SUNNY Tyres

Leprechaun77

Hi Folks,

I have a lease vehicle which is due up at the end of the year. The tyres were going a bit bald so I brought them in to get checked. It turns out they were below the legal limit. The tyre place called the lease company and obviously had to change the tyres. Over my last few company cars, the replacement tyres had always been Pirelli, Bridgestone or other premium brands. This time however they put on SUNNY tyres.

I do a reasonable amount of driving and couldn't help noticing the sliding slightly in the wet....Am I being a bit 'tyre snobbish' and just noticing this grip issue more now that I'm aware of the new threads....?

Anan1

I don't think you are. I'd insist on premium tyres, ie what a main dealer would have supplied. On which point, you're probably better off going to a main dealer for everything if the leasing company are paying.

Leprechaun77

I brought the car in for a service a few weeks ago in the main dealer, who also happens to be the lease company effectively. They said at the time the tyres were low and to drop it in to xxxxx when they go below minimum depth. They also said that the pads needed changing shortly but I might get to the end of the lease. It's a bit of a joke really. It smacks of 'let's not spend anymore money on this car'.

When I questioned this with the lease company they pretty much said that they didn't want to spend money on the car, and that these tyres are legal and acceptable to them. There have been some issues with them lately which I believe will result in them losing the contract for the next batch of cars which are due shortly

R.O.R

Leprechaun77 wrote: »

Hi Folks,

I have a lease vehicle which is due up at the end of the year. The tyres were going a bit bald so I brought them in to get checked. It turns out they were below the legal limit. The tyre place called the lease company and obviously had to change the tyres. Over my last few company cars, the replacement tyres had always been Pirelli, Bridgestone or other premium brands. This time however they put on SUNNY tyres.

I do a reasonable amount of driving and couldn't help noticing the sliding slightly in the wet....Am I being a bit 'tyre snobbish' and just noticing this grip issue more now that I'm aware of the new threads....?

If you have an issue with safety (and I believe Sunny tyres in the wet is a safety issue) then either get on to the leasing company, or get your fleet manager to get on to the leasing company.

They should at least put a mid range brand on - Kumho, Vreidestein etc. Replacing tyres is a lot cheaper than losing unhappy customers due to dodgy tyre policy.

Anan1 wrote: »

I don't think you are. I'd insist on premium tyres, ie what a main dealer would have supplied. On which point, you're probably better off going to a main dealer for everything if the leasing company are paying.

Like fcuk we'd give authorisation for a premium tyre from a main dealer!

If available in that size, Barum tyres would be fitted, usually in Advance - and that seems to be fairly cosistent with competitor cars I've seen in here.

Anan1

R.O.R wrote: »

Like fcuk we'd give authorisation for a premium tyre from a main dealer!

If available in that size, Barum tyres would be fitted, usually in Advance - and that seems to be fairly cosistent with competitor cars I've seen in here.

Really? I wouldn't much care where it was fitted, but i'd expect an original equipment tyre.

problemchimp

Maybe you need to get rainy tyres instead of sunny tyres!
Budget tyres are legal but the problem with them is they are harder than brand tyres so when you have to stop at speed in the rain they don't grip as well as the brand tyres. Not worth buying budget tyres in my opinion.

R.O.R

Anan1 wrote: »

Really? I wouldn't much care where it was fitted, but i'd expect an original equipment tyre.

Price difference between a premium tyre and Barum is quite considerable. Tyre budgets are based on Barums, so if we were to do like for like replacements then the cost to the customer would increase, by quite a bit.

I've driven loads of stuff on Barum, in various different weather conditions, and they aren't bad. You wouldn't be raving about the grip, but you wouldn't be sliding all over the place either.

Anan1

R.O.R wrote: »

Price difference between a premium tyre and Barum is quite considerable. Tyre budgets are based on Barums, so if we were to do like for like replacements then the cost to the customer would increase, by quite a bit.

I've driven loads of stuff on Barum, in various different weather conditions, and they aren't bad. You wouldn't be raving about the grip, but you wouldn't be sliding all over the place either.

Where does that end, though? Do you use aftermarket parts for servicing? Repairs? I've never leased a car, but i'd always assumed that any work would involve using only OEM parts. It's something i'd have a major issue with, TBH - i'd see it as a degredation of the car that I was paying to lease.

R.O.R

Anan1 wrote: »

Where does that end, though? Do you use aftermarket parts for servicing? Repairs? I've never leased a car, but i'd always assumed that any work would involve using only OEM parts. It's something i'd have a major issue with, TBH - i'd see it as a degredation of the car that I was paying to lease.

Parts would be OEM or OEM approved - there is a warranty or goodwill to maintain on all vehicles.

Repairs are very rarely done by the main dealer - most of that work is farmed out to indy's anyway, with a mark up charged by the dealer, so we just cut out the middle man. Only dealership that does bodywork for us is part of our group, so we have no option but to use them around that area.

I'd be pretty sure that no leasing companies replace tyres on a like for like basis, with what comes off. The major companies all have agreements in place for special pricing based on volume.

pcardin

I remember SUNNY tyres. Felt like they are made out of hard plastic rather than rubber. Nearly crushed the car I was driven. Nearly bold Michelin handles way better than new SUNNY. :pac:

Leprechaun77

R.O.R wrote: »

If you have an issue with safety (and I believe Sunny tyres in the wet is a safety issue).

Is this statement based on my experience, or have you come across these tyres before?

On the issue of changing tyres, I have never had this problem before. The car came with pirelli's from new, and the previous change was for bridgestone potenzas.

Leprechaun77

pcardin wrote: »

I remember SUNNY tyres. Felt like they are made out of hard plastic rather than rubber. Nearly crushed the car I was driven. Nearly bold Michelin handles way better than new SUNNY. :pac:

Ye, my bridgestone 'slicks' seemed to have handled the rain better.

R.O.R

Leprechaun77 wrote: »

Is this statement based on my experience, or have you come across these tyres before?

On the issue of changing tyres, I have never had this problem before. The car came with pirelli's from new, and the previous change was for bridgestone potenzas.

I've driven something on Sunny's in the wet before. I seem to remember they were better than Triangle's, but there wasn't that much in it.

I can see where the lease company is coming from. They don't want to spend money on a vehicle if it's near the end of it's lease, as they'll never see that money back, but, if it's a safety issue, there is no point in quibbling about the small things. We'd rather have a bit of a loss on maintenance and a driver in one piece, than make a few quid and have to live with the fact that scrimping put a driver in hospital - or worse.

exador

unfortunately its all down to cost however I would never, never put sunnys or similar wanlee on any car ...They are legal but deadly ...safety first,,

-Corkie-

Leprechaun77 wrote: »

Is this statement based on my experience, or have you come across these tyres before?

On the issue of changing tyres, I have never had this problem before. The car came with pirelli's from new, and the previous change was for bridgestone potenzas.

Try and change them they are pure muck. I would much prefer part worn Pirellis/Vredstreins then them yokes.

Berty

I had my previous employer put Sunny on the car and I had come from Bridgestone. There was a massive difference and I had to ease off in some of the simplest corners.

Horrible dangerous tyres in my opinion having experience driving them on the bogger roads of West Clare.