GM Customer Service

Yeah, finally, 3 weeks and 1400 miles after purchase, the Tahoe rides like a dream. I purchased a pick up truck at a GMC dealer and they offered to service the Tahoe for me as well. It is a longer drive but now I don't mind the drive. To me, Customer Service means just that, customer & service. Lately it appears that Customer Service has become the name of a department where the customer has become the enemy and must be dealt with accordingly. I invite anyone to read the customer comments/reviews on the Goodyear LS and LS2 tires on the Tire Rack web site. They seem to be dog tires and I would hope that the NTSB would check that site out too. As for Toyotas, the one and only 4 Runner I had was built for a shorter person and I chose not to have the seat permanently moved back an inch or two. Therefore, it was my one and only foreign built car. Oh, also it would not get out of its own way with a very slow V-6 engine. TPBeach

Amen, SgtSilicon!

Many years ago I was unhappy with the short life of my motorcycle's rear tire. I got one with a harder rear tire, guaranteed to last much longer. I had constant skidding problems with it (duh), and finally plowed up a quarter mile of ground (thankfully in the middle of the freeway lanes) when it locked up during an emergency stop. Hell with long life; go for the traction. Or you'll be IN traction!!

-= Larry A.

I think that sometimes the manufacturers cherry-pick the best tires, and the second best go to the tire shops. Years ago I had great luck with Goodyears on a new car, 40K miles + and totally even wear. I put

4 new Goodyears on it, then a few months later went to have the balance checked for a long trip. The Goodyear service tech showed me with a runout gauge where all 4 tires were unbalanceable - either out of round, or extremely wobbly. Never bought Goodyears again; I now have Michelins on all my tires for several years and have been very happy with them.

I started buying Michelins when an industrial consultant (NOT from Michelin, just a general troubleshooter) gave a talk at my company - he spoke very highly of the quality control and manufacturing processes at Michelin. So this guy has actually been in the factory and seen how they do things.

-= Larry A.

This car drove badly at 60 on the "test" drive.I was told that the car had flat spots from sitting. That I should drive it about 300 miles and the flat spots would "work themselves out". The car had 34 miles on it when sold to me and some of that was my test drive. At speeds over 60 the steering wheel shook badly. I went back to the dealer and had to argue then agree to pay for the balance job just to get them to look at the tires. STOP. This is a new car. I cannot drive it on the highway. Tech comes on to sales floor and tells salesman something. I was told that there were two "bad tires" on my car and some old guy drove the thing in to Phoenix and had Goodyear (Discount Tire) put two new tires on the car. I wanted the car taken to my tire shop but they claimed that they did not have an account with them. THIS CAR IS STILL BRAND NEW. ALL MILEAGE IS BETWEEN MY HOUSE AND THE DEALER. Car still drove badly (not as bad) but now the steering wheel is canted to the right and the car drifts to the left. Front end is out of alignment. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? I argue for new tires with the salesman and was told to contact Regency. I DID NOT BUY THE CAR FROM REGENCY. They did the conversion on the car and took off the tires that came from the factory and replaced them with P275 55 R20's. They just happened to be Goodyear LS tires. I am getting pretty fed up with a new Chevy that drives like crap. Fed up I contact GM customer service. They tell me to take the car back to the dealer for an "evaluation of the problem". In an hour or two they call me back and say, NOT GM's problem. Dealer corrects the front end problem and balances the two OLD tires. I take the car to my tire shop and have all 4 wheels rebalanced. One tire has noticable "Wobble" on the machine and ends up taking 8 oz. of weight. (1/2 lb.) the two new tires were not balanced properly. Michelin tires arrive, I have my guys mount and balance them and the car drives properly. SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE NEW TIRES? TPBeach

Generals suck, period. It's fairly common knowledge that Generals wear, ride, and handle like iron. They must also be real cheap. I recall being told of a conversation between an ABS development engineer and one of the customer's representatives (customer being one of the Big Three) - there was an issue with one of their medium duty truck platforms not being able to meet the appropriate standards for braking distance due essentially to the mfgr. of said platform spec'ing s**te tires. The engineer basically told customer's representative this. Cust. rep. strongly expressed concern and doubt about said engineer's skills as he was "unaware of any problem like this that couldn't be handled through software."

I guess there's people working for the big three that don't understand basic concepts like static and dynamic friction coefficients, as shocking as that may sound...

I don't know to this day how that situation was resolved, but it made me want to put my head through a wall...

nate

The last Generals that I had on a car were truly terrible. Sidewall blowouts on 3 of the 4, IIRC.

Did you read your Regency warranty? I just did on their website. It states that they undertake and warrant all modifications, customizing services and equipment installations to be free from defects etc. for the warranty period. It also says that the Regency Service Department is your PRIMARY contact for obtaining information or assistance relating to warranty parts or repairs. GM customer service quite properly told you that it wasn't their problem. Regency is a completely different company that warrants what THEY do to a vehicle after it leaves the factory. Had you bothered to read the warranty, you would have known that. You were given good advice, to contact Regency, which it appears you completely ignored, because you "didn't buy the car" from them. Fact is, you DID buy the tires and wheels from them, not GM. If you were to call Regency and explain the problems you've had, they 'might' try to help you out, but I wouldn't hold my breath at this point.

Dave

The Regency warranty does not warrant tires, and after discussing this problem with their customer service guy he eventually faxed back a "sorry, we will not cover your tires" to me. I therefore am going back to the company from which I purchased the vehicle. TPB

Why anyone would put 20" tires on a passenger vehicle in the first place is a mystery to me.