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Hi Gearoidin,

The NCT checks for condition and tread depth mostly and will fail on those items and if the tyre is not the right specification for the car. There is a note in the NCT manual, however, for the tester to advise the owner if the tyres are more than six years old. Most tyre makers recommend that, even with very light use, you should not use a tyre that's more than ten years old as the internal structure starts to break down.

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Hi Ian,

Cracking car, but yes, you do get a good bit of tyre noise, especially in the back. Take it for a good test drive on the nearest motorway or dual carriageway to see if it's too noisy for you.

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Hi Martin,

Only around €1,500 I'm afraid. 

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Hi Hugh,

OK, first off - well done. You obviously have sensitive driving senses. Most people probably wouldn't have noticed. Secondly, BMW's steering has gotten noticeably heavier over the years - basically as a way of adding more "sporty feeling" (inverted commas author's own) to the car as less and less real road feel is transmitted. So it's partially built in to the design of the car.

As for changing the tyres. It might help - changing the tyre, especially if you change the brand of the tyre, can have an effect on steering effort and it's possible that a switch to low rolling resistance tyres may lighten the steering a bit. But it won't make an enormous difference, and I'd seriously advise you not to change from runflats to conventional tyres - the car was designed around runflats and you could be setting yourself up for an evening on a wet hard shoulder, with no spare wheel, if you swap out the runflats.

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Hi Irene,

Engine size means less than it used to, especially when comparing a petrol engine to a diesel one. That Hyundai will be more economical and cheaper to tax than the 1.4 petrol Golf from 2008. Saying that, if most of your driving is in town there won't be a big advantage for the diesel, but it should still use less fuel overall.

A larger car such as the i40 is likely to be a bit heavier on things like tyres, but it's newer than your Golf so shouldn't need tyres for a while. 

Hope that all helps 

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Hi there,

Well, the 207 CC was certainly better-built than the 206 CC that preceded it, but you have to buy carefully - they're pretty heavy cars, so suspension and steering problems are common, as is high tyre wear. Electrical faults need to be watched out for too, and the roof mechanism is a constant source of angst - although you can manually wind it up or down with a wheelbrace if it gets stuck half-way, which is a common issue. 

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Hi Aiden,

No, you're not missing anything. French cars, and big French saloons in particular, always suffer staggering depreciation and the 407 is not a car that's especially loved by the used trade. 

There's nothing much mechanically wrong with them but make sure you check that all of the electrical bits and pieces are working, and check the cabin for loose or ill-fitting pieces of trim. Then check the suspension, especially at the front, for any damage. Listen for clonking or knocking noises and check the tyres for signs of uneven wear.

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Hi Matt,

We asked Ford for an official adjudication on this, and here is the response:

"Each vehicle/wheel has a specific offset and wheel width regardless of tyre size. The 7.5J x 18 referenced for the Kuga wheel means that that wheel is 7.5 inches in width and the S-MAX referenced is running 7J x 17 meaning the wheels originally fitted were seven inches in width. Therefore, the answer from Ford is no - we would only recommend like for like replacements."

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Hi Elaine,

We'd suggest you up your tyre pressures all round by 2psi if you're going to be carrying that many more people, but as we don't know what type of car you have it's best to follow the manufacturer advice. There's usually a diagram showing the correct ratings either inside the fuel filler flap or on one of the front door frames - visible with the door open only.

It's not unusual for tyre fitters to recommend putting a higher pressure in your spare, but really we'd say that's too high. Stick to 40psi if it's a spare that's not easily accessible and checked often, as it will likely lose pressure over time. If, however, it's easy to get at, keep it at the right pressure and check it monthly.

Hope that all helps

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Hi Niall,

Probably around €8k retail or €6,500 - €7,000 as a trade-in.