Well it was $215 for the tire, + $60 for mounting and balancing + tax, so close to $300 total. I feel like I should have been cut a little bit of a break on it since it was a brand new car.

 

I just paid $64 to mount and balance FOUR tires with lifetime balance and free rotation from discount tire. $60 for one is robbery.

 

My assumption is that it wasn't at a MINI dealer.

 

Not hard to Assume when I said discount tire.

I see no reason what so ever to go to a MINI dealer for tires. Since they don't
warranty any OEM tire, and as noted they rob you of your money

 

Here's the pictures of the tire just before being replaced. The guys at the wheel shop said this tire should not have failed. The wheel is perfectly straight and none of the belts on the inside of the tire are broken. I'm going to call Continental this week and see what they can do. I really don't feel like I was going fast enough or hit a big enough pothole to cause this and now I'm a little concerned about the safety of these tires.

[IMG][/IMG]

 

Only if you allow them, you take your Mini to a dealer you're just asking for it! Of course not all Mini dealers are bad, still remember reading about the good ones. My dealer has not given me any reason to doubt them but there prices are the highest I have seen for labor. $165 per hour!

 

Good news. Continental is going to warranty the tire. It definitely shouldn't have failed the way it did so I have to send it back to Tire Rack and they'll credit my card since I bought the replacement from them. I'm glad there is still some decent customer service somewhere.

 

thats really nice to hear

 

Good news! I had a tire look like that on the tread area once, lets just say I got all my tread mileage and then some!

 

I'm so glad that you were able to resolve this, that's why is always worth checking even if you know that you may be out of options. Sadly almost any tire brand that I've owned had the same problem with bubbles, living in pothole city and all.