You need to check prices at several sites and take into account fitting arrangements.

Once I found an offer at Halfords that beat everyone for the specific tyre I needed. However usually BC work out as best overall for me as they can be fitted at a local place with an appointment.and, in normal times, I can mooch around the shops while I wait. Usually, in my area, cheaper deals mean a 25 mile round trip and hanging around a fitting place on an industrial estate.

The point is headline price is only one factor, albeit a main one.

You need to check prices at several sites and take into account fitting arrangements.

The last time I needed tyres I tried all the usual sites but since we had moved house and the friendly tyre fitter up the street was no longer available for a cheap, reliable, quality after hours service I needed to include fitting. Loads of local fitters available at Oponeo/Mytyres/Blackcircles etc but when I checked the cheaper ones were scrapyards and god only knows what they would have done to my alloy (9 years old but still unkerbed and in excellent condition).

So I rang the small indy fitter down the road for a price and his all in price was pretty much exactly the same as the lowest online fitted prices. No waiting for delivery, no worries should a tyre be damaged in transit, just a 2 minute drive (including getting the car out of the garage) and wait 15 minutes for the job to be fully sorted.

So I suggest a ring round the local small fitters first, it worked for me.

Over the years i've bought from Tyremen, Mytyres, Oponeo, Camskill and TyreLeader, the last two mentioned my go to sources, only once was there an issue, TL sent one the wrong size, obviously a stock/picking mistake which they put right immediately, never had any other problems.

Local indies are fine, the problem with some is they want to sell you what they want, not necessarily what you want.

Thanks to all that responded

In hindsight Blackcircles seem way out in front on price across entire range so will stick with them. Thanks again

Same experience with my Blackcirckes fitting experience, the fitters didn't give care to the job. Aparently they were only paid £3 a tyre for fitting and of course couldn't benefit from sourcing tyres at trade prices. That garage is no longer an affiliate.

Ditto for the one I used, which was (at the time) also part of the ProTyre group as well (and also no longer a franchise within 1 year, though they've cheekily kept very similar decals and logos).

Given I was paying about £11 for fitting per tyre back then (£14ish today) from BC, that can't given the fitter much margin, given how long it takes them, inclduing balancing.

My regular fitters were completely different and when my new tyres were fitted they paid attention to detail including lining up the coloured marks on the tyres with the valves.

Often a small but well-regarded local indie fitter will price-match as they often don't need to advertise, word of mouth doing the job. I just wish there was such a place local to me - just the big boys and indie garages that sadly don't have a stellar rep.

It's the reason why I still go to my nearest Mazda main dealer for all my car's maintenance, even though the car is now 14+ years old.

Edited by Engineer Andy on 23/05/2020 at 12:24