Ferrari Approved Used - Tyre Age Question
Discussion
A mate of mine recently bought a 2010 458 from a main dealer in the UK. 6 month's down the line the car needed a service - the health check (video of the car on the ramp) established that three of the tyres on the car are perishing as they date back to 2010 (one was replaced when he bought the car). He argued that the dealership should have not sold him the car with the old tyres as if they are now perishing and being picked up as tyres dating back to 2010 as a finding on the health check the car should NOT have been sold to him like this.
Dealer says they had an independent inspection carried out by Pirelli and they advised to change one of the tyres (he is waiting to see the report). Dealer says Ferrari approved programme does not state the need to change tyres before sale relating to age but only tyre tread remaining.
Where does he stand - personally this is pretty appalling from one of the biggest F dealers in the UK IMHO!
Dealer says they had an independent inspection carried out by Pirelli and they advised to change one of the tyres (he is waiting to see the report). Dealer says Ferrari approved programme does not state the need to change tyres before sale relating to age but only tyre tread remaining.
Where does he stand - personally this is pretty appalling from one of the biggest F dealers in the UK IMHO!
Devil's Advocate here a bit...
When your friend bought the car 6 months ago he presumably knew/was happy with the price he paid, and that at the time it had the same tyres that are now a problem? Did he not think to look at the tyres before he bought the car and - if he were unhappy with the age of them - use it in negotiations?
Ferraris don't do an awful lot of mileage so it's not particularly unusual for them to be wearing the same tyres that they came out of the factory on, several years later.
Notwithstanding that I don't really consider tyres as "fair game" to complain to the dealer about 6 months down the line.. for one thing they are a consumable anyway, will wear faster or more aggressively depending on driving style, etc. They're also something that I would just factor in to the cost of running it, particularly on such an expensive car anyway (I changed all 4 of mine after they were just 5 years old, with plenty of tread left).
I'm also probably being a bit elitist in saying it but it's a £140k+ car.. is your mate really bent out of shape over having to fork out ~£800 (don't buy them direct from Ferrari) on tyres?
When your friend bought the car 6 months ago he presumably knew/was happy with the price he paid, and that at the time it had the same tyres that are now a problem? Did he not think to look at the tyres before he bought the car and - if he were unhappy with the age of them - use it in negotiations?
Ferraris don't do an awful lot of mileage so it's not particularly unusual for them to be wearing the same tyres that they came out of the factory on, several years later.
Notwithstanding that I don't really consider tyres as "fair game" to complain to the dealer about 6 months down the line.. for one thing they are a consumable anyway, will wear faster or more aggressively depending on driving style, etc. They're also something that I would just factor in to the cost of running it, particularly on such an expensive car anyway (I changed all 4 of mine after they were just 5 years old, with plenty of tread left).
I'm also probably being a bit elitist in saying it but it's a £140k+ car.. is your mate really bent out of shape over having to fork out ~£800 (don't buy them direct from Ferrari) on tyres?
I hear you loud and clear Durzel, £145k car, he can afford it so can afford tyres etc etc.....However to me if something is being flagged 6 month's (and 400 odd miles) down the line as being an issue in a health check then surely the car should not have been sold in this way? He looked at the tyres and they seemed to be fine when he bought the car - and to him they still look fine however if the dealer is suggesting they be replaced then why did they not replace them in the first place? It's not a matter of money it's a matter of principal. Yes the tyres are consumables but he's not tracked the car or done anything that would have changed the way the car left the showroom 400 miles back...
Funny I just read a very similar thread currently active on the Porsche forums on PH!
Funny I just read a very similar thread currently active on the Porsche forums on PH!
There's a couple of separate points here I feel..
Dealers will more than likely err on the side of caution when recommending replacing things. They may even recommend replacing things a long time before they would strictly need to be changed due to impending failure. There will be a number of their customers who put their cars in for service, etc and basically just tell the dealer to do whatever they think needs doing, handing them a blank cheque.
If the tyres haven't actually failed, your friend wouldn't need to change them. On a high performance car though, where the tyres are the only thing connecting it to the road, I would want to get the most enjoyment out of it when pushing on and feel safe.
That being said I sympathise with what you're saying simply because I firmly believe you would have two different conversations with a dealer regarding things like tyres, clutch wear, brake wear, etc depending on whether you were buying a car from them, or trying to sell one back to them. A typical dealer isn't going to replace tyres (and therefore eat into their margin) on a car that has sufficient tread depth when selling it.
Unfortunately I don't think your friend has much of a leg to stand on really, given he has had the car for 6 months and done 400 miles in that time.
Dealers will more than likely err on the side of caution when recommending replacing things. They may even recommend replacing things a long time before they would strictly need to be changed due to impending failure. There will be a number of their customers who put their cars in for service, etc and basically just tell the dealer to do whatever they think needs doing, handing them a blank cheque.
If the tyres haven't actually failed, your friend wouldn't need to change them. On a high performance car though, where the tyres are the only thing connecting it to the road, I would want to get the most enjoyment out of it when pushing on and feel safe.
That being said I sympathise with what you're saying simply because I firmly believe you would have two different conversations with a dealer regarding things like tyres, clutch wear, brake wear, etc depending on whether you were buying a car from them, or trying to sell one back to them. A typical dealer isn't going to replace tyres (and therefore eat into their margin) on a car that has sufficient tread depth when selling it.
Unfortunately I don't think your friend has much of a leg to stand on really, given he has had the car for 6 months and done 400 miles in that time.
Always always check tyre dot, tread, wear pattern and any visual abnormalities during a purchase, doesn't matter if it's a Ferrari or the wife's little hatchback. I don't think the dealer will be liable for the tyres 6 months down the road even if only driven 400 miles. Your friend although upset is going to have to take the hit on this if he wants new tyres, but if it's just advisory not a mot fail then not needed at this stage.
OP, was your mate advised that a service was due only 6 months after sale? It seams strange that it wasn't serviced and MOT's as part of the deal.
If they (and the buyer) knew the car was coming back in in 6 months, and the tyre report (if it exists) says that the other 3 tyres should be replaced in 6 months, then fair enough. For me, I'd be more concerned about having mis-matched tyres across a single axel on such a high performance car. One grippy new tyre and one 7 year-old 'hard and nails' tyre is going to wriggle under braking to say the least.
If they (and the buyer) knew the car was coming back in in 6 months, and the tyre report (if it exists) says that the other 3 tyres should be replaced in 6 months, then fair enough. For me, I'd be more concerned about having mis-matched tyres across a single axel on such a high performance car. One grippy new tyre and one 7 year-old 'hard and nails' tyre is going to wriggle under braking to say the least.
Bought an Aston Vanquish recently and the tyres, whilst legal were v old (starting to crack!). Dealer wouldn't replace them, but did negotiate money off for this and other faults.
Thought this was a poor show for a safety item, but they just want your money!
Lots of these types of cars just don't do any mileage (I'm just as guilty), so something to look at when buying an exotic.
Thought this was a poor show for a safety item, but they just want your money!
Lots of these types of cars just don't do any mileage (I'm just as guilty), so something to look at when buying an exotic.
Yipper said:
The biggest crime is that someone spent 150k on a supercar and only drove it 400 miles in 6 months.
Ain't that the truth.MarkM3Evoplus said:
Bought an Aston Vanquish recently and the tyres, whilst legal were v old (starting to crack!). Dealer wouldn't replace them, but did negotiate money off for this and other faults.
Thought this was a poor show for a safety item, but they just want your money!
Lots of these types of cars just don't do any mileage (I'm just as guilty), so something to look at when buying an exotic.
Definitely. At the same time if you'd driven around the block and back to them to get a trade-in price they'd be sucking air through their teeth... "those tyres will have to be changed"...Thought this was a poor show for a safety item, but they just want your money!
Lots of these types of cars just don't do any mileage (I'm just as guilty), so something to look at when buying an exotic.
Reminds me of when I bought a nearly new Disco some years ago.
Sales guy said front tyres were 3/4 worn and he'd put a new pair on before I took delivery.
When car was delivered I was horrified to see they'd fitted a pair of ditch finders....grrrr!
My fault as he'd technically done what he said he'd do but also an own goal as he'd also lost me as a repeat customer in the future.
Fast forward a year and the car goes in for a service. "You need new front tyres sir, oh and we don't fit those cheap & nasty tyres LR only approve these premium ones"
WTF, they put them on in the first place when they were paying, but now that I'm paying its a different story....quelle suprise!
I thought about kicking up a stink but life's too short.
ps I did put on premium tyres but not through them.
Sales guy said front tyres were 3/4 worn and he'd put a new pair on before I took delivery.
When car was delivered I was horrified to see they'd fitted a pair of ditch finders....grrrr!
My fault as he'd technically done what he said he'd do but also an own goal as he'd also lost me as a repeat customer in the future.
Fast forward a year and the car goes in for a service. "You need new front tyres sir, oh and we don't fit those cheap & nasty tyres LR only approve these premium ones"
WTF, they put them on in the first place when they were paying, but now that I'm paying its a different story....quelle suprise!
I thought about kicking up a stink but life's too short.
ps I did put on premium tyres but not through them.
The Surveyor said:
For me, I'd be more concerned about having mis-matched tyres across a single axel on such a high performance car. One grippy new tyre and one 7 year-old 'hard and nails' tyre is going to wriggle under braking to say the least.
Me too. I would not want a tyre in a different condition even on the Up, my 3rd car used only for city driving a couple of times a week. 100 IAN said:
Reminds me of when I bought a nearly new Disco some years ago.
Sales guy said front tyres were 3/4 worn and he'd put a new pair on before I took delivery.
When car was delivered I was horrified to see they'd fitted a pair of ditch finders....grrrr!
My fault as he'd technically done what he said he'd do but also an own goal as he'd also lost me as a repeat customer in the future.
Fast forward a year and the car goes in for a service. "You need new front tyres sir, oh and we don't fit those cheap & nasty tyres LR only approve these premium ones"
WTF, they put them on in the first place when they were paying, but now that I'm paying its a different story....quelle suprise!
I thought about kicking up a stink but life's too short.
ps I did put on premium tyres but not through them.
That is funny - car buying, always interesting experiences Sales guy said front tyres were 3/4 worn and he'd put a new pair on before I took delivery.
When car was delivered I was horrified to see they'd fitted a pair of ditch finders....grrrr!
My fault as he'd technically done what he said he'd do but also an own goal as he'd also lost me as a repeat customer in the future.
Fast forward a year and the car goes in for a service. "You need new front tyres sir, oh and we don't fit those cheap & nasty tyres LR only approve these premium ones"
WTF, they put them on in the first place when they were paying, but now that I'm paying its a different story....quelle suprise!
I thought about kicking up a stink but life's too short.
ps I did put on premium tyres but not through them.
F355GTS said:
I'm confused why an approved used car would need a service after 6 months or 400 miles, without fail all the approved cars I've bought have had a fresh service prior to collection and I thought it's part of the prep
As far as I am aware no service or mot due within 6 months - that's Germany though, we also don't get approved warranty for 2 years included for free - so might be different to UKGassing Station | Ferrari V8 | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff