Sidewall puncture - cost of fitting new tyre

vikramrkin

Hi,

I drive Astra 1.8 Auto. I noticed last week that the drivers side rear tyre had dropped to only 11 psi in just one week. So took the car to the local repaire shop. It turned out that a nail has punctured the corner of the tyre and I was told that the tyre has to be replaced.

The tyre is Pirelli 205/55 16. The garage gave me a quote of £60 including fitting and wheel balancing (or aligning?? is there a difference??).

On the internet, the cheapest quote I got was around £72. So I am wondering how can this garage afford it at £60. Is it a pretty simple job that I can get done in a small garage or I need to visit the specialist store (like etyres, kwikfit etc)? How can I tell if the garage is fitting a new, original tyre? Should I also go with a new valve?

Thanks
Vik

davemorton

vikramrkin wrote: »

Hi,

the specialist store (like etyres, kwikfit etc)?
Vik

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

scheming_gypsy

You'll be able to tell if its a new tyre just by looking at it, just because it's clean and they usually have the sticker still on.

There's a few possibilities.
1 - it's not brand new. Possibly been fitted, done a few miles and been swapped (some people swap them in pairs regardless of condition).
2 - it was ordered in for somebody who never turned up so they're doing it cheap to get rid of it.

you don't need to go to a anywhere like Kwik Fit and most places give you a new valve as standard.

davemorton

Sorry, couldnt resist. you wont find many people on here singing the praises of kwikfit. Sometimes local dealers can be cheaper, and I believe the cost on etyres includes postage, which would put the price up a little.

davemorton

Dont know specific model, but that make and size is available on camskill for £57.40 inc.VAT

mikey72

£60 fitted is an excellent price then.

Wayne3765

Do you mean your tyre is a Pirelli 205/55 16 or is the tyre place fitting a Pirelli ?

If you have a Pirelli on now and they are replacing it with a budget tyre then £60 is a poor deal.

vikramrkin

Wayne3765 wrote: »

Do you mean your tyre is a Pirelli 205/55 16 or is the tyre place fitting a Pirelli ?

If you have a Pirelli on now and they are replacing it with a budget tyre then £60 is a poor deal.

I currently have Pirelli and £60 is for a new Pirelli.

vikramrkin

davemorton wrote: »

Sorry, couldnt resist. you wont find many people on here singing the praises of kwikfit. Sometimes local dealers can be cheaper, and I believe the cost on etyres includes postage, which would put the price up a little.

Dont worry, I am used to it as a new car owner .

paddedjohn

Before getting a new tyre, get a second opinion on the possibillity of getting the old one repaired. If the puncture is on the shoulder rather than the sidewall then it can be done but only worth doing if the tyre has a load of tread left on lt

vikramrkin

paddedjohn wrote: »

Before getting a new tyre, get a second opinion on the possibillity of getting the old one repaired. If the puncture is on the shoulder rather than the sidewall then it can be done but only worth doing if the tyre has a load of tread left on lt

Thanks for that. Yes, actually the puncture is on the shoulder (that is the place where the flat surface starts to bend to form the side wall). and the tyre has loads of tread left on it. Since it is a very slow puncture, I have an option to look around. I will do that this weekend. Thanks again.