Online tyre sites tested

As tyres on modern cars get bigger, so does the cost of replacing them – but if you buy online, you can reduce your bills. Internet retailers have low overheads and big buying power, and can undercut high street tyre fitters by up to 20 per cent.

There are three main ways to purchase on the Web: mail order delivered to your home (then you sort mounting), fully fitted at a range of partners and vans that come to you. The first is often the cheapest, but many outlets won’t fit rubber they haven’t supplied on liability and competition grounds.

Fully fitted at one of the site’s partners is the most common, although on busy days, some operators may not want to fit your tyres when they can make more from selling their own. Mobile units are the most convenient, but can charge more.

Search the Net and there’s a massive choice – so which is the website to keep your tyre bills to a minimum? We looked at 12 covering all sectors to find out.

THE TEST

The online revolution hasn’t removed the need to shop around. During our test at the start of the year, some prices changed daily, and there were big variations between makes – with a site being competitive on one but not another. It was also clear Web operators watch rivals closely, so price differences are small and could be negated by the cost of travelling further for a certain deal.

We compared fully fitted prices on the most common 16, 17 and 18-inch sizes from top brands Continental, Michelin and Bridgestone. As the results were so close, and changing constantly, cost wasn’t key. More crucial was the site: we looked for a range of patterns and fitters, clear buying instructions, tyre advice and info, plus the ability to set a fitting date before buying and a call centre to resolve any problems.

Verdict

Two operators stand out among those with a fitting network: Tyre Shopper and Black Circles had well laid out sites, keen prices and a range of tyres and partners. Tyre Shopper had the edge. Etyres is our mobile pick. It’s not always the cheapest, but offers lots of advice – and means you don’t have to sit in a dingy waiting room.

Partner fit:  

1. Tyre Shopper 

2. Black Circles

Mobile fit: 

1. Etyres