Tyres & Brakes Recommendations Please

buckethat on 17/03/2021 - 19:03
Last edited 17/03/2021 - 19:26 by 1 other user

Hello hello,

Just got my car serviced and have been informed that I'll need to change my tyres and brakes.

Brake discs - $78 x 2 = $156
Front brakes pads = $110
Labour = $90
Cheap tyres $114 x4 = $456
Wheel alignment = $80

Are these prices reasonable? Should I source these myself and get them to do it?

I see a deal for Bridgestone Ecopia EP300 for $140 ea with Buy 3 Get 1 Free deal so $420 total.

Or Continental UltraContact for $159 ea with $50 cashback (I presume each)? So $436 total.

I'm assuming these are better than 'cheap tyres'.. or perhaps these ARE cheap tyres? I'm honestly not sure cause I have no clue about these sort of things. A bit apprehensive about cheap tyres cause last time I got them replaced based on the shops recommendation, it was noticeably shittier than what I had on before, which if memory serves.. was Bridgestone. Car is 2012 Camry.

• 

  pegaxs on 17/03/2021 - 19:14

  +10

  Prices for discs, pads and labour seem pretty reasonable actually (for a change). Also, check with your mechanic if they will even allow you to supply the parts as a lot of them won’t fit supplied parts. Outside that, you are not really going to save big bucks on this, as it’s already pretty cheap.

  As for tyres, you could ring around a few places and check if they are cheaper elsewhere.

  Best to do a wheel alignment after fitting a new set of tyres and $60 to $80 would be about what I would expect.

  • 

    buckethat on 17/03/2021 - 19:25

    Cheers, will do that. Seems like the mech is not ripping me off, which is a nice surprise.

• 

  spackbace on 17/03/2021 - 19:18

  +6

  First off, props for not buying the $50k Beemer. Secondly, as peg said above, those prices seem reasonable. Drop the car into a tyre shop and just ask for what they recommend. As we're about to come into winter, don't get the cheapest possible option, otherwise you'll just be annoyed as it could handle worse, could be noisier etc. Difference could only be $200 for the set, between crap and good tyres. Don't cheapen out here

  • 

    pegaxs on 17/03/2021 - 19:20

    +6

    Yep, this is what I say, never cheap out on brakes or tyres. I get that people don’t want to spend anything on their car, but sometimes spending more will pay off later on.

    • 

      bobbified on 17/03/2021 - 19:51

      but sometimes spending more will pay off later on.

      Brakes and tyres are one of those things - most people won't know or realise when that extra they spent on it has "paid off". And some will even attribute a save to their own "awesome driving skills"! lol

  • 

    buckethat on 17/03/2021 - 19:23

    +1

    Oh god, OzB doesn't forget. Honestly, idk what I was thinking back then and I'm glad I didn't go through with it.

    If the brakes and labour are fair, might just go with it then. Just realised the tyre I linked was 16" where as mine are 17" so it will be a couple dollars more yet. Might just have a stop at bobjane tomorrow and see what they say.

• 

  dogboy on 17/03/2021 - 19:28

  +1

  That seems very cheap.

• 

  jdmderick on 17/03/2021 - 19:54

  -2

  TYROOLA.COM.AU - the cheapest tyres you can get

  • 

    brendanm on 17/03/2021 - 20:45

    +7

    Not true.

• 

  Cheeper on 17/03/2021 - 19:56

  +1

  Both those tyres are ok, better than "cheap" tyres. If you can afford a little more go for Michelin. They will last a lot longer and maybe work out cheapest in the long run.
  If the car steers ok and the old tyres wore evenly then dont waste money on an alignment.
  Pad price seems reasonable but do you need new rotors?

• 

  brendanm on 17/03/2021 - 20:44

  +1

  Brake prices seem fine. Don't get cheap Chinese rubbish tyres, as you have found, you can get quality tyres for around the same price.

  • 

    BLAIL on 18/03/2021 - 02:40

    which brands are the ones you're referring as rubbish? genuinely curious

    • 

      brendanm on 18/03/2021 - 07:41

      The cheap Chinese ones. Winrun, Viking, rapid etc. Any that aren't the normal tyre brands you know basically.

• 

  netjock on 17/03/2021 - 22:00

  Confirm what these cheap tyres actually are. It is just pure speculation right now. I would be surprised if cheap doesn't mean at least Hankooks (South Korean)

  • 

    buckethat on 17/03/2021 - 23:03

    I'm unsure if you are implying that 'at least Hankooks' means that its actually decent. Will ask tomorrow.

• 

  USER DC on 17/03/2021 - 23:53

  Often times mechanics just say bs, try to make customers spend money when its not needed, so have a second opinion,

  otherwise have a look on ebay for brake pads and rotors,

  I recommend bendix brake pads (around $50-70) and any good brand rotors (around $60-120) are generally good e.g. protex, rda, dba etc.

  For tyres inspect them yourself, only get new tyres if old ones are quite worn, and alignment needed only if the tyre is wearing unevenly.

• 

  Baysew on 18/03/2021 - 05:39

  +3

  I would stick with with these major tyre brands - (order is in size of manufacturer)

  Bridgestone (Japan)
  Michelin (France)
  Goodyear (Dunlop) (USA)
  Continental (Germany)
  Sumitomo (Falken) (Japan)
  Pirelli (Italy)
  Hankook (South Korea)
  Yokohama (Japan)
  Toyo (Japan)
  Kumho (South Korea)

• 

  Brian McGee on 18/03/2021 - 07:41

  +1

  Or Continental UltraContact(bobjane.com.au) for $159 ea with $50 cashback (I presume each)? So $436 total.

  Nope, $50 total cashback on a purchase of 4 x 14” – 16” Continental branded passenger, SUV or 4x4 tyres that have been purchased from Continental Tyres of Australia.

• 

  andrek on 19/03/2021 - 12:10

  +3

  Check https://www.tyrecompare.com.au/, you can find a few good deals there. That's for tyres only, not brake pads/rotors.
  Call a few local Bob Jane T-Marts or similar tyre places, they often have 4for3 deals. If in Sydney, also try https://www.aaatyrefactory.com.au/
  Don't go with cheap tyres, they'll most likely will wear out much sooner. Pick something from Baysew's list above. If still not sure - find out what tyres Toyota fits to your Camry in the factory and go with those.