Cuts to Tyres..?

[roundyuk]

I've never had so many cuts to my tyres than in the last two years.....

Both times I've been in for service has resulted in a tyre (and now two) need replacing for deep cuts to the tread.

Guy sat in the waiting area also got the same "health check" report on his car.

Is there more crap on the roads these days, are the tyres getting a bit "weaker" or is there something fishy going on....

[Dippydog]

Have you actually seen these cuts yourself or just gone on the "health check" report? Must say I've never yet had cuts in my tyres.

[Zebster]

If you didn't notice these cuts yourself then they must have been fairly trivial.

[Ian21401]

Were you shown these cuts? I would have wanted to see them before committing to new tyres at dealer prices. Our daughter’s XC70 is main dealer serviced. ( was Mill but now Stoneacre ). Following the “health check” she received an email detailing the suggested “repairs” total cost in excess of £3,000 for non essential and not safety orientated “repairs”.

[Whyman]

Never had a cut in a tyre, you are probably right to be suspicious.

[DaveNP]

I'd have to agree, big question is who is doing these 'health checks'?
I took my car to my local independent tyre & exhaust place yesterday for an exhaust, if he'd come out to where I was sitting in the sun to tell me I needed a tyre I wouldn't have bothered to walk into the workshop as I know him and trust his business ethics, but at the same time I was chatting with other customers and two of the four had stories of national chains trying to rip them off for unnecessary work.
Tempting fate, with three cars in the family none of us has needed repairs or replacement for cuts or punctures since well before covid. That's tempting fate to say it as I will need to go to the council tip soon and I find punctures after a visit there

[TeamG]

That’s the key - find a place that you build trust with over the years. They know not to rip you off and you know to keep coming back.

The local garage here is owned by a guy my father went to school with in the early 60’s. He’s in his 70s now, but still does my MOTs (I service and generally maintain myself), but knows that when one of them needs real work that he’ll get it (he’s done one clutch for me in 27 years). Everyone here goes there and he’s busy enough without generating work, based on reputation that goes back a long way.

[volvo always]

I bought a 2015 Auris from main dealer and before I bought looked up MOT history and advisory for cut/nick, bit of rubber missing in sidewall on NSF.

Before buying asked if they would replace it to be told no, as no cords shown and road legal. 12 months later they issued an advisory for tyre wear/perished!

Had asked about replacing all 4 tyres months before MOT, as in for recall work and told get your moneys worth. Fronts 2.5-3mm and rears 3.5-4mm

Bit annoying to get a tyre advisory in MOT history as looks as if I don't maintain it! Now has 4 new Goodyear efficient grips performance 2 all round.

James

[roundyuk]

Was interesting as when I questioned it they then decided to do the health check video, which wasn't a full one, only the rear tyres and brakes...

I saw the tech show the service guy, the tool he had to show them was certainly not blunt IMHO - I suspect there is a bit of "poking around" going on with trivial cuts in the rubber.

I had the one side replaced as it actually has a slow puncture I think (about 1 psi a day) and I'll never be able to track it down - plus the video did show the large cut. Right hand side was very trivial IMHO, no way you'd see the cords.

Was funny though, they marked the front pads as 30% worn, replaced them last week :-D

....and the rears at 95% worn, waaaay more left than that, could see it in the video!!

[TeamG]

Did they show them using a set of brake pad gauges in the video? The best way to accurately measure pad thickness and calculate percentage worn (rather than a wild guess).