How to Tell if Your Tyre Prices Are Too Low (And What to Do About It)

🕒 Reading time: 4 minutes

If you’ve ever said:

“We’re flat out, but still not making money”
or
“I can’t go any lower or I’m losing money”

Then your pricing might be the problem.

It’s tempting to chase sales with cheap prices — but that only works for a while. Eventually, you hit a wall where you’re busy, stressed, and still skint.

Let’s break down how to tell if you’re undercharging — and what to do about it.

❗ 5 Signs You’re Charging Too Little

1. You’re constantly busy but profits are slim
   If you’re flying through tyres but your bank balance doesn’t reflect it, something’s off.
2. You hate quoting prices because you know they’re too low
   That sinking feeling when someone asks, “How much?” is a red flag.
3. You can’t afford to fix or upgrade anything
   No margin means no breathing space — and that’s dangerous long-term.
4. You feel under pressure every time a customer haggles
   If your price can’t handle a £5 discount without killing your margin, it’s too tight.
5. You rely on volume just to survive
   That’s a risky game — especially if your supplier prices go up or demand drops.

👎 Cheap Prices Attract the Wrong Customers

The customers who hunt the lowest price:

• Don’t value your time
• Don’t stay loyal
• Often cause the most hassle

These aren’t the people you want to build your business around.

By raising prices slightly, you might lose a few — but you’ll make more from the ones who stay.

✅ Be “Good Value”, Not “Cheap”

There’s a big difference between:

• Cheap: lowest possible price, no thought for service
• Good value: fair price, great experience, proper job

Customers will pay a bit more if they:

• Trust you
• Get fast, polite service
• Feel looked after

Focus on being worth the price — not the cheapest around.

🧮 Add-On Pricing = Easy Extra Profit

Instead of raising your tyre price, start itemising:

• £3 for the valve
• £5 for balancing
• £2.50 for disposal

It sounds professional, and most customers won’t question it.

That £10–15 per job adds up fast — especially if you’re doing 10+ jobs a day.

🔄 How to Test a Higher Price (Without Losing Trade)

You don’t have to go big overnight.

Try this:

• Pick one tyre size you sell often
• Add £3–£5 to your usual price
• Watch what happens

If nobody flinches — great. That’s your new price.

If people start pushing back, you can always adjust. But chances are, they won’t.

🧠 Final Thought

You can’t grow a business if your pricing isn’t right.

Raising prices sensibly isn’t greedy — it’s survival.

And the good news?
Most tyre customers care more about trust and speed than saving a fiver.

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Need trade prices that leave you room for profit?
Tyreroom helps you buy smarter — so you don’t have to race to the bottom.