A few simple questions before you buy tyres save money and avoid mistakes. The essentials are whether the tyre is the right size and rating for your car, how it grades for safety, whether the price is the all-in fitted total, and how it stacks up on value. Ask these and you'll buy with confidence rather than guesswork.
Is it the right size and rating?
The first question is always fitment. Is this the correct size for my car, and does it meet or exceed the load and speed ratings my car needs? Fitting the wrong size or an under-rated tyre is unsafe and can fail the MOT, which checks tyre size, condition and a minimum of 1.6mm of tread across the central three-quarters and around the whole circumference (GOV.UK), so confirm it against your registration or door placard before anything else.
What are the label grades?
Ask for the EU label grades, especially wet grip, which is the most safety-critical, plus fuel efficiency and noise. Then ask how the tyre performs in independent tests for your size, since the label doesn't capture everything. For UK driving, prioritise wet grip above all.
Is this the full fitted price?
Always ask whether the quote is the all-in fitted price, including mounting, balancing, a new valve and disposal of the old tyre. A "tyre only" figure can look cheaper but add up at the till, see what tyres really cost. With mobile fitting, also confirm whether the callout is included in the quote or added on top.
How does it compare on value?
For value, ask about cost per mile rather than the sticker: a longer-lasting tyre can be cheaper over its life. And steer clear of part-worns as a "bargain", since their short life and unknown history rarely justify the saving. A good question is simply: "what would you fit to your own car for my driving?"
Does it match the tyre on the other side?
Ask whether the new tyre matches the one on the opposite side of the same axle, because mixed tyres across an axle can make a car feel unsettled in the wet. Different tread patterns and compounds grip differently, so the two sides can behave differently under braking and in corners. The law only requires the same size and construction across an axle, but matching brand and pattern is the sensible standard.
If you are only replacing one tyre, ask how much tread is left on its partner. A brand-new tyre next to one at 2mm is a big mismatch, and replacing in pairs often makes more sense. On four-wheel-drive cars, ask specifically, because some manufacturers want all four tyres within a small tread-depth range to protect the drivetrain.
Two more fitment questions worth asking:
- Which axle is the new tyre going on? Many fitters put the newest tyres on the rear for stability, whatever the car drives through.
- Is it directional or asymmetric? These tyres only work one way round, so ask the fitter to confirm the rotation arrow or the "outside" marking after fitting.
How old is the tyre, and is it the right type?
Ask for the date code, because a "new" tyre can have sat in a warehouse for years. Every tyre carries a four-digit code at the end of the DOT string on the sidewall: the first two digits are the week of manufacture and the last two the year, so 3225 means the 32nd week of 2025. Rubber ages whether or not it is used, and many manufacturers suggest close inspection from five years and replacement by ten. Fresh stock is a fair thing to ask for.
Then check the tyre is the right type for your car, not just the right size:
- Run-flat. If your car came on run-flats and has no spare, ask whether the replacement is also a run-flat, and whether you are happy to change to a standard tyre.
- Manufacturer markings. Some cars were developed with a specific version of a tyre, shown by a code such as a star or letters after the size. It is not a legal requirement, but it is worth asking whether the tyre offered carries it.
- Season. Summer, winter and all-season tyres of the same size behave very differently below about 7°C.
- Electric or hybrid. Heavier cars with instant torque wear tyres faster, so ask about load index and an EV-suitable tyre.
What does the guarantee cover?
Ask what happens if the tyre is damaged or faulty, because the answer varies a lot between sellers. Every new tyre sold in the UK carries a manufacturer's guarantee against defects in materials and workmanship, but that does not cover a pothole, a kerb or a nail. Some retailers add a separate road-hazard cover for those, sometimes free and sometimes paid, and the small print on mileage, pro-rata refunds and who does the inspecting matters.
Questions that reveal whether the cover is worth anything:
- Is accidental damage included, or only manufacturing defects?
- Is the replacement free, or pro-rata against the tread used?
- Do I need to keep the invoice and the damaged tyre?
- Does it cover a mobile callout, or only a visit to a branch?
We set out how these schemes work in tyre guarantees and road-hazard warranties. Whatever the cover, keep your invoice: it records the size, the date and the tyre fitted, which you need for any claim and for the next fitter.
Questions to ask a mobile fitter
With mobile fitting, the extra questions are about what the visit includes and what you pay for. A good mobile fitter does the same job as a garage bay, on your drive or in a work car park, so ask exactly what that job covers. Our own answers: the enquiry is free, and the callout is a paid visit that is priced with the tyre when you book, so the full price is agreed before any work starts.
Worth asking any mobile fitter:
- Do you balance the wheel on the van? A wheel that is not balanced after a new tyre will vibrate at motorway speed.
- Do you torque the wheel nuts? The answer should be yes, to the manufacturer's setting with a torque wrench, not an air gun.
- Do you fit a new valve and reset the TPMS? Rubber valves should be replaced with the tyre; cars with pressure sensors may need a reset.
- Do you take the old tyre away? Disposal should be included, and the tyre should go to a licensed recycler.
- Can you come to my workplace? Most can, given somewhere flat and safe to park.
For a longer list of what to look for, see how to choose a trustworthy tyre fitter and our mobile tyre fitting page.
The checklist in one table
Here are the questions in one place, with the answer you want to hear. Screenshot it, or send us your registration and we will go through it with you.
| Ask | The answer you want |
|---|---|
| Is this the right size, load index and speed rating? | Matches the door placard or handbook, or exceeds it |
| What are the EU label grades? | Wet grip A or B for most UK driving; rolling resistance and dB noise as secondary |
| Does it match the other tyre on the axle? | Same size and construction as a minimum, same brand and pattern ideally |
| How old is the tyre? | A recent date code, not old stock |
| Is this the full fitted price? | Yes, including fitting, balancing, a new valve and disposal, with no separate callout surprise |
| What does the guarantee cover? | Manufacturing defects as standard; clear terms on accidental damage |
| Will you torque the nuts and reset the TPMS? | Yes, with a torque wrench, and yes where the car has sensors |
| Is it a part-worn? | No |
If a seller cannot answer any of these plainly, that tells you something too. The legal side of tyre condition, including the 1.6mm minimum, is summarised on GOV.UK.
Getting a quote from us
We'll talk you through all of this for your specific car and fit the right tyre at your home or work. We work from one base at Brent Cross, NW2, mainly across London and the Home Counties; further afield, call and we will tell you whether we can take the job. Send your registration for advice.
