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I just got my refund from the enhanced tire warranty program.  It took about 6 weeks from the time I submitted until I got the check.  Would have been faster, but I didn't understand the directions about including proof of ownership with the request.  I had to send them my current registration and title from the state.  They reimbursed full amount incl tax.  Combining this with the fact that I got a new set of replacements as well last month, I'm pretty with how this has been resolved.  Now, to see how long my new Dunlops last.    

Update:  I took my car into the dealer today and was expecting to have to speak to the manager, and tell them about the "secret" warranty, and put up a fight to get my tires replaced.  When I showed them and explained the problem, they didn't say anything really. They knew what I was talking about.  They replaced the two front tires without a problem and sent my on my way.  

Brought our 2004 Sienna AWD in to the service department at the dealer yesterday along with the supplemental extended warranty we received in the mail from Toyota. Front tires were very worn at about 20k. Also had a bubble on the front passenger tire. They said they would check them and get back to ***
I was anticipating an argument... this morning the service department called and said the car was ready to pick up... with 4 new tires.
I found this forum about a week ago and have to admit that everything I read here gave me the motivation to go in and fight for a new set of tires. So thanks to everyone who took the time to post their stories here! I also encourage anyone who hasn't taken advantage of this extended warranty to do it ASAP


John
in New York  

I can join the Toyota Sienna AWD run-flat tires are awful club.  I replaced my original tires at 18K miles, and the next set went only 15K miles.  At about $1100 for 4 tires installed, this is getting pricey.  My last set I bought at non-Toyota tire place, and my Toyota dealer just sent me info that says I need to send to Toyota corporate (1) repair order; (2) proof of payment; and (3) proof of ownership for reimbursement "consideration."  My advice: buy your run-flats at the dealer (but call around for a better price and make dealer match it), and agree with dealer on how often to rotate the tires.  Then when the tires fail in under 20K miles, you can negotiate a rebate - say 1/2 price for next set.  This is a hassle, and a shame for Toyota - they certainly did NOT advise me that I could get reimbursed for my first set of tires.  

Yep, same problem here  I've expressed my concerns to Toyota and stated that I did not accept the solution of replacing a problem tire with the same, however new, problem tire.  They gave me a file # but little else.   They said check back and maybe Toyota will come up with a better solution.

What happens after the 36K miles or the three years are up?  We still have a problem!  What does this do to the resale value of our Sienna's once this word gets around.  Makes me want to sell my Sienna now before word spreads further.  You can bet this will show up on Consumer Reports repair history data.

I have been waiting for 3 weeks now for the dealership to get the replacement Dunlops in.  Meanwhile my wife and kids are riding around with one tire in particular that looks like the sidewall will wear through to the belts at any moment.  Seems that Dunlop can not get supply to match demand in light of all the replacements they are doing.  Makes me wonder what would happen if I got a flat out in the middle of nowhere USA.  Guess you hole up in a motel for 3 weeks and wait it out.  Fun.  

ironmike:
Apparently they can't re repaired once flat and they cost $250 each.<br />Can you put standard tires on the original rims? Will dealers sell the car with standard tires?

Listen,  I had the same problem as Kathrine - My '05 Sienna AWD Funflat all 4 wore out only after 12K miles.  I went to Toyota Dealer and they told me it was because I missed a rotation and the Air Pressure was mysteriously at 22lbs instead of 35.  After a long argument, I was told that I would have to purchase new tires for my car.  When I got home, I received a letter in the mail directly from Toyota stating there was a problem with these tires and anyone who has problems, to take their car to Toyota Dealer and get free replacements, along with a 3YR 36,000 mile warranty on the Run Flat tires direct from Toyota.  I went back to the dealer this morning, and they are replacing my tires...

Good Luck!  

http://www.autosafety.org/article.php?scid=185&did=1165

A "Class Action Lawsuit" has already been filed and is active with a large law firm against Toyota's crappy run flat tires.  See the above link.  

I have a 2005 Toy Seinna XLE with Bridgestone Turanza EL 42 tires, which are all but used up at 20000 miles.  I spoke with my dealer today and without much talk they are going to replace them at no cost.  It seems a bit odd to me that they will only replace them with the same tire.  Do they think this will not happen in another 20000 miles!  I plan to speak with them about putting on Yokhama Avid TRZ or Goodyear Assurance Comfer Tred and see what they have to say.  They gave me the same song and dance about it being a heavy van and must be out of alingment or low tire pressure, but all of that did not pan out when they checked it over.  

update.
I posted back on March 17 that I went the way of a standard tire with a spare used on long trips on my 2004 XLE AWD.  Well it been 4 months now and two trips from Rhode Island to Wisconsin and back.  The first trip was with the van itself  and the second was with pulling a trailer with about 3000#.  The both trips went great.  The first one we averaged about 24mpg and the second one towing the trailer was about 14 mpg.  The ride was fine, no wierd vibrations or excessive tire noise, no pulling to oneside or the other.  Overall, felt very safe with the new tires and to have a full size spare made me feel even that much more secure.  The tires do "squat" a little more than the run flats because the side wall isn't as stiff but no other problems noted.  I will say driving in rain I felt I had a lot more control with the Yokohamas than I did with the Bridgestone RFT.  Waiting to see what winter brings in Michigan this year since we moved and will update on handleing in the snow.  I won't ever go back to RFT  

First of all, thanks everyone for posting stories here, especially the person who scanned in the "customer support progam" letter from Toyota, explaining their tire replacement offer.  I have no idea how Toyota decided who would get letters.  I've recall announcements (recalls for a power steering fluid hose, seat belt bezel, and a radiator warrantee extention), but received no notice of the tire replacement offer.

I have a 2004 Sienna AWD, with the Bridgestone B380 run flats.  We had 5 flat tires in a little under 2 years (this is compared to no flat tires on our Camry which we drive more than twice as often).  We've had the tires repaired each time, despite the fact that some folks have been told that they need to be replaced each time.  The tires are ridiculously low quality and, from reading these forums, it seems like that's more or less the case with all run-flat tires.  At about 15K miles, the guy at the tire shop (who was repairing our most recent flat) told me that I needed new tires.  Anyway, I thought I'd share my story in case it's helpful to folks.

I decided that I didn't want run-flats anymore, since they are just not worth the cost of replacing them every 15K miles.  I started by calling Toyota's "customer experience center."  I was transfered twice and eventually was talking to someone named "Don" who knew a lot about run-flats and these issues.  He told me that owners have two options, both free of charge 1) replacement of the run-flats with the same tires, or 2) installation of a "spare tire kit".  The spare tire kit includes hardware to mount a spare on the back of the rearmost seat and a wheel (no tire).  He said the value of the kit was $700.  He also said that this was a one-time offer (in other words, they won't replace the tires again, regardless of how long the new set lasts). He didn't admit that the tires were unsatisfactory, but did imply that Toyota was misled by the tire manufacturers when they made the decision to use run-flats on the Siennas.

I told him that I didn't want either of these and asked if Toyota would provide a fifth wheel and 5 conventional (non run-flat) tires (which should be roughly the same cost or less). He said they couldn't do this.  The call was very frustrating.  He presented the 2 options Toyota offers as being very generous.  I argued that either one still involves a tremendous and unforeseen long-term cost, given how often these expensive run-flats need to be replaced.  He also suggested that I hadn't maintained the tire pressure well and had run the tires at low pressure, and I had to interrupt his condescending lecture about the importance of making sure tires are at the right pressure.  I told him that I didn't think their options were satisfactory, that I was disappointed with Toyota, and that the experience would make me seriously reconsider buying another Toyota.  He said that's all they could do.  

By the way, the low tire pressure indicator light has only gone off once, even though we've had 5 flats.  I mentioned this to him and told him that I've reset the indicator each time I've put air in the tires.  He said that the indicator is not very sensitive and only goes off when there's a 7-8 lb decrease in pressure (and that the new sensors are more sensitive).  With the exception of the one time it worked, the indicator on my Sienna has been completely useless.

Then I got on the phone with the dealer and made an appointment for them to inspect the tires.  I also asked them if they could provide an extra wheel with conventional tires,  or even if they could just give me the new run-flats (not install them) so I could go to a tire store and exchange them for conventional tires (I found a tire store that was willing to do this).  The dealer said they checked with a regional office and that this was not possible.  Anyway, after all this, I got the tires replaced for free with the Bridgestone B380 run-flats and I'll hopefully get another 15K out of them.

In the meantime, I bought a Yakima roof rack with a spare tire mount so I don't have to use up the space in the rear of the car and so I can still fold the rear seat down.  These racks are ridiculously expensive, but I was able to find a used one.  When these tires wear out, I'll buy a spare wheel and 5 conventional tires so I don't have to deal with these problems again.  

While it's nice that Toyota replaced the tires, I'll be lucky if I get 30K total out of 2 sets of tires.  I'm interested to see what comes out class action suit, because I agree that there was substantial "hidden cost" for buyers of these Siennas.  I think that many folks would have reconsidered their purchase if they understood the need to replace the tires annually at a cost of $1000+  Please post if you have any recommendations for high quality conventional (non run-flat) tires, and good luck dealing with these problems, everyone.  

My 2004 AWD with standard run flat tires required replacement of all 4 tires in the first year at 12k. When I realized my options (reiterated in this thread by others) I purchased regular tires and an extra rim and store it on a roof rack on top of the car. It should make anyone else ask the question why... before they purchase this car. This set of "regular" tires had no warrenty but cost what I could have paid for an 80k Michilin because of the rim size. They are now ready for replacement from uneven wear despite regular rotation/balance and alignment. Again, I debate purchasing 5 rims that come on the other siennas so I can put the tire warrenty to work when they wear prematurely. I found out yesterday that goodyear now offers an appropriately sized "regular"tire for the AWD sienna with a warrenty for 175$ each. Initially I thought is was the run flat tires. I now think this is an ongoing maintenance issue for the life of the car.  

We bought a new 2006 Sienna AWD with the intention of getting rid of the run flats ASAP, getting an extra universal type steel rim and 4 new "regular" tires, and mounting one of the run flats on the new rim as an emergency only spare. We already picked up a nail in one tire before 1000 miles, and our local tire shop says they just got in the equipment to fix it, so they can do it. Otherwise, I would already be ordering the new tires, but at $140+ a piece I'd rather put that off as long as I can.
 Does anyonr know where I can purchase a 17" universal rim that fits the Sienna AWD for a resonable price?  

We have been talking about buying an AWD Sienna...I figured I'd check out the web, see what those run flats cost to replace...and I came across here.

I'm going to talk to the dealer about this...and see if I can't just get the normal Toyota Sienna wheels and tires on a Sienna...if they refuse, we are going to look at our second choice AWD vehicle, the Honda Pilot, instead.  Yes, I know...hard to go from minivan to SUV, but we have an SUV now...we are about to have our 3rd child, and prefer the minivan...but the Pilot is ok also as it gets better mileage than what we have now, and is much easier for my wife at 5'2 to climb in and out of.  We have an 04 Expedition currently.

Glad I found this forum!  Seems those run flats have the stink of death on them.  For the folks who have "upgraded" to regular tires...where are you putting your new spare tire?  I understand there isn't room enough underneath.

Sam  

The tires on my 2004 Sienna XLE AWD were wearing very quickly. Toyota acknowledged the problem by coming out with a 3 year/36000 mile warranty on the run-flats that were factory issue. I thought I might have a problem because I am 6 weeks shy of the 3 years but ONLY 20000 miles on the vehicle & the wear, though excessive, did not appear to have reached the 2/32 depth requirement. Today my dealer, Pauly Toyota in Crystal Lake, IL.  did not blink an eye and replaced them without a question. Mistakes can and are made in design that can only be detected in real world use. At least this dealer (and I assume this manufacturer) accepted the fact that this was a bad design and made the consumer whole. Kudos to both.  

I have a 2004 AWD Sienna and we have just installed the second set of RFT replacement tires.  The car originally came with Dunlop RFT's, which were replaced by our dealer at Toyota's cost at 18K miles with Bridgestone tires, as of today 8/28/06, we just had another set of replacement tires at 33K miles (15K miles after the first replacement set) with Dunlop again, and at no cost to us.  We are going to opt out of the class action suit identified at www.rftprogram.com to preserve our future rights.  If you want to opt out you must do so by October 16, 2006.  If you wish to do so follow the link below and on page 6 of the PDF you will see the instructions on excluding yourself from the class and preserving your rights.  My understanding is that the only reason that Toyota has offered the supplemental tire warranty for 3years or 36,000 miles from date of purhcase is due to the class action suit at the site mentioned above.

http://www.autosafety.org/uploads/php0Qbufv_sienna_notice.pdf