In a quandary - help please

backseateducation

backseateducation

Club Moderator
Feb 1, 2014
15,678
16,587
Cornwall
Bear with me - this is a complicated one.

So the MOT man says my o/s rear and both front tyres are near the limit on their inside edges. The other one is virtually new.

Therefore I was going to book the car in for three 225/50s, which would mean the front and rear tyres would be the same all round. This including four wheel alignment will cost me approx £230.

Four 215s, as fitted originally, would be £320 fitted plus alignment.

But now I'm thinking should I buy some cheap secondhand 17"s instead? Hopefully with tyres usable for a few months?

But then I've still got the cost of the alignment, and if I can't find anything locally I've got to add the petrol cost to go and fetch them.

Sorry folks - maybe I'm thinking too much:giggle:
 
No, I think you're wise for thinking it through like that. And you're right - £200-250 will usually buy you a set of used alloys with decent tyres that you can run around on for a good few months depending on what you want.

I joked about you starting the modding now that you've got a clean ticket, but this might be the time to start.

The only question is, can you find the ones you want now that you need them?

:edit: The other question is, why is your car wearing tyres like that? Is she squatting? Are your struts tired? I think you might want to look at that as well. I have a full set here that came off Darren's car which are...passable. So if you need a quick fix, let me know and they're yours. Again, I don't want anything for them.
 
Thanks mate.
I think it's just down to people not being able to get the original size over the years, and thinking it should have wider tyres on the rear? I guess if one owner did it and the next ones weren't interested or mechanically minded they may have just followed suit.
 
They used to be my wheels. Cosmetically not the best and they are without centre caps, but the tyres all have 5mm plus tread on them.
 
I do indeed, and £50 takes them, cosmetically they are not great, and the tyre fitting clowns put balance weights on the outer rim, but the rubber has plenty of meat! I would suggest pull the rubber off them and put them on your own rims and either scrap the alloys (may get you a few quid back) or refurb them and shed with winter tyres as spares!

All in all £50 isnt bad in my opinion ;-)
 
I'd say your best option and by far the cheapest too, is to buy Daves stock alloys with usable tyres for the time being,

But the 225-50 tyres fitted are an acceptable variation to the 215's as they are not only cheaper, but are more readily available, and these are what was on frosty when i got her, and what i've keep now i've replaced them with new tyres, you just have to watch the pressures are a little higher than the 215's

It does sound like your tracking is out, but then cars with power steering always seem to wear the insides of the tread more.
 
5y4a7y2a.jpg
as you can see plenty of meat in them, and the tyres fitted are all matching and are 205/50/16
 
Thanks Dave I appreciate your help.
It's not solely a question of the money - I was quite happy to pay out for new ones but then thought maybe I could get some secondhand 17"s with worthwhile tyres for £200 - 250. I found some Mondeo Ghia ones but of course they were bl**dy 5 stud Mk3s:cautious:

Let me have a bit more of a think if you're not desperate to shift them. I'm grateful to you.:D

- - - Updated - - -

Dave scratch that - I'll take you up on your kind offer.
I'm happy to pop up at a time to suit you.:)
 
I would be inclined to get the alignment issue sorted first, sounds like something is desperately wrong and you don't want to fork out on new wheels and then find that the whole car needs some serious work.

Others may differ in their opinions however...
 
backseateducation said:
Bear with me - this is a complicated one.

So the MOT man says my o/s rear and both front tyres are near the limit on their inside edges. The other one is virtually new.

Therefore I was going to book the car in for three 225/50s, which would mean the front and rear tyres would be the same all round. This including four wheel alignment will cost me approx £230.

Four 215s, as fitted originally, would be £320 fitted plus alignment.

But now I'm thinking should I buy some cheap secondhand 17"s instead? Hopefully with tyres usable for a few months?

But then I've still got the cost of the alignment, and if I can't find anything locally I've got to add the petrol cost to go and fetch them.

Sorry folks - maybe I'm thinking too much:giggle:
Click to expand...

I have a set of OEMS you could have FOC mate with tyres (non standard size, 2x 195/55 and 2x 205/50)
 
Thanks for your help guys, it's very much appreciated.
I'm going to get Dave to freight them down to me, once I've swapped them over I'll book the car in for a full laser alignment.
 
Check your bushes before paying for an alignment mate. No point in paying them to try to set the geometry up if the bushes let the wishbones wander around as it'll achieve nothing but still cost you.
 
Jamie is right, you need a thorough investigation of what's killed the old tyres before messing about fitting new ones, regardless of what good value they are.

This car needs every joint and bush testing first!
 
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