[belfast4]

Received an email today, you have now used your 8 tyre allowance. We will not be paying for anymore. If you need another tyre even if it is a puncture you will have to replace the tyre yourself.

At the bottom of the email it says here is a 10% discount code for Kwik fit. If I needed a tyre I would certainly not be going to kwik fit to pay their exorbitant prices for tyres.

Topic

[Phaedra]

Used 3 of mine up on Tuesday! good job I’ve only got it for another 4-5 months and I’m away for quite a bit of that so won’t be driving much!!!

Please excuse spelling/typos. Apart from being a clot it turns out I had one on my cerebellum that's now causing various problems!

[Falcon1]

is it really that stark?! the mail that had been sent to many before was a reminder about fair usage and that 8 was a maximum but I think there was wriggle room to argue for more.

2024 Skoda Enyaq estate- 85x Sportline plus in Race Blue. Extras: Supernova 21 inch wheels, Maxx Pack, Transport Pack, Heat Pump and Pano Sunroof.
Ordered 31/10/23, Delivery 27/3/24

[Woodpecker]

Tyres are like that. You dont have a puncture for years, and you say to yourself or partner. I have not had a puncture for years

Then you get 4 in a row ..

@belfast4

You dont have a roofer or joiners van thats parked at your house or something?

Thats a lot….but you can complain, clearly you need more leeway.

[belfast4]

Falcon1 wrote:

is it really that stark?! the mail that had been sent to many before was a reminder about fair usage and that 8 was a maximum but I think there was wriggle room to argue for more.

Kwik Fit has now replaced 8 tyres during your current lease. That means you’ve reached the limit covered in our fair usage policy.

Tyre replacements are included as part of your all-inclusive package. Our fair usage policy helps keep the Scheme affordable and makes sure all customers benefit from our all-inclusive package.

If you need more tyre replacements, you’ll need to pay for these yourself, as well as any tyre repair and maintenance costs. Kwik Fit will confirm the price with you before carrying out any work.

[kezo]

To say MB won’t repair a puncture after reaching the tyre limit under their fair usage policy, is a bit harsh.

If you need more tyre replacements than allowed, your paying with your own money, so can get tyres replaced/repaired where ever you want!

[kdwolf]

@belfast4, see if you can use it as a template. I myself only recently posted, so no reply yet
Credits to @kezo and Co.

Date:  23/07/2026

By Post

Motability Operations
22 Bishopsgate​
6th Floor​
London
EC2N 4BQ

 

Subject: Formal Dispute – Fair Usage Policy Application and Tyre Wear Liability (Ref: your-reference-with-Motability )

 

Dear Motability Scheme Team,

I am writing to formally dispute your decision to impose a Fair Usage Policy limit in respect of tyre replacements on my vehicle, and the resulting assertion that I am now responsible for future tyre costs.

The decision appears to have been reached without adequate consideration of the known wear characteristics of this specific vehicle configuration, well-documented performance issues associated with the OEM tyre fitment, the significantly reduced initial tread depth of the tyres supplied, or my actual usage patterns. Furthermore, your correspondence fails to provide any measurable threshold or evidence that my usage falls outside the bounds of normal operation for a heavy electric SUV.

1. Vehicle and usage context

The vehicle is a Škoda Enyaq 85x SportLine, fitted with 21-inch wheels and Bridgestone Turanza Eco tyres, and has now covered approximately 51,000 miles. This mileage is well within the 60,000-mile allowance for my lease term and constitutes a high-mileage, but entirely normal, usage profile for a Motability lease.

My daily usage consists of a 95-mile round-trip commute on the M3 motorway. This is predominantly steady-speed, low-stress motorway cruising, which is widely recognised as being gentler on tyres than urban or stop-start driving. My commuting pattern therefore cannot reasonably be characterised as “excessive” or “abnormal” usage.

It is widely recognised within both OEM technical documentation and independent automotive analysis that large battery electric SUVs of this type impose significantly higher tyre loadings due to:

High kerb weight (approximately 2.2 tonnes in this specification);
Instant torque delivery to both axles (AWD configuration);
Increased tyre deformation under heavy acceleration and regenerative braking loads;
Large wheel diameters (21-inch) with reduced sidewall compliance, increasing stress on the tread.
These engineering factors materially accelerate tyre wear compared with equivalent internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, a distinction your assessment appears to have entirely overlooked.

2. Known Enyaq tyre wear behaviour

Independent owner reports and technical discussions relating to the Skoda Enyaq platform indicate a recurring pattern of accelerated tyre wear, particularly on 20-inch and 21-inch wheel configurations. This includes:

Inner and outer shoulder wear linked to alignment sensitivity on the Volkswagen MEB platform;
Reduced tyre life in high-mileage usage (frequently reported in the 15,000–25,000-mile range per set, depending on conditions);
Higher-than-expected wear rates on the OEM Bridgestone fitments compared with premium aftermarket alternatives.
Crucially, Skoda has acknowledged this issue through the issuance of a Technical Product Information (TPI) notice, which provides revised dimensions for toe and camber adjustment to address abnormal inner-edge tyre wear on the Enyaq platform (see Bibliography, ref. 3). This demonstrates that the wear characteristics I am experiencing are a recognised engineering characteristic of the vehicle as supplied, not a consequence of my driving habits or excessive usage.

Forum discussions confirm that 21-inch Bridgestone tyres on the Enyaq frequently require replacement at approximately 17,000 miles due to inner-edge wear – a pattern entirely consistent with my own experience.

3. The Bridgestone Turanza Eco (21-inch) – reduced initial tread depth

Your assessment appears to assume a standard tyre service life. However, the Bridgestone Turanza Eco tyres fitted as OEM equipment to my vehicle feature Bridgestone’s Enliten technology, which is designed to reduce weight and rolling resistance to improve efficiency. A direct consequence of this design, widely reported in owner forums and tyre reviews, is a reduced initial tread depth of approximately 5.9 mm to 6.0 mm, compared with the conventional 8.0 mm found on standard passenger and performance tyres (see Bibliography, refs. 1 and 2).

This represents a reduction of approximately 25–26% in available tread rubber from new.

When calculating tyre wear over 51,000 miles, this initial deficit is highly material. In effect, my vehicle has consumed less total rubber across the lease term than a conventional tyre fitment would offer from the outset. Your Fair Usage Policy assessment makes no allowance for this well-documented specification, and therefore materially overstates the degree of wear relative to an industry-standard baseline.

4. The BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear Guide – industry benchmark

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) publishes the recognised industry-standard Fair Wear and Tear Guide, which is widely adopted across the UK leasing sector (see Bibliography, ref. 4).

The Guide defines fair wear and tear as “any acceptable deterioration that occurs on the vehicle during normal usage over the period of the contract”. It requires tyres to exhibit even wear and meet only the legal minimum tread depth of 1.6 mm. It does not set a fixed mileage limit or a fixed number of replacements; rather, it assesses condition relative to the vehicle’s age, mileage, and design characteristics.

On this basis, I submit that:

My tyre wear occurred during normal usage of a heavy electric SUV over 51,000 miles – a distance fully permitted under my lease;
My daily commute is predominantly motorway driving, which is objectively gentler on tyres than urban driving;
The accelerated rate is consistent with the known mechanical characteristics of the MEB platform and the OEM tyre specification;
Your decision is arbitrary because it relies solely on a numerical cap (8 tyres) without any evidence-based comparison against the BVRLA standard or an equivalent objective metric.
I invite you to provide a written explanation, against the BVRLA benchmarks, of how my tyre usage falls outside the definition of fair wear and tear.

5. Deficiencies in your assessment

Your correspondence does not provide:

Any defined numerical threshold for “Fair Usage” in measurable, vehicle-appropriate terms (e.g., miles per millimetre of tread, or cost per mile);
Any differentiation between standard passenger car usage and heavy EV SUV usage;
Any consideration of the OEM tyre specification and its reduced initial tread depth;
Any acknowledgment of the Skoda TPI concerning alignment and inner-edge wear;
Any evidential basis demonstrating abnormal or excessive usage on my part, particularly given that my daily commute is predominantly motorway driving.
In the absence of such information, the application of the policy appears arbitrary and not properly grounded in engineering reality or in your own stated commitment to consider individual circumstances.

6. Position

On the basis of the above, I do not accept that tyre wear in this instance constitutes excessive or non-standard usage. The wear profile is entirely consistent with:

The vehicle’s mass and drivetrain characteristics;
The wheel and tyre specification selected at factory level;
Established real-world EV SUV wear behaviour;
The reduced initial tread depth of the Bridgestone Turanza Eco fitment;
A recognised alignment issue for which the manufacturer has issued a technical bulletin;
My predominantly motorway commuting pattern, which should produce lower wear than urban driving.
Accordingly, I do not accept liability for future tyre replacements arising from normal operational wear of the vehicle as supplied.

7. Required resolution

I request the following without delay:

A full written definition of the Fair Usage Policy threshold applied, including methodology and measurable limits (in miles, tread depth percentage, or replacement interval);
Confirmation of the baseline tyre life assumptions used for the Enyaq 85x or an equivalent EV SUV, specifically accounting for the reduced initial tread depth of the OEM Bridgestone fitment;
A complete record of tyre replacements on my vehicle, including mileage at each replacement and Kwik Fit’s justification for each;
Written confirmation of how EV-specific wear characteristics, the Skoda TPI alignment notice, and the 21-inch OEM tyre specification have been factored into your assessment;
Immediate suspension of any charge liability pending a formal review of this determination.
Until such time as this information is provided and properly assessed, I do not accept the validity of the decision as communicated.

I look forward to your written response within 14 working days. Should I not receive a satisfactory resolution, I reserve the right to escalate this matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service and to refer to the BVRLA Fair Wear and Tear Guide as an independent industry benchmark.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

Bibliography / References

Which Mobility Car Forum, “Bridgestone Turanza Eco – 5.9mm Tread Depth Discussion,” available at: https://forum.whichmobilitycar.co.uk (reporting the 5.9mm initial tread depth of the Turanza Eco Enliten tyre).
Enyaq Forums – UK, “Inner Edge Tyre Wear – Skoda TPI Discussion,” available at: https://www.enyaqforums.co.uk (multiple users reporting Skoda TPI with revised toe and camber dimensions).
Briskoda.net, “Inner Edge Tyre Wear – Enyaq iv 80 Sportline,” available at: https://www.briskoda.net (user dispute with Skoda regarding inner edge tyre wear and TPI reference).
British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), “Fair Wear and Tear Guide,” available at: https://www.bvrla.co.uk (industry standard for vehicle condition at lease end, including clearer definitions and visual examples of uneven tyre wear).
Motability Scheme, “Fair Usage Policy – Tyre Allowance,” available at: https://www.motability.co.uk/utilities/fair-usage (confirming eight-tyre limit for pre-July 2026 leases).
Motability Scheme, “Changes to Tyre Replacement,” available at: https://www.motability.co.uk/changes/tyre-replacements (citing RAC estimates of 20,000 miles front / 40,000 miles rear tyres).
Bridgestone / Myseldon.com, “Bridgestone develops special version of Turanza Eco tyres with Enliten technology for Škoda Enyaq iV,” available at: https://myseldon.com (confirming Enliten technology reduces tyre weight by up to 20% and rolling resistance by up to 30%).
Enyaq Forums – UK, “Tyres needed changing after 17,000 miles on 21″ Betria’s / Bridgestone’s,” available at: https://www.enyaqforums.co.uk (multiple users reporting 21″ tyre replacement at 17,000 miles due to inner edge wear).
EV Tyres NZ 2026, “Wear Rates, Replacement Costs and What to Buy,” available at: https://www.gvi.kiwi (confirming motorway driving yields 40,000–55,000 km tyre life versus 30,000–45,000 km for city driving)

 

Sent from a mobile device.
Apologies for briefness and spelling mistakes.

Motability Skoda Enyaq SportLine 85x April 2024 (unhappy customer, but won my case with Ombudsman)
Motability Mazda CX-60 PHEV July 2023 (unhappy customer - early termination on mechanical grounds)
Motability VW Touran Family Pack May 2019 (happy customer)

[Adam]

I wonder if you have to pay for tyres yourself can you just pay for cheaper tyres

as Motability cannot force you to put more expensive tyres on unless it is in the small print

also will they check them

[kezo]

Excellent @kdwolf

To say your on a roll is an understatement. Well done mate!

 

@Adam

Motability would effectively be ending the tyre contract with you by no longer providing included tyres under the lease. Having to pay for tyres with your own money, also means your not contracted to using KwikFit. Equally your paying with your own money, so free to choose a tyre within your budget or even put part warns coming close to lease end, but remember those 4 bits of tyres on the road at a time are all that keep you safely glued to the road!

 

 

[shawry]

Do they pay for repairs? or would a repair class as one of your allowed replacements?

Ive had a couple of repairs, that Id in future probably pay for myself, depending on how far into the lease I was, and how many actual tyre changes I’d had in that time.

[DumfriesDik]

Motability really have moved from getting disabled people independent and doing the right thing to achieve this, to a business model where every penny counts. It isn’t a good look.

@kdwolf if you lease again, your 51,000 miles is going to kill you! Excess mileage AND pay for the tyres!!

It’ll be interesting to hear what their reply is. How much is a tyre out of interest?

Skoda Enyaq Race Blue

[kdwolf]

Note the reply I have from them: “Thanks for speaking with me” – they never called me nor I had no interest to call them. Sent them a post and receive the below response by post. As I already have everything written, for me it is just to press a button and shift to the Ombudsman again, as per that Becky’s recommendation. As you will see, there is no reference at all to the content of my original concerns regarding their policy (as per my full letter in one of the previous messages above)

Dear Mr K

Thanks for speaking with me recently regarding your concerns around our policy for tyres

We understand that some of our policies can feel restrictive, and I’m sorry that you’re unhappy with how we apply them. Our policies are in place to make sure the Scheme is fair, consistent and sustainable for all customers, and they’re agreed in partnership with Motability, the Charity

We regularly review these policies to make sure they’re still appropriate, reflect customer needs and support the safe running of the Scheme. We know that not every policy will suit every individual situation, but the decisions we make must follow the same rules for everyone to ensure fairness across the Scheme.

I hope this makes our position clear. If you have any new information l’ve not considered, please contact me so I can review it.

You might want to refer your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, free of charge. You need to contact them within six months of the date on this letter

If you do not refer your complaint in time, the Ombudsman will not have our permission to consider your complaint. This means they’ll only be able to look at it in very limited circumstances

 

Kind regards,

Becky
Customer Contact Services

Sent from a mobile device.
Apologies for briefness and spelling mistakes.

Motability Skoda Enyaq SportLine 85x April 2024 (unhappy customer, but won my case with Ombudsman)
Motability Mazda CX-60 PHEV July 2023 (unhappy customer - early termination on mechanical grounds)
Motability VW Touran Family Pack May 2019 (happy customer)

[kezo]

That just goes to show MB don’t give a damn  about any concern, regardless of any evidence presented, rather its just a one size fits all policy take it or leave it attitude.

Clearly, they haven’t taken any evidence into account inc that of the BVRLA, which makes me wonder whether anyone even read that matters or whether it was your typical generated computer reply, sent by a junior clerk totally missing the seriousness of the letter you sent!

Looks like your off to the Ombudsman again!

[kdwolf]

kezo wrote:

That just goes to show MB don’t give a damn about any concern, regardless of any evidence presented, rather its just a one size fits all policy take it or leave it attitude. Clearly, they haven’t taken any evidence into account inc that of the BVRLA, which makes me wonder whether anyone even read that matters or whether it was your typical generated computer reply, sent by a junior clerk totally missing the seriousness of the letter you sent! Looks like your off to the Ombudsman again!

Yes, already submitted a new one.  🙂

Sent from a mobile device.
Apologies for briefness and spelling mistakes.

Motability Skoda Enyaq SportLine 85x April 2024 (unhappy customer, but won my case with Ombudsman)
Motability Mazda CX-60 PHEV July 2023 (unhappy customer - early termination on mechanical grounds)
Motability VW Touran Family Pack May 2019 (happy customer)

[belfast4]

Unfortunately it seems they are just like most big organisations now, profit, profit and more profit is the order of the day.

They are making the rules if you don’t like the rules move on. As I have self seal tyres no one wants to fix a puncture, if I do need a new tyre in the next 2 months it will be a part worn tyre.

[kdwolf]

belfast4 wrote:

Unfortunately it seems they are just like most big organisations now, profit, profit and more profit is the order of the day. They are making the rules if you don’t like the rules move on. As I have self seal tyres no one wants to fix a puncture, if I do need a new tyre in the next 2 months it will be a part worn tyre.

Did you raise a complaint with them as per my advise above? I would. Then it is recorded. And once you will get same reply as I did and consult your AI, you will find it will go over the roof with the excitement and guide you how to raise a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman:

“Legally, this is a gift! If this goes to the FOS, you can say: “Motability refused to engage with any of my substantive, evidence-based arguments and simply recited a blanket policy.” That makes their position look unreasonable. ”

So after short negotiation Claude and I agreed on the wording and off it went to the FOS today.

Sent from a mobile device.
Apologies for briefness and spelling mistakes.

Motability Skoda Enyaq SportLine 85x April 2024 (unhappy customer, but won my case with Ombudsman)
Motability Mazda CX-60 PHEV July 2023 (unhappy customer - early termination on mechanical grounds)
Motability VW Touran Family Pack May 2019 (happy customer)

[kdwolf]

Did the ombudsman listen to me and started to use AI? 😀

 

Got a message today that they sent my complaint to Motability already for their response. I didn’t expect it to happen for at least two months.

Sent from a mobile device.
Apologies for briefness and spelling mistakes.

Motability Skoda Enyaq SportLine 85x April 2024 (unhappy customer, but won my case with Ombudsman)
Motability Mazda CX-60 PHEV July 2023 (unhappy customer - early termination on mechanical grounds)
Motability VW Touran Family Pack May 2019 (happy customer)

[H.K_R]

On another note, Motability continue to say how hard done by they are when they send their vehicles to auction at the end of their lease, either 3 or 5 years, or even before that for other reasons, in the form of “heavy depreciation”
However, they’re more than happy with stopping the vehicle from having a routine service in order to pinch some pennies, and now they’re going to cause customers to fit either cheap and or even frankly dangerous tyres to their cars! Ridiculous!

[kezo]

kdwolf wrote:

Did the ombudsman listen to me and started to use AI? Got a message today that they sent my complaint to Motability already for their response. I didn’t expect it to happen for at least two months.

Your name must still be at top of the pile & hopefully leading to a swift resolution.

I often wonder if MB’s swift dealings with complaints, brushing them to one side and eagerness to get someone off to the Ombudsman, is a calculated risk 8/10 won’t take it that far and therefore making for an easy life

 

[Rich44]

I wonder how much the cost is for each case that goes to FOS regardless of finding.

[Author]

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