Tyres - New or Part Worn

sturll · 22 September 2008 at 5:13PM

I have had a problem with tracking for a while, so much so i can even hear the rubber squeeking as it rolls unevenly against the road. I have finally convinced myself to get four new tyres since all more or less at nearing the limit.

The problem is i have always got part worn and pay £15 a tyre fitted and balanced - the tyres are usually a top brand like michelin or firestone etc... So i was looking online at basic prices and it seems that even the snidiest of tyres - brands ive never even heard of start at about £50 a tyre. Im starting to unconvince myself about new tyres, does anyone have any ideas or hints on places to get cheap tyres?

Thanks

Tarry · 22 September 2008 at 5:14PM

We tend to get part worn tyres as we quite often can not even afford to buy brand new ones.

steveo3002 · 22 September 2008 at 5:27PM

id rather a used top brand like michelin if i can inspect it for repairs before fitting

some of the budgets have almost no grip

Tarry · 22 September 2008 at 5:32PM

It's about using your common sense though and checking the wear before you buy though.

davetrousers · 22 September 2008 at 5:34PM

Have you had the tracking problem resolved?

anewman · 22 September 2008 at 6:04PM

Tracking is best sorted before it wrecks the new tyres either way.

darich · 22 September 2008 at 6:22PM

I'm of the opinion that part worn tyres are not always the best option.
They're the only contact between you and the road and you place your life in them every time you drive your car.
I've known tyres that look fine but wear at one particular area - it turns out that a pothole had broken the steel band of reinforcement and the tyre wore out where the broken band was.

Depending on the car would determine the best tyres - if you have a small engined cheap older car then Michelin pilots may not be the best decision. But by the same token you might still have to brake hard or swerve and cheaper tyres normally have less grip. Conversely you wouldn't put cheap nasty tyres on a 3.0 sports car.

I guess what I'm getting at is that you don't always know what, if any, damage has been done to a tyre and it's fairly crucial to keeping you alive in the car.

I've generally bought a mid range tyre aiming for a compromise between price and grip. I feel Michelins are very expensive. I've bought Dunlop, and Firestone, Goodyear without any problem.
Never bought a part worn and would avoid them - especially with my car being higher performance than most.

Wig · 22 September 2008 at 6:26PM

Budget tyres new can be picked up for about £22 fitted. Why pay for a name, when those self same names all make budget tyres in their own factories and just name them differently. e.g. Riken, Regal, and many more
http://www.tyres-online.co.uk/marketing/brands.asp

Also don't limit yourself to online retailers, I have yet to find an online retailer that can source me a cheaper tyre -all inclusive- than I can find locally.

photome · 22 September 2008 at 6:28PM

I would never buy part worn either, for the same reasons as above. A good set of four tyres should be less than £250 fitted balanced etc and then you are good for anoyther 20000 miles give or take and for most people that is 2 to 3 years of safe motoring. Thats a packet of fags a week.

If you want to go the budget route as advocated by Wig, I would agree try and source locally BUT avoid ambassador, they have no grip in the wet.

Conor_3 · 22 September 2008 at 7:35PM

NEVER EVER EVER BUY PART WORN TYRES.

There is no guarantee to their history. They could have had a side impact that's damaged the internal structure and without an X-Ray, you have no way of telling.

Conor_3 · 22 September 2008 at 7:36PM

Tarry wrote: »

It's about using your common sense though and checking the wear before you buy though.

And what about the steel bands? How do you check those? Would you know what counts as perished rubber or is it a case of "well the treads legal so it's OK"?

MSE Forum

Tyres - New or Part Worn

Replies

Energy debt? Could you get a grant of up to £1,500?

Gin, gee-gees & groceries

2for1 adult tickets to theme parks