Tyres - a headache!

[mat_fenwick]

Not ANOTHER thread on which tyres to go for...I've made my decision and am happy wit that but when it comes to actually buying them it's a struggle. The first place I try is £5 a tyre cheaper than anywhere else on the web, and advertise them as being in stock. Nope, not in stock and can't get any either, but they can offer me a earlier version of the same tyre for the same price. Except that the ratings, and all the reviews I read suggest that the later version was a big improvement.

Next cheapest place was Pneus Online. I'd read that they often request proof of address after ordering, and sure enough they did, despite paying through Paypal with my registered address. This is where things started to get awkward. They require:

an electricity, water, landline or internet bill sent to your name and address and dated less than 3 months ago.
We cannot accept the following documents:
- mobile phone bills.

which I just don't have! Both electricity & water are both in Lana's name, I don't pay anything for the broadband as it's 'free' with my mobile phone package, and the landline bill is done online. I asked if I could send a bank statement, and this is the reply I got this morning!

Thank you for your message, but unfortunately we require only one of the billing address proofs that have been mentioned in our first e-mail. Under these circumstances, we will have to cancel your order. You will be informed by our accountancy within the next 48 hours, when the reimbursement is done. We apologize for the inconvenience.

I'm asking myself whether it's really worth it, just to save £25...

[Stinkwheel]

they need a utility bill copy for proof of address???

What the Flip???

That sounds like a sure fire way to set yourself up for identity theft right?

I mean, why do they need proof of address? youve placed the order, paid for it and just want it delivered, its not like you are entering into any sort of credit agreement or anything??

[Thread Bear]

Camskill up in Cumbria seem to be often the cheapest source of tyres direct for you to fit.

Time was Michealdever Tyres were a great source in the south but they seem no cheaper than anyone else now.


Id proof on delivery? If payment by card etc they are covered, surely. Sounds like they need a new delivery company!

[mat_fenwick]

It does sound somewhat suspicious, but after looking on a few forums is seems like this is fairly common, and people have received the tyres OK. Camskill I have used before, but unfortunately don't do the tyres I want (maybe I should stop being so picky?) Searching continues...

[mat_fenwick]

Searching now ended (I think). Mytyres.co.uk (who I've been happy with before) have dropped the price £6 a tyres since last week making them within a few pence of Pneus Online. Will order them and see how the saga continues...

[Tinkley]

I notice Value tyres have a fuel voucher if you buy 2 Michelins worth £15 at the moment, ie 2 X 165x70 R14 T size. If I got it right they were marginally cheaper too.

[Philip Chidlow]

Are these Cold Weather tyres you're buying? I was told yesterday the 'rush' is about to begin with what some reckon will be a boom year for winter tyres as some companies have decided to fit their fleets with them. Tesco's fleet of Home Shopping delivery vans are one of them (apparently they use cold weather (Riken) tyres all the time now)...

I've just ordered four (Michelin made) Riken Snowtime tyres (175/65/14) and fitted, the cost is a shade over £200. I thought, not bad (for ATS).

[mat_fenwick]

Are these Cold Weather tyres you're buying?

Nope! I'm bucking the trend by buying summer tyres, albeit ones with a good wet weather rating. These in fact. If you look at the ratings for the other tyres in my size, these seem to have the best for that price - a C and a B. Whether wear resistance is the trade off I don't know...

My logic for summer tyres is that I'll soon be back in the Focus for most of the winter commuting, leaving the BX insured on its classic policy so I can still use it now and again. I got winter tyres for that in March earlier (just before I took it off the road and switched to the BX!) which was met with raised eyebrows when I got them fitted. A couple of weeks later we had a foot of snow - did I feel smug?

[citsncycles]

I think companies that insist on a utility bill etc. for identify before order processing will find they are driving themselves out of business - all my various providers, plus my bank are now busy pushing for on line billing, with some of them even talking of charging for postal bills!

I'm lucky that I have an independant tyre place a few miles up the road that will sort everything except for the motorbikes. Because they aren't a franchise they have contacts wil most of the big wholesalers and importers, and when they know I can get a better deal for the tyres myself they tell me! they're also quite happy to fit 2nd hand tyres, and they're honest about how long they're expected to last. Whether this what they do generally, or it's because they know I'm friends with the local Citroen specialist, who gets all their tyre work done there, I don't know.

[ghaddon1701]

BMTR in Birmingham. 4x 185/60 -14 Continental Eco Contact 5 £60 each fitted balanced etc.

[mat_fenwick]

I used to to use two independent places a lot, but now circumstances have changed one of them is a 30 mile drive to get to, and the other I won't use on principle. I asked him to give me a price for fitting on some tyres I would supply, and I said to cover the profit he'd lose out on by not supplying them in the first place. He gave me a price (verbally) which was fair, although gave me a lecture how he could get tyres cheaper (unknown make - in his opinion all tyres are the same). When it came to paying for them though, he wanted extra and denied the price he'd given to me! And pointed out how he was doing me a favour by fitting tyres I supplied, as I was "doing him out of business".

As it happens, I've found a local guy who is a mobile tyre fitter - I give him a good deal on servicing his car and van, and he fits/balances them for free

BMTR in Birmingham. 4x 185/60 -14 Continental Eco Contact 5 £60 each fitted balanced etc.

Bit far for me to go though Plus I can't see them listed in 195 width, but can get the 185s delivered for under £51 each.

[Dollywobbler]

Quite ridiculous. I've also found Camskill very good on price. So much so that I ordered two tyres for my Discovery from them. Some folk were wondering why I binned the 235s and fitted 205s instead. One, I prefer the look of (correct for spec) narrow rubber and two, hopefully there will be benefits in the snow! (they're mud and snow rather than full on winter tyres. I'm hoping the four-wheel drive will negate that disadvantage!).

[citsncycles]

Wider tyres aren't necessarily an advantage anyway - they're great for grip when you can see the roads, or for spreading the weight of the vehicle on soft ground, but on snowy roads you want a tyre that'll cut through to the road, not skate about on top.

Once I've got it on the road it'll be interesting to compare the 4x4 on it's (comparatively) wider tyres to Timex on narrower ones!

[Stinkwheel]

Wider tyres aren't necessarily an advantage anyway - they're great for grip when you can see the roads, or for spreading the weight of the vehicle on soft ground, but on snowy roads you want a tyre that'll cut through to the road, not skate about on top.

Once I've got it on the road it'll be interesting to compare the 4x4 on it's (comparatively) wider tyres to Timex on narrower ones!

Totally correct Mike.

My last 16v (F644SJT where are you now?) was awful on snow but the 14 qith its 165's is pretty good despite its lack of torque.

[Tinkley]

Agreed, narrower tyres are better in snow and deep water. Hence with a 100/90 X 18 and 110/90 X 18 I was still able to drive/ride my old Morini 3 1/2 through London when the cars were going nowhere!
Colleague took 3.5 hrs to go from Tower Bridge to Muswell Hill, I took 1.25 hrs to go from Tower Bridge to Walton on Thames.... Nice to have foot brakes too...