Tyre Quesiton

[Marsden1002]

Hi All.

Had my 55 reg Leon 1.9 tdi Stylance 2 weeks, and on saturday i was going to london to watch footie, and just before i set off i noticed a small bulge in the front passenger tyre sidewall, which must of been 10mm outwards, and was pulling the tread slighlty down the sidewall.

Anyway went to ATS and they said change it now otherwise it will blow out very shortly. So changed it for a michelin as they had no bridgestones in, and on further inspection the sidewall has no branding on it, due to either kerbing or running on a flat tyre (so the sidewall is rough).

Anyway, ATS said they would adivse a tyre change if the tyre was this badly damaged on the sidewall so went along to Lookers @ Stockport today, and the guy said it would pass an mot, and i could of hit a pot hole or something, but would have a word with his boss (felt like he was being a total t**t with me, as im only 19 and spent £11500 on a car).


So, what do you think i should do, should the car been sold with all the sidewall all rough and with no branding and could this weaken the tyre (as i have a 10 month old little one im a little worried)

Thanks for your comments.

 

[the old man]

tyre sidewall damage will fail an MOT. the problem you have is proving the damage was there before, do you have any photos from adverts etc that may show the damage prior to the car being sold and driven off by you.
Of course it is illegal to sell a car that is unroadworthy and this in my opinion would be.
I suggest that you dont waste time and get the tyre replaced, ask the tyre shed if you can keep the old tyre and use it as evidence to try and get some recompense. A saturday afternoon with loads of customers about is always a great time to complain to a garage.

 

[cardaft]

You have a bit of a problem to prove that it was like that before you got it.

But as a good will gesture from you having just bought the car from the dealer?? they should atleast pay halfs IMO. And ideally you want two tyres to keep things even, its not usually a good idea to replace one, especially on the driven axel.

Let it be a lesson to check tyres carefully before you buy a car.

 

[Marsden1002]

The tyre was changed as soon as i noticed the bulge.

I couldnt of caused the full writing off the sidewall to disapear in 2 weeks, as i am so carefull with the car.

And it disgusts me to even say have i kerbed or driven down pot holes - i wouldnt even dream of doing that to a £11500 car @ 19. I would rather hit a dog that go down a pot hole!!!!


So, if the writing has gone its a no go on the tyre?? Seat have the tyre and i have told them it best not go missing either. So change the front two to Michelins then? Why is this?

 

[cardaft]

The tyre was changed as soon as i noticed the bulge.

I couldnt of caused the full writing off the sidewall to disapear in 2 weeks, as i am so carefull with the car.

And it disgusts me to even say have i kerbed or driven down pot holes - i wouldnt even dream of doing that to a £11500 car @ 19. I would rather hit a dog that go down a pot hole!!!!


So, if the writing has gone its a no go on the tyre?? Seat have the tyre and i have told them it best not go missing either. So change the front two to Michelins then? Why is this?

No you couldnt of caused it in two weeks really, was the inside of the tyre ok? i dont mean the acual inside i mean the sidewall that faces under the car, did that still have writing on it?

If its a serial curber thats had the car before you i would expect other tyres to show wear on the side walls too.

When i got my arosa the front tyre was bald on the sidewall, the writing wasnt visable. But i just used the tyre until it was worn out and replaced all 4.

So its not really that the lack of writing that makes the tyre illegal its the weakness that the buldge causes. Although scrubbing curbs so often does remove layers of rubber from the sidewall making it weaker to a small extent.

Well if i was you i would replace both tyres on the front, backs arnt as important, so maybe swap the front wheels to the back and vice versa. If you dont want to buy a matching tyre for your new one. Aslong as the back two tyres are evenly worn and are of the same make.

You ideally need two tyres the same brand and tread depth on the front (or driven axel) as different makes offer different grip levels and wear differently. Its also best to have the two front tyres the same depth as it means both fronts are then traveling at the same speed, if ones is more worn it will trabvel faster in a straight line.

 

[Marsden1002]

Thanks

Anyway i have phone 4 Seat Dealers and explained that the writing is no existant on the front tyre, and they have asvised that the tyre is changed for safety reasons.

Yes, writing is visable on the 'inside' of the tyre, just not the outside, and its only the front one for some reason.

Dont really want to shell out for another new front tyre, as the drivers has loads of tread, but i would prefer to have another a michelin on the front, as the car seams to understear quite a little for some reason, maybe the fact the new one hasnt worn in yet.

 

[Who. Me?]

Whenever I trade in a car, the dealers always knock money off if there are any part-worn tyres and I allow for that when I'm doing my calculations.

Reputable dealers won't put cars on their forecourts with worn tyres. They just won't sell.

Any decent dealer would have had put brand new tyres on that car before you drove it away.

 

[cardaft]

Thanks

Anyway i have phone 4 Seat Dealers and explained that the writing is no existant on the front tyre, and they have asvised that the tyre is changed for safety reasons.

Yes, writing is visable on the 'inside' of the tyre, just not the outside, and its only the front one for some reason.

Dont really want to shell out for another new front tyre, as the drivers has loads of tread, but i would prefer to have another a michelin on the front, as the car seams to understear quite a little for some reason, maybe the fact the new one hasnt worn in yet.

Oh right, well if theres writing on the inside then its not been run flat, its just continous bad parking!

If you dont want to buy another tyre then put the front wheels to the back and the backs to the front if the backs have matching tyres of make and tread.

THe understeer could be just that the tyre hasnt beded in yet yes. Michelins are usually very good.

I had a new leon loan car, it was a 1.6 stylance, it had mich energys right round, and it would NOT lose grip!..


EDIT: i wish i could have had a new leon TDi at 19 lol, i only have an Arosa TDi at 20 lol.

 

[Marsden1002]

Yes it has one mich energy and i think 3 bridgestones.

I must say, the tyres from day one do feel w**k, ie it feels like the car is going to understeer on a motorway with a slight corner ie m67 near glossop.

Im going to try and get the dealer to swap the front bridgestone to a mich, and are the bridgestones any good that come with the car???


If i can eventully get the dealer to change the tyre, im going to keep the bridgestone anyway and buy a wheel from somewhere, as i only have the crappy tyre inflator kit, which is no good if something major happens to the tyre!!!

 

[Marsden1002]

EDIT* When i say understeer it feels more like a drift (where the back feels like its coming around)

Also, it is having an intercooler pipe done due to black smoke at low revs, despite being used on motorways (2000 miles in 2 weeks - unimpressed with myself!!)

 

[cardaft]

Yes it has one mich energy and i think 3 bridgestones.

I must say, the tyres from day one do feel w**k, ie it feels like the car is going to understeer on a motorway with a slight corner ie m67 near glossop.

Im going to try and get the dealer to swap the front bridgestone to a mich, and are the bridgestones any good that come with the car???


If i can eventully get the dealer to change the tyre, im going to keep the bridgestone anyway and buy a wheel from somewhere, as i only have the crappy tyre inflator kit, which is no good if something major happens to the tyre!!!

EDIT* When i say understeer it feels more like a drift (where the back feels like its coming around)

Also, it is having an intercooler pipe done due to black smoke at low revs, despite being used on motorways (2000 miles in 2 weeks - unimpressed with myself!!)

Have you checked your tyre pressures? Try putting a few more PSI in and seeing if it makes a difference.

 

[Marsden1002]

Yeah ill Check that aswell.

Infact ill check that before i ring the stealers wed, and if they are underinflated ill be raising that point with them aswell.

Lets just hope i get somewhere, and what are the bridgestones grip levels like aswell?

 

[cardaft]

Did your dealer help you out with this?

As for the bridgestones, im not sure, i dont think ive ever driven a car with bridgestone tyres!!