Counterfeit Tyres?

MrMusician18

That time of year has rolled around for me and a new set of tyres is needed. I normally buy continental premium contacts and get them online and take them to a fitter. Last time I was with him he told me I was mad to do it that way, that he could supply the same fitted for €30 less per corner. I paid 170+20 fitting.

I'm just wondering if such a price is suspiciously low? I know counterfeit tyres exist but are they a problem here? The last time I rang around local places none could come close to the online price.

hoodie6029

I’m sure there’s a serial number or other identifier on the sidewall to verify it’s a genuine tyre.

As a regular customer, I’m sure he just did you a deal to keep your business and encourage good word of mouth.

Neilw

I’ve never bought tyres online, I have always found what I was looking for as cheap if not cheaper locally than online.

kirving

You'd want a serious operation to be counterfeiting tyres. Plenty of cowboy outlets IMO, but the product is bulky, moulds cost a fortune, and supply chains are well established and difficult to break into the market without huge backing I would have thought.

I've struggled to find a decent tyre fitter myself, but I imagine he just gave you a deal / didn't charge VAT / had tyres ordered for someone who didn't collect / had a cheaper source / bulk discount.

Sam Russell

Is this a case of 'If only you had come to me, I could have supplied you for €20 a corner cheaper - you will know better next time' when he knows that your business is already done for now, but next time - well ......

You do you pricing before you buy, not after. That just leads to regret with no upside.

MrMusician18

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120530861#Comment_120530861

That's pretty much the way the conversation went the last time I was in with him. With my milage it's no more than an annual visit these days and, in the 5 or so years I've been going to him he's never let on that he's recognised me as a repeat customer. His operation is small, but always busy when ever I was there.

Admittedly it's been a while since I've shopped around for tyres as it's an absolute pain. I like continental for their wear and grip balance on my car, but any time I have went looking it's "would you consider this longli, triangle or other brands?" Sticking to what I want usually resulted in a €230+ quote from the places I called. That's why I was a bit taken by the price offered, in a too good to be true way.

Seemingly counterfeiting is a thing and in the EU it's estimated that it has 7.5% of the tyre market, batteries is even worse.

So the question is have people found the local fitters supply and fit to be competitive with online. Seems that a few here have anyway.

zg3409

Like anything shop around online first, get x few quotes and compare specs. Ring ahead tyre places for best deals and haggle. Often they can order in anything but don't want to do so.

Best value I got was a tyre thread depth gauge that helps me to decide to rotate tyres and order replacements with plenty of time.

I have never heard of counterfeit tyres but I know knock offs in general can appear as good as genuine with experts struggling to tell the difference. Sometimes knock offs can be mixed with genuine stock and those handling the good have no idea. Try buy from genuine larger websites or established local businesses.

monkeybutter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058294131/counterfeit-tyres

so did you actually get a quote from him this year?

is it cheaper