On average, how long should car tyres last?

It depends on lots of things afaik - like what car it is, weight distribution, how your drive it, that kind of thing.

The car I drive is just over 2 years old and just over 30k miles and hasn't had any tyres changed yet which I think is quite good.

See, mine is just over 2 years old and done just under 14,000 miles, and I've just had to have all 4 replaced.....it makes me wonder if I drive worse than I think! (I'm currently doing my advanced test though so this should help a bit)

Have you still got the Golf Gti?

Fronts should really last around 20 - 25k with the rears a lot longer. What can happen is that the dealer rotates them at service so they all wear evenly. Tbh, unless you have a 4wd car this is pointless but can extend the period between tyre changes but does mean they all normally need replacing at the same time.

I don't think I've ever had to replace the back wheels on any car unless it's been burst.

I drive an automatic which helps I think.

Yes, I've still got the Golf GTI. I guess as it was an ex-demo car it might have been thrashed a bit in the 3 months before I got it, and they did warn me at its 1 year service that two of the tyres were getting low (@ about 8000 miles)

It's just had its 2 year service and all 4 needed replacing.

I've never knowingly skidded so maybe I do need to pay more attention to my driving style. The advanced test I've just started is all about smooth, progressive driving so hopefully this might help.

Is this at a main VW dealer? I would strongly suggest that you do not let them do the tyres for you. Go to Kwik fit or something and get them to have a look, also, they will be cheaper.

14k for 4 tyres is very very low, even if it had a very hard life as an ex demo. My 911 turbo goes through tyres at a similar rate and I am leaden footed!

Yes, it's the VW main dealer. Sadly they've already done it as the service was Friday and I needed the car to be legal on Sat am to go away for the w/e. I didn't have time Friday afternoon to sort it out myself somewhere cheaper, so they did it there and then. I didn't want to risk getting 12 points for illegal tyres (ignorance is bliss sometimes, but sadly no defence!)

Talking of cars, I don't suppose you've seen any good reviews for the Fiat 500 have you? LOL. I love the look of it, but none of the reviews I've seen have been great (other than saying it looks lovely and quirky...but that they'll be common as muck soon)

If I were to go all green and get a more sensible car, then this is what I would look at.

I have driven the 500 and it is a triumph of design over substance. Personally I love it and think it is uber cool. Granted it is a poor drive and the engine and gearbox are like complete strangers, normally I would hate this type of thing but for me, its what a 500 should be.

I am not so sure that it will become that common, and if it does, so what. It will be the coolest common car about. I would naturally suggest an Arbath version but that would miss your point really ?

Please please, tell your dealer that in future they are not to do your tyres. I would really doubt the need to change all 4 at 14K and also, you have probably just paid massively over the odds.

Thanks Lannie.

I promise I won't take it to the main dealer again...as soon as it needs MOTing next year anyway, then I would take it elsewhere to get it serviced and MOTed.

crikey - my h changes his fronts about ever 30k and rears last longer. He thrashes his car and has been known (at least a couple of times a month) to burn his brakes slightly. But then I guess it depends on the tyre type - I thnk he goes for pirellis or firestones or something.

ummm, what exactly is 'burning' his brakes?

he has a habit of accelerating quite quickly. On the black country route theres lots of roundabouts with bushes blocking your view so he'll accelerate up to 70 and then have to brake hard. This causes the brakes to cook nicely and even when he gets home 10 minutes later they have a lovely burning smell.

Ok, not sure how this happens. Brake fade testing is something we/I do an awful lot of. I have never, not once made a cars brakes fade to burn on public roads, no matter how hard I try,

We do 100 to stop - 100 to stop - 100 to stop - 100 to stop and 100 to stop testing on tracks and they always fade and never burn, I haven't seen brakes catch fire in years.

I would guess that your H either trys to heel and toe and sits with his heel on the brake pedal or there is a problem with the car.

I think it's rubbish pads (and pushing it a little too much - it's only an almera) - they produce a hell of a lot of brake dust too. he keeps saying he's going to replace them but never get around to it.