Tire and Wheel

Imagine, as you will, driving down the New Jersey Turnpike, on your way to the beach, windows down (or if you’re lucky enough, top-down in your convertible), and the music blasting on a gorgeous summer day. Now imagine that you’re driving and all of a sudden, you see a massive pothole coming at you out of nowhere and you have to brace for impact. If you’re like me, my heart stops, I hold my breath, and maybe even close one of my eyes for a quick second. After I pass the pothole, I’m still holding my breath, praying, and I turn off my music and listen very intently to find out if all is right in the world, or if the most annoying thing happened and I got a bubble in my tire, or worse, a flat tire. Anyone else does this or is it just me?

Whatever your habits are, most drivers are always on the lookout for all those little craters on the road, especially if you’re living in the Tri-State area. And just like with everything else in life, we have to learn to live with them. I was driving to the grocery store for my weekly food run the other day, and the one thing I noticed is that the roads seem to have gotten worse in the last couple of months. With fewer vehicles on the road, one could hope that they would get fixed, not multiply by the day. As fun as it is to play frogger with these potholes – not –, there is a protection policy offered at most, if not all, dealerships, that can save you a ton of money and headache in the long run.

I remember a couple of years ago, I leased a new vehicle, and not even 2 weeks later, I experienced my first flat tire with it. Embarrassingly, I honestly had no idea what to do since all my previous vehicles had run-flat tires. I had to drive several yards before I was able to pull over (even then, it wasn’t the best spot to be on, but what choice did I have really?) I got out of the car just to double-check and yep, a flat tire. I didn’t even have the number to roadside assistance because, literally, who would have thought? I just got the car; I didn’t think I was going to get a flat tire so quickly. It was winter and dark out, so I know I didn’t see the pothole, but I did not expect the tire to be so sensitive. Oops. Long story short – when I took my car in, my tire/wheel contract took care of everything – I did not have to shell out a single penny, it was seamless, and I was so grateful – each and every time.

Honestly, it’s probably the most used “product” I’ve ever purchased. When it comes to insurance policies – I generally like to err on the side of caution and have some sort of protection – mostly because I hate those unexpected expenses. Anyway, moral of this story: it can happen to you anytime, anywhere. Just because you picked up your car 2 days ago, doesn’t mean you are immune. Doesn’t matter if you’ve never had a flat tire or a bubble before – it could still happen to you. Better to be prepared. I once had a customer who experienced 18 flat tires in the 3 years he had that vehicle.

How familiar are you with the Tire & Wheel/Road Hazard Protection Plan? If not, you should be if you live around here. In my personal opinion (and experience evidently), it is single-handedly the best product to purchase if you have a vehicle. Obviously, there are different levels of protection – depending on what your dealer offers – but if you’re not up to speed, get there.

I live in New Jersey. Most people who are reading this, probably also live in NJ or NY, or close by. Our roads are terrible. Admit it. Potholes rarely get fixed. If they do – it’s like a ‘band-aid fix’ and they come back months later, even bigger than before. Do yourself, and your customers, a service. Get acquainted with your tire/wheel program and make sure your customers do not leave without it.