Bling and bias

I have checked my wife's Fiesta’s wheels. They are 17" diameter and the tyres are 195/45 R17 Eagle FI. Why would a local Ford dealer fit 17" wheels? Not asked for by us? Why when I asked them was I told that there were no other wheels that would be stronger other than steel wheels used for ‘off roading’? They never mentioned 15" wheels as being available! I am getting very suspicious about the advice I have been given. Why would this garage tell me that they were changing four sets of wheels a week due the road conditions in Gloucestershire? Surely Ford Motor Company would not allow their cars and wheels to be substandard like this? Your opinion would be greatly appreciated.

Asked on 28 November 2011 by JW, via email

Answered by Honest John
What is happening is tactics similar to Hewlett Packard who virtually give away printers that need special, very expensive, ink cartridges. The money is made on the ink carts. Tyre manufacturers are virtually giving away low profile tyres to car manufacturers because the replacement cost is much greater and needed much more frequently than conventional deeper profile tyres.
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