sid Posted January 7, 2010 Share Posted January 7, 2010 [quote user="Polly"]In an idle moment waiting for a human being to come on to the EDF phone line I clicked into 123pneus.com to see whether we should buy our next tyres there. the verdict is NO. For the 6 tyres bought in recent months they would have been only 4-10 euros each cheaper, depending on the tyre, from 123pneus than from our friendly local tyre specialist. We'll stick with the lads along the road : for good smiling service, free fitting, no charge for mending simple punctures and no hassle![/quote]I'm surprised Polly, are you comparing exactly like for like? For my purchases I found the online prices about 2/3 cost, plus there is a greater selection if you don't want to buy Pirelli or Michelin. I wouldn't be tempted by a 4€ euro saving either. I understand your wish to use the local guy though, and that's good!Rather annoyingly I found that my car was fitted with W-rated tyres from new, but the manufacturers specification is for V. I didn't realise this until my most recent purchase was delivered to the fitter. He queried it immediately and checked with Renault. For 5 years I've been buying pairs of tyres to match the originals! So, there's another saving to made next time by buying the correct ones. Worth checking.EDIT I forgot to say that I now use a local tyre specialist who matches or beats pneus-online, so I get the best of both worlds!! Fitting is around 18 euros per wheel (alloys).Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polly Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Yes Sid, I may be a woman but I do know one tyre from another. I can also change a wheel all by myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 Phew, that comes as a relief, Polly! With a name like that I woudn't give a bloke much credence for anything! [:)]I can boil an egg, but it doesn't mean I'm a cookery expert. [;-)]Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polly Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I know what a trunnion is too.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 [quote user="Polly"]It's all very well ordering tyres over the internet or buying them on a UK trip when you are just 'planning' to replace them, but when some oik(s) slash your tyres you need replacements in a hurry and then you will be glad you made friends with your local supplier.[/quote]Blimey, Polly, how often does this happen? [:-))] I've been driving cars over 40 years, 46 if you count my motorcycle test, and never had my tyres slashed, even working in some of the grottiest parts of Manchester and Liverpool, so I wouldn't give a local guy my tyre business just on that off-chance! Do you really believe that buying a pair of tyres from your local supplier once every couple of years, makes you some sort of preferential customer? I don't think so.In the current financial climate it makes sense to shop around. Unfortunately we don't all live near your supplier, so the rest of us buy where we think we get the best value and service. The OP was only asking for advice and now he's had contradictory opinions so he's probably none the wiser! That's one of the downsides of a forum, sometimes you get the answer you need, sometimes it just clouds the issue.I'm pleased that you can change a wheel. I can boil an egg, but it doesn't make me a cookery expert.Bon routeSid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 [quote user="Polly"]I know what a trunnion is too....[/quote]Isn't that someting you get on your toe? [:)] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thebiga Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 If you earn your income in Euros then tyres in France should be not so expensive, But if you earn you money in Sterling then buying tyres in France I have found a complete rip off! Anyone had the same thing that you have to go in and buy one tyre and they will only sell in pairs?They turn the law to what they think is best for them. Yes a pair the same is always going to be the best but in everyday driving you would never find any change in not having a matching pair. They like to twist the law which goes back to the days of crossply & radial when you had to have the same on either axal so they always make you have a pair. What happens when you have a brand new spare and they no longer make that pattern anymore! You will always have a brand new spare thats what. The only way to possibly get around this would be to take in one wheel and say you want one tyre to fit it but they would then probably look at whats on the wheel and try and make you have the same. I say if you get the chance to buy in the uk on a trip back then buy in the uk, You will probably save a bit of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjamin Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 It happens in the UK as well.At HiQ (see earlier post) the receptionist said that the tyre fitter had reported that the wear pattern on my tyres indicated that there could be a problem with the tracking. The inspection would be free.When I asked how much it would be if they had to do anything £30 was the answer. Now I'm no mechanic but at 64.000 kilometres on those tyres and never feeling anything through the steering wheel guess what my answer was. [:@] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polly Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 [quote user="sid"][quote user="Polly"]It's all very well ordering tyres over the internet or buying them on a UK trip when you are just 'planning' to replace them, but when some oik(s) slash your tyres you need replacements in a hurry and then you will be glad you made friends with your local supplier.[/quote]Blimey, Polly, how often does this happen? [:-))] I've been driving cars over 40 years, 46 if you count my motorcycle test, and never had my tyres slashed, even working in some of the grottiest parts of Manchester and Liverpool, so I wouldn't give a local guy my tyre business just on that off-chance! Do you really believe that buying a pair of tyres from your local supplier once every couple of years, makes you some sort of preferential customer? I don't think so.Sid[/quote]Tyre slashing has only happened to me once, but the b**t**ds did TWO tyres. I was parked on a friend's driveway, alongside a quiet footpath-cycleway down here in deepest quietest rural SW France. I did wonder if they wanted to do the trick of mugging me for my money, which would have been a laugh as I never take any with me when dogwalking, or if they wanted to see me have to walk home with the dogs (one of whom was only 3 months old and wouldn't have made it that far on his own paws). Anyway our friend lent me his van so I could get the hounds home whilst he kindly started to change one wheel for the spare. I dug another one out of our garage. Different tread pattern but would do to get me home. The tyre lads said TWENTY-TWO cars had had tyres slashed a few nights earlier in the local town (based on those reported to the police). I was SO cross as I'd only bought five new tyres for that car a few thousand miles earlier. We have an idea which troublesome little oik did it but can't prove anything.As for buying 'a pair of tyres from your local supplier once every couple of years' Sid, you know nothing about my life or my need for tyres! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chancer Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 There definitely is a cartel effect practiced by all tyre fitting garagists, it is probably driven by the tyre companies and I think that the misinformation is just lapped up and passed on in a without question by the tyre sellers in a wholly "I am the specialist, I know my metier" French fashion.When pressed those that can recall the details rather than just "c'est le loi" will cite the control technique which does indeed impose that tyres on the same axle must be of the same construction (not type or manufacturer) and furthermore the rolling diameters must be within IIRC 8% of each other, this is tested on the brake rollers.I dont have the exact figure to hand but I once did the calculation based on an average tyre diameter and found that you would need to have one new tyre with 8mm of tread and one under the legal limit to be beyond the 8% (IIRC) tolerance.There is however a possibility that tyres from different manufacturers could start off with different nominal diameters.I discussed this with the chef of the CT centre that I use, my car at the time had 4 different tyres of differing wear, he got out the manual to show me that this was indeed no problem subject to the rolling diameter test (this was brought in following the advent of ABS and ASP systems) and confirmed that he had yet to see a vehicle fail the test with legal tyres of the same size.My dive doctor recently had snow tyres fitted to his new Peugeot (407?) and on Xmas eve he had an apparent blow out which wrecked the tyre, it turned out the valve had sheared, it was one of the new ones that transmit the tyre pressure, I have yet to see one and dont want to when I learnt that he had to have all 5 valves changed at a cost of €124 HT each plus labour/tyre fitting plus a new tyre at a couple of hundred euros.It appears that there is a recall on some vehicles with jantes alu but that these valves have to be changed every 5 years anyway as part of the servicing schedule before the bateries go flat [:P]I am sticking to an old car and scrapyard tyres and batteries, on my last trip to the UK it cost me £110 for four virtually new tyres in matching pairs with 6.5mm of tread and a practically brand new large capacity diesel battery.Or I could of course have bought one tyre valve [;-)]PS with the current exchange rate it doesnt matter whether you earn in euros or pounds, tyres are much cheaper in the UK, if you calculate it on an hours worked to buy the tyre basis then the savings are even greater for the Euro earners willing to travel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 [quote user="Polly"]As for buying 'a pair of tyres from your local supplier once every couple of years' Sid, you know nothing about my life or my need for tyres![/quote]Slashing! Don't tell me you upset someone else!Where did I say I know anything about your life, or that I even want to know?It was your recommendation to shop locally; unless the OP, or me, or anyone else for that matter, is going to buy tyres every week, then it's not going to affect your standing with a local supplier. He'll be more than pleased to repair a puncture or anything else so long as he gets paid. It's called "busines". Get real! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polly Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 Sid, just two points:I didn't upset anyone: the suspect I referred to has been found guilty of rather a lot of juvenile misdemeanours in the area.Secondly, as I said in an earlier post my tyre supplier fixes our punctures FOC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sid Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 Truce, Polly, OK? The OP has prbably got his tyres and is nearly ready for another set by now.Sid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyphilpott Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 lacote0 0 - I too am a big fan of blackcircles. I have always found them efficient and as cheap or (often) cheaper than anyone else and the garages they work with for the tyre fitting are also good. Quick delivery too. I decided to replace 2 tyres just before heading to France for Christmas and they were delivered to the garage who were to fit them the next day, I was notified of their arrival and fitted the same day.Just as well given the weather over Christmas!I drove to Provence the day before they closed the Chanel Tunnel and was followed down the autoroute by blizzards around 2 hours behind me. Result - one of the quickest journeys I have had for years!Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Un autre Gallois Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 Obviously for those of us receiving income in sterling the UK seems to be the current shoppers' paradise! Apart from M&S Outlets, purchasing tyres on the pre Christmas trip was an added pressie! Twelve months ago my BMW garage matched the price (as it always does!) of the price quoted by the local Point S for Bridgestone Turanza Run Flats; in the UK I paid £40 less for two tyres the week before Christmas. I had previously priced them on the internet for delivery in France, but unfortunately non of the approved/recommended fitting depots had indicated their ability/willingness to fit Rflats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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