Single Tyre Repair or 4 New Tyres?

I had one slow deflating tyre and went to my local Beaurepairs to get it fixed.
The guy mentioned that although i have plenty of tread left, my tyres were too old (7 years) with some cracking so recommended replacing all tyres. He quoted me with a header for Dunlop super dealer, instead of Beaurepairs.
My first thought was he was a sales man trying to make a quick sale, but after a visit to Bob Jane was advised the same thing and also quoted me for four new tyres (buy 3 get one free) however was only $40 cheaper.

A quick google at stated that tyres should be changed between 5-10 years, or 65,000km. I've pretty much done that however was hoping to stretch it a bit further.

Question:
Do you think both companies are trying to make a sale and I should keep trying to find a place who can repair that single deflating tyre?

What's the ozbargain way of shopping for tyres? Tyroola are the cheapest at the moment for a Bridgestone, however after installation become way more expensive than Costco - who don't do wheel alignments.

Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • whats your car model/make/year?

    • Mazda 3, 2012 hatchback

  • +12

    my tyres were too old (7 years) with some cracking

    Time to replace them.

    7 years old and signs of cracking. Only going be a matter of time before you hit a pot hole and a tyre goes bang.

  • +3

    A quick google at stated that tyres should be changed between 5-10 years, or 65,000km

    Not all tyres get the same kms. I just replaced tyres on my Ford Ranger after 57,000kms. Some tyres will go longer, some will have a shorter life. There are some many factors its not easy to put a number of kms when you should replace tyres.

    • +1

      Obviously main factor is how much drifting you do

  • +3

    He quoted me with a header for Dunlop super dealer, instead of Beaurepairs.

    A lot of beaurepaires stores have been replaced by super Dunlop. My local has. Expect the store signage to change in the near future.

    who don't do wheel alignments.

    Do you need a wheel alignment? Sure, the dealer will upsell it but do you need one.

    hoping to stretch it a bit further.

    Yeah, nah, don't frig around with tyres.

    • +1

      But what if the tires have plenty of thread?

    • Thanks for your input!
      I'm not sure if i need a wheel alignment. I've only ever replaced my tyres once before and he was going on about how important it is to wheel align. Just assumed it was something you should do when you get new tyres.

  • +2

    Tyres don't have a use by date. They have a best before date.

    Get that tyre patched, but don't use it. Put it in the boot as the spare. And when you have the next flat put in on long enough to drive slowly to the tyre shop and buy new tyres then.

    • +2

      Could be good advice. Could be bad advice. We don't know what car op drives. Could be an AWD hatchback and this doesn't have a boot and will require 4 new tyres.

      • If the OP responds that its advice they can't follow because they don't have a spare, then it'll be "bad" advice.

        Me, I wouldn't do what I advised the OP because I'm an old enthusiast who drives an old enthusiasts car in an old enthusiast way. So I want good tyres on my car. In fact as a result of a flat on a set of tyres that are getting on, I'm planning a whole new set of Yokahama Advan 052s for it. Couldn't change the wheel to the spare, it was rattle gunned on, so I had to destroy a perfectly good tyre driving to somewhere that could get the wheel off for me.

        Decided that wouldn't happen to me again. Discovered you could get electric jacks, and rattle guns, powered off your car battery, so I could do it myself. Arrived. Doesn't fit under the car, does it. Silly me. I'd checked the height of the rear jacking point, and it hadn't occurred to me that the front ones are lower.

        • +1

          Will driving onto some slabs of timber solve the jacking point issue?

          • +1

            @sumyungguy: That's a great piece of lateral thinking. If you can't lower the jack, raise the car. Carry some wooden blocks in case they're needed. That's an OzBargain solution if ever I heard one. An OzBargain gold star for you.

            My immediate choice was to return the electric jack model I wrongly chose, and get it swapped for another model that is lower, under the suppliers stated "30 day no hassles return" policy on their web site. But they are hassling me saying they don't want me to return it, they want me to accept a partial payment to keep it. I don't want to be paid to keep something that doesn't do the job required, I want to have something that does.

            Your idea would allow me to get the partial payment, keep it, and be able to use it. Not that I'd do that. If I can use it I'm not entitled to be paid to keep it.

            Edit: now I think about it … another solution would be to deflate the diagonally opposite tyre so that corner of the car goes down, and the corner I want to change the wheel on goes up the small amount needed. We're only talking about 7mm. Nah, I think your slabs of timber idea is better. One up against the front of the front and rear wheels on that side, then drive up onto them.

            • @GordonD: Most people with lowered cars are very familiar with this one simple trick.

              • @MS Paint: Well, that'd be why I've never heard of it. I don't have an artificially low car, I have one that's naturally low.

  • +5

    ..however was hoping to stretch it a bit further.

    I suspect that if you fix this single tyre puncture now, you won't even think about your tyres again until the "next" incident involving your tyres. That next incident could be another puncture or it could be a catastrophic failure of a tyre that could cause a bad "accident".

    It's fresh on your mind now, so you might as well make it a priority to replace them all for safety's sake.

    • Yes very true. Thanks for your thoughts

  • Is this even a question worth asking? Signs of cracking mean need replacing.

  • +2

    The OzBargain way of shopping for tyres is waiting for a 50% off Pirelli @ Mycar deal

    • True.. christmas is only 6 months away! HODL!!

  • There is no way I would replace a tire until the tread depth was at the legal minimum. Just fix the puncture and off you go.

    • If you drive the a car all the time, this would likely be good advice. If it is a car that doesn’t get used often and parked in the sun a lot then the tyres will start cracking before the tread depth is at the legal minimum.
      “Fix the puncture and off you go” without even seeing the tyres? Makes sense because you won’t even know if the op dies in a crash so why care.

  • slow deflating tyre

    my tyres were too old (7 years) with some cracking so recommended replacing all tyres.

    tyres should be changed between 5-10 years, or 65,000km. I've pretty much done that

    never skimp on tyres

  • True story
    Spent $80000 on a second hand RV
    Dealer told me he put new tyres all the way round - 6 tyres and a spare
    Within twelve months, two major blow outs. It was the second someone told me the tyres were 8 years old
    Could have died in both accidents… very scary

    Never skimp on tyres

    Never believe used car salesmen

    • +1

      There is a date of manufacture code embossed into the sidewalls of tyres. Might be handy next time a salesman tries to bulltish you.

      • +1

        Thank you! I've been told I need to change my back two but wasn't sure how long my front will last. Checked it and its 3 years apart

  • But two new front tyres, put the best best off the older tyres on the back and the next best in the boot, if you have a worn out spare. Toss the other tyre.
    Or if your spare is still new, but one new tyre and put them both on the front, then rotate the older ones into the back wheels.
    That's the advice i was given when i had a similar situation.

  • Replace them now or wait til the tread fails on the highway and wipe out.

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