Reverse thrust would reduce the load on the brakes and thus reduce the heat build up on the wheels.

same to you!

oh, and yes, that got a few chuckles up and down the mgmt gossip train, until we found out a fake ID and stolen CC was used to rent the car. This was in the days before we had DMV access to verify.

I just got a letter charging me (or my insurnce or my credit card, assuming I could convince them to pay) $96ish for a single tire that went flat due to a screw (presumably lodged in a crack in the pavement that I went over, but that's just a guess). This was about 7 weeks after the incident. Note: I had to exchange the car, since Avis couldn't provide me with a replacement tire that day (and I needed a real tire ASAP, given the lmitations on the miniature spare). In this case, the tire went out just as I went onto a bridge with lots of "no stopping on bridge" signs, and by the time I could pull over the tire seemed damaged beyond repair (the screw had torn a sizeable hole).

At least they didn't charge me loss of use or administrative fee.

But the cynic in me wonders whether the amount is $96ish because they know that's likely to be within my insurance deductible?

Its likely the cost of one new tire? I know I just had four new one's put on my Explorer for $500 ($125/each), so it sounds about right.

Update:

Just received a bill for $135. I am being charged $47 for an attempt to repair the tire plus roadside assistance (which I did not use), then an additional $68 for a new tire once they determined that they could not repair the tire, plus a $20 administrative fee.

I'm sorry, but I call BS on this one. How could it possibly cost $47 to attempt to repair a tire? The notes on the claim say "screw in tire too close to sidewall for repair" -- surely that's something that can be figured out before you attempt to repair the tire? I've had screws taken out of tires and tires patched before, and at most it costs $15 (and that's at inflated Los Angeles prices). I also didn't use roadside assistance, so that's BS too!

I called the number on the form and the woman sort of chuckled and said, yeah, they throw all kinds of extra charges on there in the hopes that people will pay. She backed out the administrative fee and the roadside assistance for me.

She also warned me to be very careful to not accept a car with any kind of windshield chip or crack, and to check all tires carefully, because Avis has started charging everyone that had the car with a chip or a screw/nail in the tire, regardless of who had the car when the damage was incurred. She told me that Avis is "really going after people" now in order to make some money.

Lesson learned...

I'm really surprised to see this result and wonder if things have changed.

About two years ago, we had rented an Avis car in Orlando. We were upgraded to a Chrysler 300, fairly new (2,000 miles) and in good condition, from an intermediate reservation.

We didn't have any problems while driving, but once came out to the parking lot of our condo to find the tire flat. We called Roadside Assistance and they were out with a replacement car in about an hour (a brand new Chrysler 300 with only 500 miles). They even told us to go ahead on our way in the replacement car without waiting for them to change the tire, so we weren't further delayed.

We did have to fill out the 'accident' report for them. We never heard another word about it. We are President's Club members if that matters, and we may have had the Avis CDW and LDI on the rental (sometimes we do and sometimes we don't; I don't recall with this one). But it would never occur to me that we'd be charged even if we didn't have the Avis insurance.

Susan

I had a rented car which was brand new (only had 200km on it), and when returning told the agent that my tire went, and I put on the spare from the boot, and put a second hand tire in the oot as a replacement, and he was happy with it.

Interesting thread. Makes Avis sound like a big, angry woman with a rolling pin:D.
Unless they are on their way out of business, the problem Avis has with me is that they are not getting enough of my business. Business is business; but post like this don't really help the business.
Last time I rented from Avis two years ago, they had to upgrade me for free to a Mustang convertible because they had overbooked their coupes. That car had been a beauty in it's beginning with Avis. But, now it had a dent so large, I had to go back into the office. They were trying to run a business and were not happy to see me again. They said just have the exit gate note the damage. He walked around the car smiling and wrote down, "scratches and dents all around.". I had a great weekend roadtrip in that old car. I may well have been it's last rental customer.
I've never been charged for a flat(knock on wood). Once, when I was younger, I brought one back to Alamo missing a hubcap(they said). I told them insurance was covered by the card; if they thought they could get it.
I'm thinking about paying the full rate to go for a drive in a Solstice, before Avis retires them. They been out of production for months now; so how perfect could a rental one on the lot be?
Still, I appreciate the reminder to check the tires, and inspect the windshield. Thanks:).

Save your time/money/disappointment. I was upgraded to a Solstice twice and regretted taking it both times. I think I put up a review of it once. If you can't find it, let me know & I'll search for it.

My observation is that Avis has gotten a lot more strict in recent months checking the cars at return. I rarely saw the return agents walk around the cars the last few years - in the past 6-12 months, they seem to consistenly doing it (at multiple locations).

It also used to be - report any legit problem at the return, they just print a coupon for you. Now, they don't seem to do that any more. (I also have fewer problems with old/bad cars recently.)

The jury is still out on where this company is headed. Some cuts are so stupid but some changes seem to be for the better.

Avis is charging me for flat tire
 

I rented a car the last week of December 2010. On the next to last day I got a flat. It was too late for me to take it to a rental place by the next morning, so I changed the tire. When I dropped it off I wasn't told whether or not I would get charged. The attendant actually tried to print a coupon for me because of my inconvenience but was unable to. That implied to me that I wasn't going to be charged. Now over six weeks later I've gotten a bill from Avis for $143 for replacement of the tire. I will never use Avis again. :td:

From now on when I rent from anyone, I'll be checking the conditions of the tires and whether they're low on air.

Welcome to FT! Hopefully you stick around and enjoy it here. For future reference (for you and others that might be in your situation), as long as you can fill the tire right before pulling onto the Avis lot, you should be 'safe' from charges. Once they check you in, it'd be hard for them to know whether you had a flat before coming in or if you got a flat on their lot :D

We should start asking them to put the cars up on a lift so we can inspect the tires before leaving with the car. You never know when your going to get screwed.. in the tire......

TW