our choice. We did not return to the store where purchased because of the accusations of the "employee". We took it to Discount Tire TXH 57. The tires were replaced free of charge courtesy of Yokohama and Discount Tire.

The new tires (S-DRIVE) were replaced on 3/30/2009 and today 6/05/2009 there's not a weeks worth of tread left on the tire. The Discount Tire rep this morning told Nathan at Yokohama that the tires were driven hard. The original tires were requested by Yokohama to be returned to them, I imagine for evaluation as the formula is obviously wrong for a tire to wear out this fast. I have read on BMW blogs of other drivers getting over 48,000 miles with no problems.

Personal History: I drive this car 35 miles per day in traffic to and from work. On the weekends I sometimes use it to take my 3 year old son fishing. I am 60 years old and have had this car since 1999 and running Yokohama Tires since that time.

Phoulis of Kitchener, ON May 1, 2009

My daughter drove in a brand new Mitsubishi Lancer under 3500 KM. to Windsor Saturday Apr.25 2009. I checked tire pressure prior trip. Front driver side Yokohama avid blew. She bought a cheap used and came back. I put rear tire to front and used in back. I noticed back tire had a bubble, I took to Goodyear and said is defect must be replaced. I took to Yokohama recommended store and said she must have hit a curb (with rear). I need to buy 2 new tires not even 4000 KM on car. I am very dissappointed!!!! They basically said the warranty on the Yokohama tires is valid as long as your don't drive the car!!!!

Bruce of Toronto, ON April 18, 2009

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