Four different tyres on a second hand car purchased from dealer?

Sheep Shagger

Just purchased a car from a Dublin car dealership, stupidly only realised when we got home that there are four different tyres on the car.

The front has two different brands with two different tread patterns.

The rear has the same brand but two different tread patterns.

Does this sound right and more importantly, is it safe (especially in Winter) ?

Thanks

joujoujou

If they're in the same size, you're OK, at least in terms of NCT, for example.

But you're absolutely unsafe, as different brands/tread patterns equal to different grip, even on dry and clean surface.

So, get rid of them asap.

Dangel4x4

I like to match the tyres on the front axle, and match the tyres on the rear axle.

But the guy above is right - NCT doesn't care as long as they're the same size, e-marked and have legal tread.

corks finest

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

Just purchased a car from a Dublin car dealership, stupidly only realised when we got home that there are four different tyres on the car.

The front has two different brands with two different tread patterns.

The rear has the same brand but two different tread patterns.

Does this sound right and more importantly, is it safe (especially in Winter) ?

Thanks

that's a disgrace

Sheep Shagger

Thanks guys, am going to give the dealer a shout tomorrow but suspect as technically it's not illegal to have the tyres as they are it will be a case of if we want them replaced we'll have to cover the cost.

Eats in a bit to the discount we managed to haggle, it's a 12D reg from one of the bigger brand dealerships so am a bit suprised to see this (should have spotted it earlier I guess). Looking more closely the rear ones are actually the same, so it's the front ones that don't match.

Wouldn't have been a deal breaker as happy enough with everything else (just a bit of pain to have to spend money straight away to get them sorted).

Stella Virgo

make sure they are matched pairs on front and back. if for example,one is a winter tyre and the other is normal/summer tyre it will fail nct.

Sheep Shagger

Stella Virgo wrote: »

make sure they are matched pairs on front and back. if for example,one is a winter tyre and the other is normal/summer tyre it will fail nct.

Thanks - next NCT isn't due for another 2 years, reckon we'll change them before then.

corks finest

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

Thanks guys, am going to give the dealer a shout tomorrow but suspect as technically it's not illegal to have the tyres as they are it will be a case of if we want them replaced we'll have to cover the cost.

Eats in a bit to the discount we managed to haggle, it's a 12D reg from one of the bigger brand dealerships so am a bit suprised to see this (should have spotted it earlier I guess). Looking more closely the rear ones are actually the same, so it's the front ones that don't match.

Wouldn't have been a deal breaker as happy enough with everything else (just a bit of pain to have to spend money straight away to get them sorted).

hi,changed motor 2 yrs ago,windsor motors cork,new mats,4 tyres,service,tank of juice,12 months warranty,and didnt have to haggle much atall,and they stood over my 08 fabia for the year,also threw in 12 months rec membership,so go for gold boy,chances are the saleman didnt even notice the tyres,and if its a reputable garagethey will sort you out,good luck

Esel

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

Thanks - next NCT isn't due for another 2 years, reckon we'll change them before then.

Darwin award thinking there...

corks finest

Esel wrote: »

Darwin award thinking there...

didnt know darwin worked at windsor motorworld,knew they were good but hey,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

greasepalm

Stella Virgo wrote: »

make sure they are matched pairs on front and back. if for example,one is a winter tyre and the other is normal/summer tyre it will fail nct.

i still have 1 winter tyre on front and passed with advisory be worn out in 9 months

Sheep Shagger

Esel wrote: »

Darwin award thinking there...

Car is a 12 reg so first NCT isn't due till 4 years after that, is that not correct? As I say not going to be waiting till then to replace them, just hoping it's not me paying for them!!

challengemaster

I'd be going back and telling them it's a disgrace from a main dealership. Tell the sales manager you'll directly contact the brand (bmw or whatever) and inform them of what's going on unless there's 4 matched premium tyres put on at their expense.

biko

It it was an old banger I'd expected something like that (and as long as all tyres have plenty thread I wouldn't worry) but from a dealer and an almost new car I'd expect more tbh.

Jesus.

I posted the same thing a while ago and I was told it was grand!

All mine are different brands too

Henry Ford III

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

....it's a 12D reg....

Is the D somehow significant?

biko

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Is the D somehow significant?

That's was SHE said.



badumtish

Sheep Shagger

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Is the D somehow significant?

Not at all! Waiting to hear back from the dealer...

dr.fuzzenstein

The four odd tires is so typically Irish, along with not balancing the rear wheels, hammering new weights over the old ones, putting warped wheels on the back, using different rims,mixing different alloys and usually one steel rim, buying Triangle tires, doing only front tracking and so forth.
The worst I've ever seen was bigger radius tires in the rear and to stop the front scraping on the ground, bits of wood wedged into the front springs.
When it comes to wheels and suspension, Ireland is not as progressive as, for example Bolivia, Chad or India.

Jesus.

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

When it comes to wheels and suspension, Ireland is not as progressive as, for example Bolivia, Chad or India.

:pac::pac:

Sober Too

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

Just purchased a car from a Dublin car dealership, stupidly only realised when we got home that there are four different tyres on the car.

The front has two different brands with two different tread patterns.

The rear has the same brand but two different tread patterns.

Does this sound right and more importantly, is it safe (especially in Winter) ?

Thanks

Any chance of a name and shame here , I`d want to give that sort of a dealer a very wide tyre berth !!

Jesus.

I don't think its such a huge deal to be honest. As long as the tyres are the right size and in good nick, you'll be fine.

Vision of Disorder

Jesus. wrote: »

I don't think its such a huge deal to be honest. As long as the tyres are the right size and in good nick, you'll be fine.

We can't all rise from the dead (allegedly).

CiniO

Tyres with different thread pattern within the axle are legal in Ireland and UK.
Probably nowhere else in EU.

Buying a car with 4 different tyres from a dealer, I'd rather think dealer is taking a p1ss if it's fairly new car.

Sheep Shagger

Taking the car back in on Thursday (first available day I can get it in there) so they can have a look, going to try and ask for a set of 4 matching tyres given the age of the car (if you don't ask you don't get etc).

Won't name and shame yet, will give them a chance to fix it, in fairness the guy didn't hesitate to say bring it back in.

corkgsxr

As long as the front were matching and rear were matching im not bothered.

everything works in a predictable manner. Unless its triangles then you've probably already went over a ditch

corkgsxr

Eg iv all continentals on the new van. But im not fond of contis.

so ill be putting goodyears on as they wear out. New goodyears to front. Contis I dislike to rear.

ninty9er

So if I get a blowout and replace the tyre with whatever's available my car is suddenly unsafe?

Once I have 4 decent tyres what's the issue? There wouldn't be many cars on winter tyres in Ireland either I imagine.

bazz26

If they do agree to put new tyres I'd wager that they will put on the least expensive new tyres available in that size, probably some unknown Chinese muck.

Sam Kade

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

Taking the car back in on Thursday (first available day I can get it in there) so they can have a look, going to try and ask for a set of 4 matching tyres given the age of the car (if you don't ask you don't get etc).

Won't name and shame yet, will give them a chance to fix it, in fairness the guy didn't hesitate to say bring it back in.

The chances of them changing the tyres are slim tbh. You should have copped the tyres before you bought then you could have bargained with them.

corkgsxr

ninty9er wrote: »

So if I get a blowout and replace the tyre with whatever's available my car is suddenly unsafe?

Once I have 4 decent tyres what's the issue? There wouldn't be many cars on winter tyres in Ireland either I imagine.

Its not hard to get the same tire. Leave the spare on for a few days if you have to order one. Its not hard

And most supplyers tend to stock a few choice brands so back to the garage you got it and theres a high chance he'll have another

ninty9er

Some tyres go out of production, I have to search very hard to get what I want, there's only 1 supplier within a 50km radius of me, who doesn't always have them in stock. You're also assuming every car is supplied with a spare.

challengemaster

ninty9er wrote: »

So if I get a blowout and replace the tyre with whatever's available my car is suddenly unsafe?

Once I have 4 decent tyres what's the issue? There wouldn't be many cars on winter tyres in Ireland either I imagine.

Different compounds, different grip levels, different wear levels, different tread patterns.

The tyres pretty much lose their effectiveness in areas they're supposed to be good at. Aquaplaning is more likely, car will be more unsettled cornering and braking.

I'd also hazard a guess that an insurance assessor would take a dim view of it.

dr.fuzzenstein

ninty9er wrote: »

Some tyres go out of production, I have to search very hard to get what I want, there's only 1 supplier within a 50km radius of me, who doesn't always have them in stock. You're also assuming every car is supplied with a spare.

Actually, its a good thing to have 4 different tires on your car. It's best if you mix rain, sport, winter and off-road tires, that way you will always have one tire that will get you out of any given situation, I say go for it!

cargo

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

Actually, its a good thing to have 4 different tires on your car. It's best I'd you mix rain, sport, winter and off-road tires, that way you will always have one tire that will get you out of any given situation, I say go for it!

Yeah it's all the rage in the WRC nowaday. When the weather is a big dodgy and hard to predict the drives put different compounds in opposite corners. Something to cope with everything.

dr.fuzzenstein

I heard Vettel will do it to win the next race.

When I go to buy a car and there's 4 odd tires on it, its not only unsafe, but its a sign that the owner and the the garage maintaining it didn't really care about it or knew what they're doing. That means that other repairs and maintenance where carried out in a careless and slap-dash manner.

Esel

My guess is that this car had all four wheels stolen at some stage, and it was re-wheeled on the cheap from various breakers.

H3llR4iser

Esel wrote: »

My guess is that this car had all four wheels stolen at some stage, and it was re-wheeled on the cheap from various breakers.

...or, the tires on the car were still in fairly good shape when it was sold, so good in fact that "somebody" at some point (either previous owner or dealer) decided to keep them and fir the car with whatever was available in the scrap pile...being suspicious is a bad thing, but it turns out to be right sooooo often.

wonski

Esel wrote: »

My guess is that this car had all four wheels stolen at some stage, and it was re-wheeled on the cheap from various breakers.

H3llR4iser wrote: »

...or, the tires on the car were still in fairly good shape when it was sold, so good in fact that "somebody" at some point (either previous owner or dealer) decided to keep them and fir the car with whatever was available in the scrap pile...being suspicious is a bad thing, but it turns out to be right sooooo often.

The OP said it is just a front axle where 2 different tires were put on (the thread title is a bit misleading).

Wouldn't worry me a bit. I do, personally, prefer to have the same brand on each axle, but if one had to change a 150 tire, I doubt you would go for 2 brand new ones when only one needs to be replaced due to a puncture or a damage.

hi5

So, if I have 4 matching half worn tyres on my car and I get a puncture on the sidewall of 1 tyre, even if I get the same tyre as the other 3, I will have a discrepancy of grip between tyres and the new tyre will also be higher than the rest.

Esel

wonski wrote: »

The OP said it is just a front axle where 2 different tires were put on (the thread title is a bit misleading).

Wouldn't worry me a bit. I do, personally, prefer to have the same brand on each axle, but if one had to change a 150 tire, I doubt you would go for 2 brand new ones when only one needs to be replaced due to a puncture or a damage.

No, according to the OP, all four tyres are different. Two, on the same axle, are the same brand but have different treads.

George Dalton

Esel wrote: »

No, according to the OP, all four tyres are different. Two, on the same axle, are the same brand but have different treads.

Yes and then later in the thread the OP says that they were mistaken about the different patterns on the rear and they are in fact a matching pair.

So the only issue here is that the tyres on the front are different brands.

Esel

Oops, missed that!

andrew1300r

biko wrote: »

It it was an old banger I'd expected something like that (and as long as all tyres have plenty thread I wouldn't worry) but from a dealer and an almost new car I'd expect more tbh.

I guarantee the dealer didn't change any tyres on the car if they were any good & I bet it was traded in that way..so it was mr joe public putting on different tyres ..why would a dealer go to the expense of changing perfectly good tyres when there is no need?! Typical anti dealer attitude of "I'd expect more " Nothing wrong or misleading done on that transaction between retailer & customer .

Cleveland Hot Pocket

George Dalton wrote: »

Yes and then later in the thread the OP says that they were mistaken about the different patterns on the rear and they are in fact a matching pair.

So the only issue here is that the tyres on the front are different brands.

Ah then just swap the matching ones onto the front
Be grand like.

Sheep Shagger

Thanks for the comments guys, couldn't get in to the dealer before we went away on holiday.

Went in yesterday morning, they say they are going to sort it out with new tyres (although couldn't do it on the spot), will post another update once its sorted (hopefully this week).

Neilw

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

Thanks for the comments guys, couldn't get in to the dealer before we went away on holiday.

Went in yesterday morning, they say they are going to sort it out with new tyres (although couldn't do it on the spot), will post another update once its sorted (hopefully this week).

Good result provided they don't fit cheap Chinese ditchfinders.

Sheep Shagger

Got a new front tyre from the dealer so that now matches.

So in summary - two different brands used overall but matching on the front and matching on the back (if that makes sense).

Thanks for the advice/feedback