Signs your brand new tyres might be defective
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When you buy new tyres for your car, you are investing in safety. You are being proactive about protecting yourself and other road users from the unnecessary danger of defective tyres. However, although very rare, production line defects can occur, and it is important to recognise the signs so that you can get your defective brand new tyres replaced as soon as possible.
Faulty new tyre symptoms
Most people would never think to visually inspect their new tyres, as they rightly assume that they are new, so will be problem-free. However, it is wise to always check any new tyres that are fitted to your vehicle before you drive away.
Check that the date printed on the tyre is from no more than 3 years ago, as tyre rubber perishes with age, and an old (brand new) tyre will not last as long as a more recently manufactured one, particularly if it has not been stored in the correct manner. Check the tread pattern is even and that there are no areas of separation or discolouration, or any cracks or bulges in either the tread or the sidewall.
Even if the tyre looks fine, if you notice the vehicle behaving in an unusual manner once you start driving, immediately stop and alert your tyre fitter. Unusual behaviour may include new vibrations, the steering pulling in one direction, more road noise than you are used to, thudding sounds or any unexpected loss of tyre pressure.
What to do if you suspect a defective new tyre
As discussed, even with new tyres problems can arise, so the first thing to do is not to panic. Calmly pull over in a safe place and perform a visual inspection of the tyres. If you can see a clear fault on one tyre, photograph it, then consider swapping to the spare wheel to return to the garage. If you cannot see any defects and cannot identify where the fault is coming from, you should contact the garage and ask them to recover the vehicle for you.
Phone the garage that fitted your new tyres and alert them to the issue. They will want to make it right for you, so they should prioritise recovering your vehicle and replacing the defective tyres. They will check that the tyres that they have fitted are not subject to a recall and may recommend a different brand to avoid the same problem from recurring, particularly if their stock of that make of tyres are all from the same manufacturing batch.
Tyres are the only point of contact between your car and the road, so always err on the side of caution should you suspect a problem
Frequently Asked Questions
Very low. Strict quality controls apply, and the vast majority of manufacturing faults are identified before the tyres leave the production line, so they never enter the customer market. Therefore, while you should be aware of the remote possibility of buying defective brand new tyres, you should not be overly concerned about the risk
The tyre manufacturer has a duty of care to their customers, as does the garage that fits the tyres. A discussion would be had based on the individual
circumstances of the case to determine an appropriate payment mechanism that does not disadvantage the customer.
Your local Protyre garage is a trusted and reputable business, staffed by tyre experts who value your safety and prioritise your peace of mind. We stock an unbeatable range of tyres from budget to premium brands such as Pirelli, all of which are correctly stored, supplied in date and inspected before your vehicle leaves our premises. Our aftercare service is as exemplary as our fitting, so we can be trusted to deliver a superior standard of care at all times
With over 180 garages spread across the length and breadth of the country, you are sure to find a Protyre garage near you . Tyre fitting appointments can be booked online for a time and place to suit you, and we offer competitive rates as well as free tyre checks