TOYO OPEN COUNTRY TIRES Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EQUIPPED WITH TOYO OPEN COUNTRY AT TIRES, SIZE P245/55R19. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CHIPPING AWAY ON THE SHOULDER OF THE INSIDE. WHILE DRIVIGN 35 MPH, THE TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE TIRES WERE INSPECTED AND THE CHIPPING WAS DISCOVERED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THEIR TIRE DEALER. THE CONTACT DID NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WITH THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. THE TIRES HAD NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 28,000.

GREETINGS. I AM WRITING TO YOU REGARDING MY 2008 HIGHLANDER SPORT, SERIAL NUMBER [XXX]. SPECIFICALLY, I AM WRITING ABOUT THE OEM TIRES, TOYO OPEN COUNTRY, DOT CXHH, DK82508. AS OF TODAY, I HAVE 23, 897 MILES ON THE VEHICLE; AND THE TIRES ARE COMPLETELY WORN OUT TO A POINT BELOW THE WEAR BARS, WHICH INDICATES THAT THEY MUST BE REPLACED NOW. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN OCTOBER 2008, I PURCHASED THE TOYOTA MAINTENANCE PROGRAM, SO THE TIRES ARE ROTATED AND BALANCED (IF NECESSARY) EVERY 5,000 MILES WHEN I ALSO CHANGE THE OIL. I AM A 46 YEAR OLD FATHER OF THREE SMALL CHILDREN, WITH NO MOVING VIOLATIONS, TICKETS OR ACCIDENTS. I TELL YOU THIS ABOUT MY LIFE TO INDICATE THE TYPE OF CONSERVATIVE DRIVER THAT I AM. I HAVE CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ONLINE AND HAVE IDENTIFIED THE LOWEST PRICE FOR A SET OF FOUR TIRES AT $759.88, WHICH WILL ACTUALLY MORE EXPENSIVE DURING THE BUY DUE TO THE TPMS SYSTEM, THE NECESSITY FOR AN ALIGNMENT WHEN REPLACING FOUR TIRES, AND TAX. I REALIZE THAT TIRE REPLACEMENT IS JUST ONE PART OF THE OVERALL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT FOR A VEHICLE. HOWEVER, TIRES ON A $33,000 VEHICLE SHOULD PROVIDE FAR MORE MILEAGE THAN 24,000 MILES. IN FACT, IF YOU HAVE THE TIME-I INVITE YOU TO GO THE BLOG TITLED TOYOTA NATION, WHERE ALL OF THE WRITERS CONSISTENTLY MAKE DISPARAGING REMARKS ABOUT TOYOTA?S CHEAP TIRE SELECTION. SO MUCH IN FACT, WRITERS DISCUSS VARIOUS METHODS FOR OVERCOMING THE BURDEN OF FINDING A SUITABLE, WELL-PRICED REPLACEMENT WHEN THERE ARE ONLY THREE COMPANIES WHO MAKE THE 245/55-R19. THOSE COMPANIES ARE TOYO, BRIDGESTONE AND HANKOOK. MOST WRITERS CONVERT TO A LARGER TIRE OR A SMALLER TIRE WITH NEW WHEELS, WHICH OF COURSE AFFECTS NOT ONLY THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER READINGS, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY PERFORMANCE AND POSSIBLY SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER HYBRID EQUIPPED WITH TOYO OPEN COUNTRY A20 TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE NOTICED THAT THREE OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES (EXCLUDING THE FRONT PASSENGER BY ANOTHER TIRE MANUFACTURER) ON THE VEHICLE WERE BEGINNING TO SHRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT SEEMED AS IF SOMEONE TOOK A "CHEESE GRATER" TO THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE OR THE TIRES; THEY DID STATE THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE TWO OF THE TIRES. THE CONTACT HAD NOT SPOKEN WITH THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 21,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER EQUIPPED WITH TOYO OPEN COUNTRY TIRES, SIZE P245/55/R19. THE CONTACT STATED ALL 4 TIRES ON THE VEHICLE, INCLUDING THE SPARE, EXHIBITED TREAD SEPARATION. THE DEALER PERFORMED AN ALIGNMENT YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE AND TIRE MANUFACTURERS WERE CONTACTED AND NEITHER WOULD PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000.

THE 245-55X19 TOYO OPEN COUNTRY A20 TIRES TOYOTA SPECS ON HIGHLANDER LIMITED MODELS ARE UTTERLY TREACHEROUS ON ICE OR SNOW. EDMUNDS.COM DOCUMENTS A HUGE NUMBER OF WINTER TRACTION COMPLAINTS UNDER USED CARS> TOYOTA> 2008> HIGHLANDER LIMITED> CUSTOMER COMMENTS. IN MY OWN CASE, STARTING UNDER 15 MMPH I SLID UNDER 8 LANES OF INTERSTATE VIADUCT, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES PULSING ALL THE WHILE, BEFORE MY CAR STOPPED. THE TOYOS ARE 1 OF ONLY 2 TIRES FROM ANY MFR IN THE SIZE NOTED, THE OTHER BEING A BRIDGESTONE WITH EQUALLY HORRIFIC ICE/SNOW TRACTION RATINGS AT TIRERACK AND DISCOUNT TIRE. TOYOTA REFUSES ANY ASSISTANCE, SAYING THE TIRES ARE TIRE MANUFACTURER WARRANTED. THE PROBLEM? I WOULD BE GETTING EXACTLY THE SAME TIRE AGAIN, AND THE A20 TIRE IS THE PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH. I REPLACED THE TOYO'S WITH ANOTHER MAKE AND SIZE AT 15,900 MILES (FOR $900) AND THEY TRANSFORMED MY HIGHLANDER COMPLETELY WINTER TRACTION-WISE. THIS TOYO TIRE NEEDS TO BE BANNED ENTIRELY, YET TOYOTA CONTINUES TO SPEC THEM ON NEW VEHICLES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA RAV4. THE VEHICLE HAS TOYO TIRES, MODEL NUMBER A20, AND LINE SIZE 225/65/R 17. THE CONTACT STATED THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT FOUND THE REAR PASSENGERS TIRE WAS FLAT AND THERE WAS A SCREW PUNCTURING THE TIRE. AFTER CHECKING THE REMAINING TIRES, HE FOUND THAT THE REAR DRIVERS TIRE PRESSURE WAS ABOVE 50 PSI. THE DOT DECAL STATED THAT 32 POUNDS WAS THE RECOMMENDED PSI FOR REAR AND FRONT TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS IN EXCESS OF 50 POUNDS. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TIRES REGISTERING THAT HIGH IN NUMBERS SHOULD BE INSPECTED THOROUGHLY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 200.

2008 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER PURCHASED USED TOYOTA CERTIFIED 9-3-09 FAILS TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. MOST OCCURRENCES AT LOW SPEED AFTER SLOWING TO 5MPH VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO GAS PEDAL - OR WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO GEAR AND MOVE FORWARD. THIS OCCURS OR IS MOST NOTICEABLE AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS PUSHED AFTER HAVING SLOWED DOWN OR IN THE MIDST OF A TURN INTO A PARKING SPOT. WIFE HAS ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT TRANSMISSION NOT ENGAGING INTO GEAR WHEN CAR IS FIRST STARTED UP ACTS LIKE YOU DIDN'T SHIFT IT INTO GEAR. WE HAVE ALSO NOTED TRANSMISSION DOESN'T ALWAYS SEEM TO DISENGAGE WHEN SLOWING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS 55 MPH. FEELS LIKE IT IS DRAGGING CAR TO STOP. THERE IS A NOTICEABLE WHINE BETWEEN 55 - 62 MPH. TALKED TO DEALER MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT WAS NORMAL EVERYTHING IS CONTROLLED BY COMPUTERS. WE ARE GOING TO TAKE IT BACK IN THIS WEEK AND COMPLAIN ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPAGE. WE HAVE ALSO HAD A ISSUE WITH THE TOYO TIRES. AT 28,345 THEY WERE DOWN TO 5/32 TO 4/32. THEY HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS IN SNOW AND HEAVY RAIN WITH LOSS OF TRACTION. WHEN ESC KICKS ON IN THE SNOW ON A TURN DO TO SLIDING AT SLOW SPEED IT MAKES MATTERS WORSE BE BETTER OFF WITH IT TURNED OFF. *TR

THE RIGHT REAR TIRE ON A 2010 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER FAILED. IT WENT COMPLETELY FLAT OVERNIGHT. I HAVE NOT FOUND ANY EVIDENCE OF A FOREIGN OBJECT LODGED IN THE TIRE. WHEN I TRIED TO ADD AIR, I COULD HEAR IT HISSING OUT. NOT CLEAR IF IT WAS A PUNCTURE, TIRE CRACK OR SOME OTHER TIRE FAILURE. I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN IT TO A DEALER, BUT PLAN TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE HAD ONLY 2,950 MILES ON IT. THE TIRE WAS A TOYO OPEN COUNTRY A-20. *TR

I ASK BECAUSE TODAY HAD A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH TOYOTA. THEY TOLD ME MY SHREDDING, BALD TIRES ARE SAFE AND NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM. CALLED TOYO WHO MAKES THE TIRES AND THEY OFFERED ME 50 PERCENT DISCOUNT ON NEW TIRES AND TIRE PLACE SAID CAR WOULDN'T PASS INSPECTION.. .ALL THIS WHEN AN HOUR EARLIER TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID EVERYTHING IS SAFE AND SENT ME OFF WITH A SAFETY INSPECTION REPORT SAYING ALL IS WELL... FROM WHAT I SEE ONLINE, IT SEEMS LIKE HUNDREDS OF CUSTOMERS DEALING WITH SAME 2008 VEHICLES WITH ONLY 10-18K MILES ON TIRES THAT ARE SHREDDING AND BALD. PERSONALLY I THINK THIS COULD BE ANOTHER TOYOTA EXAMPLE OF TURNING THE OTHER WAY. FROM READING CONSUMERS STORIES AND COMMENTS ONLINE I AM AFRAID THIS COULD RESULT IN MORE INJURIES THAN THE WHOLE BRAKE SITUATION. APPRECIATE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO DRAW SOME ATTENTION TO THIS. THE DEALERSHIP I WENT TO WAS: TOYOTA OF BRAINTREE 781 848 9300 CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER BOB HADGES SERVICE MANAGER BOB SULLIVAN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS TOYO OPEN COUNTRY A20 TIRES, SIZE 245/55/R19, DOT# CXHHDK84607. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS HAVING HER VEHICLE INSPECTED SHE NOTICED THAT ALL 4 TIRES WERE EXPERIENCING ADNORMAL TREAD WEAR. THE TIRES WERE TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE EXPERIENCING NORMAL WEAR. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30000. UPDATED 4/28/10 *CN UPDATED 06/11/10.*JB