Would you pay R3 600 to replace two tyres on a run-of-the-mill family hatchback, especially if one of the tyres is in a perfect condition? Neither would I…
Let’s backtrack. A few weeks ago, colleague Juliet McGuire borrowed the Focus to run some errands when she heard a noise emanating from the left rear of the vehicle. Soon after, a fellow commuter gestured at the Focus’s rear tyre. It had a puncture. Juliet pulled over, replaced it with the space-saver spare and informed me of the issue.
Foolishly, I thought repairing the tyre (which was punctured by a stone shard and is a 17-inch item, part of the optional Trend package) would be the work of a few minutes at my nearest tyre shop. Unfortunately, the inside lining of the Michelin was too damaged to fix, so a new tyre was needed. And that’s when the hassle started…
After phoning numerous tyre shops across the Cape Peninsula, from Athlone to Zeekoevlei, and having been informed that none of them have stock, I contacted Michelin South Africa, only to find out that this tyre is not being imported to SA and that it’s fitted only to European-spec Focuses. Now, our long-term cars are run in the same manner you would use your vehicle; we have them serviced to our account and any non-warranty items are paid for by CAR. I managed to find a similar-size Michelin tyre that is imported to SA, but would then have had to replace the other rear tyre, too. Total? An eye-watering R3 600.
In the interim, Ford South Africa was informed of the tyre dilemma and found a similar tyre in its stockpile. The problem was solved, but the fact remains that, had I been the owner of the vehicle, I would have had to buy two tyres instead of one.
My advice would be to confirm that the OE tyre is available in this country before buying your Focus (the tyres come in different sizes depending on the model). It’s worth the effort, because the Ford is still one of the best vehicles in its segment and has me under its spell.
SO FAR
Mileage on arrival: 1 207 km
Mileage now: 6 890 km
Fuel consumption: 9,23 L/100 km
We like: spacious cabin, commodious boot
We don’t like: non-availability of tyres, polarising exterior design