My front tyre (a Bridgestone BT014) went pop in spectacular style yesterday morning. I had the bike recovered to Watlings and a new tyre fitted, a BT020.
I was charged £94 (including fitting, balancing etc). Does this seem a little excessive to anyone else or is it just me?
I didn’t have much choice at the time, so just went with it…
I pay about £90 for my Avon rear and about £70 for my front from Essential Rubber… got no idea how much the bridgestones are but it may give you an idea.
I have been quoted more than that in the past for an 020 for the front of my CB1300, which I believe is the same size/profile… also been quoted a bit less… so it’s about right really especially given the circumstance.
I wanted an 020 on there. 014s were never quite right on the CBF. There’s a bit of a story but in short, it had 057Rs on it, they were replaced with 014s which I didn’t like. The rear wore really quickly so it had an 020 put on it, the front still running on an 014 (until it went pop yesterday, obviously). So I’ve chucked an 020 on the front now.
About Standaed, paid £120 for a 014 rear in Watlings, couldnt get it any cheaper unless I bought the tyre on-line and then found some-one to fit it for me.
Bike tyres don’t usually go pop. It would be extremely dangerous if it happend while riding. You could lose control of the bike, crash and died. How did it happen? It might be worth taking some photos and writting a strongly worded letter to Bridgestone. Sounds like manufacturer defect. You’d get your money back.