There’s a debate in the car community that’s been ongoing for ages: how much responsibility do sellers have when non–car enthusiasts come to their shop to buy a car and don’t know what to check? For one popular mechanic on TikTok, the seller should at least always sell a used car with its original parts from the manufacturer.
The TikTok user carwerks101 was analyzing a client’s used 2023 Volkswagen Golf R 20th Anniversary and immediately noticed something he didn’t appreciate — the tires. The mismatched set included Pirelli tires that aren’t recommended for the car, and the rims weren’t even the correct size. The post garnered hundreds of thousands of views and became a hot topic on the app for several days.
According to Motor1, the mechanic wasn’t upset about the switch-up for no reason — the tires could cause further issues that would cost thousands of dollars to fix. The VW Golf R 20th Anniversary recommends 235/35 R19, which corresponds with 19-inch tires. And this isn’t just a minor add-on that affects only appearance but one that also has a huge impact on the car’s performance.
The car is an All-Wheel Drive (AWD) with torque vectoring that depends heavily on predictability — especially from the wheels. Experts have repeatedly warned that even a slight deviation in tire size or tread can make a car wear out faster than it should. At the end of the day, these are performance vehicles, and if not properly maintained, they will break down.
This all explains why the popular TikTok mechanic was so upset. Eventually, these cars end up in his shop, and sometimes — especially when they’re brought in too late — there’s simply nothing he can do. For some in the comments, however, the argument was that dealers can’t be held responsible for the buyer’s ignorance. At the end of the day, their goal is to sell cars, no matter what.
Luckily, TikTok is making buyers wiser before purchasing cars. Through tools like Carfax, buyers today are more equipped than ever to understand the kind of deal they’re getting into before things get too dicey.
There was also speculation in the comments that since the client bought the car purely for aesthetic reasons, the seller might have switched out parts knowing the buyer wouldn’t notice. That’s just an allegation, but if car enthusiasts are raising the point, it’s at least plausible — and perhaps even common in some corners of the car market.
We all wish salespeople were more honest. But that’s not always the case. If you’re lucky, you might find one who cares more about their long-term reputation than a quick profit. And even if you try to educate yourself before buying a car, there’s simply no way to know everything if it’s not your field.
The best solution is to always ask for documentation or personally research the tire specifications for the car’s exact make and model, then inspect them to ensure they match. From that point on, you can make your decision on whether to buy it or not — at least your decision will be informed.
