Reviews A1 TOP TREAD TYRES

This is not a claim of wrongdoing, but a warning to others about poor accountability and customer service from a small back street tyre business. A1
I took my car in for two tyre replacements. There were no prior issues with the vehicle. One of the wheels was difficult to remove and was hit repeatedly with significant force.
Within five minutes of leaving the garage, I noticed a warning light had appeared indicating a power steering/sensor issue. I immediately returned to the garage and raised my concerns.
I was told the issue was unrelated and that I “probably just needed the tracking adjusted.” I was also spoken to dismissively by one staff member and made to feel like my concerns were not valid. The owner did not intervene.
To verify this, I took the car to another garage, who confirmed that the tracking was within normal specifications, ruling that out as the cause.
I returned to the original garage. Following further discussion, they recommended I take to another garage for a diagnostic check (at my cost of £80) to determine whether the issue was linked to the wheel removal. This diagnostic identified errors relating to the power steering alignment/calibration.

Again, I returned to the original garage. The fitter then asked if he could take the car to a colleague’s workshop for a second opinion. I agreed and the same fault codes were present, and a recalibration was recommended.
At this point, the fitter agreed to refund the diagnostic cost and stated they would cover the recalibration (if supported in writing).
I then had the recalibration completed by the manufacturer, who confirmed that the issue was likely caused by the force used when removing the wheel, which can travel through:
• Hub, Knuckle, Tie rod, Steering rack
This can:
• Disturb alignment
• Strain steering components
• Trigger steering-related fault codes
The manufacturer were willing to discuss their findings directly with the tyre fitter.
I returned to the original garage with:
• The diagnostic report
• The invoice
• Contact details for the manufacturer
However, the fitter was reluctant to contact the manufacturer and instead claimed:
• The fault was “common” – confirmed by other mechanics known to him and You Tube.
• They were not responsible because they “did not touch the steering sensor”
This completely ignores the fact that force transmitted through the wheel assembly can affect steering alignment and trigger sensor errors — something confirmed by the manufacturer.
I also pointed out that he repeatedly referenced his 18 years of experience yet claimed this was a “common fault.” If that were truly the case, then it reinforces my concern — because any common risks associated with the work should be clearly explained to customers before it is carried out. Customers have the right to be informed of potential consequences, just as they would be with any other professional service.
As the tyre fitter was reluctant to contact the manufacturer directly, I did so myself to explain the situation. I also mentioned that the fitter had made unrelated and unsubstantiated claims criticising a manufacturer’s standards, which had no relevance to my case. His response criticised the manufacturer and provided an unrelated example, claiming that a customer had attended his garage shortly after a manufacturer health check, despite allegedly having dangerously worn tyres that should not have passed inspection. This anecdote was not relevant to my situation, could not be verified, and appeared to be used to undermine the credibility of the manufacturer rather than address the issue at hand. It did not inspire confidence in the way my concerns were being handled.
When I relayed this to the manufacturer, the fitter stated that it was irrelevant. I agreed that it was not directly related to my case; however, he had introduced the point himself during our discussion, and I felt it was appropriate for the manufacturer to be aware of the comments. In particular, they were being used to question the manufacturer’s credibility rather than to address the actual issue I had raised.
The outcome of the call was that the manufacturer could not definitively prove that the wheel removal caused the issue, but equally, the tyre fitter was unable to rule it out.
Despite earlier assurances they refused to reimburse the recalibration cost and instead attempted to suggest the issue was caused by my driving overlocking the steering.