Tyres and dealers.

[noselittle]

I bought a car 6 weeks ago and I've just taken it in for a safety check and all 4 tyres need replacing. Do I have any comeback with the dealer? The tread is all ok but they're all split and cracked around the outsides. I have a 3 month warranty but I dont think they cover tyres.

Its going to cost me over �250 to get them replaced. Not what I really wanted to have to do after spending 4 grand on a car.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

[NORMANTHEDOG]

take it to another garage/tyre shop and see what they say,dont just take their word for it.

[noselittle]

I did look at the tyres and they looked fine because of the deep treads. I didn't think the cracks would be a problem. The dealer certainly never mentioned anything about them.

[BillyNoMates]

Cracks can be an MOT failure now - as has been mentioned take it to another garage/tyre shop for a second opinion.

[Gef]

Have a look here.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_410.htm

I'm not saying your tyres are OK but I can see anything about cracks on this site.

In my opimion, so called safety checks are just a way for an unscrupulous garage to generate revenue.

If possible go to a local "friendly" garage recommended by friends or neighbours.

[Buenchico]

It's a criminal offence to sell an unroadworthy vehicle (except under circumstances which clearly don't apply here).

If you suffer a loss because of someone else's criminal actions, you have the right to seek redress, under civil law, through the courts. So, theoretically, you might have a claim against the dealer.

In practice, any civil action against the dealer is going to be difficult to pursue, partly because you would have to prove (based upon 'the balance of probabilities') that the vehicle was unroadworthy at the date of purchase. (The fact that it was unroadworthy 6 weeks later is not, in itself, proof of this).

It might be worth speaking to someone at your local Trading Standards Office, to see if they'll assist you in seeking some form of compensation, but I wouldn't hold out too much hope. (If you do want to contact Trading Standards, and you don't live within the boundaries of a 'unitary authority', you need to contact the county council, not the district council).

In situations like this, it's often better to apply pressure through an 'unofficial route'. I'm not recommending 'sending the boys round' but it's often amazing how quickly these sort of situations can be resolved if you get the local press involved ;-)

Chris

[Loosehead]

This is a classic case of "Caveat emptor" I'm afraid.