BCA / Alphabet - Tyre wear (returning car)
BCA / Alphabet - Tyre wear (returning car)
Author
Discussion

Moods

Original Poster:

251 posts

139 months

Wednesday 6th December 2023
quotequote all
Has anyone had any recent experience handing their car back?

The BCA guide says no uneven tyre wear.

My Tyres have been checked (by a local national Tyre company) and are road legal but the tyre front Tyres are slightly more worn on the outer edges (still at least 2mm for the middle 75%).

Is this likely to be an issue at collection (next week)?

Grateful for any opinions on this. I don’t want to change them if not needed.


andburg

8,743 posts

199 months

Wednesday 6th December 2023
quotequote all
overinflate them and wear down with smoky burnouts until the middle matches? rofl

Grrbang

755 posts

101 months

Wednesday 6th December 2023
quotequote all
While it's annoying that the advert was false, I just expect uneven wear and generally worn tyres when buying a used car. Even if you return it, there's no guarantee the replacement won't have uneven wear!

I'd change all four tyres (or at least both front tyres) then get an alignment done.

I'd keep the originals as spares to get me through a summer, or for short-term winter use.



normalbloke

8,895 posts

249 months

Wednesday 6th December 2023
quotequote all
Grrbang said:
While it's annoying that the advert was false, I just expect uneven wear and generally worn tyres when buying a used car. Even if you return it, there's no guarantee the replacement won't have uneven wear!

I'd change all four tyres (or at least both front tyres) then get an alignment done.

I'd keep the originals as spares to get me through a summer, or for short-term winter use.
Say what now?

Moods

Original Poster:

251 posts

139 months

Wednesday 6th December 2023
quotequote all
andburg said:
overinflate them and wear down with smoky burnouts until the middle matches? rofl
Sounds like a fun option!

Moods

Original Poster:

251 posts

139 months

Wednesday 6th December 2023
quotequote all
Grrbang said:
While it's annoying that the advert was false, I just expect uneven wear and generally worn tyres when buying a used car. Even if you return it, there's no guarantee the replacement won't have uneven wear!

I'd change all four tyres (or at least both front tyres) then get an alignment done.

I'd keep the originals as spares to get me through a summer, or for short-term winter use.
It’s a lease car which is about to go back next week. If I owned it I wouldn’t mind changing the Tyres.

LooneyTunes

9,414 posts

188 months

Wednesday 6th December 2023
quotequote all
Check how much they charge if they are deemed to be in need of replacement.

I got rid of a car last week and was chatting to the guy about costs for damage. Some of the figures are way below what fixing them yourself would cost.

jamei303

3,084 posts

186 months

Wednesday 6th December 2023
quotequote all
You haven't said how uneven the wear is, just that it's greater than 2mm for 75% of the width.

You should take three tread depth measurements, one on each side and one in the middle. That will tell you, and the person collecting your car, the actual extent of any uneven wear.

Moods

Original Poster:

251 posts

139 months

Wednesday 6th December 2023
quotequote all
It’s about 3/4mm across the tyre except on the edge shown - where it’s 2mm on the edge of the 75%.

I’d assume if ‘road legal’ they would still collect the car and then try to bill me for Tyres later if they have an issue.

Grrbang

755 posts

101 months

Wednesday 6th December 2023
quotequote all
Moods said:
It’s a lease car which is about to go back next week. If I owned it I wouldn’t mind changing the Tyres.
Ah I see - I was being dense. I thought you meant 'return' as in you'd just bought it.


Tankrizzo

8,024 posts

223 months

Wednesday 6th December 2023
quotequote all
BCA might flag it on the inspection but I suspect Alphabet won't give a toss. They pretty much all get punted out to auction anyway.

ArmaghMan

2,795 posts

210 months

Thursday 7th December 2023
quotequote all
My co. car was through Alphabet.
Had expected some sort of bill. Over 100k miles and looked like it.
Nothing. Took it away and radio silence.

Truckosaurus

13,267 posts

314 months

Thursday 7th December 2023
quotequote all
Moods said:
It’s about 3/4mm across the tyre except on the edge shown - where it’s 2mm on the edge of the 75%.

I’d assume if ‘road legal’ they would still collect the car and then try to bill me for Tyres later if they have an issue.
That's what I'd go with. If you have a lease car with tyre replacement included they wouldn't let you change tyres with 2mm left.

Moods

Original Poster:

251 posts

139 months

Friday 8th December 2023
quotequote all
I’ve had them checked by a couple of national tyre companies and both said they’re legal so on that basis I am hoping no issues.