Where do you get your tyres from?

Hello all,

Just conducting some market research.

I am hoping to relocate in the south of Spain possibly in the Malaga area, and will more than likely be setting up a mobile tyre fitting service for cars, vans, scooters, mopeds, motorcycles etc, just like the one I run here in the UK. My business is called Homefit tyres, so the re-badge would probably be:-  Hogar Adjuste Neumaticos.

We have recently visited Andalusia on a 'fact finding mission' and I noticed tyres on sale in Carrefour supermarkets. These were budget tyres (Armstrong's) and they seemed very expensive compared to budget tyres in the UK.

Can anyone tell me please, is the Feu Vert garage adjacent to the Carrefour (in Malaga) fitting tyres purchased in Carrefour for free? or do Feu Vert charge on top for fitting?

Also does anyone have any input as to the likely feassability of such a service? I can't seem to find any internet info on anyone providing a mobile fitting service in the south of Spain. Perhaps you know better?? Can it really be an untapped market?  I have seem there are Taller's on many street corners carrying out maintenace on cars and bikes, but I really think the opportunities are there for someone prepared to work at it.

Thanks in anticipation.

Ioan

Hi, we buy tyres from Narauto, we go there because they usually have what you want, they do charge for the extras though, valves etc. We did try a small independent tyre fitter but didn't have the correct tyres, but could order them etc, I only drive a Fiat panda so nothing unusual. Tyres are very expensive in Spain. You would have to be very competitive on your prices.

Thanks very much for your prompt reply.

I thought tyres were expensive over there. I will hopefully be able to negotiate a good deal with some suppliers as I have in the UK.

I am competetive because I am a 1 man band with no fitters to pay every friday afternoon, no premises rates to pay etc.

Fiat panda, possibly 165/55 13 if i'm not mistaken. I can supply, fit and balance your wheels with new valves and disposal of the old tryes for £32 each. thats about 35.56 Euros. each. Is that a good deal, bearing in mind you dont have to go looking. I'm just a phonecall or email away, and I fit them at your choice of location. Home, workplace etc.

Hello again, what and where is Narauto please.? Thanks

 This is actually one of my pet subjects!

I am obsessed about tyres.  

I have Bridstone Potenza RE050 tyes on my boy-racer-mobile (Golf GTI).  The main dealer quoted me 300 Euros per tyre.  The local garage down the road quoted me 200 Euros per tyre!  Quite a difference really.  That price included fiting.

I have never come across a mobile tyre service here.  I think it's a great idea.  I would definitely use it.

The main problem you will have is that you will only be able to cater to the expat market unless you are already fluent in Spanish.

Also, you will need to change the name!  "Hogar Adjuste Neumatico" doesn't actually make a lot of sense.  I would go with something like "TeleNeumaticos" or "Nuematico Directo", playing on existing businesses that use that style of name but in a different market.

Best of luck with it, I think it's a great idea.

Justin

Well thanks Justin,

I appreciate the input. My Spanish (obviously a work in progress) is something I want to perfect. To that end my intention is to employ a Spanish speaker. I will teach him/her the tyre game, and learn the language from him/her. Eventually I would like to have a number of units on the road.

The price for the Potenzas seems very high to me. I'm not sure what size they are, they could be several. But my competetive edge is (as stated below), I will have no premises therefore no business overhead. Who knows, I may even get an incentive for employing a local. Either way I am becoming more and more convinced, the service will be successful. Provided I offer my service at a good price, at a convenient location and time (the convenience is the real hook of what I do). I am ex-military so lateness, inflexibility or unreliability are cardinal sins. I work 7 days a week and hate to let anyone down.

Thanks very much also for the language lesson. I quite like 'Teleneumaticos', so I hope you haven't registered that name  ;)

Oh, do you know anything about a deal between Carrefour and Feu Vert, I would really like to know if tyres bought at Carrefour are fitted free at Feu Vert or if there is an additional charge.

Cheers Ioan

 i just checked with a friend and he says that if you buys the tyres in Carrefour, Feu Vert fit them free of charge.  You just have to show your receipt.

By the way, Jayce mention Norauto, they are a big chain in Spain, a bit like Halfords in the UK.

Justin

Thanks again Justin, very useful info.

We will be back on the 6th February for a week, so the research continues.

Ioan

I had to buy a tyre from Feu Vert for a journey back to UK the other week.

I bought the cheapest they had, probably a cheap Chinese make, still cost Euros 110 including fitting, I could have got a top of the range back here in UK for the same money.

I hope you have success.

Yeah - me too!

I bought 4 new tyres for my Audi from Feu Vert and although they are probably some of the best tyres - Pirelli P7's - it stil set me back 750 euros ....

I think you could do very well with this service

Holy Smokes,

Alcaidesa, Lizzie, thank you so much for that insight. I would consider filling a 28 ft container in the UK and shipping it to Malaga once a month. I could even come home, fill my van and trailer and return once a fortnight/month. (I need to find out what the customs and excise and legal implications would be of doing just that, we are all in the EU so my guess is that I could just do that??).

I can't believe those prices they are ridiculous. I think someone somewhere is having a laugh! at the motorists expense.

Again thank you.

Ioan

HI, dont know if we are allowed to mention company names or not but there is a great German guy in Fuengirola called Mark who stocks a huge range of new and second hand tyres of all shapes and sizes and makes. I have used him (as do most of the other car traders I know ) for over 6 years now. There was also a guy called Steve who did a mobile service and specialised in bike tyres but could get whatever anybody needed but not sure if he is still around or not. As for the cost of tyres even he cant compete with some of the prices in the UK. I have just had 4 (295/40/20") delivered from the UK for 420 sterling for a mid range brand (still rated to 160MPH) which is extremely good value that even Mark couldnt match so it does pay to shop around although most of the time Mark is the best locally by far

Hope that helps!

Hi Ioan

Not sure about the area you are thinking of going to as we are in San Javier.

But, could you pm me your number here in Cardiff as both kids are driving now and God only knows what they do to wear their tyres like they do.

I was reading your post about go kart tyres, that might be a good idea, there is a go kart place near san javier airport, so would think there might be one in the area you are going to.

Wish you all the best in your venture

Hi loan,

sounds like great idea to me!

Tell me though, do you manage to do the necessary balancing as well, locating weights on the inside of the wheel?

I will need Toyo tyres on my RAV4, Sol model, sometime next year, so you may have a customer if you locate somebody nearer to San Javier area and the prices are right!

Good luck with your venture!!

Hello Pilgrim,

yes I do have a Hofmann balancing machine on my van. When I relocate, I will sell my business here in Wales and fit out a LHD van for use in Spain with the same type of Hofmann gear. I personnally think it is some of the best available.

The other thing with a balancing machine on the van, Because it is continuously on the move, I calibrate my balancer every 10 -14 days. I wouldn't like to comment on how often or not most shop fitted balancers are calibrated.???

Next year will be a bit early for me but I will be there as soon as I can.

Thanks

Ioan

 Buy tyres from a bloke who is  "A Mate" and you will land in trouble.  Tyres are very reasonably priced here in Spain. Go to a reputable dealer and get the job done properly.

Aelred

Thanks,

I hope the consensus is that tyres are reasonably priced in Spain. I will make a fortune.

 I am currently in the market for two tyres for the wife's trusty Yaris and have been doing some online searching because the local guy charged me close to 100€ for one tyre last time (I didn't know that was expensive being quite naive on car matters).  Norauto seem to be charging 30-50€ depending on the make including fitting.  I found one online company that fits at your home and their charges are all inclusive and start at 43€ going up sharply for makes I have heard of (i-neumaticos.es)

I like the idea of home delivery and fitting and I think you'll get plenty of takers at least among the English-speaking community.   If you want to research the Spanish competition type in "neumaticos montaje a domicilio" to google.es.  There were guys offering home fitting all-in for 35€ but in Barcelona.

I am going with Norauto I think depending on what they are like when I ring for an appointment and confirm prices.  I was going to go with their Firestone at 32,95€

Thank you very much Bakeja,

that is very useful information. More and more people are recognising the benefits and convenience of having their tyres fitted where and when you want. Good luck with the tyre fitting. I think 100 Euros for one tyre to fit a Toyota Yaris is a little extreme. I don't know what Brand of tyre it was but I bet it wasn't gold plated.

I think despite a recent comment to the contrary, there is great scope in the South of Spain for my business.

As for my potential customer base, Obviously the ex pat market is huge, but my intention is to employ a local who can teach me the language, ( already a work in progress) liaise with the locals, and learn the tyre business. Eventually running a vehicle on his own.

I fitted 2 Firestones to a Yaris back in August and they were £34.70 each including vat, new valves, balancing and environmental disposal of old tyres. The job was carried out at the ladies office while she was working. Lots of her colleagues saw me doing the job, the lady put my business card on the board in the canteen, and I got a fair bit of follow on work out of it.

Thanks again for your comments and advice.

Ioan

I recently priced tyres in Almeria area for my Iveco Daily van 215/75 -16 and the cheapes price I could get from the tyre dealers here was € 130 + IVA.

 A customer of mine from Cardiff told me about  a tyre dealer in Pontypridd who had been in Which magazine as one of the cheapes tyre dealers in the UK.

I then had a pick up to do in Porth,South Wales which was only about 3 miles away from this tyre depot and I organised to pick up 5 new tyres for the van and they cost me £52 each including VAT.

That was from Valley Tyre Service Ltd.

I brought them back to Spain in the lorry and had them fitted in the local Iveco garage and cost me € 20.

ioaned are you the man the Valley tyre boss was telling me about who is planning the mobile service?Surely too much of a coincidence to have 2 tyre fitters from Wales going to Spain with the same plan.

Best of luck when it happens anyway.