Replacing tyres on lease car - can I use budget tyres?

GunJack

AdrianC wrote: »

How much would you actually be saving per corner on the cheap rubbish, given that you still have to drive the car for three more months?

Around 60 or so % if the figures quoted are accurate, around £240...

AdrianC

Yes, I saw that - but I don't believe it. I'd love to know what size. There is no way that Hankooks are 4x the price of anything worth fitting.

Cetshwayo

What size and rating etc are the tyres? We can then have a look.

Ozzuk

Twice in my car ownership I've gone for budget tyres on secondary vehicles (i.e. not my performance cars). The first time because I was naive and thought they'd be fine, the second based on a garage tyre recommendation that I didn't research enough.

The performance was appalling, particularly in the wet. Maybe it was my driving style but the loss of traction was very noticeable and borderline dangerous - I'll never knowingly fit them again.

So I'd keep that in mind - we're going into the worst weather period of the year, so tempting as it may be to try and save money it might be a decision that ends up costing you a lot more.

And I know these 'budget' tyres come with safety ratings, so 'should' be fine, but they just haven't been, in my experience.

Lil306

To me...

Tyres... must comply with vehicle manufacturers recommendations of tyre type, class, size and speed rating for vehicle”
And

Unless it's in the lease guide...

If the car is fitted with 195/55/R16 91V as standard, it gets returned with 195/55/R16 91V of my choice

To make sure it's the tyre "Class" i.e of the same standard if the OEM tyres are Wet Grip (B), Dry Grip(A), sound (68) I fit something of a similar standard to those

On-the-coast

Hello all, I’m surprised by the amount of response and helpfulness to my query – thanks very much. I know some of you prefer not to compromise on tyres, but I’m very near the end of my agreement, and don’t have many miles left to cover, particularly when my out of country travel requirements are taken into account.
I’m looking to replace factory fitted (came with the car) Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 2 K117 (245/35 R19 Y (93) btw - cheapest i've found them is £306 the pair (Fully fitted)
The Kumho's I reference below are £182 the pair (unfitted... so add ?£30 the pair = approx £210
the Rotalla's are £155 for the fully fitted pair.
p.s. from the branded list supplied below, i can find an option about £20 overall cheaper than the Hankooks - uniroyal.

Here’s my response from the lease company:
Good Morning,
Thank you for contacting Audi Financial Services.
Please be advised that you can certainly replace the tyres with a different brand, this would need to be a premium brand, please see the below brands that we accept:
Pirelli
Bridgestone
Michelin
Goodyear
Dunlop
Continental
Firestone
Uniroyal

And here’s what I replied to them:
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.
Regarding Tyres, can you point me at where in the agreement i have with you that a "budget tyre" is not acceptable? The only information I have received from you relates to "class" of tyre, budget v premium is a rather arbitrary concept.
Note: the car was supplied to me with Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 2 K117 (245/35 R19 Y (93), I'm expecting that two of those tyres will be returned to you.
Here are a couple of other options I'm considering:
- Kumho Ecsta LE Sport KU39 XL 245/35R19 93Y
I don't consider this brand to be "budget" btw
- Rotalla RU01 245/35 R19 Y (93)
I agree this is a budget tyre (although there are even cheaper options out there)

AndyMc.....

On-the-coast wrote: »

Hello all, I’m surprised by the amount of response and helpfulness to my query – thanks very much. I know some of you prefer not to compromise on tyres, but I’m very near the end of my agreement, and don’t have many miles left to cover, particularly when my out of country travel requirements are taken into account.
I’m looking to replace factory fitted (came with the car) Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 2 K117 (245/35 R19 Y (93) btw - cheapest i've found them is £306 the pair (Fully fitted)
The Kumho's I reference below are £182 the pair (unfitted... so add ?£30 the pair = approx £210
the Rotalla's are £155 for the fully fitted pair.
p.s. from the branded list supplied below, i can find an option about £20 overall cheaper than the Hankooks - uniroyal.

Here’s my response from the lease company:
Good Morning,
Thank you for contacting Audi Financial Services.
Please be advised that you can certainly replace the tyres with a different brand, this would need to be a premium brand, please see the below brands that we accept:
Pirelli
Bridgestone
Michelin
Goodyear
Dunlop
Continental
Firestone
Uniroyal

And here’s what I replied to them:
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.
Regarding Tyres, can you point me at where in the agreement i have with you that a "budget tyre" is not acceptable? The only information I have received from you relates to "class" of tyre, budget v premium is a rather arbitrary concept.
Note: the car was supplied to me with Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 2 K117 (245/35 R19 Y (93), I'm expecting that two of those tyres will be returned to you.
Here are a couple of other options I'm considering:
- Kumho Ecsta LE Sport KU39 XL 245/35R19 93Y
I don't consider this brand to be "budget" btw
- Rotalla RU01 245/35 R19 Y (93)
I agree this is a budget tyre (although there are even cheaper options out there)

Kumho are budget and only £20 cheaper than your Hankooks.

Given they'll except Goodyear's which are cheaper then what's your problem?

So are Avon, Dunlop and Yokohama.

On-the-coast

"Kumho are budget and only £20 cheaper than your Hankooks." - i disagree, there's £96 difference (for the fitted pair). £306 v £210.
Anyway, I'm waiting for VWFS to clarify this premium/budget thing. It's an arbitrary distinction as far as I'm concerned, and it was interesting they left the manufacturer fitted version off the list of tyres they'd accept - which leads me to believe they are making up things as they go.

AndyMc.....

On-the-coast wrote: »

"Kumho are budget and only £20 cheaper than your Hankooks." - i disagree, there's £96 difference (for the fitted pair). £306 v £210.
Anyway, I'm waiting for VWFS to clarify this premium/budget thing. It's an arbitrary distinction as far as I'm concerned, and it was interesting they left the manufacturer fitted version off the list of tyres they'd accept - which leads me to believe they are making up things as they go.

Hankooks £154 a corner Khumo £131 fitted by blackcircles.

wymondham

In all my leases the tyres have had to be replaced by 'equivalent' quality tyres, so no budget tyres permitted or I would be billed for X new tyres when it goes back...