Tire issue on NEW 5er
We just purchased a new 2016 Sprinter fifth-wheel about 3 weeks ago. I was installing mud flaps behind the rear axle and noticed a "plug" in the rear tire. I called the dealer and they agreed to reimburse me for the cost of swapping the spare tire from the spare wheel to the aluminum wheel and vice-versa. However the tire company refused to install the "plugged" tire on the spare rim saying it was an unsafe repair. I called the dealer back and they have agreed to provide me with a new tire for the spare so all is well.
My concern is that when confronted with the tire being "plugged" they remarked that they "get these all the time" and "they come from the factory that way". I am not an attorney and I don't know liability law. I understand that it is not unlikely that a tire could pick up a dropped screw or other debris while moving down the assembly line. But to simply "plug" the tire and send it on down the road seems a dangerous practice to me. My new trailer weighs in at 9000lbs empty and over 11500lbs fully loaded. A tire failure would certainly do major damage possibly leading to loss of control at highway speeds. I would hate think it was caused by the careless, unsafe repair done at the factory.
My concern is that when confronted with the tire being "plugged" they remarked that they "get these all the time" and "they come from the factory that way". I am not an attorney and I don't know liability law. I understand that it is not unlikely that a tire could pick up a dropped screw or other debris while moving down the assembly line. But to simply "plug" the tire and send it on down the road seems a dangerous practice to me. My new trailer weighs in at 9000lbs empty and over 11500lbs fully loaded. A tire failure would certainly do major damage possibly leading to loss of control at highway speeds. I would hate think it was caused by the careless, unsafe repair done at the factory.
