Illegal Tyre Tread - Advise Wanted
Discussion
I passed my test end of January and purchased my first car the following weekend. I got it from a good, well known dealership nearish my home, test drove it, checked it out, everything people told me to do when buying a car. The dealer said it was given a full check over, no issues and I took the car (and a lengthy finance deal) home the following week.
I actually went on holiday a few days after getting the car home so really I was only driving it for about two weeks before I noticed the back left tyre was going flat. Pumped it up and noticed again on Friday that it was going down. Thinking it had a slow puncture I dropped it off at the garage this morning and have just got a call which has really frustrated me. The left back tyre is under the min legal tread depth and both back tyres are in really bad condition that the garage owner has recommended I replace them both at a cost of £59 each. Given the length of time I have actually driven the car and the short distances I travel, the garage said that the tread would been like this when I purchased the car.
I'm pretty annoyed with the dealer as they said they checked everything and it was fine, but evidently they sold me a car I could have got pulled in. They clearly saw me coming, brand new driver, admitting to not knowing much about cars (I'm an idiot who should have said I knew a lot, I know that now).
Do you think I'm in my rights to call the dealer up and ask for them to cover the cost of the tyres?
I actually went on holiday a few days after getting the car home so really I was only driving it for about two weeks before I noticed the back left tyre was going flat. Pumped it up and noticed again on Friday that it was going down. Thinking it had a slow puncture I dropped it off at the garage this morning and have just got a call which has really frustrated me. The left back tyre is under the min legal tread depth and both back tyres are in really bad condition that the garage owner has recommended I replace them both at a cost of £59 each. Given the length of time I have actually driven the car and the short distances I travel, the garage said that the tread would been like this when I purchased the car.
I'm pretty annoyed with the dealer as they said they checked everything and it was fine, but evidently they sold me a car I could have got pulled in. They clearly saw me coming, brand new driver, admitting to not knowing much about cars (I'm an idiot who should have said I knew a lot, I know that now).
Do you think I'm in my rights to call the dealer up and ask for them to cover the cost of the tyres?
That's a basic due diligence check when buying a car I'm afraid, and you've had the car for a couple of months now so it would have been a good idea to check the tread depth at least once since then to get a feel for how they wear. How many miles have you driven on them?
If they are really blatantly under the tread depth limit you can ask the supplying dealer if they'll do anything but they're consumable items and the dealer can just say they were legal when he sold you the car and you've worn them out - will be your word against theirs.
There are sometimes reasons why tyres can wear unusually fast, the alignment could have been knocked out of kilter for example.
Personally I'd suggest getting the car back and check the tread on the tyres yourself, it's just as likely that the place you took it too for the repair are trying to take advantage as it is that the selling dealer tucked you up.
If they are really blatantly under the tread depth limit you can ask the supplying dealer if they'll do anything but they're consumable items and the dealer can just say they were legal when he sold you the car and you've worn them out - will be your word against theirs.
There are sometimes reasons why tyres can wear unusually fast, the alignment could have been knocked out of kilter for example.
Personally I'd suggest getting the car back and check the tread on the tyres yourself, it's just as likely that the place you took it too for the repair are trying to take advantage as it is that the selling dealer tucked you up.
Sassbot said:
I'm pretty annoyed with the dealer as they said they checked everything and it was fine, but evidently they sold me a car I could have got pulled in. They clearly saw me coming, brand new driver, admitting to not knowing much about cars (I'm an idiot who should have said I knew a lot, I know that now).
let me, let you into a little secret. dealers are in business to make money. they will tell you anything to get your money out of your pocket. in future, try to avoid them 
IANAL - but a dealer must sell you something that is "Fit for purpose". if you can demonstrate that the tyres weren't legal at the point of sale, then I would say the dealer is liable.
I would complain and go for new tyres or a contribution, but I can't see it's worth pursuing if that fails. Not sure if betterment would come into it?
BTW it's Advice you want...
I would complain and go for new tyres or a contribution, but I can't see it's worth pursuing if that fails. Not sure if betterment would come into it?
BTW it's Advice you want...
Edited by OverSteery on Tuesday 4th April 14:52
OverSteery said:
IANAL - but a dealer must sell you something that is "Fit for purpose". is you can demonstrate that the tyres weren't legal at the point of sale, then I would say the dealer is liable.
I would complain and go for new tyres or a contribution, but I can't see it's worth pursuing if that fails. Not sure if betterment would come into it?
Good point. If the tyres really are illegal, a dealer should not be selling the car until they are changed.I would complain and go for new tyres or a contribution, but I can't see it's worth pursuing if that fails. Not sure if betterment would come into it?
In the real world, however, I guess it's different and they will get away with anything they can.
Sassbot said:
Do you think I'm in my rights to call the dealer up and ask for them to cover the cost of the tyres?
You've been driving for two months, and haven't once even glanced at your tyres, apart from to reinflate them?I'm sure you can't have already forgotten the "show me, tell me" bit of your test? The things you learnt for that included periodic tyre checks, did they not...? And so does the Highway Code. You've not forgotten that already, have you?
You were driving for a fortnight before the slow puncture was noticed, then it was going down every few days. That, to me, screams that the present WASN'T present at purchase. Driving around on underinflated tyres will kill a tyre quickly.
OverSteery said:
IANAL - but a dealer must sell you something that is "Fit for purpose". is you can demonstrate that the tyres weren't legal at the point of sale, then I would say the dealer is liable.
I would complain and go for new tyres or a contribution, but I can't see it's worth pursuing if that fails. Not sure if betterment would come into it?
No way of proving the state of the tyres at the time of sale. Dealer will simply say "They were all good when I sold the car, my mechanic checked them, have you changed them since you bought the car?".I would complain and go for new tyres or a contribution, but I can't see it's worth pursuing if that fails. Not sure if betterment would come into it?
Not much you can do except learn from it.
KevinCamaroSS said:
No way of proving the state of the tyres at the time of sale. Dealer will simply say "They were all good when I sold the car, my mechanic checked them, have you changed them since you bought the car?".
Not much you can do except learn from it.
Probably true Not much you can do except learn from it.
but if its a local dealer they might care about their reputation, so it's worth asking. They might replace at cost perhaps.TooMany2cvs said:
Sassbot said:
Do you think I'm in my rights to call the dealer up and ask for them to cover the cost of the tyres?
You've been driving for two months, and haven't once even glanced at your tyres, apart from to reinflate them?I'm sure you can't have already forgotten the "show me, tell me" bit of your test? The things you learnt for that included periodic tyre checks, did they not...? And so does the Highway Code. You've not forgotten that already, have you?
You were driving for a fortnight before the slow puncture was noticed, then it was going down every few days. That, to me, screams that the present WASN'T present at purchase. Driving around on underinflated tyres will kill a tyre quickly.
what he said.
No chance OP I'm afraid, tyre checks should be weekly at the very least.
Speak to the dealership you bought it from before spending money elsewhere. They may accept that the rear tyres needing doing after a low mileage isn't on, especially if you're in a front wheel drive car.... Always give them the chance to offer good will - even if that's sorting it at cost price for you.
Dont forget tyre garages have a bit of a rep for telling people their tyres are knackered when theres still 1000s of miles of life left in them.
Dont forget tyre garages have a bit of a rep for telling people their tyres are knackered when theres still 1000s of miles of life left in them.
charltjr said:
HantsRat said:
£59 a tyre!? Be wary of these cheapo ones. Invest in some proper tyres to keep you on the road.
To be fair that does depend on the car, top brand tyres are around that price point for my Mondeo (16" alloys).charltjr said:
HantsRat said:
£59 a tyre!? Be wary of these cheapo ones. Invest in some proper tyres to keep you on the road.
To be fair that does depend on the car, top brand tyres are around that price point for my Mondeo (16" alloys).Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff