A Bridgestone Tyres Saga

Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 16:42
ThreadID: 43733 Views:6417 Replies:5 FollowUps:8
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C’mon Bridgestone!

Bridgestone have a “Sweet Easter Deals” promotion on at present and after looking at the quoted price on some new Duelers, decided to contact the local dealer.

“Um, the price quoted for the 693 Duelers ($239) are for the more common 265/75R16 size”
“OK”, I say, ”so what price can you do for the 245/70/R16’s size.”
“Um, we can do them for $249 each, including balancing and fitting. And you get another $5 off per tyre, if you show your RAA membership card”.
Still not too bad a deal I figure, so I advised them to go ahead and book me in.

Arrived Tuesday morning as arranged. “Um, we’ve got a problem” said the dealer.
“Bridgestone won’t release the remaining stock of 245/70/R16’s in the D693's as they are being held for emergency vehicle use”. But we can supply D694’s in that size for the same price. The 694’s are now made in Australia and are a better tyre”.

What the….!

Well it just so happens that I had a set of 694’s (made in Japan) which I got 65,000 kilometers from, but changed a warn pair a while ago over to 693’s because I liked the tread pattern better and the heavier duty construction over the original 694’s. Now, with the cheaper price, I wanted to upgrade the other worn tyres, and the rarely used, but 6 year old Goodyear Wrangler, so that I had a full set of D693’s. (Only got 40,000 from the original Wranglers)

“No”, I said, “I don’t want the D694’s, they (the new Australian made ones) haven’t proved themselves yet. I want the D693’s or I’m going elsewhere”.

So the Dealer looked up his computer records and rang another dealer in Adelaide who had stock of a few D693’s in the size I wanted and agreed to send three tyres over. “OK”, I said, “I’ll be back tomorrow to have them fitted”.

Now it’s Wednesday and the D693’s have been fitted for a good price. The local Owner/franchised Bridgestone dealer looked after me in the end and has retained my business. For now!

But hear this Mr. Bridgestone. Your current policy sucks! Your normal retail price for the D694’s are about the same as that of your opposition, (Cooper’s, Mickey Thompson’s, etc.) and I will be having a very close look next time around.
A customer is a customer, regardless of whether they are an individual member of the Public, the Emergency Fire Service, or the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade. (Which ever ones use Rodeo’s as part of their fleet because the Rodeo uses the same size tyre)
A sale is a sale in my book.
I have kind of stuck with Bridgestone because I have had a good run with the tyres I have selected so far and Bridgestone Australia has it’s base and manufacturing facilities in South Australia. I’m willing to support “local” manufacturers but I will not be buggered about with either.

So a not very enjoyable experience, although it ended up OK this particular time.
Bill


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Reply By: FZJ 80 - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 19:18

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 19:18
Sand Man,

Basic story is you may buy 4 tyres every 2 or 3 years but emergency services buy maybe 500 accross the fleet (Or More!!) and probably pay more than sale prices.
It's simple business sense,look after your golden goose first.

Regards

Greg
AnswerID: 230309

Reply By: MP - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 20:34

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 20:34
G'day Sand Man,
went through a similar experience around 12 months ago. Same deal. I have an RA Rodeo which specifies 111S rating for 245/70/16 tyres. From what I could find only the 693's and BFG A/T's fit the bill. I went to 2 Bridgestone dealers, no flexibility in price and stock issues. Went to Bob Jane Brooklyn Park, told them I was shopping around and knocked off 10% without blinking and they had them available. I always try to ask the questions on price, as hard as it can be sometimes but the results pay for themselves. Like you, next time I'll be doing the legwork and hopefully by then I'll have some more options.

Cheers

Mark
AnswerID: 230333

Follow Up By: Camoco - Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 12:54

Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 12:54
I also had a very similar exp.
I only found out the lack of supply when the wheels came off and they wanted to fit something else.

"Put them back on fellas, I'm outta here".
Went elsewhere and got Pirelli Scorpions. They have been great and ended up cheaper to boot. Wear seems well and are quiet (comparatively).

I do like Bridgies but as I used to have pirelli's on my bikes I am happy to change.

Cheers Cam
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Reply By: Pete and Lez S.A. - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 21:29

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 21:29
Did you try Rob at Bridgestone Noarlunga, Have found Rob always very helpful in sourcing hard to get tyres and always a better price than other dealers.
Cheers Peter
AnswerID: 230347

Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 22:07

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 22:07
I suspect Rob would have had a similar dialemma. The Bridgestone warehouse simply wouldn't release them.

As I mentioned, the owner did ring around and sourced my requirements from another dealer that had stock, but that is no credit whatsoever to Bridgestone itself.

Greg above has probably nailed it. They just don't give a toss for individuals.

So next time I wont give one either, as far as misguided "loyalty" goes anyway.
Bill


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Follow Up By: Pete and Lez S.A. - Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 21:04

Friday, Mar 30, 2007 at 21:04
Trust Me, Its not what you know, but WHO you know.
Cheers.

P.S. next time try Rob.
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Reply By: Member - Steve T (NT) - Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 22:29

Wednesday, Mar 28, 2007 at 22:29
Hi Sand Man

The way I see it.

Its unfortunate that you found a dealer with this attitude.

Let me tell you this, I swear by the 265/75/16 or D693 tyres , they are Oz made and they are tuff as.

All 4 Toyota's I have run them, I have run these tyres on 8 tour vehicles all Toyota's over 6 years and run the air pressure at 40 front and 42 rear loaded .

In the last 6 years my trucks have done approx 580.000 km 1/2 of which is corrugated roads, no blow outs one puncture.

If your not satisfied with them this time next year, I will buy them off you at the price you paid for them, I get mine for $225 each fleet discount.

Cheers Steve.
AnswerID: 230358

Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 08:38

Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 08:38
Hi Steve,

It wasn't the dealer who had the attitude. He actually pursued another avenue for me when Bridgestone factory warehouse refused to give them up.

The dealer was the only reason I ended getting what I wanted.

A few months ago when I bought a pair of D693's I was convinced to try them as they were a tougher tyre. (and D694's were in short supply at the time)

The D694's are now made in Oz (at least the ones we get) and apparently use the same carcase with the 694 pattern tread. Well like you Steve, I now prefer the D693's, which to my knowledge are now only produced in Japan.
Bridgestone Japan are now apparently stopping export of the D693's to Australia as Bridgestone Australia are now producing an "equivelent" as the D694.

So. it would appear that the current sale is to offload remaining stock of D693's, but only to their "corporate" clients.

I'm probably on my last set of Duelers.
Bill


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Follow Up By: Member - Steve T (NT) - Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 10:46

Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 10:46
Hey Sand Man.

I just rang my Bridgestone dealer and he gave me the following info.

The D693 265/75/16 is Oz made.

The D694 265/75/16 is made in Japan.

Other sizes of these D693s or D694s could be either Oz made or Japanese's.

Cheers Steve.
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Follow Up By: Sand Man (SA) - Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 16:16

Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 16:16
Won't dispute that Steve,

But my tyre size of 245/70/16 in D693 is Japanese made and imported to Oz.
These tyres fit the Jackaroo, Rodeo and I think, the Challenger.

The 265/75/16 is a more common size of tyre and may well be made here and that is perhaps why they are being sold at the $239 price.
Bill


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Reply By: jhorvat - Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 13:15

Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 13:15
These are a bit high prices-or am I missing something? I got 6 x D693 in 31X10.50R15 size, for about $190 each-that was a few months ago. They are Australian made. The outer diameter is a tad larger than for 245/70R16, but max. load a bit lower....
These tyres give a "steadier" feel in the corners on tar than BFG A/T tyres. However, D693 do pick up all the stones from the dirt roads, peltering the underside of the truck (and probably behind), much more than BFG. I swapped because allegedly new version of A/T BFG's have softer rubber - had two flats in a day on good dirt roads- and because of price. BFG of the same size were somewhere about $250.
Joseph
AnswerID: 230452

Follow Up By: Member - Steve T (NT) - Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 16:31

Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 16:31
Yes you are missing something yours are D693 31x10.5 50R 15s.

Ours are 265/75/16s, I get mine $220 fitted but I have been getting mine same dealer,all so buy in bulk.

Cheers Steve.
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Follow Up By: Member - Davoe (Nullagine) - Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 16:58

Thursday, Mar 29, 2007 at 16:58
15s are always cheaper. they are lightly constructed typically being 6 ply wheras most proper 16 inch 4wd tyres are a 10ply
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