Finding a place with 'premium' tyres in stock?
Discussion
Just found out that premium tyres, the likes of Continental, Good Year, Pirelli, Michélin etc are nigh on impossible to find at short notice in stock but budget 'ditchfinders' are everywhere. Do people really not want good, well researched tyres from companies with high R&D budgets and they'd rather get something made in a Chinese sweatshop (sweeping and likely false generalisation I know) rather than something that could quite possibly save your life? I'm not saying cheaper budget tyres are going to kill you, but these 'Nankang' and 'Wanli' tyres are in stock in every place I tried and no one had anything even semi-premium in stock for immediate fitting at a decent price. Sure Kwik-Fit had them but at £35 more than the local indy but he didn;t have them in stock.
What's happening to the tyre market recently??!
What's happening to the tyre market recently??!
Edited by MissChief on Saturday 2nd March 16:52
Supply and demaned simple as that people see cars as white goods they want things as cheap as possible so when they need a new tyre it's the price first not what make. I work in a garage that sells tyres and whenever anyone wants a new tyre it's always have the cheapest very few come in and ask for a good brand.
As mentioned above, most people have little interest in the cars and zero interest in tyres. If they are black, round and legal then the cheapest option will do.
Last time I went in for tyres the chap didn't even bother telling me they had Michelin in stock until prompted as they were "stupidly expensive".
Last time I went in for tyres the chap didn't even bother telling me they had Michelin in stock until prompted as they were "stupidly expensive".
Caulkhead said:
Don't worry, someone will be along soon to tell you how much money they save by buying inferior tyres and adjusting their driving style to suit and will prove it to you by not being dead yet. . . . . . . 
Ain't that the truth!When I've wanted tyres I deal with people like Micheldever tyres who carry a big stock at competitive prices and can handle alloy wheels without wrecking them! They claim to have over 9,000 tyres on site.
http://www.micheldever.co.uk/car_tyres.html
Most budget brands are owned by a premium manufacturer anyway, so up to a point, meh.
If you are trying to put serious hp to the ground, or doing trackdays then I understand, for 99% of cars on the road they will hardly ever get near the limits of grip and adhesion.
The bike gets good tyres though.
If you are trying to put serious hp to the ground, or doing trackdays then I understand, for 99% of cars on the road they will hardly ever get near the limits of grip and adhesion.
The bike gets good tyres though.
Most indy tyre places I've been to can usually get the tyres by lunchtime (if calling early that day) or the next day. I don't find it very surprising with the numerous tyre brands, sizes and specs so to stock all variety of brands etc doesn't make sense. Most people want the cheapest tyres so I'd have thought stocking premium brands isn't as worthwhile as stocking Chingchongs.
VWAUDI said:
Most indy tyre places I've been to can usually get the tyres by lunchtime (if calling early that day) or the next day. I don't find it very surprising with the numerous tyre brands, sizes and specs so to stock all variety of brands etc doesn't make sense. Most people want the cheapest tyres so I'd have thought stocking premium brands isn't as worthwhile as stocking Chingchongs.
As above. Why have four, say, Continentals, sitting around the workshop, when for the same (trade) outlay they can have ten Ditch Finders? More stock and/or the ability to cater for customers with different size requirements.The surprising thing isn't that they don't have a wide selection of premium, its when they quite often don't have anything. I mean, I can see why - if you're interested enough to want premium you're probably the sort of person to ring ahead and get the specific ones you've read a review on - but in the common sizes I'd have thought it would be worth their while having a set of something better than the cheapest; there are people who'll have punctures and want something good, and I'd have thought they'd always like the opportunity to upsell!
5 USA said:
Ain't that the truth!
When I've wanted tyres I deal with people like Micheldever tyres who carry a big stock at competitive prices and can handle alloy wheels without wrecking them! They claim to have over 9,000 tyres on site.
http://www.micheldever.co.uk/car_tyres.html
Yeah, I'd recommend them too. They're not quite internet level cheap (though of course far better than Kwik Fit etc.) but when you just need something ASAP they've got a fair selection of the main premium brands and some of the midrange internet favourites. Bit bigger than the average local place, though, so I guess the storage isn't such a problem for them.When I've wanted tyres I deal with people like Micheldever tyres who carry a big stock at competitive prices and can handle alloy wheels without wrecking them! They claim to have over 9,000 tyres on site.
http://www.micheldever.co.uk/car_tyres.html
Edited by ImpossiblyDaft on Saturday 2nd March 18:39
ImpossiblyDaft said:
Yeah, I'd recommend them too. They're not quite internet level cheap (though of course far better than Kwik Fit etc.) but when you just need something ASAP they've got a fair selection of the main premium brands and some of the midrange internet favourites. Bit bigger than the average local place, though, so I guess the storage isn't such a problem for them.
This TBH. If anywhere said that they only had Pirelli or Good Year or Continental in stock I'd probably have taken them. They had nothing.Edited by ImpossiblyDaft on Saturday 2nd March 18:39
nonuts said:
I do get a bit bored with recommending them everybody who has used them has reported back a positive experienceedited for broken nkeyboard
Edited by jas xjr on Saturday 2nd March 19:09
Condi said:
for 99% of cars on the road they will hardly ever get near the limits of grip and adhesion.
But that 1% of times when you're braking to avoid a haggle of randomly appearing school children are what premium tyres are for.I've noticed that neither Blackcircles nor Etyres have Conti Premium Contact 5s for my region right now, they only have the older Premium Contact 2s for some reason.
Not sure where to get the latest tyres from any more.
jas xjr said:
nonuts said:
I do get a bit bored with recommending them everybody who has used them has reported back a positve experienceMissChief said:
Just found out that premium tyres, the likes of Continental, Good Year, Pirelli, Michélin etc are nigh on impossible to find at short notice in stock but budget 'ditchfinders' are everywhere. Do people really not want good, well researched tyres from companies with high R&D budgets and they'd rather get something made in a Chinese sweatshop (sweeping and likely false generalisation I know) rather than something that could quite possibly save your life? I'm not saying cheaper budget tyres are going to kill you, but these 'Nankang' and 'Wanli' tyres are in stock in every place I tried and no one had anything even semi-premium in stock for immediate fitting at a decent price. Sure Kwik-Fit had them but at £35 more than the local indy but he didn;t have them in stock.
What's happening to the tyre market recently??!
I don't know where you're looking, but I had 6 wheels refurbished yesterday and they were able to fit Michelin Pilot Sports to 4 of them and Dunlops to the others. These were available at short notice.What's happening to the tyre market recently??!
Edited by MissChief on Saturday 2nd March 16:52
I looked at Event Tyres previously when pricing up my options and they had well priced premium tyres available as well. They can usually come to you to fit them within 2 days.
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