Recall/Free Tire Replacement???

[cajunboyz]

We bought our Genny Jan 2015, 3.8L, We have the tail light recall letter, but NOT the tire recall letter. I haven't made a appt yet, as I wanted to to kill 2 birds with one stone.

 

[Mark_888]

We bought our Genny Jan 2015, 3.8L, We have the tail light recall letter, but NOT the tire recall letter. I haven't made a appt yet, as I wanted to to kill 2 birds with one stone.

Call the dealer and ask them about it. Have your VIN available.

 

[kn5owa]

We bought our Genny Jan 2015, 3.8L, We have the tail light recall letter, but NOT the tire recall letter. I haven't made a appt yet, as I wanted to to kill 2 birds with one stone.

Very simple - drive over to your dealer, make an appt. if necessary first - he will know about both problems (even backwoods dealers have computers) - & if the service manager has normal

vision, he can read the VIN off the car. They could care less about your letter.

I handled it that way - left the car in the a.m., picked it up the p.m. -- new tires, new tail light seals, no probs. At least so far.

When you get home, If you're like me, you will check lug nut torque and tire pressures (from door jamb).

It really ain't all that complicated.

 

[Mark_888]

Very simple - drive over to your dealer, make an appt. if necessary first - he will know about both problems (even backwoods dealers have computers) - & if the service manager has normal

vision, he can read the VIN off the car. They could care less about your letter.

I handled it that way - left the car in the a.m., picked it up the p.m. -- new tires, new tail light seals, no probs. At least so far.

When you get home, If you're like me, you will check lug nut torque and tire pressures (from door jamb).

It really ain't all that complicated.

Might want to call the dealer to make sure they have tires in stock.

 

[dthoma2]

Does anyone have any observations of how the Continentals on the Ultimate compare to the OEM Hankooks?

 

[ksoze]

When you get home, If you're like me, you will check lug nut torque and tire pressures (from door jamb).

As long as those tire pressure recommendations on the door jamb are the same for the new tires just replaced as on the original Hankooks.

 

[jcastag]

I have been trying to figure out if I should go for the tire swap or not, but I have to tell you, changing from a High Performance tire to a Grand Touring tire concerned me, and that was before the information came out about the ECM update. I think that this is totally unacceptable on the part of Hyundai. I sent them the following email last week:

Hyundai Consumer Affairs,

I received your letter today about the tire swap from the stock Hancook tires to Michelin tires. I am a little confused about why you would install tires with a lower speed rating onto a car that we advertised, and subsequently purchased by me, as a "sport sedan". In addition, you are going to modify the ECM from how the car was originally designed, to a much lower stop speed. This seems almost seems like a bait and switch move, as you are now changing the performance of the car AFTER people had already bought it.

As everyone knows, there is a serious issue with the stock Hancook tires, and your company should be replacing those tires with an equivalent All Season Ultra High Performance tire...NOT an All Season Grand Touring tire. That represents a totally different driving feel and a tire built for a different purpose, not even including the 20+ MPH lower speed rating.

Your company needs to step up and provide an EQUIVALENT performing tire that does NOT require modification to the entire brain of the vehicle. I expect you to reach out to be in 3 business days with a better solution to this issue, as the one that you provided is not acceptable.

Here is their response:

Dear Joseph Castagnino:

Thank you for contacting the Genesis Customer Care Center regarding your 2015 Genesis. We appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns regarding your Hankook tire replacement.

Hyundai Motor America values the opinions of our customers and that is what prompted our response with the replacement of the Hankook tires for customer satisfaction. As you know per the campaign replacement you are eligible for the replacement with the 18 inch Michelin Primacy MXM4 tires. At this time this is the only option we have available at this office.

Regarding the concern of the change of the maximum speed of the vehicle, the trade-off for this is for the better ride and handling to match an optimal fit for your Genesis. We do apologize if you are dissatisfied with the option of replacing the Hankook tires with the Michelin Primacy MXM4 tires and we will be forwarding this case to our regional representative to determine if any other alternatives exist.

We hope that this will sufficiently address your concerns and that you can then enjoy your Genesis for many miles to come. However, should you have any additional questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to reply to this email or call our toll-free customer service number of (877) 378-8727.

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 5:00 AM - 7:00 PM Pacific Time
Saturday - Sunday: 6:30 AM - 3:00 PM Pacific Time

So here was my response:

Actually no, I am not satisfied at all with the response. And I am also even more frustrated now that you clearly are proving you don't have any understanding of the difference is tire categories and what they stand for.

Hyundai has been advertising and marketing the Genesis as a luxury sport sedan. And you also market the vehicle as being "tuned by Lotus". A car being marketed and advertised as a sport sedan would be sold with Ultra High Performance tires, which is what the vehicle was sold with.

You are now changing the tires to Grand Touring tires, which are NOT a fit for a car that is being marketed as a sport sedan. Grand touring tires would found on a vehicle like a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. Is that the type of vehicle you are now saying the Genesis is?

Your company is clearly taking the cheap way out here, instead of doing the right thing and resolving what is in essence a safety issue with defective tires that you used on your vehicles.

Maybe if you cannot come up with the correct resolution for this, the BBB can get involved and help make suggestions to resolve this matter in a way that does not come across as a " bait and switch"

Please let me know how you would like to proceed.

So in the end, someone called me and told me that "Grand Touring Tires" are better tires than "High Performance Tires" and the proof is that they have a higher retail price. That is when I lost it!! I told him Michelin tires are just overpriced, that does not make them better. Then I called him out and said you market the Genesis, and most of your cars as being better than the "higher priced" cars in the respective category...so does that mean the basis for your entire company philosophy is a lie? He has NO response to that.

 

[Mark_888]

I have been trying to figure out if I should go for the tire swap or not, but I have to tell you, changing from a High Performance tire to a Grand Touring tire concerned me, and that was before the information came out about the ECM update. I think that this is totally unacceptable on the part of Hyundai.

I don't quite understand. No one is forcing you to switch tires. The OEM tires are a bit to stiff for some people, so they came up with a replacement tire that is more comfortable. But no one is forcing you to switch and Hyundai is not obligated to offer new tires for free. The OEM tires were not defective, and the tendency to flat spot is a "feature" not a manufacturing defect of the Hankook's.

Can you show me where the 2015 Genesis is marketed as a sport sedan? The 2012-2014 Genesis R-Spec "might" have been marketed as that to some degree, but I don't believe that is the case for the 2015. For the vast majority of owners, smooth and comfortable tires like the Michelin Primacy MXM4's are a good choice.

 

[Nikgen]

I have been trying to figure out if I should go for the tire swap or not, but I have to tell you, changing from a High Performance tire to a Grand Touring tire concerned me, and that was before the information came out about the ECM update. I think that this is totally unacceptable on the part of Hyundai. I sent them the following email last week:

Hyundai Consumer Affairs,

I received your letter today about the tire swap from the stock Hancook tires to Michelin tires. I am a little confused about why you would install tires with a lower speed rating onto a car that we advertised, and subsequently purchased by me, as a "sport sedan". In addition, you are going to modify the ECM from how the car was originally designed, to a much lower stop speed. This seems almost seems like a bait and switch move, as you are now changing the performance of the car AFTER people had already bought it.

As everyone knows, there is a serious issue with the stock Hancook tires, and your company should be replacing those tires with an equivalent All Season Ultra High Performance tire...NOT an All Season Grand Touring tire. That represents a totally different driving feel and a tire built for a different purpose, not even including the 20+ MPH lower speed rating.

Your company needs to step up and provide an EQUIVALENT performing tire that does NOT require modification to the entire brain of the vehicle. I expect you to reach out to be in 3 business days with a better solution to this issue, as the one that you provided is not acceptable.

Here is their response:

Dear Joseph Castagnino:

Thank you for contacting the Genesis Customer Care Center regarding your 2015 Genesis. We appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns regarding your Hankook tire replacement.

Hyundai Motor America values the opinions of our customers and that is what prompted our response with the replacement of the Hankook tires for customer satisfaction. As you know per the campaign replacement you are eligible for the replacement with the 18 inch Michelin Primacy MXM4 tires. At this time this is the only option we have available at this office.

Regarding the concern of the change of the maximum speed of the vehicle, the trade-off for this is for the better ride and handling to match an optimal fit for your Genesis. We do apologize if you are dissatisfied with the option of replacing the Hankook tires with the Michelin Primacy MXM4 tires and we will be forwarding this case to our regional representative to determine if any other alternatives exist.

We hope that this will sufficiently address your concerns and that you can then enjoy your Genesis for many miles to come. However, should you have any additional questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to reply to this email or call our toll-free customer service number of (877) 378-8727.

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 5:00 AM - 7:00 PM Pacific Time
Saturday - Sunday: 6:30 AM - 3:00 PM Pacific Time

So here was my response:

Actually no, I am not satisfied at all with the response. And I am also even more frustrated now that you clearly are proving you don't have any understanding of the difference is tire categories and what they stand for.

Hyundai has been advertising and marketing the Genesis as a luxury sport sedan. And you also market the vehicle as being "tuned by Lotus". A car being marketed and advertised as a sport sedan would be sold with Ultra High Performance tires, which is what the vehicle was sold with.

You are now changing the tires to Grand Touring tires, which are NOT a fit for a car that is being marketed as a sport sedan. Grand touring tires would found on a vehicle like a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. Is that the type of vehicle you are now saying the Genesis is?

Your company is clearly taking the cheap way out here, instead of doing the right thing and resolving what is in essence a safety issue with defective tires that you used on your vehicles.

Maybe if you cannot come up with the correct resolution for this, the BBB can get involved and help make suggestions to resolve this matter in a way that does not come across as a " bait and switch"

Please let me know how you would like to proceed.

So in the end, someone called me and told me that "Grand Touring Tires" are better tires than "High Performance Tires" and the proof is that they have a higher retail price. That is when I lost it!! I told him Michelin tires are just overpriced, that does not make them better. Then I called him out and said you market the Genesis, and most of your cars as being better than the "higher priced" cars in the respective category...so does that mean the basis for your entire company philosophy is a lie? He has NO response to that.

Where, exactly, have they advertised and marketed it as a sports sedan?

 

[DRS]

I have been trying to figure out if I should go for the tire swap or not, but I have to tell you, changing from a High Performance tire to a Grand Touring tire concerned me, and that was before the information came out about the ECM update. I think that this is totally unacceptable on the part of Hyundai. I sent them the following email last week:

Hyundai Consumer Affairs,

I received your letter today about the tire swap from the stock Hancook tires to Michelin tires. I am a little confused about why you would install tires with a lower speed rating onto a car that we advertised, and subsequently purchased by me, as a "sport sedan". In addition, you are going to modify the ECM from how the car was originally designed, to a much lower stop speed. This seems almost seems like a bait and switch move, as you are now changing the performance of the car AFTER people had already bought it.

As everyone knows, there is a serious issue with the stock Hancook tires, and your company should be replacing those tires with an equivalent All Season Ultra High Performance tire...NOT an All Season Grand Touring tire. That represents a totally different driving feel and a tire built for a different purpose, not even including the 20+ MPH lower speed rating.

Your company needs to step up and provide an EQUIVALENT performing tire that does NOT require modification to the entire brain of the vehicle. I expect you to reach out to be in 3 business days with a better solution to this issue, as the one that you provided is not acceptable.

Here is their response:

Dear Joseph Castagnino:

Thank you for contacting the Genesis Customer Care Center regarding your 2015 Genesis. We appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns regarding your Hankook tire replacement.

Hyundai Motor America values the opinions of our customers and that is what prompted our response with the replacement of the Hankook tires for customer satisfaction. As you know per the campaign replacement you are eligible for the replacement with the 18 inch Michelin Primacy MXM4 tires. At this time this is the only option we have available at this office.

Regarding the concern of the change of the maximum speed of the vehicle, the trade-off for this is for the better ride and handling to match an optimal fit for your Genesis. We do apologize if you are dissatisfied with the option of replacing the Hankook tires with the Michelin Primacy MXM4 tires and we will be forwarding this case to our regional representative to determine if any other alternatives exist.

We hope that this will sufficiently address your concerns and that you can then enjoy your Genesis for many miles to come. However, should you have any additional questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to reply to this email or call our toll-free customer service number of (877) 378-8727.

Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday: 5:00 AM - 7:00 PM Pacific Time
Saturday - Sunday: 6:30 AM - 3:00 PM Pacific Time

So here was my response:

Actually no, I am not satisfied at all with the response. And I am also even more frustrated now that you clearly are proving you don't have any understanding of the difference is tire categories and what they stand for.

Hyundai has been advertising and marketing the Genesis as a luxury sport sedan. And you also market the vehicle as being "tuned by Lotus". A car being marketed and advertised as a sport sedan would be sold with Ultra High Performance tires, which is what the vehicle was sold with.

You are now changing the tires to Grand Touring tires, which are NOT a fit for a car that is being marketed as a sport sedan. Grand touring tires would found on a vehicle like a Honda Accord or Toyota Camry. Is that the type of vehicle you are now saying the Genesis is?

Your company is clearly taking the cheap way out here, instead of doing the right thing and resolving what is in essence a safety issue with defective tires that you used on your vehicles.

Maybe if you cannot come up with the correct resolution for this, the BBB can get involved and help make suggestions to resolve this matter in a way that does not come across as a " bait and switch"

Please let me know how you would like to proceed.

So in the end, someone called me and told me that "Grand Touring Tires" are better tires than "High Performance Tires" and the proof is that they have a higher retail price. That is when I lost it!! I told him Michelin tires are just overpriced, that does not make them better. Then I called him out and said you market the Genesis, and most of your cars as being better than the "higher priced" cars in the respective category...so does that mean the basis for your entire company philosophy is a lie? He has NO response to that.

👆👍➕1⃣👏🏻👏🏻🔨🔨💵🔫.

Congrats for standing up and being a blunt instrument. I applaud you for promoting a message they need to hear... Look, former rental cars aside (which did have speed limits under 130?? And H rated OEM tire? I forget what they were when I rented them, maybe Mark_888 can let us know), I get what you say about the option package you have that has the higher priced wheels, tires, and tuning. Keep it up..l and public... Loved what you said about their three ring binder "talking points" in the "more expensive" replacement. Priceless.

How about they get the zone rep to give you some Bridgestone Pole position, or even Serenity Plus in the V or W speed rating. Would likely be less than what they offer.. And they are gong to go on record as saying Bridgestone (or Goodyear for that matter) make dangerous tires that Hyundai will not allow on their cars s replacements?

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[Mark_888]

And H rated OEM tire? I forget what they were when I rented them, maybe Mark_888 can let us know),

The early model Genesis Base Trim models (Generation 1 starting in 2009) with 17" wheels had H rated tires. They may have continued that through 2013, but I am not sure (2014 Base Trim had 18" wheels).

I have never driven my Genesis above 90 MPH, so I don't really care about speed rating per se. V rated tires have slightly better handling than H rated (stiffer sidewalls), but my early model Genesis has a pretty stiff suspension to begin with, so my H rated tires are fine for me.

 

[jarred52]

The MXM4 tires are also made by Michelin in a V speed rating. From looking at the prices on the Discount Tire site, they are about the same price as the H rating. As your dealer has to order the tires from his tire distributor, not Hyundai, why not ask him to order the V rating for you? If the tires cost a few dollars more, offer to pay the difference.

After all, Hyundai is offering you a free set of tires to replace OEM tires that are not defective. I can't imagine any other manufacturer doing this.

 

[ksoze]

For a car whose one generally universal knock when compared to it's target competitors is it's weight and lack of sportiness, a sudden change in OEM tire to one which likely exasperates that deficiency, seems ill-conceived. I was originally under the assumption that a batch of those Hankook tires were defective, as a way to explain this expensive and unusual change. That seems unlikely based on what we keep hearing in Hyundai PR and it appears the silent majority was overruled by those who wanted an even softer car and are excited by a tire brand name they recognize. Tires are a huge influence on a cars ride and much usually goes into dialing in the right tire. In this case, maybe not so much.

 

[ksoze]

After all, Hyundai is offering you a free set of tires to replace OEM tires that are not defective. I can't imagine any other manufacturer doing this.

It still does not add up. For many, free tires is all they need to hear, but this still seems like a strange decision if based on a "small minority" of feedback on tire noise from a tire whose noise rating is less than its replacement.

 

[TroyK]

seems to me the main concern with the hankooks has been flat spotting. after sitting in 40 degree temps for a few hours my tires were flat spotted. not a huge deal to me, but i can see where other folks would complain about it...especially those that live in cold climates. if you don't want the michelins...don't get them! simple as that!

 

[ksoze]

after if you don't want the michelins...don't get them! simple as that!

Agreed, except for new buyers who do not have that choice. Not a first world problem, but what was already a less than sporty ride due to weight, likely isn't getting any better with a less performance oriented tire.

 

[TroyK]

Agreed, except for new buyers who do not have that choice. Not a first world problem, but what was already a less than sporty ride due to weight, likely isn't getting any better with a less performance oriented tire.

seriously, the vast majority of buyers probably could give a crap which tires are on the car as long as those tires aren't too loud and last at least 36k miles. if a new genesis buyer doesn't like the michelins which are now standard...they can either NOT buy the genesis...or put different tires of their own choosing on after it's purchased/leased. this vision that the genesis is some sort of m5 or merc amg challenger that needs super high performance tires alludes me. but as the old adage goes, you can't please 100 percent of the people 100 percent of the time.

 

[ksoze]

this vision that the genesis is some sort of m5 or merc amg challenger that needs super high performance tires alludes me.

No one is suggesting the car is in that class, nor expect so. The OEM Hankooks were not super high performance summer tires, they were an all season performance tire selected for the car after extensive testing, including with Lotus. For a car a bit lazy already due to weight, downgrading the performance of the tire just seems backwards and a knee jerk reaction after purported minimal complaints about noise.

 

[TroyK]

No one is suggesting the car is in that class, nor expect so. The OEM Hankooks were not super high performance summer tires, they were an all season performance tire selected for the car after extensive testing, including with Lotus. For a car a bit lazy already due to weight, downgrading the performance of the tire just seems backwards and a knee jerk reaction after purported minimal complaints about noise.

again, the complaints were mostly about flat spotting from what i understand. and the complaints started outside the US...i can totally see where luxury car buyers don't care much for tires that make the wheels feel out of balance when it's cold. a choice was made by hyundai to put a grand touring tire on the 18 inch wheel equipped genesis vs an ultra high performance tire. yes, that's how the hankooks are described as on tirerack.com. i've not ridden in a genesis with the michelins, but i'm sure it's just fine and will suffice for 99 percent of genesis buyers. "done with this"

 

[kn5owa]

It still does not add up. For many, free tires is all they need to hear, but this still seems like a strange decision if based on a "small minority" of feedback on tire noise from a tire whose noise rating is less than its replacement.

I doubt that you will ever know the real reason for the replacements.

BUT - lawsuits involving tires and companies with deep pockets typically run in the millions of dollars - and juries don't mind handing it out. The lawsuits are not well publicized, but Costco, Walmart, and Michelin are a few names that come to mind.