All the big chains - ATS, Kwik Fit, Hi-Q and National are generally geared up to serve the fleet market.
Most fleet drivers don't care what a replacement tyre costs as they just pull out the company credit card or the bill is picked up by a leasing company. To fleet drivers, time is money, and they'll pay over the odds to be mobile.
This means that prices are high for branded tyres. (All outlets do sell cheap/budget tyres to attract punters so they can check brakes, exhausts, steering and suspension components for wear and hopely drum up more business).
There is a large band of independents who service the private and performance market who have extremely competitive prices. My old Saab company car tyres cost approx. £180 from Kwik-Fit and £84 from Elite Tyres in Rainham, Essex. OK, I had to drive 30 miles extra to get the cheaper tyres but I was happier that fitters who also deal with Porsches and Lambos were playing with my car! I guessed that if they had experience with expensive rims then they would have no probs with mine.
Kwik-Fit told me that the front wheel bearings were worn and quoted a price to fix it. Fearing the worse and faced with driving a dangerous car, I took the car imeediately to my Saab dealer. The check revealed no problems! Another attempt to drum up business by Kwik-Fit!
