I know this has been done to death, but I've found myself in a rare predicament.

I need a new tyre, it's bordering out of limits, just a solitary drivers side front. It's a continental sport contact 5. I have a sport contact 3 the other side (long story short, was going on holiday and needed a tyre there and then when I found a tyre wall failure, so had to get that).

My predicament is that I'm bloody skint. Normally I'd replace the pair and get on with it as I don't like the thought of 2 different tyres on the same axel. However, I've just got back off my honeymoon and don't really have any money until the end of the month.

So what the hell do I do as a practical solution?

Thank you in advance.

What's your spare like? If it's OK (legal) put it on until the end of the month.

None. Vrs without a spare.

Can you still get the sport contact 3? if so just replace the worn one with one of those. 

Seems like the only logical thing to do. £111 a tyre.

Get a part worn?

Get a part worn?

^^^^ This.

Maybe find a part worn Contact 3 on eBay with similar life left to the one you have then wear them both down together.

Seen one for £35 which is a bargain, 3.5mm tread which isn't a great deal but could last the month out of course.

Who in the hell do you get to fit these? Surely tyre shops are not interested one bit in fitting a tyre they haven't provided?

Go to a small independent tyre place, most should do it for you if you bung em a £10er.

As above. Even your local Kwik Fit will fit a one-off tyre for an tenner.

If it's second hand, you might be better with the local tyre fitter though.

Try Oponeo.co.uk - they have some amazing tyre deals delivered for free. You might even get two for not much more than your £111. Good luck.

Edited 8 September, 201411 yr by dunc69

Agreed, as said, there is a independent near to me that will mount a tyre for £10 a wheel.

go local scrapyard.  IF I have to, I can get most tyres for £10 fitted (If I take a wheel to them loose)  Once I got a tyre which still had the painted lines on the tread.  Was probably a never used spare.  

 

Can't say I've ever done this on the mongrel though

By now you have spent £45 on an essentially scrap tyre. Almost half a new one.

Or get a new real cheapo and have it as a spare "for next time"

Go to an impoverished part of the country, full of secondhand tyre places. I have seen several round Wisbech.

Least outlay/best value option is to try scrapyards as Mr Utopia says ^^^.

We're almost a 1/3 into the month. Can't you blag a lift/walk/cycle to work?

Borrow the mrs car? Get her to drop you off? Now you're married, its her problem too.

to the OP I have some free tyres available if you are able to collect them 225/40/18. Have a look in the free stuff section.

If funds run to it, get the cheapest legal new tyre you can buy, keep as spare until you can afford another Continental ?

You could get a steel wheel later for this cheap new tyre for the future as a spare ?

I'd go to local pre worn place. 17/18 inchers are usually £40 fitted and 5mm+

 

Just ask to look at the tyre before they put it on, check for inner and sidewall damage.

Myself I'd rather put on a pair of cheap ditch finders than take a risk on a used.

 

Camskill have some Kenda tyres at £35ea

 

http://www.camskill.co.uk/m61b0s134p122844/Kenda_Tyres_Car_Kenda_KR20_Kaiser_Kenda_KR_20_-_225_40_R18_88W_TL_Fuel_Eff_%3A_F_Wet_Grip%3A_C_NoiseClass%3A_3_Noise%3A_75dB

 

Ebay them when you've money to change to something better

Edited 9 September, 201411 yr by Aspman

I just baught 2 of these for the front of mine and they are brill. No issues with dry grip and they get a good rating for wet grip too (I've not had the chance to try that out yet)

 

http://www.halfordsautocentres.com/tyres/falken-ziex-ze914-xl-225-45-r17-94w#tab0

I paid £70 delivered for 2 BCT's , Kwik-Fit fitted them for £20. As I'm not a racing driver these bad boys are fine !!

Isn't this what credit cards are for?

 

I had a split rear tyre a couple of weeks ago in France so off to the local Eutotyres and two Pirellis and £220 later I had two new tyres.

 

You could always go to Wonga

to the OP I have some free tyres available if you are able to collect them 225/40/18. Have a look in the free stuff section.

I am Andover if anyone wants them.

I just baught 2 of these for the front of mine and they are brill. No issues with dry grip and they get a good rating for wet grip too (I've not had the chance to try that out yet)

http://www.halfordsautocentres.com/tyres/falken-ziex-ze914-xl-225-45-r17-94w#tab0

Great tyres, I bought 4 of these Falken ZE 914's early last year and they have been brill, fantastic in the wet and superb grip in the dry. As a result I've just bought 2 more for the front as I have been driving a little spirited of late, no wheelspinning honest just a little speedy off the line! Check them out:

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Falken/ZE914.htm

Edited 9 September, 201411 yr by billywhiz040480

Continental Sport Contact 3 part warn 4.2mm eBay £37 including delivery, Part worn tyres direct.

Edited 9 September, 201411 yr by billywhiz040480

I have a NEW Sport Contact 3, same predicament as OP, damaged sidewall, couldn't trace another SC3 on a Y rating so have 2 Pilot Sport 3's instead, £60 incl delivery if you are interested ?

Bloody hell, didn't realise it was a crime to spend money so early in the month?! Thankfully, you'll be glad to know that I earn enough to buy tyres, however, unfortunately (or fortunately) I decided that after our wedding that I paid for last month, that we should go on holiday... Which I paid for with this months pay, you'll be glad to know.

This cost a lot of money, enough in fact that I am looking for a cheaper way to replace a tyre, than buying 2 new continental sport contact 5's for the front for ~£200.

Now if I didn't have a wife, a small child, 2 cars, a house and food to provide, I would most definitely take the option of buying some tyres and eating super noodles for the rest of the month. However, as explained, I don't have this luxury and I don't think that a credit card is needed just yet.

Thank you to everyone else for your help, it has been well noted and gratefully appreciated. After assessing the situation today and checking the tyre itself, it looks about in as good shape as some of the tyres on eBay. Therefore, for now, I'll monitor the degradation until it is actually illegal. Thus saving my wallet until next month, where with the money that I earn (yep, see I do earn money) I'll be able to replace both fronts with something suitable and new.

Which leads me on...

Eagle F1's? Or these Falken's I've heard so much about? I think I would prefer some tyres which last and don't make such a racket when rolling.

Edited 9 September, 201411 yr by Bcc212