I have tires that were sold waranteed as 50,000 mile tires. Salesman tells me they start with 14/32 tread. This a 4WD Tundra. I have used tires for 1 year and 4 months and they have 28,000 miles on them. And they are practically bald. Giving me trouble even in 4WD on slush and snow conditions. Salesman told me if they are 50,000 and I have 30,000 used I ought to expect 1/3 of tire tread is left (in reality, it is 40% that ought to be left). He said calculate 1/3 of 14/32 to measure my tread. I took 40% and got 5.6/32 or 3/16" right? And I asked him, so if I buy 50,000 mile tires am I expected to run them until they are BALD at 50,000 miles?

At what depth is tread considered unsafe? Is my first question here.

Next, I note that I am not doing the exact scheduled tire rotations (frankly because I never looked it up to see how often I ought to be doing it, just one more thing I'm too busy to stay on top of...), but I have had them rotated twice. By the same place that sold me the tires. They are in fact the only shop that has ever touched these tires. I am sure they will fault me on that somehow, and I am prepared to take responsibility.

But my next question is how often should I rotate and does not doing so completely void a tire warranty?

I also see that the 2 front tires have odd wear pattern in that they are baby-butt smooth bald in centers. Again, this garage has done all tire work for me. I've never touched them. I last had them rotate tires in beginning of winter and after leaving noticed I had underinflated tires so I pulled back in next day for them to inflate properly. And yet I see this wear pattern which I think means overinflated tires, right? It is only the front tires. Back tires show no more than 1/8" tread anywhere.

So again will this be an issue that voids my warranty since they were the ones who always inflated/checked my tires?

2 more questions. 1. The Tundra has an idiot light warning about tire inflation. Does this light only for underinflated or also for overinflated? (It did light for the underinflated, but I had already noticed them from outside the vehicle and don't rely on lights.) and 2. What exactly does a tire warranty mean, anyway? What should I ask for (if anything) when I go to get these tires replaced? A discount? Based on what argument exactly? Advice needed!

You will probably have trouble with getting warranty as you didn't rotate the tires nearly enough. This should be done about every 5,000 to 6,000 miles. Front tires will wear out quicker than rear tires.

Also, the pattern you describe does sound like over-inflation. Maybe they will work with you on the warranty and pro-rate the tires for you.

I see signs of overinflation... (the numbers on the sidewalls are NOT what they should be inflated to), you also didn't do the required rotation... ALL vehicles will get weird wear patterns if you don't rotate them often enough.

And it will be pro rated based on wear... don't expect a lot... if you get anything.

They can't guarantee everyone will get 50K miles of wear... let a teenage boy drive and you will be lucky to get a third that... what it means is driven sanely like an old geezer you can expect that.

Yeah... I've worn out a LOT of tires in my life... being I've driven well over a million miles wore out over 14 vehicles... and a lot of those miles weren't gentile.

I will agree, it is possible that they would not even allow any warranty, since this is signs of over inflation plus not regular rotation. So if they are offing you a 33 percent credit toward another set of tires jump on it ( in my opinion)