Is it illegal to have 2 different types of tyre on a car? (Eg: Runflat and Normal)

Pinot Grigio

I went to get new breakpads fitted on my car today. When i went back to collect it the man asked me did i know that it was illegal to have 2 different tyre types on my car. (Front normal, back have run flats).
I have never heard of this....i googled it and also could nt find anything saying that this was 'illegal' in Ireland

anyone know if he s right?

barura

That's a load of toss. People buy their tires in pairs all the time and alternate from front to back, while keeping fresher ones on the front. Run-flat or normal, I can't see it mattering.

Like you said, if you can't find anything online, what reason do you have to believe him?

Pinot Grigio

ohh i dont believe him! ( more so hoping he was nt right) as would nt want to have a crash and then have the insurance company tell me im not covered as im not allowed 2 different types!
Plus the 2 front are new and i was getting rid of the run flats as they re too hard, you feel every bump!

YBTurbo

A load of bull, He was hoping you'd buy new tyres.

Pinot Grigio

He probably was!
I told him id never heard of it...... (but did nt want to go as far as to say he was wrong )

dougie-lampkin

Not at all, the only illegal thing would be having two tyres of a different size or aspect ratio on the same axle.

I don't suppose this was in a place that sells tyres? :pac:

Pinot Grigio

all 4 are the same size!
and yes, they do sell tyres
Mind you I def would'nt be buying them of him !!

L-M

Get a microphone, and put it on you, or a small camera.

Go into him again, and ask him if he's sure about that Law and ask him what his best price to "put it right" would be.

Then come back and name and shame the bastard.

Pinot Grigio

That bastard is right
Plus I think your safe in Limerick...he s in Galway!

Possibly trying to get one over a girl...who he assumed knew nothing about car....sheesh! the cheek!

L-M

Pinot Grigio wrote: »

That bastard is right
Plus I think your safe in Limerick...he s in Galway!

Possibly trying to get one over a girl...who he assumed knew nothing about car....sheesh! the cheek!

I was being serious, it's annoying to see it and it he should be stopped in his tracks.

Pinot Grigio

Hmmmm
I would have assumed stupidity on his part....as opposed to purposefully lying to me to get me to buy new tyres....!:rolleyes:

L-M

Pinot Grigio wrote: »

Hmmmm
I would have assumed stupidity on his part....as opposed to purposefully lying to me to get me to buy new tyres....!:rolleyes:

Assumption is the mother of all F ups!

Wexfordian

Assuming for the sake of it that he isn't just trying to sell you tyres (which he probably was) it sounds more likely he's mixing up the concepts of "illegal" vs "will fail your NCT" and the various rules about mixing tyres which may or may not apply to in this case (ie it might be a radial run flat on a car with all others being cross ply)

1 Tyres fitted to individual axles are not of the same size, aspect
ratio or type (i.e. cross ply or radial ply). See note (b) below.
2 Radial ply tyres are fitted to the front wheels
but not to the rear wheels.
3 Speed rating of tyres cannot be determined on inspection
or is insufficient for maximum legal speed limit.
4 Space saving tyre fitted on an axle.
5 Tyre protrudes beyond bodywork.
6 Any tyre fitted in the incorrect direction (directional
tyres) or wrong side out (asymmetrical tyres).

Pinot Grigio

ahh you say ' more likely he's mixing up the concepts of "illegal" vs "will fail your NCT"'

The car passed its NCT 4 weeks ago! and i told him that also .....

L-M

Tyres can be as wide or as skinny as they want, but they must be the same on axle. So you could have two huge on the back and two small up front, as long as they're the same.

Wexfordian

Limerick man wrote: »

Tyres can be as wide or as skinny as they want, but they must be the same on axle. So you could have two huge on the back and two small up front, as long as they're the same.

Sorry, OP did specify different axles didn't he. In that case the tyre guy is just acting the b*ll*cks.

Voodoomelon

"Tyre protrudes beyond bodywork."

That's an interesting one, didn't know that.

L-M

Wexfordian wrote: »

Sorry, OP did specify different axles didn't he. In that case the tyre guy is just acting the b*ll*cks.

Yes, yes she did...

pudzey101

It cant be illegal :eek:

My car past the NCT with 4 different ones, but all had the correct tyre tread dept:)

L-M

pudzey101 wrote: »

It cant be illegal :eek:

My car past the NCT with 4 different ones, but all had the correct tyre tread dept:)

Aye but they must have been the same size on axle.

bazz26

It is recommended not to mix run flat tyres and non run flat tyres even on seperate axles as they have different characteristics to each other which will effect the car's handling.

Your man saying it was "illegal" was either a misinterpretation of the above or a scare tactic into trying to sell a tyre.

Nissan doctor

Having runflats on one axle and standard tyres on the other would not be recommended by the car manufacturer, the tyres manufacturers or any motoring organisation....but it isn't illegal either.