Tyreleader - A Warning!

[cleverdick]

A couple of days ago, I placed an order with Tyreleader for a set of Goodyear Wrangler AT/SA+. (This was not for the LS(!) but for my wife's vehicle which is used for towing horseboxes and general heavy-duty use.

The price seemed very good, and for this tyre appeared cheaper than the standard AT/SA, which would appear to have a 4-rib tread pattern as opposed to the SA+ which is shown as 5-rib with central band for added stability. (The technical rep at Goodyear confirmed this on the phone: The Goodyear website doesn't make a clear distinction.)

Looking on the Tyreleader website today, they have updated the page, and now show photos of the 5-rib tread for both SA and SA+, but describing the SA as 5-rib - not the SA+!

Concerned that I might receive the wrong tyres, I have tried to contact them. It's basically impossible. First of all, there is no phone number. If you click on "support" you are presented with a number of radio buttons, but no option to actually type in a box and say what you need to say. You can only do this if you click "commercial" - in which case it says "only queries submitted via Support will be answered" (or words to that effect).

So, right now, they have £400 of my money and they won't make themselves available for communication.

I am also waiting for written confirmation from Goodyear that the SA+ is in fact the one with the central band, so that if the wrong tyres do turn up then at least I have some kind of leverage with which to claim a refund.

So much for German efficiency - so efficient that the whole thing is evidently run by robots!

[steve2006]

I problems do arise you should also be covered by your credit card provider also.

[rayaans]

A couple of days ago, I placed an order with Tyreleader for a set of Goodyear Wrangler AT/SA+. (This was not for the LS(!) but for my wife's vehicle which is used for towing horseboxes and general heavy-duty use.

The price seemed very good, and for this tyre appeared cheaper than the standard AT/SA, which would appear to have a 4-rib tread pattern as opposed to the SA+ which is shown as 5-rib with central band for added stability. (The technical rep at Goodyear confirmed this on the phone: The Goodyear website doesn't make a clear distinction.)

Looking on the Tyreleader website today, they have updated the page, and now show photos of the 5-rib tread for both SA and SA+, but describing the SA as 5-rib - not the SA+!

Concerned that I might receive the wrong tyres, I have tried to contact them. It's basically impossible. First of all, there is no phone number. If you click on "support" you are presented with a number of radio buttons, but no option to actually type in a box and say what you need to say. You can only do this if you click "commercial" - in which case it says "only queries submitted via Support will be answered" (or words to that effect).

So, right now, they have £400 of my money and they won't make themselves available for communication.

I am also waiting for written confirmation from Goodyear that the SA+ is in fact the one with the central band, so that if the wrong tyres do turn up then at least I have some kind of leverage with which to claim a refund.

So much for German efficiency - so efficient that the whole thing is evidently run by robots!

I ordered from Tyreleader - no issues whatsoever. Best method of contact is email - they respond quite quickly.

Sometimes their pictures are a bit odd, if you know exactly which tyres you ordered and should be getting, youll probably get them!

[Bluesman]

If you have paid with your Credit card Not Debit card you will be more than well covered should the worse happen so dont worry too much. You don't have the same cover where your Debit card is concerned its a case of talking very nicely to your bank. Mike.

[cleverdick]

It's getting worse. They now say that the order's been dispatched. They REFUSE to tell me whether they have shipped the 4 or 5-rib version, simply saying "You ordered the AT/SA+ and that is what you will receive". They also say that returns will cost £25 per parcel, but won't say how many parcels the consignment consists of [despite me asking this].

Stupidly paid with debit card (doh!).

In the meantime I have heard nothing back from Goodyear to confirm in writing whether their own website is correct. If it is, then all will be OK. If not, then I suppose Goodyear should be held liable for any charges incurred.

What a godawful mess.

Definitely do not use this company!

[Bluesman]

If its of any use to you I have found that they have a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tyreleadercouk/591004377624920

I bought some Falkens for my LS from them and there was no problem with them, full spec, good date and they came pretty quickly. Mike.

[steve2006]

I think that until you have actually received the tyres there is little you can do,if they are what you want all good but if they aren't what you ordered then take it up with them at that point.

I don't think Goodyear will get involved over a dispute with a supplier,there's probably some disclaimer somewhere on their website regarding accuracy of the information provided.

Just give the supplier a chance first.

[runsgrateasanut]

Is it likely to make a difference to the way your wife drives or is it a safety concern?

Has it been proven that five rib tread is better than four?

You expected a bargain priced product but may not get what you thought to be one.

I can understand your frustration but end of the day will it make a lot of difference?

Paying £100 to return them and then not being credited is possibly a risk too far. No guarantee with pay by debit card just loads of sleepless nights if you try to pursue them in Germany or via the UK Court.

I hope you are pleasantly surprised when delivery takes place. I've crossed my fingers.

[cleverdick]

The reason I opted for the 5-rib tread with central sipe was simply because of its (presumed) better straight-line stability. Enhanced smoothness and quietness is also mentioned. Also, I don't think I was unreasonable in thinking that the 'plus' designation refers to the extra rib - especially as this was confirmed verbally by Goodyear - and is what is shown on the Goodyear website (until you start looking in more detail).

However, Black Circles and Tyreleader show it the other way round. More to the point, I can't get a straight answer out of anybody.

If they are wrong, I'm hoping my tyre fitter will take them in p/x for the right ones.

[Chris Skelton]

That's because they are selling 'product' and probably don't know their a**e from elbow in the order room?

It's just a number on an order form.

[rayaans]

The reason I opted for the 5-rib tread with central sipe was simply because of its (presumed) better straight-line stability. Enhanced smoothness and quietness is also mentioned. Also, I don't think I was unreasonable in thinking that the 'plus' designation refers to the extra rib - especially as this was confirmed verbally by Goodyear - and is what is shown on the Goodyear website.

However, Black Circles and Tyreleader show it the other way round. More to the point, I can't get a straight answer out of anybody.

If they are wrong, I'm hoping my tyre fitter will take them in p/x for the right ones.

I wouldn't assume a central sipe would make a huge difference to straight line stability in all honesty.

You have to understand that some things are nothing but marketing gimmicks

Id wait for the tyres to come - they should be fine

I ordered 4 Michelin Latitude Tour HP's which I had fitted by Lexus Bradford for £50 total and there's no difference compared to other advertised ones. They came in 2 parcels btw.

[cleverdick]

Well, guess what, folks!

Yesterday morning I received confirmation of the tracking numbers - 4 parcels (so potentially £100 to return - not worth it). It was all in German, but the implication was that they'd just started their journey. They still would not check their actual stock to see whether I was to receive the 4 or 5-rib pattern tyres, repeating again that their pictures are not contractual and to go by the description.

Yesterday afternoon I did eventually get an email reply from Goodyear Tech. Apparently, the tread pattern is not a function of the '+' designation, but rather the tyre width! Hence the reason that you see both types shown for both versions. To me, it's absurd that the technical department have to get their information from the marketing department - not vice-versa, but there you go. Had I not been sharp-eyed enough to notice this discrepancy whilst 'revisiting' my purchase, and then making the mistake of digging deeper, checking other suppliers and unearthing this can of worms, I'd have saved myself an awful lot of time and stress.

AND... arrived home to find a calling card from Parcelforce saying they'd attempted to deliver 4 parcels! (Long before I expected them.)

Therefore, this morning, had the inconvenience of going to pick them up from the Chelmsford Parcelforce depot, some 15 miles away. Fortunately (thank goodness), they were indeed the AT/SA+, 5-rib, made this year and undamaged.

So, rather than go back to my usual tyre fitter (who unfortunately, with his new staff, is not as careful and thorough as he used to be), I booked into the nearest ATS - where, incidentally, they now inflate tyres with nitrogen.

I was very pleasantly surprised at their professionalism. For one thing, they were all grown-ups - not kids in trainers and hoodies. They took a lot of time and care in cleaning up the rims, ensuring a good seal and then balancing to a high degree of precision. (They even checked the wheelnut torque settings according to spec.) The cost was £15 per wheel - the same as locally. So hats off to ATS for excellent service!

There are lessons here:

1. Outfits like Tyreleader can save you money. But not a lot. Tyrefitters normally get a discount, too. If all goes well, then fine. However, if you want specific information, or some human intervention by somebody who actually understands the product and can go beyond just reading from a script, then forget it. Some of their reviews, by people who have received damaged goods - or not at all - are simply horrific. (Is it worth the stress and risk?) This is drop-shipping at its very worst.

2. The manufacturer might not (instantly) know about his own product. Any ambiguity gets passed on to suppliers.

3. ATS (Chelmsford at least) are better than you might expect.

[rayaans]

Buddy you paid more for tyres fitting than I did at Lexus Bradford - £12.50 a tyre + free wash and vac haha!

Good to know the tyres arrived as expected - Tyreleader is actually very good if you know exactly what you're buying

[cleverdick]

Buddy you paid more for tyres fitting than I did at Lexus Bradford - £12.50 a tyre + free wash and vac haha!

Good to know the tyres arrived as expected - Tyreleader is actually very good if you know exactly what you're buying

Everything's more expensive down here ;)

Wash and vac? (The LS, maybe.) This is an old Land Cruiser full of mud, hay and horsehair. The vacuum cleaner wouldn't survive - lol!