Bloody Tyre Shops

[thomp1983]

So I've been badgering the wife to get her wheel alignment done since replacing her 2 front tyres as they were down to the wire.

Yesterday she takes it to one of the local tyre places to have the alignment done (their the pick of the bunch round here but none of them excel) , they had it up on the ramps then inform her both rear tyres need replacing as they are dangerously worn on the inner edges, they offer her some 'mid range' brand I've never heard of for £250 (225/45/18)

She needed to get her mot sorted out this week so I told her to decline their offer and see if the mot turned up any suspension work that would need a further realignment and see what the testers opinion is on the tyres.

Said tyre place said they could mot it today and won the job by offering the wife a courtesy car as she had the day off and had some running about to do.

The car has subsequently passed today with an advisory for both rear tyres being worn on the inner edges.

I'm annoyed at the tyre place as they've clearly tried to pressure my wife into buying tyres they've then decided themselves she doesn't need immediately and aren't dangerous.

Subsequently I'll now source tyres from elsewhere but the place in question will still end up with the wheel alignment work as there's not any better options.

Chris

 

[blup]

Sounds like the rear wheels may have been misaligned, did they mention the reason for the wear?

 

[thomp1983]

I'm not surprised any of the wheel alignment is out, she doesn't look after it and being a bmw platform it runs an amount of negative camber anyway.

My issue is in them stating there dangerous and have to be changed there and then, but the next day they pass them in an mot, they were simply trying to pressure her into buying tyres they probably had the most mark up on

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I'm not surprised any of the wheel alignment is out, she doesn't look after it and being a bmw platform it runs an amount of negative camber anyway.

My issue is in them stating there dangerous and have to be changed there and then, but the next day they pass them in an mot, they were simply trying to pressure her into buying tyres they probably had the most mark up on

Did their name, begin with H?

 

[thomp1983]

No surprisingly, it's not one of the big big chains, but it is a chain in the East Midlands

 

[Mottie]

To be fair to the tyre place, with all mot testable items, the pass criteria is absolute minimum standards. Most people wouldn’t wait until they get to those standards before replacing them. The fact that they have advised on them could mean they are getting near to those standards.

 

[norseman]

To be fair to the tyre place, with all mot testable items, the pass criteria is absolute minimum standards. Most people wouldn’t wait until they get to those standards before replacing them. The fact that they have advised on them could mean they are getting near to those standards.

I agree, replace my tyres at 3mm & always have done.
1.6mm across 75% of the tread is legal but totally absurd.

 

[thomp1983]

Sorry I'm not going to agree telling someone there dangerous and have to be changed immediately then passing them the following day is just trying to pressurise people.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Sorry I'm not going to agree telling someone there dangerous and have to be changed immediately then passing them the following day is just trying to pressurise people.

I have to agree with mottie.

The mot test minimum standard for a tyre is appalling. Waiting until they are bad enough to fail an mot before replacing is not good advice.

Especially if you want (expensive) tracking to be done, once you replace the rear tyres it will ideally want to be re done, just do it once.

 

[evdamadiynot]

They know that theres a fair chance that a woman wont challenge anything if they mention the words like safety,worn or dangerous.
Never let your better half near a tyre shop or garage unattended.

 

[Mottie]

I have to agree with mottie.

Blimey, that’s a first.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

To be fair to the tyre place, with all mot testable items, the pass criteria is absolute minimum standards. Most people wouldn’t wait until they get to those standards before replacing them. The fact that they have advised on them could mean they are getting near to those standards.

The risk, depends upon the road surface, and weather. In some circumstances, no tread at all, provides more grip than 1.6mm. In most circumstances, then 1.6mm still provides adequate grip, and a reasonable compromise, on getting maximum wear out of a tyre. Most tyres only begin life, with around 8mm of tread depth.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Blimey, that’s a first.

I agree or disagree with comments, not the person

 

[cdbe]

My MOT place(which doesn't sell tyres) is very strict on wear on the edges and chucks out advisories for fun - I tend to keep close eye on them afterwards.

If you subscribe to the theory that worn tyres are more likely to get a puncture it's a potential gamble if the wife (or modern man) can't fit a spare.

True story - before I met my now wife, she had a puncture on the motorway, AA man put the spare on and told her she needed a new tyre. Fair enough she said, I'll get one from the Fiat garage, and threw the old wheel down the embankment. Fortunately the bloke retrieved it and put it in the boot for her.

 

[thomp1983]

I'd have no issue if the shop had failed them at test for being dangerous, I have an issue with them trying to claim it's dangerous and must be replaced immediately then the next day they state it meets the required safety standard.

I'd of also accepted them saying they really should be replaced but we'll see if the test shows up any suspension issues at test tomorrow so you won't have to have 2 lots of wheel alignment done, that would be looking after the customers best interest but they didn't they wanted to scare someone into buying a pair of tyres that weren't immediately required