Got a nail in the front tyre which has only got 1200 miles on and it had to be replaced due to the nail going through the wall. The Bridgestone tyres that came with the car are no longer made and Skoda bought what was left and put them on their new cars.

The guy at the shop said that Bridgestone won't sell them 1 tyre as Bridgestone recommend that the two front tyres have to be the same and that i would have to change the other which i understand but i am not forking out for money i don't have to which would be £120 each tyre.

So the guy fitted a Continental tyre which is on the rear and put the rear tyre on the front so that they match on tread.

I have never had a problem having different tyres on the the front seeing we are only driving around town, does it really make a difference to the handleing of the car in the wet.

Its only a H & S thing by Bridgestone

Dont worry about it.

As above just health and safety (and bridgestone wanting to sell twice as many tires)

you tried blackcircles?

Which model of Bridgestone is it? Also what is the size?

Mostly, it's not a good idea to mix tyre brands and in particular tyre types (different compounds, tread, bands etc) on the same axle. It's not a marketing thing, it's a safety thing. In reality, you may not notice much difference if you are just pottering about in town but depending on the tyres themselves that are on that 'mixed' axle, you may well notice a difference in handling and stopping when driving at a faster pace. The days when a tyre is a tyre is a tyre are gone. However, I suspect if it's on the back it'll be ok in your case for your type of motoring.

I think the OP was spun a load of BS.

Skoda do not buy EOL tyres - they are under obligation under EU law to supply cars with a minimum 10 year spares availability. The standard Bridgestone tyre fitted is an ER300 which is a current tyre. All tyre depots should supply and fit one tyre especially as your other tyre is nearly brand new. You could have used your spare (if you had one) - a strong argument for full size spare tyres. Bridgestone couldnt care less how many tyres they sell. They go through distributors and not direct I would have thought.

BS and bogus H&S argument. Its actually MORE important your rear tyres are matched rather than the front on a front wheel drive car.

OP should shop around next time.

Edited 6 November, 201015 yr by xman

Unless something has changed in the last few of years...the tyre brands are not covered under the 10 year parts supply guarantee law. A particular brand may be discontinued for whatever reason. In addition, they are not considered an integral part of the cars structure or mechanicals and of course, they are not made by the car manufacturer either. You can at the end of the day fit any make of tyres of the same size...they are plentiful. The only time that particular EU law comes into play regarding tyres is when you as a manufacturer supply a vehicle with special size tyres that no other vehicle uses. This happens with motorcycles quite often. Incidentally, all car makers buy end of line tyres if someone will give them a good deal. Bear in mind they buy thousands all at once. I certainly agree the original poster was given a load of BS. We used to buy just one tyre all the time for customers of any make through various tyre distrubutors, not direct. You could never buy just one direct.

Edited 6 November, 201015 yr by Estate Man