Dealer fitted budget tyres after purchase of car!

[AllDayBreakfast]

Bought a 16 plate 'by Peugeot Sport' 208 GTI last weekend with only 13k on the clock. Nice little car.

Returned to pick it up today and didn't notice that they'd swapped the back two tyres out for Acceleras - when I originally inspected it they had all four originals. Now I know they probably thought they were doing me a favour but these tyres don't get very good reviews and are likely going to have an impact on the handling.

Do you think it's reasonable to request they rectify this? I'd have happily paid the difference for some premium tyres had that been the only option.

[MalcolmSmith]

Accelera’s can be OK but seem to vary with size and application,they are a bit fragile, keep an eye on them.

[poing]

Did they mention they were fitting new tyres? 13k seem low for the rear tyres to need replacing.

[Birdster]

Were they near the 1.6mm or below what the dealer normally offers?

When I’ve viewed anything from an MX-5 to a 350Z they’ve both had mixed tread patterns on the rear axle. I’ve asked if anything can be done about that and they’ve said no. Most of the public won’t notice and you’re in a minority so the dealer will wait for another sale if you’re looking to buy.

It’s a case of them putting the cheapest on for profit margin and doing what they have to. Most of the general public would be happy with any new tyre. I’m not sure you will get anywhere unless they’re amicable to you buying your own tyres and they take them back?

Edited by Birdster on Saturday 17th November 19:30

[Pica-Pica]

As long as the tyres are legal, I don’t think you will have any chance challenging the dealer, unless you originally requested the dealer keep the original tyres on.

[Hammer67]

The dealer could have fitted a pair of used tyres to your used car.

So could have been worse.

[AllDayBreakfast]

I'm just a bit annoyed as they don't get very good reviews in the wet and the reason I went for the BPS model is due to the better handling - seems a bit pointless if the tyres are going to counteract the lower, stiffer suspension and anti slip differential etc.

Then again, after reading the Accelera Phi R review on tyrereviews.com, I then looked up the Bridgestone Potenza S001 (which I was happy with on previous car) to find that they got a similar score at 73% so maybe the website is comparing them to really top end options (always thought the Potenzas were meant to be ok).

My other concern is the impact on the general handling from mixing brands across front and rear? Could do without forking out another £300 on a set of tyres right now as I've just paid the excess on my stolen ST, had to rent a car for a month, and also paid my second car deposit within two months.

[Manxwilliams]

Are they brand new tyres?

Seems a bit odd to change the tyres on a 13K mileage.

I wonder if they swapped out your rear wheels with a higher mileage one they have for sale. Is it a main dealer?

I ring on Monday and ask the question, why they did that.

Can't see a garage spending money they don't have too.

Carefully check the wheels for damage.

[Patch1875]

Had them on my Brera as they were an odd size nothing wrong with them.

[Pericoloso]

AllDayBreakfast said:

My other concern is the impact on the general handling from mixing brands across front and rear? .

This isn't a concern ,I've been driving best part of 6 years and 60000 miles in my FIAT with all sorts fitted on each corner ,now have 4 matching.

I didn't die even once.

[DoubleD]

Pericoloso said:

AllDayBreakfast said:

My other concern is the impact on the general handling from mixing brands across front and rear? .

This isn't a concern ,I've been driving best part of 6 years and 60000 miles in my FIAT with all sorts fitted on each corner ,now have 4 matching.

I didn't die even once.

You didnt die, but different tyres do have different handling characteristics.

[sixpistons]

Pericoloso said:

AllDayBreakfast said:

My other concern is the impact on the general handling from mixing brands across front and rear? .

This isn't a concern ,I've been driving best part of 6 years and 60000 miles in my FIAT with all sorts fitted on each corner ,now have 4 matching.

I didn't die even once.

That’s not really the point though is it. You could drive round with mismatched tyres, different sizes even and for just pottering about you won’t even notice, let alone crash as a result. For anything likely to be driven quickly and exploring the handling a bit you want decent quality matching tyres or it’ll probably feel st.

[AllDayBreakfast]

That's exactly my point sixpistons!

I never mixed tyres on any of my previous hatches (Polo GTI, Golf GTI, Fiesta ST) and I made a point of checking that this one had the original four when I bought it last weekend.

Admittedly, I didn't check thread depth but it only had 13k on the clock.

I bought the BPS edition for the good handling so going into winter with a set of budget tyres known to be st in the wet is not going to assist in enjoying the handling of my new car. I've read enough reviews where people have claimed that this tyre loses traction on roundabouts at moderate speed to be convinced that it's not an ideal choice.

Seems to me not be good practice to change the tyres without telling me after I've bought the car 'as seen'.

[stevensdrs]

Have they not moved the original rear tyres to the front and fitted the new ones on the rear? I would get the tracking checked.

[danlightbulb]

If the original tyres were worn enough for them to warrant changing by a likely stingy dealership then theyd be no good in the winter anyway no matter what brand. Worrying about nothing here.

[ninjag]

DoubleD said:

You didnt die, but different tyres do have different handling characteristics.

This is what I would be thinking, especially in the rain and dispersing water.

[2172cc]

Does sound a bit fishy to me. If anything, the fronts would have worn out well before the rears . My 208 GTi is still on its original tyres having now done 21k miles. I believe the BPS has 18" wheels as opposed to the standard GTi which runs 17's and has a camber adjustment to the front suspension so could have worn them out prematurely. The only explanation I can think of is that the fronts were worn and they swapped them with the rears and fitted the budget ones at the back.
Like you , I would not be happy and would not think it's unreasonable to demand some decent tyres.

[snake_oil]

2172cc said:

The only explanation I can think of is that the fronts were worn and they swapped them with the rears and fitted the budget ones at the back.
Like you , I would not be happy and would not think it's unreasonable to demand some decent tyres.

This sounds likely to me. If it's a main dealer I'd be most displeased with budget tyres being fitted in this manner. Call them on Monday.

[mikey P 500]

Similar when I bought my gt86 from a Toyota dealer changed out a pair of tyres (good brand for budget between sale and collection), they said is was a main dealer policy not to let a car leave with less than 5mm tread (what was removed still had 4.5mm and was a better brand).

[LosingGrip]

Maybe I'm being stupid, but surely for tyres to be made/sold in the UK they must meet certain regs? Even the cheapest brand are going to meet them. Everyone seems to think if its a cheap brand they are going to die at the first bend.