"Need new tyres"

Maureen took her Toyota Yaris to the local Shell Service Centre for a 40,000Km service.

Half an hour later a call from the mechanic:

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Need 4 new tyres, wheel alignment, wheel balancing - tyres are 'shot' and must be replaced today.
Also battery failed 'stress' test and must be replaced as a matter of urgency.

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All up would be about $600.00.

Just checked tyres all have 3 -4 mm tread depth - Australian minimum is 1.5 - 2 mm depending on which tyre manufacturer you ask. There is no evidence of uneven wear pattern which would indicate that that an alignment and wheel balancing is required. The old DIY test has always been that the depth should be the thickness of a match .

Similarly there is no evidence to suggest that the battery is weak when starting the engine.

Checked all tyres with a match, turned the key and listened to the starter - no slowing down of the starter motor suggesting that the battery was stressing.

2 minutes checking saved $600.00!!

Bob

Time for a new mechanic I say.

OK, tyres.

Here, tyres are sold with 9 to 12 mm of tread depth. Usually it is the pick up truck tyres that are 12 mm while the things we call SUV and sedans have the 9 mm tread depth.

That said, 3 to 4 mm is conditionally OK if it is 3 to 4 mm across the entire tread. Usually I measure three places across the tread for an accurate depth reading. This also tells you if the tyres are inflated correctly and if you need an alignment. If you don't have a tyre tread depth gauge, your vernier caliper from the shop with a depth rod will suffice. Also one of those 155 mm (Six inch) machinist's rule with a sliding pocket clip can be used to measure tread depth.

If you are in an area with little or no rain, 3 to 4 mm should not be an issue. If you are driving in an area with a rainy season or just a normally rainy climate, my advice would be replace the tyres soon, very soon.

While the $A and the $US are not exactly equal the $400 price seems to be a bit on the cheap to me. About the only part of a vehicle that is more important than the tyres is the brakes. Remember that tyres are your only connection to the roadway. Not knowing the vehicle, driving conditions, driver or annual distance driven, I would prefer $500 for a set of tyres.

If there are tyre only retail stores near by, ask friends and neighbors for recommendations. You're looking for a tyre store where you could send SWMBO with the guidance, "Go get a set of good tyres for your vehicle." If you have a Costco near by, they are a good honest place to go to for tyres.

Under South Australian law 1.5 mm unless there are wear indicators.

https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/transpo...eels-and-tyres

Most likely the same in other states.

John

Tyres for the Yaris would normally be around the $100 mark at a discount tyre dealer. There is no uneven wear across the the entire treadwhich would suggest under / over inflation or misalignment. Brake pads were replaced 6 months ago, so I am very comfortable with her driving the car in its current condition. The car is only used for suburban driving and she has only done 40,000Km in 5 years.

Have you asked the mechanic the obvious question?

That shouldn't be necessary - I doubt that there would be any point.

Batteries can go at any time. Just because they work in the morning, does't mean they will work in the afternoon.

With the tyres, my mechanic told me that 3 tyres on daughter's car were about six years old and should be replaced. Rubber perishes as it gets older regardless of its moving or not. They recon six years is a good time to change.
What does daughter do? A couple of weeks later she hits the kerb and takes out the side wall on the good tyre. Good old dad pays for four new tyres (which includes balancing) and a wheel alignment.

With your mechanic's attitude I would think he is looking for work. Time to find a new mechanic.

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Originally Posted by Oldgreybeard

That shouldn't be necessary - I doubt that there would be any point.

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So what's the point of bitching here? If a bloke pulled a stunt like that on me, I'd give him the opportunity to justify it.

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Originally Posted by Oldgreybeard

Maureen took her Toyota Yaris to the local Shell Service Centre for a 40,000Km service.

Half an hour later a call from the mechanic:

Need 4 new tyres, wheel alignment, wheel balancing - tyres are 'shot' and must be replaced today.

Also battery failed 'stress' test and must be replaced as a matter of urgency.

All up would be about $600.00.

Just checked tyres all have 3 -4 mm tread depth - Australian minimum is 1.5 - 2 mm depending on which tyre manufacturer you ask. There is no evidence of uneven wear pattern which would indicate that that an alignment and wheel balancing is required.

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an example of the "Pink tax" ?

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Originally Posted by Oldgreybeard

The car is only used for suburban driving and she has only done 40,000Km in 5 years.

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Your wife drives about as much as mine. We replaced the tyres on the Explorer after about 10 years.

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Originally Posted by Handyjack

Batteries can go at any time. Just because they work in the morning, does't mean they will work in the afternoon.

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So true! I used to keep a piece of solid copper wire under the seat of my motorcycle. I would use the wire to knock off any of the deterioration flakes of the battery. The battery was in a clear case so I could see the shorting flake.

Ask Dave, he knows all about tyres..:) Most tyres these days have a wear marker on them to indicate when they are due to be changed.

I'm not saying the mech is correct but if the wheel is out of balance you can have a tyre that looks fine all the way across but can be worn more further around the tyre. I always had to check in three spots(9 depth checks ea) on each tyre but that was for trucks.

I have no idea what sort of battery tester they use but it may have printed him a little piece of paper saying it should be replaced. As it has made it through Winter it will probably last until next Winter, if you start to see random fault codes on the dash it may be a dying battery but that is far more common is stupid Euro cars.

If shopping for tyres, make sure to check tyresales.com.au. You can pick from a large number of tyre fitters. Great if not in a hurry as the tyres you are after may come on sale. Happy customer.

Peter