Originally Posted by
BigFlyer
Turns out if you google around and read the rental contract, the CDW, and the credit card insurance details - the rental car companies don't treat a blown tire as a mechanical problem, but instead it as damage to the car and try to recover the expense from the customer!
That would have been a good place to start. Avis/Hertz/National... they've treated it that way for thirty years as best I can remember. If you don't want to pay don't play the game.