The replacement cost (including mounting and balancing) for the Michelin is anywhere from $175 to $200. (I have no idea the replacement costs on the Bridgestones). As with anything retail, shoppers that do their homework will get the best price... although with blowouts, you sometimes don't have a choice. So you paid on the higher side, but I wouldn't say you got "ripped off".

As for any warranty, you are out of luck because you are replacing your factory tire. Your Toyota factory warranty and/or service plan specifically excludes tires, since that is a wear-and-tear item. Now with the replacement tire, you might have been given a pro-rated tread warranty from the shop you purchased from. If that tire blows out, then the store will give you a pro-rated credit based on remaining tread. That just guarantees that you will buy your next set of tires from them. Americas Tire (aka Discount Tire) provides this type of warranty, which is one reason I buy my tires from them.

 

I put three nails into my right front tire a couple of weeks ago (my mechanic joked that I must have driven thru the nail factory) and unbelievably, none of them caused a major leak. So I did not notice the car pulling to one side, but my TPMS indicator lit up. When I started checking tires, I found the problem. When the tire was plugged and re-inflated, I did not even have to reset the TMPS system, the indicator went off by itself. So yes, the TMPS system works!!!

 

Does the camry use the Michelin PAX system?

 

Even the factory tires should come with a tread wear warranty.

The paperwork should have been included with your owner's documentation you got with the car.

But a road hazard is not included in the tread wear warranty, just a guarantee the tire will last X number of miles if properly inflated and rotated.

 

If that is their run-flat system - no. The Camry has a spare.

 

hammr3 and flopshot, thanks for the TMPS feedback. I do find it funny that there's a wee little yellow indicator for low tire pressure, but a big red exclamation point for an oil change. Seems backwards to me.

 

Amen to that. I noticed my low pressure warning light the other day, and I have no idea how long it was on before I noticed it (but I think I saw it fairly quickly). You would think it would chime like the "maint required warning". I had low pressure in my drivers side rear - I inflated it and it went away. I am waiting to see if it happens again and then I'll bring it to a tire shop.