Don't you hate getting tyres replaced?

[ICBM]

There are a few vids online of what cheap tyres do to your stopping distances. Scary stuff.

I really can't understand the logic of penny-pinching on tyres. OK, I don't like to spend any more than anyone else does on them if I can avoid it, but I will always use good quality tyres at a slightly higher price over cheap crap ones. The possible cost isn't worth the money you save. Your car's handling and stopping is only as good as the tyres are no matter how great everything else is, and it doesn't seem sensible to me to save at most a few tens of pounds per tyre compared to potentially writing your car off or worse.

I once had an incident which brought this home to me in a big way - I skidded onto a roundabout in front of someone who luckily had decent tyres on his car - but having a BMW badge stop inches from my driver's door was quite a wake-up. Roughly the same size cars, same conditions, about the same speeds - but he stopped, and I couldn't. No harm done other than to both our nerves, but I replaced the tyres as soon as I could and I've never bought cheap ones again.

[JonEve]

I would always want a second opinion on those things before letting Kwik-Fit etc tell you so.

Last time I took mine in to get an electrical part replaced (main dealer, they're the only ones who can sell the part), they told me they'd done a "free safety check" - without asking me if I wanted it - and that the car needed two new tyres, brakes, tracking and some other stuff. They took the huff when I told them the car had been MOT'd within the last two weeks and it was curious how the MOT test didn't bring up any of that... and declined their kind offer of doing £800-worth of work on it.

Presumably the "safety check" took the two hours they kept me waiting after the time I'd booked in for as well. The job took five minutes - it was a manufacturer-subsidised job (known fault) so they probably felt they hadn't had enough out of me for that.

The place I go is very good. Been using them for years and they give the best service and competitive price in Gloucester. They show you the tyre wear and its all very transparent. The new tyre I had put on before christmas was wearing unevenly, so tracking check and it was out, (they show you all this as well) so they adjusted that too.

No. You go to the tyre place and tell them you need a new tyre. They give you an idea of how much tyres cost and you pick an average tyre (not cheapo, not michelin expensive ones) and they replace it within a few minutes while you stand there trying not to get run over or in someones way.

You ask if it needs tracking and they say it should be ok - unless the tyre is worn unevenly in which case they knock a fair price off the tracking as you've just bought a new tyre.

You ask about the other tyres and they tell you there's a few more months left in them, don't worry about it.

You go in expecting to pay about £80 and you come away quite quickly having spent about £80.


Where the hell do you go that rips you off so much? And why do you keep going back?

I would love to pay £80 for a tyre, unfortunately, I have 235/40/18 on my Mondeo so unless you get nasty tyres a midrange (Falken in my case) sets you back around £130 (prices are the same/similar from various places in town). Add the tracking on top, and I'm 260 odd quid lighter (once ive negotiated money off the tracking). So no rip offs at all.

depends on the tyre though dun it. If its a small car then yes you'd expect to pay £80. If its a big / new car with low profile wheels you can expect to pay £150+ for each tyre

Exactly. And although I moan, I'd never put dirt cheap tyres on my car, as it's the only thing that actually has contact with the road. Made tht mistake with two Marongonis from kwikfit when my mate worked there as he got ridiculous staff discount. Absolutely horrible things.

Oh and Carol, you're welcome

Oh and part worn tyres? No thanks, I'd rather not gamble with my life. I've only got one of them!

[JonEve]

I hate spending money on cars...in fact I hate spending money on any essential bills!

But, with my sensible head on, I would never begrudge spending on tyres and brakes. I would much rather my car loses it's ability to start properly than to stop!

I pay £65 a tyre for mid range boots on my hot hatch thing, for background

This is what I thought. I'm broke, but would rather spend a bit on stuff like that!

It's amazing. We'll spend any amount on muso gear, but bugger-all on tyres!

I've used Blackcircles.com for a few years, found them to be reasonable for tyres.

Totally forgot about Blackcircles. Only would have saved myself a few quid (blackcirles fitting centre is same place I go to), but would have got triple clubcard points!

[SeriousCat]

it doesn't seem sensible to me to save at most a few tens of pounds per tyre compared to potentially writing your car off or worse.

work out the cost of writing off a car and then mutiply that by the likelihood of writing off your car because the tyres you have arent as good as they might have been - i think it will seem a lot more sensible then

[Cirrusband]

work out the cost of writing off a car and then mutiply that by the likelihood of writing off your car because the tyres you have arent as good as they might have been - i think it will seem a lot more sensible then

But then factor in the possibility that you'll die in said car write off. Since I value my life at £infinity it doesn't matter how small the chance is.

[SeriousCat]

But then factor in the possibility that you'll die in said car write off. Since I value my life at £infinity it doesn't matter how small the chance is.

and yet you still drive a car? why do you do that when it would be safer to stay at home?

[JAYJO]

and yet you still drive a car? why do you do that when it would be safer to stay at home?

Because hes just re-newed his tyres. Now all hes got to do is re-new everybody elses ps. If your gonna re-new anything make sure its the cam belt when its due. This plonker didnt and my car was scrapped 2 weeks ago after dying inTescos car park on Christmas eve! ffs. It was chucking it down and the mrs and little one werent impressed. What i want to know is What happened to my tyres! there was loads of tread left on them.

[bertie]

and yet you still drive a car? why do you do that when it would be safer to stay at home?

dont most accidents happen in the home ?

[SeriousCat]

dont most accidents happen in the home ?

right - fine - sit at the bottom of the ocean then where there are hardly any fcking accidents

[monquixote]

work out the cost of writing off a car and then mutiply that by the likelihood of writing off your car because the tyres you have arent as good as they might have been - i think it will seem a lot more sensible then

Factor in the possibility for death or injury, the fact that the car is more enjoyable to drive and that the tyres last longer.