New set of tyres, different brands!

dj1471

Took my car in for an MOT today, 4 new tyres required due to cracks in the sidewalls of 3/4. Annoying (car & tyres only 5 years old and only done 8k miles…), but OK.

First they insisted that budget tyres were a better choice as they’re less likely to suffer this kind of problem…?

Then once I got home I realised that they’ve put different brands on the front and rear (Hilo and Tigar), which they neglected to mention! They are the same size and spec.

I know it’s OK to mix tyres if you’re changing just one pair, but surely if you’re replacing all 4 you put a matching set on?!

Have they just used me to offload some crappy tyres they had lying around? I did verify the damage to the old ones, at least…

cattom

Did you take it to a reputable establishment ie main dealer, halfords quickfit etc? or was it some 'ted in a tin shed' set up. I would think either way, they could of at least done you the honour of fitting all 4 the same.

dj1471

It was ATS Euromaster.

AdrianC

dj1471 said:

Took my car in for an MOT today, 4 new tires required due to cracks in the sidewalls of 3/4. Annoying (car & tires only 5 years old and only done 8k miles…), but OK.

First they insisted that budget tires were a better choice as they’re less likely to suffer this kind of problem…?

<cough>ollocks.

But at least you won't be throwing proper money away when they go in the bin with loads of tread in a few more years time...

Then once I got home I realised that they’ve put different brands on the front and rear (Hilo and Tigar), which they neglected to mention! They are the same size and spec.

I know it’s OK to mix tires if you’re changing just one pair, but surely if you’re replacing all 4 you put a matching set on?!

Have they just used me to offload some crappy tires they had lying around? I did verify the damage to the old ones, at least…

Probably.

But at least you won't actually notice how appallingly bad those ditchfinders are, given you don't use the car.

For just 1,600 miles/year, is it even worth owning a car?
If you've had five years depreciation on a new car, I dread to think what your per-mile cost is... Probably way north of a quid, even on the very cheapest car. If it's anything larger, probably a couple of quid if not more.

facade

dj1471 said:

First they insisted that budget tires were a better choice as they’re less likely to suffer this kind of problem…?

Anecdotally, I can confirm this.  "Premium brand name" tyres suffer terribly from cracking, I'm of the opinion it is because of the special super grippy/quiet/long wearing  "modern" "high tech" compounds, wheras the "budget" Landsails etc don't, as they are made from cheap "proper old fashioned" rubber and fillers.

Also, the budget tyres perform better at low temperatures than the premium summer tyres, for the same reason.

They don't perform as well as the premium tyres in extremes of performance driving though, so I wouldn't fit them on an M series

Have they just used me to offload some crappy tires they had lying around?

Probably they only had 2 of each budget brand in stock, so maybe, but they could have told you to have much more expensive Mitchelins rather than budget. (Mitchelin own ATS, and Black Circles amongst others)

cattom

dj1471 said:

It was ATS Euromaster.

well ATS (associated tyre services ) are one of the largest tyre stockists in the country. so quite honestly if they can't get it right, no body can. so its up to you what you do. maybe a polite letter to there head office. the address will be on google. or maybe just a phone call to where you had it done, to say what the --------- going on.

giraffe69

When you write to them it's "tyres" not "tires".

dj1471

AdrianC said:
But at least you won't be throwing proper money away when they go in the bin with loads of tread in a few more years time...

I've just put a full set of Michelin's in the bin after 8k miles, so.... if they last longer than that I'll be happy.

AdrianC said:

For just 1,600 miles/year, is it even worth owning a car?

I've only had it for two years, I didn't buy it new. I do use it regularly but mostly for short journeys thanks to COVID etc.

I paid £10k, it's worth around £8k now which isn't too bad considering the warranty has expired during that time.

facade said:

Probably they only had 2 of each budget brand in stock, so maybe, but they could have told you to have much more expensive Mitchelins rather than budget. (Mitchelin own ATS, and Black Circles amongst others)

It was all a bit odd really, I was quite happy to pay for decent tyres but they strongly pushed the budget ones... I guess time will tell if it was the right advice or not.

cattom said:

well ATS (associated tyre services ) are one of the largest tyre stockists in the country. so quite honestly if they can't get it right, no body can. so its up to you what you do. maybe a polite letter to there head office. the address will be on google. or maybe just a phone call to where you had it done, to say what the --------- going on.

Thanks I'll give them a call tomorrow and see what they have to say.

giraffe69 said:

When you write to them it's "tyres" not "tires".

Very sorry, some American spelling appears to have crept into my brain. I blame the Internet. I've fixed it (the spelling, not my brain).

AdrianC

dj1471 said:

AdrianC said:
But at least you won't be throwing proper money away when they go in the bin with loads of tread in a few more years time...

I've just put a full set of Michelin's in the bin after 8k miles, so...

and how many years?

jimbo6977

Nothing wrong with brand A on the front and brand B on the back.

Cheap tyres of any brand are a bit of a lottery. Tigar are Serbian-made and Michelin-owned. 

jimjames

AdrianC said:

dj1471 said:

AdrianC said:
But at least you won't be throwing proper money away when they go in the bin with loads of tread in a few more years time...

I've just put a full set of Michelin's in the bin after 8k miles, so...

and how many years?

It said 5 years in OP