The matter in summary The price of new tires has increased by 20-50 per cent, according to tire dealers. Tire centers are finding that more people are now choosing to cut back on quality to save money. NAF warns against driving with bad tires and believes it is a safety risk. The price increase is due to the fact that much of the tire production has been in Russia. NAF advises people to change tires when the tread depth approaches four millimeters or the tires are six years old. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – It is clear that it costs money, but it is cheap insurance to stay on the road, says Morten Bjønnes. This week he had to shell out NOK 8,600 when he had to have four new winter tires for his car, a MINI Countryman. Then he would also have received a good discount. – It should be cheaper because it is a security for all of us. Not everyone can buy tires. Then people might choose bad tires and quickly slide off the road, he says. Decreasing quality Tire dealers that news has been in contact with believe that the price of tires has increased by between 20 and 50 per cent this year. – Many people are shocked, says general manager at Nenset tire center in Skien, Morten Gran. Morten Gran, general manager at Nenset dekksenter, Photo: Theodor Aasland Valen / news If you have a large car with large wheels, such as an SUV or a well-equipped electric car, four new tires can mean an expense of NOK 15,000–20,000, he says . – People don’t always know how to manage such a large expense, says Gran. Tire centers have tires in three categories: The best tires cost NOK 13–15,000, while medium quality tires cost NOK 10–12,000. The cheapest ones cost NOK 8,000. – People are surprised. It is significantly more expensive than two years ago, says Fredrik Bergan, general manager of Bergan and Ståland in Skien. Photo: Theodor Aasland Valen / news Tire dealers are finding that more people are now choosing to cut back on quality to save money. – They choose a notch lower quality in terms of price. We see that clearly. It mostly goes for mid-range tyres, says Fredrik Bergan, general manager of Bergan and Ståland in Skien. Some also skip changing tires and choose to drive on the old ones. – There are many people who are just going to drive a little more, even though we say they should change their tyres. It is clear that it creates dangerous situations for others, says Jon Gravir in Jons Dekk & Felg in Porsgrunn. The general manager of Jons Dekk & Felg, Jon Gravir, feels that some are willing to take bad measures. Photo: Theodor Aasland Valen / news Warns against cheap tires NAF is concerned that the price increase could lead to people driving with bad tyres. – At a time when the prices of everything are rising, there is a danger that people will not change tires because of the cost, says senior communications adviser at NAF, Nils Sødal. – Buy tires according to the conditions you mostly drive in everyday, advises Nils Sødal, communications advisor at NAF. Photo: NAF This is not where you should save, he advises. – It’s about safety for yourself and your loved ones, and everyone else who travels in traffic, says Sødal. Up to NOK 10,000 can be expected to pay for four new tyres, according to Sødal. He warns against choosing the cheapest tires. The NAF test of this year’s tires showed that eight-year-old test winners were as good as the cheapest budget tires. That says the most about the quality of the cheap tyres, says Sødal. – It is important to spend money on tyres. It is the contact the car has with the road and the surface, he says. Access is not a problem The tread depth on winter tires must be at least three millimeters. If it approaches four millimeters, you should change, Sødal advises. – If the tires are six years old, it is wise to replace them. The price increase is due to the fact that much of the tire production has been in Russia, explains Sødal. – Last year it was difficult to get hold of tires because of this. This year there is no problem with access, but prices have increased, he says.
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Concerned that tire price increases could lead to dangerous road situations – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
