i need some tire advice!!

[BrickcityJeep]

hey y'all! i took my wrangler to the dealer for a recall on the ecodiesel fuel pump and its been there for a week already (dropped off sunday night) i went there on friday to get some things i needed from the jeep and they let me into the shop. once i saw the jeep, the 2 front tires were completely flat and it was sitting on the rims. The tech said he aired them out to give him a better reach inside the engine bay and having the tires aired out doesn't damage them. am i crazy for thinking this is ruining my tires? not sure how long its been sitting that way but i passed by last night (sunday which is a week later)after hours and took some pics through the shop window for proof in case i have any issues or they deny ever doing this.. i'm pretty pissed about it.. not sure if it matters what kind of tires but i have the BFG A/T.. what do you guys think? is this bad for the tires and should i complain?

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[BrickcityJeep]

any help or advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[Whiskeybiskit]

I would think if they are flat for a prolonged period of time, it will ruin them. And how was that his first thought, take the damn wheels off if you need better access to the engine bay. I wouldn't go back there if you have a choice.

 

[Riverjeep]

I would not think it would hurt anything as just the sidewall is being flexed but with that said, that would piss me off also!

 

[jac04]

Wow, I've heard of airing down tires to lower a vehicle, but never fully deflating the tires. IMO, letting the full weight of the vehicle sit on completely deflated tires for an extended period could potentially cause sidewall issues. The fact is that the mechanic is a hack, and he's only telling you it is OK because it's not his vehicle.

I suggest that you contact BFG directly and get an answer from them. Don't give them the dealership background story, just tell them that your vehicle has been sitting on completely deflated tires for xxx time period and ask them if it will have any effect on the tires. I would give them the year/make/model, a picture of the vehicle weight sticker in the door jamb, and pictures of the tires. BFG will almost certainly be conservative in their reply. If BFG recommends tire replacement, then give a copy of their reply to the dealership.

BFG contact info:
https://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/assistance/contact-us

 

[BrickcityJeep]

I would think if they are flat for a prolonged period of time, it will ruin them. And how was that his first thought, take the damn wheels off if you need better access to the engine bay. I wouldn't go back there if you have a choice.

it blew my mind when i saw the tires deflated.. this isn't even the dealer i bought the jeep from. my dealer doesn't have any diesel techs so they told me they couldn't replace the fuel pump.. not only that, during my last oil change the mechanic left oil stains all over my shifter, steering wheel, door panel, seat and center console.. soon i'll be running out of dealers to go to

 

[BrickcityJeep]

Wow, I've heard of airing down tires to lower a vehicle, but never fully deflating the tires. IMO, letting the full weight of the vehicle sit on completely deflated tires for an extended period could potentially cause sidewall issues. The fact is that the mechanic is a hack, and he's only telling you it is OK because it's not his vehicle.

I suggest that you contact BFG directly and get an answer from them. Don't give them the dealership background story, just tell them that your vehicle has been sitting on completely deflated tires for xxx time period and ask them if it will have any effect on the tires. I would give them the year/make/model, a picture of the vehicle weight sticker in the door jamb, and pictures of the tires. BFG will almost certainly be conservative in their reply. If BFG recommends tire replacement, then give a copy of their reply to the dealership.

BFG contact info:
https://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/assistance/contact-us

thanks for the reply! i did call BFG and they gave me a case number. they also told me to have the dealer contact them with the case number and the condition of the tires. I will wait until i pick up my jeep to mention anything because i'm afraid they'll do something out of spite. i will also have the dealer write in the notes of the receipt/work order that they let it sit on deflated tires for a prolonged period of time

 

[Cunky]

Yes, this would be concerning for the health of the tires. Maybe if they were rotated every day so that the weight is not sitting on the same part of the tire the entire time, but you would have no way to verify this. I would be livid too, those are expensive tires and their rationale is pathetic. Take the wheel off if you want better access to the engine bay... anything short of that is just lazy! Also, further egregious laziness is leaving them flat while not actively working on the vehicle.

I mean seriously... how hard would it have been to inflate them between sessions working on the vehicle? It would have taken a shop level air compressor about 1 minute to get those things up to 30 lbs

 

[Rhinebeck01]

thanks for the reply! i did call BFG and they gave me a case number. they also told me to have the dealer contact them with the case number and the condition of the tires. I will wait until i pick up my jeep to mention anything because i'm afraid they'll do something out of spite. i will also have the dealer write in the notes of the receipt/work order that they let it sit on deflated tires for a prolonged period of time

Curious, what dealership in NJ your JL is at.

I'm surprised that they let you back into the shop area as most don't .... for one, insurance reasons.

Atta boy for snapping the pictures that show your front tires deflated..
Atta boy for saying nothing until you pick up the JL.

On pickup day, I would politely ask to speak to personally speak to the Service Manager.... again, Service Manager and in a calm and polite manner go over this issue with him/her..

 

[garyji]

That is TOTAL B.S.!!! Sitting there like that will destroy those tires.

G.

 

[Old Jeeper]

any help or advice is greatly appreciated!

As long as its not driven FLAT it's not a major issue. Back on the ranch growing up we had a lot of stuff with tires and they sat out in the barn and not used over winter. Some tires would go flat and not be driven for as 4 or 5 mo sometimes and even back in those days the tires inflated properly and we had no issues.

I would not concern yourself...

 

[garyji]

Sorry Don, I have to respectfully disagree. Farm vehicles are not the same as vehicles driven at highway speeds on a daily basis. I could be wrong, but "it's no big deal" doesn't seem right.

G.

 

[BrickcityJeep]

Curious, what dealership in NJ your JL is at.

I'm surprised that they let you back into the shop area as most don't .... for one, insurance reasons.

Atta boy for snapping the pictures that show your front tires deflated..
Atta boy for saying nothing until you pick up the JL.

On pickup day, I would politely ask to speak to personally speak to the Service Manager.... again, Service Manager and in a calm and polite manner go over this issue with him/her..

not sure if i should say which dealer in case any of their employees are on here lurking ? but i'll come back and let you know once i pick up my car.

and yes! i'm also surprised they let me in the shop but i'm glad they did. i would have never known my beloved jeep is sitting on completely flat tires! i will be driving by again tonight and peeking in the shop window to see if they're still flat.

i will also take your advice for pick up day and CALMLY/POLITELY speak the the service manager.

 

[BrickcityJeep]

Thank you my fellow jeepers! i appreciate all the comments and advice confirming my thoughts on this issue! you guys are truly awesome.. i will be back with an update!

 

[Old Jeeper]

Sorry Don, I have to respectfully disagree. Farm vehicles are not the same as vehicles driven at highway speeds on a daily basis. I could be wrong, but "it's no big deal" doesn't seem right.

G.

CONCUR, but when I said Farm and Ranch, we had both and there were several trucks Chevy 3100s and I am not talking about implements or tractors.

Those trucks most of them 1 / 2 tons just sat up all winter long, typically form Nov to about Mar depending on the weather.

I would go out there and pump up those tires on the tractors and trucks and then I learned to inspect the FREEZE Plugs, that would pop out on a hard freeze...we did not put antifreeze in them.

I had to pump up the air in those tires with a HAND PUMP. LOL those were the days.

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