Main Dealers...Dodgy G*ts!

[Guvernator]

Not sure if this is the right place for this so mods please feel free to move it if necessary.

Had my car in for a service at a main dealer. I've got a 2 year free service plan which I am always a bit dubious of as I don't believe in free, especially from main dealers so I was already on my guard. At any rate they phone me up to tell me the car is ready but that it needed two new tyres. I already new this though so was expecting it. They quoted me a price which after a bit of haggling ended up being about £20 over the odds per tyre but I needed the car tomorrow and it was late in the day so at that point I agreed.

The car is delivered to my house and stupidly I signed the delivery paperwork and let the delivery driver leave thinking it's just a service and some tyres, what can go wrong only to go out and check 5 minutes later to find that they had put two mismatched brand tyres on the car. To top it off I am not convinced one of the tyres they replaced is brand new either.

1) So the question is since I already signed the paperwork, do I have a leg to stand on regarding complaining about the mismatched tyres?

2) How can I tell if the tyres are brand new, the one which is the wrong brand looks shiny and new but the other which is the correct brand seems to have the right tread depth but looks a little dirty\tatty. Is their a definitive way to tell if it's new as I've done a quick google and come up with blank?

[backwoodsman]

Not 100% positive method, but check the date of manufacture on the tyre?

[Vxr17]

You can check the dates on tyres there will be a dot code on the sidewall should be along the lines of 0314 or something similar that indicates the tyre was made in the third week 2014. Tbh I work for a tyre company and some tyres we get delivered look very dirty it just depends how long they have been in a warehouse. I would question why the brands are different but if these are budget tyres you probably won't get anywhere

[Guvernator]

Vxr17 said:

You can check the dates on tyres there will be a dot code on the sidewall should be along the lines of 0314 or something similar that indicates the tyre was made in the third week 2014. Tbh I work for a tyre company and some tyres we get delivered look very dirty it just depends how long they have been in a warehouse. I would question why the brands are different but if these are budget tyres you probably won't get anywhere

Nope not budget tyres, Conti Sport 3's....or they should have been but one is and the other is a Dunlop Sport Maxx. Not a bad tyre either I suppose but I hate cars with mismatched tyres and I would never do it myself. Plus I paid a bit over the odds for them too so the least they could have done was made sure they matched IMO. Thanks for the tip on the dates, I'll go check.

Other than that, no way to tell then? I thought new tyres had raised ridges on the sidewall and usually had some blue marker paint on the tread or something or am I imagining things?

[hardcorehobbit]

If the tyre is new, it'll be covered with the little knobbly bits won't it? The tiny little rubber tags left over from the injection process.


Also, there's usually some paint in the gaps in the tread itself.

[NiceCupOfTea]

If you requested and paid for 2 specific tyres then that's what you should get.

[Vxr17]

I would go back ASAP and ask for the Dunlop to be replaced btw what size tyre have you got as most continental sizes have gone to contact 5 this May be the reason the tyre looks old ?

[Vxr17]

Also not all new tyres have paint on them it is only used to identify the tyres when in production. I'm pretty sure continental should have a green line on them the Dunlops are normally unmarked

[Guvernator]

Vxr17 said:

Also not all new tyres have paint on them it is only used to identify the tyres when in production. I'm pretty sure continental should have a green line on them the Dunlops are normally unmarked

Tyres are 255/35/R19 96Y. The Conti which they replaced does seem to have a line of green paint between the treads but no knobbly bits on the sidewall. The Dunlops have no paint but do have knobbly bits, rather confusing! Looks like the Conti MIGHT be OK but still don't understand why they thought it would be acceptable to give me mismatched tyres.

It was going so well too, picked up on time, free service, regular updates and dropped off again. I was actually beginning to think that I'd found a decent main dealer who hadn't messed up for once but I should have known better really.

[danjama]

Cocks. I'd have them collect it again at your convenience and replace with the correct tyre.

[Guvernator]

danjama said:

Cocks. I'd have them collect it again at your convenience and replace with the correct tyre.

Will be having a word with the service manager first thing tomorrow. I just hope they don't try the "well you've already signed for it" line, I won't be amused.

I really do wonder how these main dealers stay in business when they can't even get the basics like a tyre change right? I've yet to find one who hasn't tried to overcharge, not done something right or tried it on in some way EVERY SINGLE TIME, how do they get away with it?

[Vxr17]

Well we do still keep contact 3s in stock for that size at work but they are crossing over to sport5. You mainly find that size on the audi a4 . Personally I would get them to swap the tyres so they match. They are very similar tread patterns but if you have paid for continentals that's what should be fitted. also the Dunlop is a good tyre but is cheaper so I would bear that in mind

[Sensibleboy]

hardcorehobbit said:

If the tyre is new, it'll be covered with the little knobbly bits won't it? The tiny little rubber tags left over from the injection process.

They seem to be a thing of the past. Not sure why.

[Emeye]

They are taking the piss.

[Guvernator]

Vxr17 said:

Well we do still keep contact 3s in stock for that size at work but they are crossing over to sport5. You mainly find that size on the audi a4 . Personally I would get them to swap the tyres so they match. They are very similar tread patterns but if you have paid for continentals that's what should be fitted. also the Dunlop is a good tyre but is cheaper so I would bear that in mind

You know your tyres, close it's an Audi S5

I suspected the Dunlops would be cheaper. I really should have known better and got them changed at a proper tyre place, so much for convenience!

[H100S]

Have you been charged for two of the same tyre on the invoice or two separate tyres?

[Guvernator]

H100S said:

Have you been charged for two of the same tyre on the invoice or two separate tyres?

Just double-checked the invoice and it clearly states 2 x Conti Sport 3's.

[hornetrider]

danjama said:

Cocks. I'd have them collect it again at your convenience and replace with the correct tyre.

This. Ring up, say unacceptable, get replaced.

[hornetrider]

Guvernator said:

Just double-checked the invoice and it clearly states 2 x Conti Sport 3's.

What a bunch of bellends.

[Guvernator]

I suppose they must get away with it enough for them to even try it. This might be massively stereotyping Audi drivers (I am allowed though as I am one ) but I suspect most wouldn't care or even notice.